On my trip to Kauai I visited Duke's twice. The first time we ate downstairs at the bar (kids are still allowed) and the second time we ate upstairs in the actual restaurant. The food was very delicious both times around! For a cheaper but still fun experience, dine downstairs. I ordered the mushroom sandwich at the bar. We had a lovely beach view, and the mai tais are poured much more generously than that of bars close by. The second time around, I had the Ahi tuna steak and it was DELICIOUS. a bit expensive, but i have found that good food and atmosphere in restaurants is hard to come by on the island. It was well worth it. Staff was friendly and gave us free ice cream at the end! The salad bar was somewhat unique with purple potatoes and papaya seed dressing, among other things. The atmosphere is awesome! Whether you are right by the beach or indoors next to the waterfall that comes into the restaurant from outside, you will probably have fun looking at the scenery. There was also live ukelele music the second time around, which was super fun and hawaiian. I highly recommend a stop in this restaurant if you're on the island.
(4)
Remy H.
I just love dukes. Mainly because its a great casual restaurant with tasty food, great service, and a wonderful view. Dinner upstairs can get a bit pricey but I totally think it's worth it since you get a salad bar buffet (which is excellent). Expect about 40$ for a two person dinner. If you're a tourist- do try something other than the fish and chips! And if you're a local- I hope you've tried it here at least once!
(4)
Mattias A.
A typical beach side burger kind of establishment catering to tourists. The food was good but too salty. I always enjoy the historic Duke photographs and the interior is very nice, but our table was located in a dark section of the restaurant and we got mosquito bites while dining. Service was pretty good. I would probably only go back if there was no other option.
(3)
Cohner G.
Dukes was better
(3)
Tiffany O.
I have to rave about the service we received at Dukes. We had a party of 16 and after our reservations at another location fell through, Duke's manager went above and beyond to get our group of 16 in. I'm talking about 5 minutes after we called them. I have to say thank you to them! The food was also amazing and our server was great too. I highly recommend the fish. You can't go wrong!
(5)
Jessica G.
Always love Duke's! Love the one at home in Malibu and the one in Maui as well. We went here one night for dinner since its on the Marriott property.
(5)
Shal V.
Duke Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian Olympic medal-winning swimmer, legendary surfer, actor, lawman, and sort of a diplomat. This restaurant is named after him. It is located on the beach at the Kauai Marriott in Lihue. This is a great place to relax in the shade and enjoy views of the seashore while sipping mai tais and eating delicious food. The food, service and location are excellent. I love the koi pool in the middle of the restaurant and the pictures and memorabilia from Duke's life.
(4)
Tim W.
Best place to dine on the island. Great atmosphere, good portions, very reasonable prices, and fresh seafood. Their service was friendly and flexible. Definitely would return. Compared to various restaurants on the island, their food, portions and prices reflect great value.
(5)
Ann S.
It pains me to write this since Duke's used to be our favorite restaurant but like all of the restaurants in the TS chain, this one has gone downhill as well. The steak was overcooked (like every steak I've had at TS restaurants the past 2 trips) and the potatoes are salty to the point of being almost inedible. Our server was really kind of odd. I'm thinking next trip we may just swing in for the salad bar or skip Duke's altogether. Never thought I'd say that. Yes, the view is amazing but it's not enough to save a chain hell bent on shooting themselves in the culinary foot. Sigh.
(2)
Tasha C.
Every time I eat at Duke's I have a bad experience not with the food or the service but with the people I'm with. Maybe it's a bad luck spot! I keep giving it second chances but after this past 4th chance I'm never going to eat here again. I only gave it a 4th chance because my 3rd chance turned out good! On the 4th chance I didn't even get to eat anything. But I guess on Kauai there isn't much to choose from. My recommendation is The Beach House Poipu, HI!!!
(2)
Sarah M.
I wasn't impressed with Duke's this trip around. We went there for happy hour and considering that I was so hungry after ignored my airplane food, I probably could have eaten anything. The appetizers satiated my hunger but weren't anything to write home about. The nachos and chicken wings were all just typical barfood quality. We came here again for dinner and it was terrible. First, our server, who my parents liked because he comped the food that wasn't good, was really rude but somehow got away with it. He would roll his eyes whenever my parents said something but they didn't notice since he was standing behind them. Lovely. Then the food wasn't good AT ALL. I had the maui onion soup which was probably the worst I've ever had. The broth was off...it was edible but not very good at all. The potstickers were disgusting. They were fried and had some kind of mustard on top of them which made them inedible. The server comped them since we didn't touch them which was nice but I was disappointed in them. I thought they were steamed but they ended up being fried, too. No one complained about their food but no one really raved about it either. I'd say this place was pretty on par with Barbeque Inn, unfortunately...
(2)
Jill P.
Went there for the conveinience and view. Food was probably the best we have had this week. I had an amazing Shrimp salad that was suggested by the waitress, my husband had the Turkey sandwich. Paired with the Mai Tai and ambiance, it was fantastic. Would go back again, next visit!
(5)
Jadie K.
I was craving some steak and wine for dinner. So we checked out Duke's menu. Realized there was a 20min wait so opted to go downstairs for the bar food. We sat down at the bar ready to eat another meal of fried/deeply fattening/mediocre Hawaiian style food when the bartender gave us the Duke's upstairs menu. Great! We ordered the slow cooked Prime Rib, sashimi app and a couple of drinks. The steak was perfectly cooked, tender, and so juicy. It was definitely the best meal we had during our 5 days in Kauai. We also tried the Hula dessert which is big enough to share, worth ordering if you have a second stomach!
(4)
Tony L.
After staying in our private cottage for most of the week (filled with ants, moths, spiders, cockroaches, geckos, centipedes, and duck poo), it was nice to have friends at a resort that would give us an opportunity to get some chlorine in our hair and a few drinks with pink little umbrellas sticking out of them. Enter dukes. Nachos. Fish tacos. Friendly service. 'Nuff said. As far as resort restaurants and bar food goes, I thought Duke's was pretty good. Greasy. Satisfying. Great with beer. Yes, it's at a Marriott. And yes, it's touristy. But nestled in the lush crook of Kalapaki Beach, how can you really complain?
(4)
Luke W.
We ate here twice on our vacation and each time left us scratching our heads as to why we chose to eat there. The service was slow and waiters were unfriendly. My wife ordered coconut shrimp and we had to return it the dish because it was cold. The server looked offended and didn't offer any sympathies. There are much better options in the area.
(2)
Elizabeth K.
Came recommended and now gets my recommendation! I loved this restaurant. Everyone gets a salad bar with their meal. Then, my meal came. I ordered ono. Excellent!! No one at our table complained. We just ate and ate and ate. The atmosphere celebrates the restaurant's name sake, Duke who was one of the original surfers. There are many beautiful sights to see from the restaurant windows and there are koi ponds and waterfalls inside. However, the decor is aimed at tourists with Hawaiian patterned chairs and whatnot. That's ok - I am a Hawaiian Tourist!
(4)
Christina W.
Good food and good service! I will go back for sure!
(4)
Cin T.
Great view from the lanai, overlooking the band. Our server was really friendly, super hilarious and on top of things during the whole dinner service. Why only 2 stars? I had a sad plate of food. I got the guava ribs and huli huli chicken combo. My guava ribs were overcooked and so sweet that you couldn't taste the pork. My "Huli Huli Chicken" breast seemed overboiled, grilled and then drowned in teriyaki sauce. Not Huli-Huli style at all, they should've just called it like it is: boiled teriyaki chicken! Sonofa..... I gave the rest of the ribs to my friend to finish off (the same guy that always polishes off everyones' leftovers). He took one bite of the ribs, wiped off the sauce and asked for a doggie bag. He wasn't taking it home for himself, it was really for his dog.
(2)
Adriana K.
Heard that Kauai lacked night life and the thing to do was to hit Duke's at the Marriott. So, our last night we went. I know I know that friends advised to hit the downstairs bar and not the upstairs restaurant, but my guy was starved and wanted something special for our last night. The best seating appears to be right on the edge of the balcony. That night it was full... one of the locals had a bday party and filled the section. So, we sat nearby. The ambiance was nice. Since it was night time, couldn't really see the beach, but it was nice to know it was there :) The server was friendly and came by right away. A little shocked at the cost for dinner, but nice that it included unlimited salad bar. I overloaded on pineapple MMM! My dinner was disappointing... basically a tiny square of fish in the middle of a big empty plate. For $28, I expected a little more. My guy ordered steak and dayam, that looked great. He took pity on me with my sorry little fish and shared. The fish was good though, just not great. The steak was excellent. We couldn't really afford drinks or anything else, so I wondered if the downstairs area would have been a better choice. The main problem with Duke's though - and we noticed this as we bypassed it in Honolulu, is that the bar clientele appear to be mainly annoying, drunk, loud 20 year olds... my guy used the word "douche bags". The experience was a let down and we had to walk through the maze of a hotel (reminded me of Vegas) to get there and back. Maybe if we had gone earlier and could actually see the view better, it would have been more worth it.
(2)
J R.
Aloha from Kaua'i! We've lived here on Kaua'i for 14 years now and I can't tell you how many birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions we have celebrated here with friends (who were born and raised here) - it is a great place to have good food, a great atmosphere, friendly service, and where you are just as likely to have locals celebrating a birthday next to you as visitors - it is a real mix of both - rare here in most restaurants. Just a beautiful view of Kalapaki Beach and Bay, a fantabulous salad bar, and I've always loved their fish dishes - if I ever have hula pie, I usually split it with a girlfriend 'cause we are too full to eat one each! It isn't a "foodie paradise" - but a good, moderately priced (for Kaua'i) restaurant full of casual fun, beautiful views, and good food! Leave your pretentions at home and have good fun - Kaua'i style!
(4)
Paul M.
A must for any Hawaii visit
(5)
Judi M.
As many have already said, this is your typical hotel/restaurant that caters to tourists. It's overpriced, crowded and nothing special. We only ate here because we were staying at the hotel and my meal was free. If I had other options, we would have eaten elsewhere. The service was okay. The server sounded like he was reading a script when talking about the specials. My dad and I were asking questions and he seemed to keep reverting back to his script, which made him sound unknowledgeable, at best. One thing that irked me was that I asked what the zip code for the hotel was and asked several employees and no one knew. They didn't even try to find out or venture a guess. Just shrugged me off and went about their way. So rude! Food was okay. Like I mentioned, nothing worth mentioning twice. I ordered the Opa which was good, but nothing remarkable. Not sure if I would ever go back to any Duke's restaurant in the future. Maybe, if my meal was free again.
(2)
Tina L.
We drove down from Princeville for the day, so we parked out in the lot and followed the signs to walk to the restaurant. The walk through the resort made me consider staying there next time I'm on Kauai. The mac nut crusted opah is amazing! Its my favorite Duke's dish. We sat right on the beach and people-watched while we ate and drank. Worth a visit for sure.
(4)
Helen V.
Awful food. Great view. If you're going to give someone 4 french fries, get smaller plates. Mahi Mahi Sandwich was ok. Mahi Mahi should never be just ok. Then, why have Mahi Mahi? Coconut Shrimp was floating in a pool of ick. Forget the caramelized beet salad, awful too. Way too expensive for awful food. Please fix your food, there is hope. Someone in your kitchen doesn't care about presentation at all. Like, AT ALL.
(2)
A T.
Duke's is a must-experience while in Hawaii. My first experience was the one in Waikiki on a sunny weekend afternoon. This location in Lihue struck me as more resort-like instead of beachy casual. The prices are kind of high but they have a more casual menu for downstairs while maintaining a nicer romantic higher end version upstairs. I had a hula pie and a lava flow (yes, for dinner...what of it?). The view is great and the service is friendly.
(4)
Gloria C.
Came here for happy hour Mai Thais. Duke's is in a great part of Kauai and we kept hearing from all the locals to come here for their taco tuesdays so we did. Made it just in time! Loved the mai thai but overall, prices were still expensive. Tacos were $3.50 each for happy hour, cocktails were about $9. Loved the atmosphere and drinks at the bar but overall I was not too impressed with the fish and pork tacos. Fish was... fish and pork was pork? The most exciting part of the meal was that we sat next to a retired NFL referee at the bar so got to hear some inside scoops on football players. Would recommend coming in your bathing suit, having some tacos and mai thais during happy hour, then going for a dip or playing some frisbee by the beach.
(4)
Neen J.
Fun spot, sit at the bar and look out at the small beach attached to the Marriott hotel. I loved my pineapple mojito and the beet salad was yummy too. I ordered the fish tacos on corn tortillas (to make them GF friendly). The tortillas were like cardboard so I removed the inside filling and the fish was delicious! came with a generous side of salsa and guacamole. My honey had the panko calamari and beet salad - delish too. The calamari was a bit oily but tasty. A fun spot, it was really busy on a Sunday night and many children there. Be prepared to wait for a table however it's decent food with a great view.
(4)
Michelle M.
Great atmosphere here with a view of the water and the tiki torches burning. We ate downstairs on the patio. Our waitress and the hostess were kind and accommodating. I wanted a light meal after flying in to the island late so I ordered a caesar salad with chicken. This was an authentic caesar so I could taste the anchovy. We also ordered the Tropical Itch which was a fruity rum drink. It was served with a backscratcher in it...,,very cute!
(4)
Andy J.
We enjoyed Duke's so much we made 3 visits here during our 2 week vacation. We visited both the barefoot bar downstairs for lunch and drinks and the dining room upstairs for dinner. We really enjoyed the Mai Tai's (I ranked them #2 on Kauai) and Lava Flows (ranked #1 on Kauai) each visit. Parking can be a bit difficult at times here (we did not use valet parking) but we always managed to find a spot within a few minutes of arriving. At the barefoot bar we had the Sashimi with wasabi that was good and for dinner upstairs we had the filet mignon and lobster which was very good. The hula pie is so good here so save room for dessert. The laid back atmosphere, good food and the view of the beach make this a must visit in my opinion.
(4)
Mel S.
Beautiful view. I suggest making reservations- you can do it on yelp! Aside from the view, the food is amazing. They have maybe 5-8 fresh fish of the day that you can have prepared 4 different ways! From macadamia crusted to garlic something to a fire-pepper preparation, you can do whatever you want! Which is pretty awesome in my opinion. Our bartender at the Marriott recommended the calamari and the salad bar and the prime rib and the fish. We decided to get 4 of his 5 recommendations. First of all, the salad bar is a MUST. I love Cesar salads and I haven't seen one restaurant serve it with anchovies. Ladies and gentleman, anchovies are available at this salad bar. I grabbed 6 of them and I swear it made my Cesar salad 1000 times better than any Cesar salad I've ever had. The muffins at the salad bar are also amazing. The one I had was carrot and the other was a banana muffin. Soo good. Grab 2 muffins, trust me. They have a bunch of other salads to try and they were all great, but I'm a fan of the Cesar for sure. We also ordered the prime rib and the halibut like fish (moonfish?) prepared with macadamia nut crust. The prime rib was a bit rarer than I wanted (asked for medium rare). I sent it back to be cooked a bit more, but overall it was delicious. The fish too was good! I'm not quite sure why this place doesn't have more stars. I'm definitely a fan! And would love to come back.
(4)
william f.
First night was wonderful, had the prime rib...very juicy. Added the salad for three bucks. Perfect dinner. Due to hukilias screw up, we were back at dukes for a second night. Second night......had the prime rib again. Was a bit concern about consistency. Perfect again. Was celebrating my birthday.....a few days early and they gave us that monster mud pie....on the house. I'd recommend going early so you can enjoy the sunset....we were here after 730.....pitch black but I still loved my dinner.
(5)
Angelic G.
If you enjoy a great meal and amazing view of the ocean this is the place for you. The restaurant is very nice. They offer The Piña drink (which is basically a piña colada in the pineapple). It was yummy. The meal was very tasty and the service was very good too. Only bad thing was the Hula Pie (which came very highly recommended) it's just a huge ice cream pie for $15 nothing fancy. I didn't even like the taste of the ice cream and it was vanilla! Either way the experience was great and I would def go back, just never order the pie again. This place is a must go if you are visiting Kauai. It's beautiful and you will enjoy it. I will add the place has Valet parking for free which is pretty sweet!
(4)
P L.
Great ambiance but food is mediocre. Very tough, chewy lobster. Ribs okay. Had the macadamia crusted fresh fish which was drowned in sauce. None of us would go back for the food but would for a drink and the view. Our advice, have a cocktail and find some place else to eat. Good service but very disappointed in the meals.
(1)
Robert H.
The location was fantastic. The food was fair at best. Ribs were salty, salad bar was weak and I found a stone in my salad. I ordered fresh fish which was good but the sides were again weak. Small portions and overpriced. This restraint is a tourist trap. Locals don't eat here because they know better. Our waitress was very nice and my daughter says her fries were good. 2.5 in my opinion.
(2)
Maddie H.
chose this place as our last meal in Kauai. the interior is so pretty and there's a waterfall and koi pond and a great open view of the ocean. I got the barbecue chicken flatbread and it was absolutely delicious. fish and chips was also delightful. great service and the food came quick. perfect place to end our vacation. if I ever find my self in Kauai again this will definitely be our go to spot for my family of 5.
(5)
Elyssa S.
We have been to the Dukes in Malibu before and my husband loved their wings so he wanted to go back. My husband had the wings and I ordered a cheeseburger. My husband asked for extra buffalo sauce on the side and then he didn't get any sauce actually on the wings only on the side. He was disappointed by this but not enough to send his order back to be tossed in sauce. I ordered a cheeseburger. It was supposed to come with cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato. When it arrived it had BBQ sauce and bacon. I was surprised by this because if I saw the BBQ and bacon on the menu I would've asked for neither to be on the burger. I asked the server who said that's how it comes. When the bill came I saw she ordered me the wrong burger hence all the stuff I didn't want and $2 higher price tag. $2 aside, it wasn't what I wanted and I had to scrape off the sauce. We ended the less than stellar meal with a piece of Tuxedo Hula pie which was delicious! At least we ended on a high note!
(3)
Diane K.
Duuuuuukkkkkesss. I don't know why, but that's what I say in my head every time I go to this place. This is a beautiful place to enjoy a meal and bevy. Excellent views and the always cooperating weather (for us at least). Service and food are both good. We hope to take advantage of the happy hour next time!
(4)
Will D.
I was disappointed in my experience at Duke's Kauai. The facility and service was fine, but the food and drinks were subpar. Our particular disappointment was in the Mai tai's and flat bread. Our drinks were weak and obviously premixed. The flatbread looked and tasted as it was out of a frozen box. Go to Merrimann's at happy hour and spend the extra 50 cents for a FAR SUPERIOR cocktail.
(2)
El A.
We came here for dinner on a Saturday night. We didn't have reservations and wait for our party of 2 was about 35-45 minutes. We ordered the fish of the day "Duke's" style, prime rib and the salad bar. Salad bar is all-you-can eat for $3 with an entree. The salad bar was stocked with pineapple carrot and banana macadamia nut muffins. The food and service were both great.
(5)
R H.
Had the best fish at the recommendation of our server Taru. She provided excellent service and the hula pie she recommended was to die for. Great view and excellent service and food. Don't forget to add the salad bar to your meal! My husband had macadamia ahi and it was excellent!
(5)
Cassie C.
We ate here a few times while staying at the Marriott. We ate at the Barefoot Bar twice. The food was good but a little pricey for the quality. It is open later than most other places which is a huge plus. We were able to call in an order from our room and pick it up which was nice. Overall, it is convenient to the beach and hotel but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. We ate upstairs the night of our wedding on a Saturday. I made reservations more than a month in advance to ensure they could accommodate our party- although there were only 9 of us. The waitress was very attentive and sweet, even took pictures and prepared the small wedding cake we brought from outside. The food was great, everyone was pleased with their choices. The salad bar is wonderful, 2 of our wedding party went back another night just for the salad bar. We were pleased with the quality of food and service upstairs. It was pricey but we expected that, but unlike downstairs the food matched the pricing. There were some musicians playing downstairs and they were awesome, the sound carried upstairs but was not distracting or too loud to talk. If you're looking for a nice dinner, definitely come here.
(4)
tim l.
The best place I have eaten in The south side of Kauai. That isn't a compliment, really. The food is so bad around here that Duke"s sets the standard. Fish is good. Ribs. Good. Salad bar is excellent. Kinda like Roy's.
(4)
Kalena Y.
-don't get the gnocchi --check your receipt carefully - we've been charged for something we didn't get the last two times we were there -be ready to use your muscles to lift the new chairs (pretty, but heavy and bulky) -most people won't care, but I miss
(2)
Ben M.
Service was really good, after the wait for a table. Salad bar needs an olive oil option (Added since review originally posted). The fish was delish! Prime rib well, it was prime rib. Don't forget your discount card for the 50% off Hula Pie!
(4)
Callea B.
I hate to say it, but definitely not worth the hype. I ordered the Opah with the Duke's style preparation and it was far from great. The fish itself was a little dry due to its being overcooked. The other two entrees my table ordered were both lukewarm and lacking flavor. The salad bar was pretty basic, worth the $3 up charge but definitely wouldn't recommend it for your whole meal. We were bummed!
(1)
Rachel J.
This place is awesome!! The atmosphere is really neat with an indoor waterfall and coy fish pond. We sat on the back porch which backs right up to the beach. It was so nice watching the sunset while we had our tropical drinks. There is a happy hour 4-6 where most of the more expensive drinks are discounted. I got the tropical itch (the drink not a disease) and it came with a back scratcher stuck in it which is a funny touch. I would suggest making a reservation or going early because it's a really popular place. I had the ribs which were really good and the other people in my party got the fish and chips which they recommend. Service was really good and fast with decent prices. Definitely a must try! The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the bathrooms grossed me out so much. Toilet paper all over the ground and water all over the toilet seats. Send someone in more often to clean that stuff up! Overall great experience and I would go back.
(4)
Baron C.
Duke's is exactly what you think it's going to be. No surprises here. It's pretty much interchangeable with any other expensive tourist trap restaurant that you would find with a nice ocean view. This review is only to help you navigate the best possible choices to make if you find yourself here. And you might, given the convenience of the place, especially if you're staying nearby or have a large group. First off, the view is a little nicer from upstairs but you will most likely need reservations. Given the slower service time, and overall increased expense of dining upstairs, it's probably not worth it and I would recommend saving yourself some time and eating downstairs at the bar (it's pretty much the same menu, with more options downstairs). If you find yourself entertaining a larger group with parents and grandparents, they would probably get a kick out of dining upstairs, but I would keep the expectations low and make sure you get a table with a view. The nacho appetizer with pork was pretty tasty. The deep-fried shrimp appetizer and fish and chips were forgettable. The macadamia nut crusted fish was worthwhile and in general, I would recommend the fish dishes over anything else here. The chicken seems to be an afterthought here, so I would avoid it. lastly, the mai tais were good and stronger than I would've thought.
(3)
Mechelle V.
Can't beat the view!! Breathtaking ocean front dining. The service is so polite and attentive. The lava flows are my favorite yummo! Their best grass fed burgers around, you can taste the quality! Alika is the best bartender
(5)
Meg R.
Duke's was the perfect place to wind down after our flight landed in Lihue. We came during lunch and ordered fish tacos and mojitos. Both were delicious and fresh and the tacos were ginnormous! The views here though are what really steal the show. I would recommend coming during the daytime though - the beach where the restaurant is situated is stunning, which you wouldn't see as much of at night.... and I hear their lunchtime prices are much cheaper. OH and order the Hula pie for the table - you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Jonathan F.
This place is amazing great atmosphere with the mini waterfall running straight in the middle of the restaurant. Open balcony style with a view of the beach. Some of the best service I've ever had in my life. And the food was very good and reasonably priced. Plenty of parking. Dinner here made our Hawaii trip just a little better.. Thank you
(5)
Erik Y.
Love coming to this location, one of the best places to go in Kauai. We have been here a couple of times, as well as the Dukes in Maui. Expect about $40-60 a person with tip depending on how hungry and/or thirsty you are. Dukes is a Hawaii tradition and a lot of fun. Great atmosphere, lots to look at. Great views of the ocean and a lot of great service. Our Servers have always been top notch and given us great service and recommendations of other places to visit on the islands. The food is very good, not spectacular, but good. Drinks are well made, again good, but not great. This is the kind of place you expect to find in Hawaii and probably won't be disappointed. A little on the pricey side, even for Hawaii, but nothing to crazy.
(4)
Roger B.
I really enjoy the Canoe Club Barefoot Bar. It has great local bartenders. The view, great beers and awesome fish tacos seal the deal. Plus you're going to save a bundle rather than eating upstairs.
(4)
Owen S.
Dukes Kauai, Well I have had two meals at this Dukes in the last 4 days and the food is not anywhere near up to par with what it should be. I am in the airline business so I eat out a lot and I would not eat at this restaurant again. I had their "famous" Prime Rib tonight and it was so-so and the rice Pilaf was dry and not edible. The nice waiter took a few bucks off the bill which I appreciated but all in all not impressed. Two thumbs down for Dukes Kauai. Don't waste your money.
(1)
Sarah L.
Duke's was great! We had eaten at Kimo's in Maui and loved it - Duke's runs under the same management and you can definitely tell by the quality of food and service. The mango martini was delicious. The appetizers were good; the Maui Onion soup was ok (prob skip this next time only because it is no different than the French Onion soup you would get elsewhere) and the Thai Chicken Spring Rolls, also pretty good but if you're not that hungry would suggest you focus on the Entree! We had the lobster tails and the seared seven spice ahi. I have been eating seafood (largely Ahi) all over Maui and Kauai for the last week and a half - this Ahi was the best I have tasted. We also opted to add on the salad bar which has lots of good options. It's a lot of food, so come very hungry.
(4)
Roberta T.
I dont think this place deserves 3.5 stars. This is a 5 stars restaurant for kauai. Great location, nice view of the beach, very beautiful decoration and very nice waiter are just the beginning. We had: - Crab Wonton (omg, so tasty!) - Plancha Grilled (great fish and risotto) - Seared Seven Spice Ahi - as a dessert we had something like a dark chocolate mousse with coconut and vanilla (so good!!! The best mousse I have ever had so far) One bad thing: a bit pricey. It is not $$. I would say $$$ is the correct price range
(5)
Gary F.
As much as I wanted to love this place I just couldn't. The food was blah, nothing special. My wife ordered the surf and turf and I ordered the Ahi. For drinks I ordered a mojito, and that's not what I received. I drank it anyway but probably the worse one I ever tasted. We then ordered a pina coloda in a pineapple, that was probably the best thing I tasted at the restaurant. Views were spectacular. Restaurant was gorgeous. A great place to hang out for a few cocktails.
(3)
Howard L.
We were pleasantly surprise by the food , location, and service of this restaurant. The Koreans and nachos were excellent. They had a lot of servers around to serve us.
(5)
J B.
Love this place! It's my Mom & step fathers go-to place for any special occasion (they are locals) We had poke rolls, crispy coconut shrimp and Thai spring rolls for pupus (appetizers) and I had the Ono & lobster tail combo with the salad bar. Every single morsel was delectable. And seriously don't get me started on the ambience and view. Next time we go I'm gonna ask to sit at the table in the middle of 3 little waterfalls. Though the view of the bay and ocean breeze was terrific were we were this last time.
(4)
Larry D.
We go to Dukes every year but this time the food was lousy - fish was dry Doubtful we will return anytime soon Larry D
(1)
Erin M.
Out of control!!! Everything I had was amazing! Pros: The view The service The spaces between seating The food! Ono and dessert Cute little flowers on your plate Cons: Limited parking Prices are a little high but worth it Will come back!!!!!
(5)
Jessica L.
I was VERY disappointed with the service. The only reason this even deserves any stars was the food! Love the lava flows!! Me and a few friends went during happy hour. And it was mildly crowded. We all ordered drinks and something to eat. Then we decided to take a picture. I asked one of the waitresses if she could take our picture and her answer was "one moment" and not in a nice manner. Then she walked two feet to the register, punched in the check, walked past our table, and never came back. Rude! Our waitress was a little nicer but I still didn't feel like a valued customer. The only time we saw her was to quickly take our order, deliver the food, give the check, and take the check. Each encounter there was hardly any eye contact. Also as she was picking up the check she said thanks for coming as she was walking away!!! Overall terrible service. And I probably will not be returning any time soon.
(2)
Dave K.
Long wait for dinner. Food was good and service excellent. The bar made a good MaiTai!
(3)
Jocelyn G.
We came here since it was basically attached to our resort and we didn't have a car. The food was decent, though the portions small in some cases (especially when it came to the fish). The teriyaki dish I had was fairly tasty and plentiful. We were seated right next to the walkway, which sucked in some ways, but also next to the beautiful koi pond. It was nice being able to order off of the upstairs menu without having to change tables or anything. Be aware, the downstairs menu is fairly small.
(3)
firefly b.
Highly recommend the poke rolls as an appetizer. You will not be disappointed. The accompanying sauces are amazing. They're not listed on the bar menu for some reason for you can still order them.
(5)
Melissa S.
The #1 recommended restaurant to eat at when you visit Hawaii. I haven't gone to dukes in 7 years because I haven't been to Hawaii in 7 years lol but the food and drinks here are amazing! I told myself, next time I come to Hawaii I'm going to Dukes. I'm not sure if they have it on all the islands of Hawaii but when I planned to come to kauai, the first thing I checked was if they had a Dukes because the first time I tried this place was in Oahu. Anyway! I ordered the shrimp scampi with a side of asparagus, my boyfriend and I had the Kalua pork nachos as an appetizer and they have a SALAD BUFFET! Shrimp scampi: this was probably the best shrimp scampi I've ever had. It was linguine pasta with a rich creamy sauce poured all over along with shrimp. Asparagus: asparagus is my FAVORITE veggie and they made it perfectly how I likes it. Asparagus with a good amount of salt and pepper. Kalua pork nachos: a MUST appetizer. It's, obviously, covered in pork, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole, and olives. I didn't eat to much of it because I wanted to save my stomach for the main portion but it was super delish! Huge restaurant. There's and upstairs and downstairs but they apparently have different menus. This place should be mandatory to eat when visiting Hawaii. Just sayin.
(5)
Elizabeth L.
Dukes- Several weeks ago, I wrote a comment on how bad our server was and for being regulars we weren't planning on going back....The General Manager personally contacted me and told me how very sorry he was and sent us a certificate for a complimentary meal for 2... Last night when we arrived with no reservation, there were at least 13 people waiting...I walked up to the reservationst and told her 2 for walk ins, she smiled, then told the girl next to her to give us a table, we were immediately seated, I guess because the other people waiting looked like had 3 groups, anyways it only took our waitress ASHLEY 5 minutes to greet us with a happy smile and then took our orders... We knew we had to wait because they were busy but it was ok because we had their fabulous salad bar and drinks... During our wait, Ashley was constantly checking to see if everything was ok and re- filling our glass with water and our beverages, I also noticed that she was very delegent in checking on the other 2 tables in the back and on the side of us...when we got our meals, it was AWESOME, perfectly cooked, tho we had no room for dessert, everything was perfect. Ashley was so friendly and she took the time to chat with us, then when we got our bill, the night Manager comp our alcohol beverage which we didn't expect because we were ready to pay for it, we normally tip 20%, but because of the service we got from Ashley, she got a generous tip...To the General Manager Jaime Arreola, thank you for making things right....because of the service we received last night, I've decided that we will be celebrating my husband birthday next month with our family. Mahalo for a memorable evening. We look forward to seeing Ashley next month as our permanent waitress
(5)
Dave G.
There are a few traps the weary traveler falls into upon arriving at a new place. The carpet shops in Morocco, for one instance. The conveniently located, decent tavern, just a short hop from the airport, might be another. Duke's is a touristy spot of long standing in Lihue, HI. There is a beautiful view of the bay from their bar and grill. The food is safe, predictable, and appealing to the blandest, most mid-western of palettes. They do a brisk business with the tourists. You will get a lot of recommendations for Duke's. Yeah, it is the place to send people where no one will possibly be offended or disappointed. You could transport Duke's to any touristy spot on earth and they would not miss a beat or a dollar of revenue. Duke's would fit in to the strip in Bar Harbor, Maine, or the riverfront in Savannah, Georgia without anything seeming strange. Decent for a quick bite after your 5 - 8 hour flight from the mainland, but otherwise, skip it for better, more interesting fare.
(3)
Jennifer M.
The view here is absolutely gorgeous! I enjoyed sipping on my La Pina while watching people kayak and stand-up paddle board near the beach. I ordered the Seared Seven Spice Ahi and, goodness, it was delicious! It had a spicy kick, but not to the point where my nose and eyes were watering (which was nice). It was perfect because I didn't have much of an appetite, but the ahi is so light that I finished the entire plate without feeling stuffed. My husband ordered the Filet Mignon rare, but it came out more medium well-- hence one less star on the rating. He still liked his meal, but I could tell he wasn't entirely satisfied with it. I definitely recommend Duke's and we'll be back again someday!
(4)
Chee K.
This place has so much potential but the food is just so so. We ate at both Duke's, the fancier upstairs and more casual downstairs. We decided to just eat at the more upscale upstairs restaurant on our first night here on Kauai. I got the lava flow cocktail, a delicious concoction of strawberry, banana and coconut creme? Sweet but so tasty, just try one. The appetizer fried calamari was bit greasy for my taste. They came out like long sticks not the usual rings. You get a salad bar buffet with your dinner, pretty standard fare. For my main, I had the shrimp scampi over linguine. The sauce was so heavy and overpowering. Creme everywhere. The shrimp was pretty fresh and it had the perfect amount of shrimps. In the downstairs, I tried their Korean street taco. What makes something a "street taco"? Seems popular to call them that nowadays. The sauce was overwhelming, cloying and sweet. A spicy pepper sauce called kokujang and on top it looked like a chimichurri. The beef was tasty and tender. Also, for $14.95, you get 2 tacos and a tiny side of sweet vinegar cukes. Kind of expensive for not much. If they layoff on the sauces, I think they would get better ratings. The service is decent. The place gets kudos on the view on the beach, it can't be beat.
(3)
Shannon L.
Aside from the food being absolutely amazing, our experience was outstanding thanks to our server, Dustin. I dined at Duke's (the upstairs restaurant) for my parents' 25th anniversary last week and he made sure everything was perfect. His recommendations were spot on also- ask him about the fish of the day, and take advantage of the salad bar before your meal! I come to Kauai usually once a year... Visiting Duke's will definitely be on my list for all of my trips to come. Ask for Dustin.
(5)
Karl S.
Duke's, a local chain. This one located on the beach adjacent to the Marriott in Lihuie the beach is awesome. The location is great. We came for drinks and sat outside and watched life go by. Very nice.
(4)
Steven D.
Location and atmosphere are what helps Duke's. We waited about 35 minutes for a table and once we got seated about another 25 minutes once seated. Not complaining, just want to give an idea of the wait time you're looking at. The food itself was pretty standard. The shrimp wasn't as good as we were expecting, pretty chewy. Nachos with pulled pork and the waffle fries were great. I wouldn't say it's worth the hype. Not sure I'd go again.
(3)
Brett H.
Decent food - a bit pricey. The wings were good and spicy and yet crispy - the way I like it. The ribs were good - but I was still hungry for more, portion size is a little small. Mango BBQ bacon burger - very good but pricey at $16, same price as the ribs. Of course the hula pie is awesome.
(4)
Brian A.
Always a sensational meal. From the Ahi Poke to the Duke's Style fish of the day, this place is a slam dunk must any time you are in Kauai. Excellent service too.
(5)
Peter W.
Came to Dukes for dinner but since it was happy hour in their casual Barefoot Bar; decided to take advantage of the ocean view laid back setting. Got a Margarita and fresh ahi fish tacos and kalua pork taco; appetizer nachos dip & guacamole; mango baby back ribs. The tacos were awesome, ribs were delicious and appetizer was fresh. I would recommend this place, food was reasonable priced and service was excellent.
(5)
Keri N.
This review is for Duke's Bar (downstairs area of the restaurant) and only covers the food as we had take out. 1. Caesar salad with chicken: caesar salad was a good size with basically a lightly grilled chicken breast - nothing to write home about. 2. nachos: great to share, although could have had a little more cheese and beans on the nachos rather than just chips 3. mango ribs: ribs came with rice but no vegetables other than a light coleslaw. Ribs were tasty and fall off the bone. Overall food wise, could be better, but the restaurant overall has great ambiance with views of the ocean and definitely a place to grab some drinks and food with large groups. Would recommend to visitors, but food-wise, not going to blow you away. Be sure to make recommendations as wait take can be anywhere from 15-30 minutes.
(3)
Phillip T.
Excellent food and great location. We ordered the fish tacos and the fish of the day. Very well done and no overpowering. The natural and pleasant taste of the fish came through without being overpowering. A great choice.
(5)
Alexandra B.
On our flight to Kauai, we asked a local to recommend our first food stop, and she automatically started praising Duke's. For tourists and locals alike, Duke's offers a variety of mouth watering menu items along with great service and an amenable atmosphere that is just right for getting you into the Kauaian spirit. It was hard to make a choice at Duke's since their menu was filled with tantalizing options. Our table got a key items I would recommend. As a starter, go with the Harvest Flatbread. It's perfect for sharing. The beet salad is a must if you're looking for greens. As far as seafood is concerned, the Ahi Poke Wrap is the way to go. Lastly, anything with the mango bbq and waffle fries is a winner!
(5)
Laura C.
Meehhh Duke's was ok, nothing special or out of the ordinary. We only dined there because we had a gift certificate. Service was excellent. Drinks didn't seem very strong. Their specialty mai tai didn't even give me a buzz. Entrees include their "famous salad bar" which was just a couple potato/pasta salads, bread, fruit & green leaf salad. I wouldn't go out of my way to dine there again.
(3)
Kanoe I.
My Boyfriend and I came to Dukes Kauai for our anniversary. . I was craving prime rib and he said this would be the perfect spot. The restaurant is pretty large. We ate upstairs under a covered lanai in the nice warm breeze. Everything we ordered was sooo delicious.. We started off with the salad bar.. where a nice worker would make the Caesar salad right in front of you that lead to many options of salad toppings and sides, such as bow tie pasta, tofu, sweet potatoes, muffins, breads, etc. Comparing my piled high plate to my boyfriends decent sized plate, he warned me to save my appetite for the food that was coming our way. ( Good thing I listen.. Kindda) We ordered an appetizer.. Poke Rolls... it was so good.. it was Ahi wrapped in some type of dough. Reminded me of Pork Hash. YUMMY My boyfriend ordered the Sauteed Mac Nut & Herb Crusted Opah in a Lemon Caper Butter w/ Garlic Mashed Potatoe. It was soo Ono.. the fish was nicely cooked.. the sauce was salty and creamy..I wish the mashed potatoes were a little more moist.. seemed a little dry. I ordered what I was craving for... Slow Roasted Prim Rib served with a Horseradish & Au Ju sauce & a Fully Loaded Baked Potatoe with all the trimmings. . DELICIOSO.. The servers were all nice and kind to us.. we will definitely be back.. and WE WILL try the Hula Pie... TIP_ Dont get full off the salad bar
(4)
Marta T.
Everything was perfect! We went to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The fish of the day was heavenly good, great service, beautiful view...can't wait to be back!
(5)
Jim R.
I was disappointed with this Duke's. It doesn't compare to the one on Oahu. The service was good but the food was marginal. My prime rib was cold as well as the garlic mash potatoes. When I went to buy a shirt they were all out of XLs in all shirts. The gal said they would have them in two weeks. I was told I could buy one on line. Well a lot of fun that is. I had pumped this place up to my girlfriend prior to going there. Unfortunately she really want impressed. If you want good food and are in Oahu then eat at the Duke's there. Your experience will be much better.
(2)
Arik T.
Better late than never! We heard so many great things about this place and decided to wait until our last day on vacation to go (best for last type of deal) SO WORTH THE HYPE! The service left something to be desired but the food was amazing! And then came the Dessert.. HULA PIE! It was everything I had hoped for. Thank god we waited with this place otherwise I would've eaten there every single day!
(5)
Jose R.
The ambience is the best part- right by beach, the Pacific breeze flowing through- I can hang here for a very long time- We stayed away from the traditional Pupus and went for the Flatbread and the Shrimp Kale Salad- Both great choices- the vegetarian flatbread was tasty with a hint of gooeyness from the cheese-veggies were grilled perfectly- The salad was amazing!!! Kale with a hint of pesto, macadamia nut brittle as croutons-with grilled shrimp and creamy goat cheese on top of beets-it was a nice break from all the pork we've been eating!!!
(4)
David L.
Now this is serious business. We were looking for a great place to hangout, eat and enjoy. We were not disappointed by Duke's. Our waitress was truly awesome and super nice, she added a nice touch to our evening. We went there for the food, and we were not disappointed, not one bit. We took the fish tacos and fish&chips, and but were more than succulent. It was the best fish tacos we had in Hawaii. Go there, enjoy and don't mind if they ask you to wait 15min, it's totally worth it... We came back for more later that week!!!!
(5)
Marianne R.
Me and my husband came here to eat twice . The place is right on the beach and perfect if you staying at the Marriott or trying some beach activities in Lihue . The food is reasonable priced for the area and decent portions . I had the coconut shrimp one day as an appetizer and my husband had the pulled pork sandwich . The food was great , the second time we tried a flat bread pepperoni pizza . The pizza was big enough for Each of us to Have two slices and was great as well. I tried a pineapple mixed drink inside of a pineapple which was very sweet but all and all ok .
(5)
Brad V.
Food consistent with other Duke's restaurants I have dined at. Prices always seem high for the quality and amount of food you receive at Duke's. Sit outside near the sidewalk and enjoy the ocean air. Three star rating. Updated 8-28-15 Returned to duke's and ate upstairs. Much better experience this time around. I will update rating to four stars! Salad bar is worth the additional charge. One tip for management: put a pepper mill on the salad bar. Compliments to you for offering a CAESARS salad, with hole anchovies available to garnish your salad. Get a pepper mill on the salad bar and you've a winning combination. You might consider either offering pepper fringing at table side by server or just replacing salt/pepper shakers on tables with salt/pepper mills. They are small and cheap! But they add to the flavor and step up the experience a bit! I asked my server for fresh ground pepper for my salad and he said he'd be right back. 10 minutes later I just went ahead and ate my salad. When server did finally return, he said he couldn't find the pepper mill.
(4)
Cindy M.
Fish was great. Hula pie awesome. We got to sit next to the fish pond. We did not have reservations, but only had to wait 10 minutes. to be seated.
(5)
V Y.
We came here to enjoy a birthday dinner. From our table, we had a beautiful view of the beach at sunset. Our daughter got the mac and cheese from the kids menu which comes with a trip to the salad bar. I got the prime rib which I got medium well and it was so perfectly done exactly to my liking. Even though it was thoroughly cooked, it was still tender and the flavor was so good. My favorite prime rib place is Lawry's and also their Five Crowns restaurant and this prime rib was just as good as theirs. Duke's prime rib comes with rice or garlic mashed potatoes. My husband got the seared ahi yellowtail which was delicious. Cooked rare just the way he likes it. For our birthday, they brought us a hula pie with a candle on it. It is so huge, we could barely finish it, but somehow we managed to.
(5)
Desiree M.
Great place for on the beach location. Coconut shrimp was amazing. Had the veggie flat bread pizza and my husband had the pull pork sandwich. (Sorry about the lack of a picture was fresh out of the water) Traci was awesome.. If I asked a question she didn't know she would find out for me.. Great service. It wasn't to crowded but seemed like it was getting there. We were there about 20 mins after opening. I would defiantly recommend stoping here after a day in the sun.. Still on the beach but not baking in the sun.
(5)
Gerald G.
This spot was ok. We sat right next to the koi pond, which was cool. The ambience is nice, and the place was poppin'. We ordered the mango baby back ribs and the fish of the day. The server (only one guy serving food for the whole bar area) was both bussing tables and delivering food. Food sat on the delivery counter for a while. By the time we got our food, it was barely warm. There were many baskets of fish n chips on that counter that literally sat for 10 mins on average. Service aside, the food was not bad. Mango bbq ribs didn't have a hint of mango in it, so that was a miss. The fish of the day was pretty decent. Overall, nothing spectacular, and probably not worth the price. Food gets a 3, food delivery gets a 1.5. Too many waitresses, not enough servers.
(2)
Jenette M.
I've been here a few times and this place is steady eddy always good. Calamari fries, nachos, bbq chicken pizza and the salad bar are very delicious!!! Both upstairs and downstairs are good depending on the setting you desire.
(5)
Marisa R.
Feeling disgusted. I don't eat animal products but that normally never impedes me from finding a dish I can modify at almost any restaurant. Most servers, if you ask nicely, will tell you what they can modify. The server here let me order fries and guacamole (two items that are normally pretty safe) and it turnout both of them had dairy and maybe other animal products! She specifically told me they did not. Later,another server confirmed the guacamole is mixed with sour cream and the fries have a non-vegan batter. Why? I could have ordered something else? Maybe their seafood and other food is good. Defined not vegan friendly.
(2)
Heidi S.
Great views of Kalapaki beach. Happy Hour is a favorite with live music 4-6pm and drink specials. The best appetizer is the nachos. Hint: add the pork. It is delicious. Other great dishes are the mango bacon burger and the veggie flatbread. For dinner, I would suggest upstairs on the deck. The salad bar is amazing, but be careful you won't have room for the fresh fish specials. My favorite is encrusted with macademia nuts.
(4)
Jason C.
Staff is amazing. Prices are decent and it's right on the beach....boi! Would give five stars bit the food is 'ok'. I can over look the food as the view is amazing. Overall, we ate there 6 or 7 times and would go back. Big swell IPA is the cats pajamas :)
(4)
Mark O.
A Hawaii favorite. There are few things more enjoyable than eating here with the beach in front of you. the weather seems always to be perfect. The beach is great for almost anything (other than surfing). The food upstairs is more expensive and upscale than the bar food downstairs, but even the bar food is several steps above what you would get other places. There are several Duke's around the islands and we have never been disappointed.
(4)
Rick P.
You can't go wrong here. Save some money and get ready to spend. With that said, everything is well worth the money.
(5)
Alanni K.
I have always loved this place its a v day ritual for me and my gf !!! It's sad tho Cuz the salad bar no longer has the tofu salad which is amazing but there food is always superb
(4)
Danie B.
5 stars for dinner and 3 stars for downstair's takeout. Let's start with the positive. Our dinner was AMAZING! Not only was the food top notch, the service was incredible. Jeremy was attentive, sweet, and had a vast knowledge of the menu. Make sure to add the salad bar to your dinner for an extra $3. Totally worth it! I had the mahi mahi served Duke's style and loved it. We finished with the Hulu Pie which was as decedent as it was delicious. The whole staff was friendly and attentive. I will definitely go back for dinner sooner rather than later. Now to the not so good. We ordered take out from the downstair's location. When we brought the food back to our condo we realized that both salads were dry. They completely forgot to put dressing on them or on the side. We ate them anyways. Since we were staying at the Marriott Lagoons I was able to go back a couple days later and talk to a manager about it. I thought he would offer a discount for our next visit or possibly a redo of the salads. Nope. Not even an apology but just an acknowledgement that the salads should have been served with dressing. Uh, duh. Dressing is the best part of the salad. We did also ordered a flatbread, ahi sandwich, and calamari. All three were excellent. I would have rated Duke's easily five stars if it wasn't for the problem with take out.
(4)
Stacey J.
We are here for dinner twice in the dining room area on the second floor. Excellent service and great views. A bit pricey, but the food was great and nice atmospheres. I had the red snapper the first night and the chicken and beef tenderloin skewer the second night. They have an excellent salad bar that you can add for $3 which is a great deal! We made reservations both nights which made it extremely easy and we were seated right away.
(5)
Paige B.
Dukes barefoot bar has always been a good experience and part of our "tour" when we have company join us on the island. Service is fast and friendly and the food is delicious! We had the kalua pork sandwich, ahi fish tacos, ahi fish and chips and nachos and everything was delicious. This is one of our favorite places on the island and make sure that we visit at least once when we are on the island.
(5)
Peg M.
Great time. Good times friendly fast service!!! We have eaten at the restaurant a few nights ago & had a good time. But tonight we are at the barefoot bar & had a great time thank to Tiara!!! I totally recommend her!!! Thanks for everything!!!!!!
(5)
Gordon C.
Came for the Hula Pie. Did not disappoint. Great location to get out of the sun and have a few drinks. Service with a smile - they were clearly setting up for a big event scheduled for later on in the day but everyone was super friendly and dropped their task to answer any questions we had. This was our first stop in Kauai and we're glad we chose to come here.
(4)
Steven J.
Despite being a chain, Dukes was probably my favorite dining experience during the week I was in Kauai. The atmosphere is really cool, lots of wood walls and an open air dining room. I had the 7 spice ahi tuna steak with rice and a mustard sauce. The ahi seasoning and mustard sauce worked perfectly together, it was fantastic. However, my white rice was extremely overcooked, which was disappointing....it was like mush. We also split a spring roll with ahi tuna and I would highly recommend that as well.
(4)
Megan T.
This place is great!! It's a must if you're staying in the area. The wait may be long, but totally worth it. Atmosphere is fun and waitresses are friendly. Get the fish of the day :)
(5)
Helen G.
Stopped by Duke's after golf at Kauai Lagoons. Really lovely setting on Kalapaki Beach. We shared the Korean Street Tacos and the fish tacos, and both were outstanding. Recommended!
(5)
Rhiannon H.
Best food and SERVICE we found on the island!!! Everything we ate there was wonderful, drinks were great, the view and they had wonderful live music for a few hours we were there! Definitely our favorite little spot and we'll be back next trip!
(5)
Darlene B.
So I literally went to this place 4 times while on vacation in Kauai for 5 days. The first night i had dinner, ordered the Korean Tacos, a little too spicy for my taste. The second night we went for some drinks since i was close to where we were staying. Ordered a mojito and it was good! Great presentation on the pina coladas and mai tai, they came in fun glasses. The third and fourth night is when we came for the HULA PIE! I saw the pictures online and seeing it be delivered to other people, I just knew I had to have it. So i had it...TWICE. OMG -- it was so gooooood. I mean i feel like I've had a similar dessert, but this was delicious. The perfect combination of soft ice cream, cookie crumble and chocolate. Heard there was a local spot in San Diego that I will definitely try..i need that hula pie in my life!
(4)
Sue C.
This place is a must do feel good restaurant. Great for the barefoot bar with a nice view. The food was good.
(4)
Katie L.
Location is amazing, it's a great place to go if you've just spend the day hanging out at the beach. Don't expect anything great by way of food, though. It's like any other chain restaurant.
(3)
Shanna F.
Stayed at the Marriott next to Dukes so we went for dinner. Dukes has a good salad bar for $17.95 for adults and $6.95 for kids. You can add to any meal for $3. Great deal for the area. My husband got the pesto seafood fettuccine which our waiter split for us since we both got the salad bar. It was just ok, not a lot of seafood. My daughter didn't love her kids shrimp scampi so the waiter took it off the bill, which we did not expect or ask for. 3 stars for food overall and 4 stars for service and wine selection.
(4)
Katt K.
"Special occasion, sons birthday dinner" D+ overall rating. On the positive, Whitney held our table because we were running late. On the positive,waitress lent out her lighter for a couple of minutes. Why a D+, low rating?? Our server, name unknown was alright. Did not introduce herself. But maybe it was because I asked her what the specials were. Not very bubbly, not very personable. Now maybe it was because I saw that awesome server, Claudia. I wish I requested her as our server. She should train every waiter/waitress and manager. She wasn't even in our section, yet when she saw our water glass empty, she quickly refilled it. We listened in to the table she served next to us and complimented on how awesome she is! On to my drink ordered. A Nadines's Mai tai. Female bartender? Or busser, dropped it and apologized for it taking long. Drink was not frozen!! It had been sitting at bar melting. Birthday boy & sisters Mac & Cheese came out looking strange. Almost like some really cool furikake sprinkled on it. The server said "maybe it's a spice?" Spice on M&C?? Wow dukes is getting creative! Manager then returned with 2 new bowls. When asked what the mystery spice was, he replied, it was burnt cheese! (WTF) glasses of water were nearly empty quite often. My shrimp scampi had giant chunks of green tomatoes. Price increase on salad was fine but shread your carrots again and bring back the sweet potato and dinner rolls. salad bar attendant was very nice (younger local boy) and Also the valet boy and man was awesome! I don't think I'll be returning soon. I'll be cringing when visitors ask me for reservations and I'll be sure to share my experiences with them because no one ever wants to eat burnt Mac and cheese. Also tried to push my reservation back 30 minutes and was told the next reservation was at 7:45pm. By 7:30 the restaurant was empty. Sad to see such n awesome place go down the drain.
(1)
Erick T.
Had dinner there, We made Open Table reservations and we ended up with a very nice front row table view of the ocean and beach. Had the Prime Rib and a seared Ahi. Ask for the sauce on the side for the fish. The salad bar option with the entree was well worth the additional $3. You could fill up on that alone. We used the free valet parking.
(4)
Yolanda L.
Stopped in for a Mai Tai. Had the Kalapaki Mai Tai. It was pretty awful. Could not finish it. With that bad start I did not stay to eat. That said, the view is lovely.
(2)
Reuben L.
The fish tacos are so yummy, but I never have room for the Hula Pie (although it looks outstanding). The view is top notch as well.
(4)
Curtis O.
Stopped by for our last meal on the island before we got on a plane. We ate downstairs with the commoners. I enjoyed a great half rack of ribs. Food was good. Service was good. Had to wait twenty minutes but that didn't matter because we were able to watch the surfers come in. Cool place and the hula pie was worth the calories.
(4)
Sharon H.
Lunch overlooking the bay in Lihue, Kauai was the atmosphere but unfortunately that is where it stopped. No greeter at the entrance but lots of workers standing chatting by the bar. Plenty of tables open but really could careless to come seat us. Menus were placed on the table and then we waited quite some time before the waitress came. The pulled pork sandwich was prepared well but the sides were thrown in the plate and looked a mess. One of our party order the Kale salad and asked if the jumbo shrimp could be replaced with fish (any fish)... No response from the waitress, she turned and walked away. I saw her speak to another woman so I assume it was a manager. She returned to the table and said " yeah, for $30. That is going to be a dinner plus the salad." Since the salad was $11 and they offered ahi tuna tacos ( chunks of fish), We were not sure what the problem was. "So do you still want the Kale salad with fish?", she asked sarcastically. The salad was over dressed and the shrimp were undercooked. The fish tacos were good, nice aioli, but they fell apart after two bites as they had too much aioli. Overall, service was ridiculous. We never saw the waitress after the food was served. No water for the table, extra napkins or refill on the drinks. We usually come here every year and have recommended Dukes to others. Not sure that will happen again. Didn't seem to care.
(2)
Angela R.
Went here as soon as we arrived in Kauai, the Lava Flow drink was amazing, and the fish sandwich was the best I've ever tasted. Great views of the beach, and free valet parking. I definitely recommend to stop here while you are in Kauai.
(5)
Karen C.
Went at recommendation from hotel, let's just say very disappointed, thought that it would be a class act based on reviews and prices but it was not. Salad bar compared to "Golden Corral" . Fish was good but not in comparison to keoki's which is affiliated. With so many good places in kauai, would not come back.
(2)
Bree M.
The food was ok. I had the fire grilled shrimp salad. I asked for no beets as it's not something I like apparently no beets also means no goat cheese was a little disappointed that the exclusion of one meant the exclusion of both without the waitress for warning you. This was really the only choice on the menu for me at the moment. If you have any dietary restrictions I would not recommend the barefoot bar area there is not a wide variety of choices.
(2)
ImLookingAt U.
Finally...A good/great restaurant on Kauai. From the downstairs menu and eating area we: Ordered the Chicken Caesar (see pic) very good $11.90 Spouse ordered Shrimp Salad with goat cheese and roasted beats over greens (see pic) very good. $13.95 Pineapple Mojito was a bit tart for $10 Lava Flow was great $9 Hula Pie was great $7.95 $1,000,000 scenic views was "free" Will go back UPDATE Went back for dinner upstairs this time. We arrived about 5:15 without reservations and waited 1 hr to be seated. Ordered the Macadamia Pesto Seafood Fettuccine. It has prawns, some scallops and white fish (see pic) for $25.95. Taste was pretty good but I have had better. Also ordered was the Macadamia Mahi Mahi for $30.95. Tastes was great but it was paired with average red potatoes. Domestic Beer $5.50 TIP you can order off the upstairs menu in the downstairs eating area but you cannot order from the downstairs menu in the upstairs eating area. Make reservations.
(4)
K W.
The dining room upstairs deserves a 4.5 or 5. First, the view is great if you get a seat looking out at the ocean, and the restaurant is nice as well. Started with wine and got their special wonton appetizer- yummy! We both had fish and my plate had lobster as well. Both were really good, and of course Hula Pie. I like the downstairs area as well. We've been a few times: live music is nice and view is great. The coconut shrimp are wonderful, nachos with pork are good and love the street tacos. I think they should have a few dessert options. The Hula pie is good, but would be nice to have a non- ice cream option.
(4)
Sher R.
I have eaten at Duke's in Huntington beach a lot and love it. Too bad they don't have some of the same things there in Lihue on the menu. We ate at Duke's several times while in Kauai and it was good each time. One night we ate upstairs and I had the Opa; probably the best fish dish I've ever eaten. The atmosphere was nice, the view fabulous. We ate there on Tuesday night as well which was taco tuesday. Very good tacos, although the guac was obviously out of a package. Living in SoCal we eat the best guac and it is easy to tell an imposter, they need to change that. More fresh fish dishes would be nice to see on the menu and really frresh local produce. I'd go back but Huntington Beach has a much better menu in the bar area.
(4)
David D.
Great salad bar, staff was helpful freindly and prompt. Goto location for a great meal in Kauia.
(4)
Christine C.
Every time we visit Hawaii, whether is Waikiki, Maui or Kauai, we feel like we have to go to Duke's, it's like an iconic. And every time our experience is really just so so. To begin this time in Kauai, the drinks was watered down, when mentioned to the server, she didn't offer me another drink - so I just left it. The food was just ok, really nothing spectacular for $25 - $30 dinner. Their hula mud pie is great - chocolate crust top with macadamia nut ice cream, chocolate sauce, macadamia nuts and whip cream. But just think, none of the above ingredients are made in house, they just put it together and freeze it. The location and view is always spectacular, that's really all there is for Duke!
(2)
Karen W.
During our stay in Kauai over the past week, we had dinner at Duke's twice. The first time we had reservations upstairs in the dining room and it was my understanding that we would be seated by the rail overlooking the ocean, and this was my expectation as I made the reservation almost two months ago. We were seated on the second tier which has an good view as well, but I was upset because we were told that the empty tables by the rail were being held for bigger parties. My husband and I ordered fresh fish and the $3 salad bar as an add on. For the service and meal served I would give this 3 stars. Several days later, we came back and had dinner at Duke's downstairs in the barefoot bar. We were seated at the edge overlooking the water. There is a more casual menu available in the barefoot bar so this time we ordered flatbread and Korean street tacos. I think the casual and open air atmosphere downstairs is a bit more fun. There was live music for part of the dinner. For the service and meal on this day I would rate 4 stars. Dukes Tip: If you are driving here for Dukes, the parking can be a bit difficult in the public lots. We used the Duke's Valet both times and were really happy that we did.
(4)
Jade R.
Overpriced and tasteless food. There's a dozen better options that aren't as well known but have much better food. Do some research on Yelp and stay away from here.
(2)
Brandon S.
This was disappointing. The location is great. There are great views of the ocean in most areas within the restaurant. The service was ok throughout our meal. Our server was nice. The meal was the disappointment. I started with the salad bar. It was lacking options. I really expected more given the fact it costs $17 if you get it without a meal. The options that were on it tasted ok. For my meal I ordered the Mango Barbecue Ribs. The ribs are slow cooked in the mango barbecue glaze. The ribs were tender, but lacking in flavor. I was really looking forward to some Hawaiian barbecue. The food was not bad, but just needed more flavor. This is an ok place to grab a casual lunch, but for a quality dinner you may want to look elsewhere.
(2)
Ashley W.
My husband and I came here before checking into our hotel for a quick bite to eat. The food was great! We ordered the ahi wrap and the fish tacos and they were both to die for! I also had the drink with the back scratcher (forgot the name) and it was super yummy. The best part is that we were beach front.
(4)
David T.
Had a good time with family. Service was good. Can't beat the beach side view. Food was tasty can't wait to go back. Megan had the best Kalua Pork sandwich she has ever had, even after starting with the Super Nachos with Kalua and finishing the night with the Hula Pie.
(5)
Susan C.
Awesome location. Menu varied, but beware you pay for the location. The bar is lively and located right on the beach in Nawiliwili harbor. I like lunch there because our condo is in Poipu and I generally do not like that drive after dark. It is very dark here and not a lot of street lights. FYI-A bottle of LA Crema Chardonnay was $50, priced today at Costco, $15.99. I opted for a glass of the house Chardonnay, $8.
(4)
Norm D.
I always enjoy going to Duke's in Kaua'i (and Waikiki as well). A great busy hangout for tourists with a large selection of meat and seafood dishes. Not a big fan of tropical drinks so I ordered a Bombay Sapphire dry martini. It was a little "wet" but was passable. I ordered a rare prime rib dinner and the Hula Pie at the end. The prime rib was a little fatty and a bit more rare than I would have liked it, but again, it was fine. The baked potato was perfect loaded with butter, sour cream, chives, and bacon. The Hula Pie as usual was great and was shared with my companions. Service was great with great and humorous interaction with the waiter, but laid back in the true Hawaiian style. Great view of the water from our seating spot. Always a fine visit. The wait was longer than usual and the reason for the 4-stars.
(4)
DJ B.
Delicious! Great good, great service. Prices are a little high but it's Hawaii. You're paying for the incredible view of the ocean.
(5)
Heather N.
We had a great time dining for dinner at Duke's upstairs restaurant. The hostess was accommodating to our table requests and our waiter, Hunter, was awesome. He was friendly & personable, even going above & beyond with advice on activities & must see places on the island. Food was good, though not as amazing as I had remembered. The salad bar for $3 is the best value on the island. The Lavaflow was pretty good, as was the chicken & steak skewers. The pesto seafood fettuccine was nothing special. Of course the hula pie is a must!
(4)
Jaz Z.
The food is five stars. The view is six. All the food was prepared very well, zero issues. Great salad bar. We got the catch of the day - phenomenal. The shrimp scampi was fantastic. Great sauce. Fish tacos were fantastic. Chicken lemongrass amazing. Hula pie amazing!!!
(5)
C F.
We started downstairs in the bar area,and sat next to the koi pond and trees area leading next tot the restaurant. After some confusion on our part, we moved upstairs to the restaurant for our meal. I had the steak and coconut shrimp and single trip through the salad bar. All of our food was great, and the only complaint is that we didn't have room to try the famous pie for dessert. Our service was also great, although it seemed like there were a lot of extra employees standing around looking for something do. The salad bar, which is self serve and only ~20 items, had 6 employees standing around talking behind the sneeze guard.
(4)
John R.
Really two different places. Upstairs is Dukes restraunt. Classic Dukes. Got your steaks, chicken, shellfish and seafood dishes. Large dinner portions but pricey. Really beautiful views or the bay. Great wait staff, pleasant and at least pretend to care. Downstairs is the barefoot bar. Similar to Dukes but more like a standard bar and more like burgers and smaller meals. View is still great. If in the area you owe it to yourself to go!
(5)
Aubrey P.
Thanks to the beautiful beach view we wandered in and out of this place during the day we spent on he beach. Beers and drinks were reasonably priced. Tuesday's are taco Tuesday during happy hour. SO DARN GOOD! Got both a fish and Kailua pork taco. Will be back.
(5)
M N.
Dukes- please extend our most sincere thank you to Kapua! We had the most excellent dinner and were so greatful for her accommodation and recommendations. Every since item was perfect to our taste (even with a food allergy...unheard of service!) Thank you for making our stay memorable, we are so excited to explore her favorite island hotspots and endorsements:) Excited to to return!
(5)
Brigitte S.
After reading my community manager Emi's review of Dukes in Kauai and having a good experience at the Oahu location, I already knew we needed to stop here. Luckily my boyfriends parents were staying at the hotel where Dukes is located so we stopped in a few times. I really liked this location; right off the beach at the Kauai Marriot. There are two levels, the top being more restaurant while the bottom is more beach cafe bar. The vibe is happy, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Everybody had a drink in their hand so we immediately went in on the menu - after all, we were on vacation! Food wise we only tried the Korean steak tacos as its my go to dukes dish. It wasn't bad, meat was a little chewy but the flavor was good. Drink wise, we tried a bunch and we were pleasantly surprised by how good they were & we definitely left with starry eyes. ;) First off, every drink we ordered was way more alcoholic then I would expect for a tourist joint. They had the frou frou umbrellas and tiki cups but they made sure the drinks were tasty, pretty & well worth the money! I wound up starting with a Kalapaki Mai Tai. I usually don't love Mai Tais but I found this one extremely tasty. They use local Koloa spiced & dark rum, Malibu rum with passion & pineapple juice. So smooth, so tropical, so good. I had been awake since 4am and had the morning feel still so I ordered a Bloody Mary, spicy, no celery. It was delicious with a perfect kick & plenty of vodka. The boyfriend ordered the Hawaiian Salt, which was ocean vodka with lemonade, passion fruit juice & Li hing powder. He seemed to enjoy it but switched it up for drink number two as well. The Kalapaki Colada was up :: local Koloa gold rum, macadamia nut liquor, pineapple juice & coconut syrup, served on the rocks. He really liked it, it was so yummy & okay, a little girly, but that rum was hidden in there haha, you feel it even if you don't taste it. We truly felt this was the perfect start to our weekend island hop adventure vacation. We decided to wander to the pool at the hotel for drinks but first we ordered a Hula Pie to go. If you've never had hula pie, it's a must and perfect for sharing. It's ginormous with vanilla ice cream, chocolate shell, chocolate fudge, macadamia nuts, whipped cream and all sorts of goodness. It's like a childhood ice cream sundae in a pie. Best part was our waitress packaged it perfectly with the hot fudge on the side so it don't melt as we walked to the pool. The man looked so happy eating it! As for the end of our Dukes experience, we had excellent service, quality drinks and a fun atmosphere. I highly recommend stopping in for at least a drink. You'll feel the Aloha Spirit. :)
(5)
Joe M.
Stopped in for taco Tues, but could not have them, So had to order the reg tacos at 4 times the cost. So that was not my fav thing but we came back a couple time and had some of the tuna and apps. For us we loved sitting at the bar and looking out at the waves. Great spot. In the evening they have live music, Crazy never hear them play Hawaiian music, but its was good music. Go for the view.
(4)
Stephanine W.
Horrible. Overrated. Location = great. Set up looks cool too. Food was the one of the worst experiences on the island. Marriott was a better dinner, which was shocking!
(1)
Emi H.
Yes, this is a totally touristy spot, but guess what? You're probably a tourist if you're reading this so you'll most likely enjoy the experience. There's not a lot to eat in Lihue, especially in the evenings, and Duke's is a solid choice if you're staying in the area. It's a much better alternative to eating at a hotel restaurant as it's somewhat better priced in comparison. We were hanging out with our parents at the nearby Kaua'i Marriott and decided to go to Duke's after looking at the alternatives in the area. We had a party of 5 adults and 3 kids, and they were able to sit us within five minutes of arrival. Duke's is split into two levels with two different menus and experiences on each. Upstairs is a more formal dining experience and great if you're wanting a romantic dinner, while downstairs more casual. We chose to go downstairs because the menu was more affordable and kid friendly. Deep fried shrimp: Very deep fried but one won't kill you. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Crab stuffed won ton: I don't know why, but everytime I go to Duke's I have to get these. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Beet salad: Your basic beet salad, so don't expect to be blown away. I'd get the dressing on the side. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Ribs appetizer: This and the beet salad made up my entree for the evening. This was my favorite dish of the night as it had great flavor. I ended up ordering a bowl of rice to eat with it and balance out the saltiness. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Korean street tacos: Not the greatest I've ever had but certainly a big portion if that's what you're looking for. The meat was cut way too big and it's a lot to have to chew your way through. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Chicken tenders & fries: We got these for our kids and they enjoyed them. Not gourmet fair, but completely what we expected. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Hula pie: No first time visit to Duke's is ever complete without this bad boy. Be forewarned that it's gigantic so order one to share with the table. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Wonderful service throughout the night and gorgeous restaurant right on the beach. Great spot to get your daily mai tais and enjoy your Hawaiian vacation!
(4)
Lee H.
Our favorite bartender Castildo recommended the Wialua Wheat on draught, he was right on, it was the best beer we ever had. I love Dukes and the great folks here, we're going to be back!!!!! Great views from the bar and incredible food upstairs.
(5)
Jerry L.
First meal after that 5 and 1/2 hour flight from the Mainland. Pretty close in proximity to the Marriott Resort. Decor is great with all the pictures on the wall of Hawaiian surfing legends and a huge koi pond right in the middle of the restaurant. It's an open air restaurant with lots of flora and fauna to make you feel right with nature. On to the dishes: Fish tacos for the SO - SO wolfed them both down - must have been hungry and/or must have been good Chicken tenders and crosscut fries for the little guy - some good chicken and fries! Buffalo wings for me - lots of sauce, but those wings must have come from some huge chickens Service was good - refills on the Shirley Temple and Ice teas came quickly and frequently. Will likely eat here again before the week is over.
(4)
Eric And Arisa C.
Ambiance: 5-star Food: 3.9-star Service: -1-star We called ahead to inquire about happy hour for Friday night and they told us 4-6 downstairs. We show up Friday at 5 and Duke's is hosting its own private event downstairs. While it would have been nice to have been told about this when we called, luckily we had made reservations upstairs for 5:30 so we still had a seat in the main dining area. The part that was the most frustrating was how they handled their miscommunication. I asked if it would be possible to still be able to order the drinks at happy hour prices since the whole reason we came early was for the happy hour. The response of the larger hostess was incredibly rude (she basically said, look, it's not our problem do you want to eat here or not? She literally told us if we wanted a happy hour we could go to another restaurant.) A manager eventually agreed to let us order drinks upstairs at the happy hour prices. Honestly, Duke's - congratulations on your 25th anniversary and all, but would it be THAT hard to accommodate for your customers while you party in front of them? Like you couldn't consider moving the Aloha Hour to the upstairs dining room instead of putting your patrons out? These days it's all about customer service - if you fail at that, it's only a matter of time before you fail period. I feel terrible having told so many people to visit your restaurant on their way out of Hawaii, none of the 8 parties I told had ever heard of you, and now I know why. Anyone who's experienced your bad service and poor management decisions would never recommend someone cap off their vacation here. Now I know.
(2)
Tom A.
It is a beautiful place with an amazing view. Food and service were very good. Salad bar is nice. Parking is tough so go for the free valet. Also call for reservations it is always crowded
(4)
Toni D.
We had lunch at the barefoot bar yesterday. Atmosphere was great and the wait was only 10 minutes. We had burgers and steak. All the food was served hot and quickly. My favorite was the Lava Flow drink. Yum.
(4)
C J.
Excellent food and service! I enjoyed the ahi very much and the mai thais are delicious! Dennis was my server, he was very pleasant and attentive. I give this place 5 star and A++++ for service, ambience and food!
(5)
Jennifer S.
Staying at the Marriot and I wanted to eat somewhere local. Duke's was recommended but the reviews on yelp were poor. I still trusted my instincts and tried it..............FANTASTIC MEAL! I had the amazing salad bar for only $3 and I ordered the prime rib with garlic mash potatoes. The meat was cooked perfectly, and loaded with flavor. Potatoes were delicious! Additionally, ocean view while dinning, epic!
(4)
Karen S.
Not as good as it used to be. They charge $3 now for the salad bar with a meal (it used to be included). Ok, so it's only $3, but the entire menu is pricier while portions got smaller. Food was good, but not great as I remember it.
(3)
Wayne S.
Okay, so maybe it's a little touristy... but, I had so much fun at Duke's I can't contain myself. I quite enjoyed the food and extensive salad bar (a meal in itself). The service was great. The views are breathtaking, and the ambience is spectacular. This may be my new favorite restaurant of forever. I mean, there's a waterfall flowing through the middle of it and everything! It's like something out of Swiss Family Robinson. Aloha!
(4)
Rob K.
Based on the reviews we had low expectations which were greatly exceeded. We ate upstairs. Kids were very happy with the kids menu. My wife really like the Prime Rib and my fish was great (sauce was delicious). The four of us shared a Hula Pie for dessert which is a must have. Our waiter was fantastic and earned one of the larger tips I've left for a waiter in a long time. It's not a 5 star restaurant and the view is good, the food solid and the service for our one evening was super.
(4)
Jaimelynn D.
I always find my boyfriend and I coming back to Duke's.Their food is excellent. When we dine in upstairs I order the seven spice seared ahi. That lilikoi sauce(i believe it's lilikoi) is amazing! My boyfriend gets the usual prime rib, medium rare. The waitresses check up on you often and they create a positive vibe when you're there. Never did I come across unacceptable service here at Duke's.
(4)
Bob B.
This place is insanely average at best, which is what makes it so painfully over priced. $30 for a half a rack of okay ribs with no sides are you fucking kidding me?! Great atmosphere but that's all it has going for itself. This is nothing but a tourist trap; don't get gouged for meh food.
(2)
Chris L.
I'VE HAD BETTER - Positives: the salad bar, service and open/airy ambiance. FOOD - Salad bar is huge and the server was great. However there was nothing spectacular about the +$100 meal we had. I had the fresh fish special, herb crusted with Mac nut. My girlfriend had the same fish in Duke style. Her fish was undercooked and she ended up sending it back. Mine was just okay, kind of overcooked, and not worth $30 in my opinion. It's very chain like so if you like that type of thing this is the place for even keeled food that has no surprises. TIP - You can pay $16 just for the salad bar which is what I would do if I came back to enjoy dinner by the beach. But next time, I will stick to the more local places.
(2)
Niyant S.
I loved this place! Duke's was attached to the Marriott that we stayed at during our honeymoon, and we had a couple of meals here. After each meal, I left completely full and satisfied with my meal, and if we had more time I would have gone back again (can't beat charging to the room either!). One of our first nights on the island, we came down to Duke's for dinner. Duke's is a nice sized restaurant with a good amount of seating with a decent sized bar area as well. It is also open and facing the bay, which is always a nice plus. Also, in the middle of the restaurant, they have a small koi fish pond, adding another nice element. All that being said, Duke's is definitely the kind of place that is laid back where you can come to dinner in a t-shirt. The first night I ordered one of the fish dishes (this was so long ago I can't remember the details), and needless to say it was awesome! One of the best fish entrees I had my whole time here. I should mention I was not a big fish/seafood eater before coming to Hawaii, but my time there definitely opened my eyes to the wonderful cuisine. The second time we came was for their fish taco Tuesday, in which all fish tacos are at a discount price! I ordered 2 of these, and enjoyed every bite! Would definitely recommend checking Duke's out to anyone staying at the Marriott or around the area, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Francisco T.
Food was not good. Service is slow. This is a very well known restaurant that is much better in LA. I am surprised that this Duke's in Kauai was not great. If you compare the food in all of Kauai to food in Duke's is on par.
(1)
Bernie C.
Really quite a poor restaurant. Service was sketchy, ribs awful and drinks lacked any appreciable alcohol. The salad bar was pretty good though. I won't be back.
(1)
Lynda W.
We actually at at the Barefoot Bar. We heard someone on the plane talking about Duke's so we thought we would give it a try. Awesome food. BBQ pork sandwich with Mango salsa was great. My husband had the fish taco. Also great. Both were very filling. Anytime we come to Kauai we will come here.
(4)
Greg C.
We needed to switch rental cars at the airport and decided to visit Dukes again. We had been there once before and thought it was good for the view and drinks. We sat upstairs this time and enjoyed a beautiful view. Waiter was a very nice young man (Hunter). We each had fresh fish that Hunter recommended. We skipped the salad bar after seeing a lot of big fat people loading their plates multiple times and dropping food on thier way back to their table. I would say my first impression was correct: good views and drinks. Food only average.
Loved my last Mai tai on the island! Great for the beach and sunset views. Liked being able to walk the gardens in the Marriott too! Very pretty...and I just discovered wailua wheat from Lima brewery! Ask them to add some pineapple!!!!! Omg heaven
(4)
Monica C.
We stayed at the Marriott and it was very convenient eating here. We always ate at the Barefoot Bar because it's prices are better and you still get a bomb meal! We also liked the ambiance there and were always able to get seated pretty quickly. We had our share of lava flows, mai tais, and La Piñas (all very tasty) and tried most things on the menu. Korean street tacos are a must, as is the hula pie! Go, you will not be disappointed :)
(4)
Erin N.
My husband and I came out to Lihue on our honeymoon, and ended up at Duke's most nights. We're not partiers, but by the time we were ready for dinner Duke's was the only place that was open. Not to mention, it was colocated with our resort which made it easy and safe to stumble to after drinks in our room. The food was always delicious, the services was decent, the convenience essential, and the view amazing. There's nothing like ordering a fancy drink, tasty appetizers, and hearing waves crashing on the shore behind you.
(4)
Alyssa T.
The worst restaurant experience we've had on the island so far. We went in for lunch and were excited as we've been to Duke's on Maui and their sister restaurant in the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Our waitress was short and rude, questioning us if we had even checked in with the hostess. We were craving Pina Coladas and Mai Tais, which turned out to be awful. The Mai Tai was no more than Pog mixed with light rum?! And the Colada was no more than coconut syrup blended with a splash of rum and pineapple juice. The worst $13.00 drink we've ever had. We expressed this to the waitress, Kristol, who hesitantly took our drinks back to the bar for floaters and persisted to charge us an additional $2.00 each. Our appetizer, the calamari, was small and cold, and our lunch (the Korean tacos and Ahi Wrap) was okay. The Hula Pie was great, no complaints there, but our lunch was not at all worth the $135 we spent. VERY disappointing. Sadly, we will not be returning or recommending this place to anyone.
(1)
Deeps M.
Dinner date with husband. Lovely place on the beach. Ask for a table near the front overlooking beach. With every entree you get access to the all you can eat salad bar which was very good. You can also order from lunch menu, just be careful as two different kitchens are making food so may be some time difference when food comes out. We ordered nachos to start with, and then risotto cake with portobello mushroom and fish and chips. All delicious. The risotto cake dish was really tasty a top rated dish on my list. Had the "Hoola Pie" to finish. This was a mountain of cookie base, macadamia ice cream and chocolate fudge with whipped cream!!! Also ordered the pineapple mojito. A billion calories later- very satisfied customer. :)
(4)
Giulianna N.
When my husband and I returned to Kauai, we knew we had to fit in dinner at Dukes.... The service is always top notch, with that one-of-a-kind aloha kindness!! We always reserve a table by the balcony railing for the beach front view! Gorgeous!! To start, the hubby and I got a couple of drinks to celebrate our trip, the hubby got the Lava Flow and I got the Mango Martini.. great island drinks! Next up, the salad bar.. which is... to die for!!! The staff whips up ceasar salad to order, perfectly creamy and dressed! And then they have the most amazing banana mac-nut muffins!! AYCE!!! I can eat like 5 of those babies!! Yum!!!! For our entrees, we often go with the fresh catch of the day..well, because we are on an island.. I got the ono mac nut and herb crusted with delicious lemon and caper butter sauce!!! DELISH!! Succulent and moist!! And for dessert, the hubby and I split an order of their famous Hula Pie! This is an enormous slice of ice cream pie.. the hubby ate every single last bite!! Love it! :)
(4)
Matt M.
The ambiance was great. Great for families and intimate dinners. They have a bar menu downstairs, but if you would like to splurge, I would suggest staying on the main level. Prices are steep ($30 a plate) but so is their salad bar (included). One of the best potato salads I had eaten out. My wife and I shared the opah fish (Firecracker Roasted and Sauteed Mac Nut and Herb Crusted). Best dinner we had in Hawaii.
(5)
De C.
Beautiful setting, free valet, good food, pricing and drinks. This would have been 5 stars if the waitress wasn't in such a terrible mood. We ordered the turkey sandwich and the burger and both were delicious.
(4)
Cloud L.
I love this restaurant!! My wife and I visit Kauai last year and we stayed at the Marriott. After a long flight from LAX to Kauai, we head straight to Duke's. We sat at the bar and was service by a very friendly bartender and which made our trip to Kauai even better. And everyday after that we head to duke's and have a few drinks before bed. My advice is sit at the bar!!!!
(5)
Sarah B.
Excellent service! Timing of drinks, appetizers and main course was impeccable. Our server Rusty was fantastic and really knew the food! we will definitely be coming back here, as well as recommending this restaurants to anyone and everyone we meet!
(5)
Jeff N.
(For the dinner menu). Pretty standard fare. The food is good but not outstanding. It's priced exactly where you'd expect for a restaurant attached to an island resort. Lots of typical turf options, but if you like seafood, go for the fresh fish. I ordered opah and was very happy with it. Service is generally very pleasant and reasonably attentive. The location and ambience are solid: most tables have line of sight right to the ocean, and there's a pleasant little waterfall and koi pond inside.
(4)
Brittany Z.
Our favorite restaurant on the island!!! The salad bar is amazing and we actually went back to have it more than once!! I got the steak and chicken the first time, and honestly left unimpressed. My husband got the fish of the day (swordfish) and that was great! The next time around, we got the ribs and they are honestly the best tasting ribs we have ever had!!! You must get the ribs! The hula pie is pretty delicious, but very similar to ice cream cake. The atmosphere is great! The service was also fantastic each time. It's a great location with the view of the beach and then an inside jungle. We did not eat at the barefoot bar, but they had live music.
(5)
Pixie G.
The best parts about this restaurant honestly are probably the view (opens onto a great view of the beachfront) and the service (went there three times and each time had great and chipper servers). All times, we ate at the barefoot bar, which is the downstairs part of the bar. The first time, I had a lava flow and an ahi tuna wrap. Both were quite tasty. The second time, I had another lava flow and some appetizers (calamari) during their aloha hour (happy hour). Lava flow this time may have been watered down a little (I didn't get the buzz I usually get from alcohol, and I'm a lightweight), but the calamari was good. The last time, I got a pina colada (pretty good) and a kalua pork burger, which I thought was very flavorful. I do think they do "bar food" better. A perk of eating at the barefoot bar is you also get to order off their "upstairs" menu. Hubby ordered a macadamia pesto fettuccine, which came with two small scallops and many two shrimps. The fettuccine was fine, but nothing too impressive, especially for the $20-something price tag. So if you do order from here, I'd stick with the downstairs menu (or maybe a fresh catch, I didn't try any of those).
(4)
Tomer P.
The environment was great, Location on the beach was great, service was great but the food wasn't that good, we went with 2 more people and only one of them liked the food, I will still recommend to go there, not a bad spot.
(4)
Winston S.
My goal is to eat at all of the Duke's restaurants and have yet to visit Maui, but just went to this location for the first time on Sunday. I love the interior! The plants and everything were so nice, like Disney-esque! I don't have my iphone cord with me, otherwise, I would post the pics. There is a waterfall and a mini pod with Koi fish. The service was decent, nothing special though. I ordered Korean tacos and they tasted better than I expected. Not quite Kogi BBQ, but that's hard to beat. The outside view is amazing! Great to see fellow surfers and stand up paddlers catching waves at Kalapaki Beach. Can't wait to return and also to surf Kalapaki Beach!
(4)
Tim F.
Had a delicious lunch as our last meal before heading back to the mainland. We definitely saved one of the best for last. I had the pork sandwich had my wife had the ahi tacos. Both of which were delicious and definitely worth ordering again. We finished off the meal with a Hula Pie which was the perfect ending to a great lunch. Aloha Kauai!
(5)
Hisako S.
Service was awful here. Especially front lady lying to everyone half short time than actual. I was told 20~30 min wait. When I went back to her after 30 min passed, she yelled at me and told "6 more min, OK!" With irritated voice. All other people are upset waiting too long. We could finally seated 60 mini of total wait and there were so many empty tables. I didn't understand why they didn't seat us if there are empty tables. Anyway, that front lady start even ignored me to my question why it is taking so long after we were told 6 more min. All other customers were angry with her attitude and lying about waiting time. If she could told me that 60 min waiting time, we would have gone to other place. 2 of my boys got too sleepy to eat after 60 min wait. All of my family member upset with that lady's attitude and ruined our 1st family re-Union vacation night. FYI: I definitely recommend to make a reservation, but be prepare to wait 30 min from your reservation. Many customers complained because of length of waiting time even with their reservation.
(1)
Bobbie B.
Good- Lovely setting with view of the Lihue harbor in the Marriott resort. 80% of the tables with a great view. The salad bar had very good variety of vegetables all of which were delicious. Bad-The cook does not know how to prepare fish. My ono was overcooked, my husband's ahi had handful of salt thrown onto a portion of the fish fillet. The salad bar ran out of all the muffins and speciality breads, for the night, at 6:00 pm on a Sunday. The price would have been reasonable if they knew how to cook fish.
(3)
Joe E.
We've been to all the Hawaiian Dukes and this is our favorite. Don't go to Dukes for trendy gourmet fair. They have basic, solid recipes for everyone, great service and a wonderful salad bar. We actually ate there twice -- the prices are fairly good for on-the-beach Hawaii.
(4)
Dave M.
Resort dining at its worst. Long wait, poor service, bad food at high prices. Got sat downstairs when we asked for upstairs, which makes a difference because the menus are different. Ordered chicken and steak, chicken was ice cold and bland. Steak was rare when asked for well done and also ice cold. Salad bar has like 10 types of dressing yet none are marked in anyway so built my whole salad and dumped a bunch of blue cheese dressing on it thinking it was ranch. I hate blue cheese. Yet they pay some local kid to stand there as each and every person asks him the same question over and over again which is " what kind if dressing is this?" just so stupid. I can go on and on but why bother. Just avoid at all costs.
(1)
Krystle M.
One of my favorite places to eat. Downstairs: casual dress, near the beach. Love their ahi wrap. Upstairs: little fancy, still casual dress tho. Different menu compared to downstairs. Always have the shrimp scampi. Delicious! For dessert, have one of their hula pies. Share one cause their huge!! Valentines they have a strawberry one.
(4)
William C.
Love this place, great location with a perfect view of the beach. At happy hour today they had a fantastic acoustic guitar player and singer.
(4)
Sarah d.
Mac nut and crab wontons are stellar!! BBQ chicken flatbread & coconut shrimp are also! Great location! Great drinks! Super pretty tall blonde waitress! The place is pretty busy but tables turn over fast. I highly recommend it!
(5)
K J.
Food and service was great. Long wait for a table but not a problem if you make a reservation in advance!
(4)
Layne R.
Nice salad bar, nice location on the beach, really good service, and good food. Definitely worth a stop when you are on the island. I had the Steak Kimo and it was all very good. Well cooked and seasoned steak, nice size too. The mashed potatoes were delicious. The salad bar has a lot of good options and I enjoyed the Caesar salad, though if you aren't a fan of the more fishy tasting Caesar dressing, you might want to consider something else. Our waitress was friendly and fast. All in all, a filling, tasty dinner with good service and a nice view.
(4)
Jaymie D.
Dined at both the Barefoot Bar and at the upstairs restaurant while staying at the Marriott Beach Club. Super convenient if you're staying at the hotel and they are open until 11 pm which is awesome. The Barefoot Bar seating area is a great place to grab a simple bite to eat (you can also order from the full Dukes menu) They have burgers, salads, tasty apps, etc. Upstairs is a bit more pricey and upscale but still decent and food is worth the price. The salad bar upstairs is around $14 but gives you quite a few options. Servers were friendly and gave the place a great vibe. Don't forget to save room for the Hula Pie!
(4)
Ethan G.
You can never go wrong with Dukes. Let's be real. If you're near Lihue, make a dinner reservation for this place. They get busy quick! I like how they have a salad bar that's given to you if you order an entree. It's a rare thing for restaurants to do that, actually. Get the hand-tossed Caesar salad at the end of the salad bar; it's the best! Get a seat on the top level with an ocean view. Great ambiance, and delicious food. Cocktails were good, and I definitely enjoyed my Ono fish entree. Ask what the catch of the day is, or what's the freshest. Just go with the server's suggestion, they know what's good and what's not!
(5)
S E.
Satisfying Salad Bar My vegetarian husband was getting antsy for more salad. We did have good salads at other restaurants, but they were not the main meal. We came here for the salad bar and were not disappointed. The selection about 5 of pre-made salads were all good and you could make your own with enough ingredients to do a salad justice. I particularly liked the beets and two different sprouts. Ranch dressing was good too. There was no vinaigrette choice for dressings. There were also good homemade muffins. I do wish that soup was included in the salad bar, but if they only had onion soup (only menu choice for soup), I wouldn't have eaten it anyway. The service was very nice. We made reservations, but arrived early and were able to be seated after a short wait. We were given a nice table on the edge with a view of ? (because it was already dark). The only bad part was that I had hurt my foot that day and it was sore to walk on. Our table was probably the farthest one away from the salad bar! Normally that would give me incentive to eat more since I would feel like the walk was working off some of the calories.
(4)
Dawn H.
Consider the location, price and quality of food, it is really 4.5 star. After you eat there, you will feel it is better than I expected from a 5 star hotel, but nothing spectacular. We will go back.
(4)
Stephanie W.
First... The ambiance is beautiful. You're on the beach and the decor is very nice. The whole dinning area is open and airy. We didn't have a reservation, but was seated quickly. And then we waited... And waited... And waited for our waiter. Finally a gal came up and filled our waters and we asked if we could but our drink orders in. Then we waited some more and our server came by with the drinks. We already knew what we wanted so we ordered our dinner then. The salad bar was really good with fresh choices. The main course didn't take too long. The food came and looked very well plated. 2 out of the 3 steaks were not cooked as requested but still really good. Drinks were never refilled during the service. Overall the food was really good, we all walked away full... I just wish that we could have received better service since we were paying $35 per person.
(3)
Max V.
We had our "after wedding dinner" at Duke's and the service was amazing! Hunter, our "server" is incredible! He made our dinner experience effortless. I highly recommend requesting him as your "server" if you go here. He is a Kauai native, free dives, and knows all about the island. Super nice and friendly. Oh, and the food at Duke's is delicious!
(5)
Brent V.
I've ate here many times and the food is just OK, I go here because it is really the only decent restaurant around besides the Marriott. This dukes has an amazing indoor waterfall flowing through the restaurant.... Pretty Cool !
(3)
Sara S.
Very touristy and overpriced but very good food. Just go for the Hula pie and skip the rest.
(4)
Jarod H.
Prime Rib (PR). Best on Kauai. Period. The Bull-Shed once held this title, but the quality of the PR dropped at the Bull-Shed. SO, Duke's is the reigning champion of Kauai for PR. Service is great. Attentive and friendly. Highly recommend, when you are on Kauai.
(5)
Gregg H.
We stayed in Princeville for 9 days but found a way to eat at Duke's 4 times. Simple but great menu, friendly service, and a great happy hour. We ate downstairs and the atmosphere and view was wonderful.
(5)
Wendy E.
People complain about the "touristy" part of Duke's, but we have been coming here for years and it is always top notch. The fish has honestly always been my favorite on the island. The preparations are perfect, not over done. My daughter had the steak and fish special, the steak was ok but the fish was amazing! I always get the mahi-mahi, and I am never disappointed. ....the hula pie is legendary and the views are spectacular. Everything I am looking for in a great restaurant....thanks for being consistent over the years Duke's!
(5)
Andres L.
This is a safe option. I went twice for dinner and had the fresh catch, burger, bbq flatbread and the hula pie dessert. All dishes were solid and the location is too convenient if you're staying at the Marriott.
(4)
Bernadette M.
Perhaps it's because this was the first stop when I got picked up at the airport by my cousin, but this place was wonderful. Life is good when you're in Hawaii. We parked in the dirt parking lot, walked across a bridge with the water leading to the ocean, passed a shop selling souvenirs and another one of some gear to hit that gorgeous water. At the restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly hostess but we declined her services and sat at the bar. Tables of four covered the bar area but past the low barricade and retractable awnings, there was that ocean. People were getting ready for their surf lessons, sun bathing and loving life. Paradise. We ordered the Won Tons and Mahi Caesar for snacks. The won tons had ginger in it. I'm not a fan so I ate the wrapper. I had the Pau Hana Punch and my cousin had the Pineapple Mojito, both $9.50 each. Evan was the bartender and it was quite obvious I was not a local with my Niners gear and he gave me a hard time about the Super Bowl. We had a good time here. Sales tax is 4% here so consider that when tipping.
(5)
Ann B.
Great service, fun atmosphere, excellent location as with all TS Restaurant properties. Bar was fun and live music was excellent although the set seemed too short (2 hrs with a 30+ minute break). Food overall is just so-so but if you stick to bar food (burgers, tacos, apps, etc.) it is very good. The free salad bar with all dinner entrees is a nice touch and added value.
(4)
Wayne K.
I upgraded my rating mostly because of the overall improvement of our entrees. We both had fish. I had grilled monchon (?) with a lemon basil glaze. My wife had the Macadamia nut ono with a lemon caper sauce. Both were excellent. The salad bar had a huge selection of fresh salad ingredients and dressings. The prepared salads were very good too. Service was friendly and efficient. Ya better get reservations unless ya want to have a drink or two downstairs! We had the drinks and were entertained just watching the bartenders in action. Downstairs dining is casual and has a different menu.
(4)
Sydney H.
Customer service was alright, our waitress was nice but the hostesses weren't that friendly. The place is absolutely gorgeous. Kind of pricey, but hey, you get what you pay for: food was absolutely amazing. I got the Mong Chong dukes style, which was wonderful, but my aunt got the seared Ahi and I wish that I got that!! It was amazing. My only downside was that the rice pilaf accompanying the fish was not very good.. But the fish was so great that it made up for it. I forgot to mention but they also have a beautiful salad bar.. Hard not to stuff ourselves! Hula pie was fantastic as expected. Another thing was that we made a reservation but still had to wait like 15 minutes to be seated.. Anyways.. Was a great meal, and I really enjoyed myself and left happy and full. Fun night.
(4)
Cassie H.
We stayed at the Marriott so this was our go to appt for happy hour. I won't deny I had the nachos two nights I'm a row because they were so amazing!!
(4)
Dan M.
Overall --- average at best. I've been to many of this chain of restaurants. Leilani's (on Maui is by far the best). Dukes just seems tired. The environment is also not really anything special. The nachos were awesome. Food was just ok. Price is higher than average. I wouldnt go out of my way for this place anymore (which is unfortunate)...
(3)
Neesh Q.
Super convenient for the Marriott resort guests. I kept ordering carry out orders from here and over a week sampled quite a bit of their Barefoot Bar menu this way. Grilled chicken quesadilla- REALLY good. Perfect-size portion Duke's Nachos- Meh Cheddar burger- Decent (also really filling) Cashew Chicken Stir-fry- Meh Korean Street Tacos- YUM! The best thing off their menu is the hula pie! SO GOOD. All in all, a convenient, but pricey place to go for decent food. Definitely stop by for the pie though!!
(3)
Elena P.
Visited Dukes in Oahu and Kauai and loved them BOTH! Went here for a quick lunch before our surfing lessons. Our waitress was sweet, SUPER fast service, and everyone loved their meals. Mai Tais were great, but the Lavaflows took the cake! De-lish! Some might complain about the decor of the place, but I LOVED their Koi pond, the gorgeous waterfall and the beach view. If you wanted small mom and pop experience, then don't go to a beach side chain. But if you're into good food, fast friendly service with a garden like interior and a beach view...this is your place!
(5)
Christophe T.
Amazing place by the beach. Great cocktails, super fresh and tasty fish, and nice servers. Try the fish tacos, or if you're here for dinner, the fresh fish dishes are amazing (especially the plancha grilled one).
(5)
Rhonn A.
Great Salad bar and great food and drinks! Service can be slow at times
(4)
Claire T.
Great place in Lihue, specially on Tuesday from 4 to 6pm to get the Fish Tacos at $3. The view is beautiful, people really kind and there is a band sometimes which add a good ambiance to this place. The fresh fish is delicious, the fish tacos too, but I'm not a huge fan of their fish & chips.
(4)
Ron C.
Duke's is one of the better places to eat on the island, period! I've eaten here plenty of times and have dined all over the island to know that this place is good. You can't go wrong with the fresh fish which is caught and served that day. While the staff raves about the salad bar (which leaves little to be desired in my opinion) the drinks and the fish are the stars here. But be adventurous: Order the Ocean Vodka made right there in Kauai! Dare to have one Duke's over the top adult beverages! In fact, have a steak and "take it surfing" and I promise you'll not leave hungry! Visitors should beware that this is a popular place both upstairs and downstairs (It is after all, right next to the Marriott) and reservations are a must! Get their promptly lest you find yourself without a seat. Prices are reasonable considering this is one of the finer eating establishments on the island.
(5)
Richard L.
Enjoyed a lovely dinner at Duke's on our last night in Kauai. The Ahi & Hamachi was very tasty though the pieces on the small side. We then shared the Ribs dinner which were very tender and tasty. But the best was our awesome server Justin. He looked after extremely well and was a joy to chat with. Mahalo and Aloha!
(4)
Nick D.
This was our second time eating at Duke's and we enjoyed it very much. Our server recommended several dishes to our group and he was spot on. The food was prepared to perfection. Duke's will be one of our goto places everytime we visit Kauai.
(5)
Wes A.
Loved this place! Great atmosphere and service! The food was awesome! Full of unique flavors you just wanted to savor every mouthful! Mai tais were good and ended with their famous Hula Pie! Excellent dinner! Left extremely satisfied!
(5)
Angelique C.
We ate at the restaurant part upstairs and was lucky enough that the bar downstairs was having live music that we could still hear. The food was delicious and the service was great. I really noticed the amazing teamwork with the staff. You also get a free salad bar with your meal that had such a great selection. I had the macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi. It was the best fish I've ever had. My husband and I can not wait to go back.
Yeah it's over priced, but isn't everything on Kauai? The fish is fresh and good, and comes with the all-you-can-eat salad bar, which isn't nearly as fresh as the fish, but it's good. I would steer away from anything other than the fish here too, the non-fish dishes looked rather mediocre and my wife can attest to that. Pineapple mojito was insanely good.
(4)
Darlene L.
Macadaima nut crusted Opah with a miso verBlanc sauce and rice was to die for!!! Fish tacos were good too. Drinks rock here!
(5)
Mary G.
Good food and drinks for a reasonable price. Went here for dinner while on vacation. Had a group of 6, and only had a short wait. Which is always nice. We loved the yummy lava flows. Had a variety of things on the menu all were pretty good. Really enjoyed the fish of the day special. Only complaint was service was a little slow, but the place was busy.
(4)
Deena S.
Ate upstairs in the dining room. Service was good and salad bar was fresh. The $32-$35 fish entrees were poor. My fish, which was described by the waiter as "like Sea Bass" was bone dry and flakey. My friend had Snapper, "Duke's style" and it was greasy. Very unappetizing. Best to eat in the bar area downstairs instead. If you want good fish / a nice dinner, Kukui's next door is the same price level but they have fresh food and they know how to prepare it.
(2)
Renee S.
Love this place everytime and everywhere. Kuaii isn't as laid back as Waikiki though. Yum.
(5)
Adrian W.
The food was very good and our waitress was extremely kind and helpful. We began with the calamari and coconut shrimp and those were delicious. I then had the catch of the day which was swordfish with macadamia nuts encrusted on it along with a very unique sauce and it incredible! Then of course the Hulu pie for dessert was so so good and 1 order was enough to satisfy 3 people. Do would deff inanely recommend coming here during your stay on this island.
(4)
Celestine J.
A good place to have a date or just a family occasion. Lots of people here everyday. Customer service was friendly. But the food is too pricy in my opinion. Steak is average Love their desserts though. Lots of choices to choose from. A hawaiian style dining.
(3)
Greg F.
Great place to relax, enjoy a beer or mixed cocktail, and take in the beautiful ocean and its' wonderful sounds. Great food and service always, parking gets a little tricky sometimes but well worth the effort. The seating inside away from the occasional rain has a great secluded spot next to a waterfall, real cool. Highly recommend for lunch and dinner, also have entertainment during the evening.
(5)
Kursteen N.
Beautiful restaurant with an awesome view, had dinner upstairs. The food was average, ordered the Kushiyaki and the Lava Flow. The Kushiyaki was a chicken tenderloin, various vegetables on skewers, and beef teriyaki on skewers (it was just okay, nothing spectacular for $24.95). The Lava Flow was too sweet for my taste buds, felt like I was drinking my desert. Before leaving the restaurant, the band was playing some really great island music.
(3)
Christy P.
Dukes was excellent. Overall the service was decent, however the ambience can't be beat. Dukes offers an open air environment on the water and delicious food with a local flair. Try to make reservations ahead of time, as there may be a wait. Additionally, the restaurant is incredibly convenient to the Marriott hotel. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant 5 stars is because the service didn't 'wow' me. All in all, dukes is a great place to eat.
(4)
Andreas B.
Excellent food and the view was very nice. We are at the ground floor which we liked more they the upstairs. Fast service, great quality and not overpriced
(4)
Brittany C.
Can't beat the view! Good food and drinks. Bartenders are usually very nice. Gets a bit crazy at night but that's to be expected. Prices are of course high but it's Hawaii after all.
(4)
Alison M.
This was my first stop after a long plane ride. I have been to Dukes in the past and found that this location missed the mark a little bit. I enjoyed my coconut shrimp but my husband said his fish tacos were barely palatable but got them down since he was starving. Normally we would have visited again during our two week vacation, but after a lackluster lunch we opted to eat else wear. It could have been an off day, but I guess we will never know.
(3)
Thomas G.
Dukes is part of a small family run chain of restaurants in primo locations in Hawaii. Each have different names and different menus. This restaurant is located in a hotel compound in Kauai. We went for dinner after a helicopter ride. The location is prime on the water and has a lovely garden and waterfall inside. It has a lovely ambience and the staff was attentive and friendly. The salad bar is very good and was the highlight of the restaurant for me. After stressing out that my son would try to open the door on the helicopter ride I wanted a drink and a steak. I ordered a lava flow which was good, my wife had a Mai tai which was very good. Unfortunately, my steak was on the mediocre side and was very bland and unseasoned. Disappointing to say the least, but whatevas! Wonderful location, meh food (excluding the salad bar). Worst food that I have had at one of these restaurants. I love Duke's Waikiki!!
(3)
Charles D.
We always make it a point to stop off to have lunch or dinner here. We brought our daughter and her co-worker for early dinner.
(5)
Aaryn P.
Dukes topped off a fantastic day for us out at the Allerton NTBG. Great view, delicious food, prompt service! We called ahead and made a reservation, and then went early to the bar downstairs. The entire Marriott grounds are spectacular, and inside the restaurant is no exception. Sweeping views of the coastline are everywhere outside, and lush botanicals with waterfalls are inside. At the bar, we encountered a great bar tender who was attentive, quick and friendly...even offering us menus for the restaurant upstairs to preview. The drinks here, as other Yelpers have mentioned are really great. We stuck to both types of Mai tais...the creamy one and the regular one are both spectacular drinks...they do them very well here and don't skimp on the alcohol. Upon going back up to the restaurant, we were seated immediately at a nice table with a view. Our waitress offered a detailed explanation of th different fish and cooking methods tonight, explained the salad bar and took our drink orders. Despite the fact that she started covering a huge table during our meal, she was spot on with all of her service. The salad bar was decent...lots of breads and muffins, a lady offering Caesar salads. Their veggie offerings were a little slim...but they did offer many cold salads like bean etc. We ordered an appetizer of the pork ribs, and they were very good....the glaze on the ribs added a lot of flavor. My husband had the sashimi grade ahi seared with garlic mashed potatoes and a side if pork belly. The ahi was cooked perfectly, and he said his entire meal was fantastic. I got the Parmesan-herb crusted fish with rice...very, very good. My Mom had a fish with their tomato based sauce but wasn't fond of it. Lastly, we ordered the Hawaiian pie. We were incredibly stuffed and honestly only finished half of it between three people. We didn't find it to be anything impressive except for its size. Just a giant fudge sundae - the Oreo crust is thin and is overwhelmed by he melted chocolate and ice cream. So, four stars...we had a really great experience here over all. 4.5 stars would be more accurate. There a few slight kinks this place could work out...but we had a great evening and I completely recommend stopping in here, even if it is just for the drinks.
(4)
Kyle L.
I love this place. My wife and I stayed at the marriott and kept coming back to dukes to eat. We could room charge it and it wasn't overpriced like the hotel food. The staff was nice and the food was delicious. The cocktails were great too and their happy hour was great from 4-6. I'm a big guy and I would recommend the Margo BBQ bacon burger and piña colada.
(5)
Duane H.
Beautiful setting. Great bar (the barkeep actually concocted a tropical drink with no Rum for Stormy that she really liked!) Very nice food. Only drawback was that it was pricey.
(4)
Shazeen N.
It was highly recommended by many people and front desk, I must say it was the best food on the entire island!! our server Johnatton recommended amazing dinner plates with perfectttttt seasoning and hula pie which was to die for.. He made the drinks delicious and the entire experience unbelievable . I would highly suggest this place over any other at marriot hotel ... we had lunch and dinner there and would have gone again if we were staying longer. simply amazing service and food.
(5)
Cooper L.
I've eaten at 3 of the 5 Duke's restaurants before (Waikiki, Lahaina, Malibu), so I pretty much rolled my eyes when my party chose to come to Duke's Kauai. I was pleasantly surprised. Located next to the Kauai Marriott on Kalapaki Beach. Beautiful view of the tranquil bay. Beware that there are two dining options - the Barefoot bar that opens up to beach-level and the main dining room upstairs. The reservations are NOT the same. We checked in, or so we thought, downstairs. The hostess said she couldn't find our reservation, so gave us one of those pagers and told us just to wait. We waited for 20 minutes before wondering if our reservation was actually upstairs. When we went to inquire, she just simply told us to go upstairs and ask. Hmm. Don't you think the 16 year old hostess should have said something like, "I don't see your reservation here, are you sure you didn't make it for the main dining room upstairs? This is the bar area." Went upstairs and sure enough we were seated immediately. Food was surprisingly good. Mai tais come out in a cool looking glass. Duke's "famous salad bar" is included with your entree. Standard salad fare, I would have hoped for some fresh mango or papaya but none to be found. Poke and barbecue rib appetizers were great. Skip the Maui onion soup which was awful. Duke's style mongchong was delish. A great last meal in Kauai before heading off to the airport.
(4)
Steve S.
Great meal per usual. Always great ambiance and customer service. For the most part, Kauai lacks decent food options and Duke's fills the void.
(5)
Alex R.
It should be 4.5, but I am rounding up due to excellent service. Ate here three time, one via take out, two in person and I am still missing it. DON'T GO UPSTAIRS. Now that we have clarified.....Downstairs, the patio literally kisses the sand, and anything they serve upstairs,they gladly prepare. I had the fish tacos twice, and Opah the third (see photos). Mercedes was an awesome waitress and even introduced us to Bubba Burgers (not as good as the Shack next door, but good) and where to go kayaking. yes, the hula pie will turn you into an addict.....don't try it alone!
(5)
Josh G.
The salad bar was great but our fish wasn't that good. I would describe this place as a tourist trap. Service was very good, but the food was average and prices were high.
(3)
Kelly W.
We went to Duke's barefoot bar at Happy hour one afternoon during our honey moon. We were able to get a seat right away. The menu for happy hour included both drinks and food and because we were there on a Tuesday it also included Fish Tacos. We were starving after a long day exploring the island so we ordered fish tacos, the quesdillas and the thai spring rolls. It was all delicious! The drink options were nice too. It wasn't just mai tai and pina coladas. We asked the bar tender about the upstairs menu and he grabbed one to show us. He then gave us his recommendations of what he likes and what each dish is like. We didn't end up getting back the upstairs part. I highly reccomend eating at Duke's when in Kauai and its a great spot to walk to if you are staying at the Marriott.
(5)
Frank S.
We had dinner at Duke's just after we arrived in Kauai for a week. It turned out to be one of the best dinners we had all week. A Mai Tai helped start things off, but the tiki-mug was a bit over the top. My wife had the more sedate Pau Hana Punch, and liked it too. The salad bar got things going, with a mix of conventional Caesar salad bar ingredients as well as island fare (fruit, taro, etc.). The fish of the day was Opah (Moonfish) and it was just delicious! We had it "mac nut & herb crusted" with lemon and caper butter, and It turned out to be the best fish we had all week on Kauai. Wow! It was also a few days after our son's birthday, so they gave us a free Hula Pie for dessert, which we all ended up sharing. To cap it all off, we got to see a rainbow outside as we finished dessert. Very very nice. Welcome to Hawaii.
(5)
Cathy S.
If it wasn't for the Mac nut crusted Monchong I probably wouldn't keep coming back. The service was as ridiculous as ever - I was still eating my salad, literally with a fork to my mouth, when the fellow delivering our entrees picked up my salad and started to take it away. Just because the servers and the kitchen can't properly pace a meal shouldn't mean I forfeit the right to eat my salad! They obviously started cooking our entrees the second the order hit the kitchen without regard to the time required to eat appetizers.
(2)
Jeff L.
Just sat down at bar and ordered a martini and a vodka rocks both with grey goose......" watered down" or refilled with something not top shelf......service slow and employees seem irritated and unfriendly..... Too bad.....it could be a lot better with the right alcohol and happy servers
(1)
Jan U.
For the price, this restaurant is just mediocre. The salad bar is good, but don't buy the calamari. It was $10.95 and tasted like it was fish stick from a box. Found a place with a fantastic view for much less money and the food was awesome. Beachwalk
(3)
JP M.
Nice food ... Better service . Salad bar fills you up. Very nice on the water place. Great environment. Walked down along the shoreline from the Marriott hotel.
(4)
Stephen A.
Nice setting and location by the beach but the service was slow and the food was not spectacular. It is the kind of restaurant you expect t have attached to a hotel that will move many people through its doors. (Though this place has no doors as an outdoor barefoot bar). Drinks were ok. I'd skip it next time in Kauai and go to the other hotel restaurant right next to it, Kukui.
(3)
Manuel M.
Had the burgers and they were perfectly cooked to order and fantastic. Possibly the best burger I've had anywhere. Good drinks, friendly service, great view. Beautiful inside dining room with a crazy waterfall!
(5)
Rachel S.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Duke's Kauai, but I'll be the first to admit, it's not really about the food. The view is amazing, pretty much as good as it gets. I found the staff very sweet and accommodating and waved when they saw me walk by later. As for the food... It's not bad, and I don't think it's quite as low-brow as Applebee's or Chili's, as some have suggested. But it's definitely not the most delicious stuff you've ever eaten, especially for the price. But I'm a big fan of the steak and at the Barefoot Bar, the pork sandwich and waffle fries. And best of all - the Lava Flow drink and the Hula Pie! Lord, do I miss Hula Pie (and the view from Kauai)! Excuse me while I drive to Malibu for a little Duke's fix. Not the same view, but it'll do!
(3)
Michaela M.
Everything was excellent from the service to the amazing salad bar that's included with your entree. I ordered the seven spice ahi and it was to die for!!! Their presentation makes you remember why you're on vacation to begin with. We all enjoyed our meals. Very impressed!
(5)
Lilah D.
My partner in dine and I ate here on the night of my birthday eve and due to our reservations being late-ish, we opted for appetizers for dinner. I had the coconut shrimp which was not bad. My sweetie had some forgettable appetizers that had a pate type dip that had an odd taste. On the recommendation of our fellow yelpers, we tried the hula pie. It is a delicious, massive dessert, probably fitting for 3 or 4 people! Somehow my sweetie and I finished the whole thing. Possibly due to not really eating dinner. Nice ambience. 5 for ambience. Food is about 3.5 stars. The hula pie boosts my food rate up a half point. As we reside on the mainland, we are open to try our local Duke's locations.
(4)
Lizzie L.
We eat here every time we come to kauai. You can't beat the ambiance and view downstairs with the live music. The pork nachos are awesome. Hula pie is a must. : )
(4)
Vanessa Miracle B.
Two words: HULA PIE. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
(4)
Phoebe K.
Not as good as it used to be unfortunately. Service was good but they sat a terrible little boy next to our table who was hitting his mom and throwing silverware off the balcony, a bit distracting to say the least. Food not as creative and tasty as I remember it from 10 yrs prior. I wish they'd step up there menu a bit to keep up with the times.
(3)
Matt G.
Went to the downstairs barefoot bar and grill. Had perhaps some of the best fish tacos I've ever had though I rarely eat them with fresh fish. Service was a tad slow but otherwise pretty good. Prices were reasonable for island standards and the decor is really nice with the waterfall and pond down the center. Overall I think it's a bit overhyped and prefer other places in the island with more charm and less people, like just a few minutes up the highway in Kapaa where the beach is WAY prettier and the locals don't hang out in the area like hippies. Check out the Beachwalk for better food and view overall. Parking was a pain as we had to drive past the restaurant, then JJs, then the shops till we got to the beach parking and walk a little ways back past all the locals drinking late on a Sunday night along the beach. Actually I don't get why this place is so popular but the food was good and reasonable, ambiance nice, so it's worth a try... if u don't mind crowds and trendy spots.
(4)
Megan L.
Salad bar great. Skip the mushroom recipe. Mai thai was sad.
(3)
Jeziell B.
Came to Duke's for dinner one night because it was walking distance from our hotel. Service was good and we were able to be seated right away. I just remembered I ordered a fish dish that was okay, not mind blowing, they have a salad bar that I did not get anything from, and their Hula Pie. I don't even remember what my husband ordered, lol. That Hula Pie though, whew, I'd come back just for that. I think it was as tall, if not taller than, our coffee spoon and it was just a chocolate syrup, cookie based, macadamia nut, ice cream, and whip cream dream. Otherwise, there are other place in the area I would eat at for dinner.
(3)
Lesley M.
During the day they serve burgers and drinks in their downstairs area and at night they open up the upstairs area and offer a much nicer menu. The below review is based on the afternoon menu and dining experience. My husband and I ate here the day we arrived in Kauai. The view/location of this restaurant is wonderful. There is a good view from almost every seat downstairs (unless you sit at the bar, your back is to the view). Unfortunately we were not nearly as impressed with the food. We were starving when we arrived and spent the entire 10 minute wait to be seated eyeing everyones plates and drooling in anticipation to grub. We each ordered a cheeseburger and fries. Both our burgers were flat and dull, like a 99 cent McDonald's cheeseburger. They were just as tasteless as they were ugly. I even heard a women sitting at the table sitting next to us whisper to her hubby, "look at those burgers, I'm glad neither of us ordered that." Unlike McDonald's our burgers didn't cost 99 cents. Needless to say we will not return the next time we are on the island. Mai Tai was okay, and in a cute tiki glass.
(2)
Christine H.
Duke's food is going down hill fast. It has a great location and view, but my barbecue chicken flat bread consisted of a bland piece of dough and smidge of chicken and uncooked barbecue sauce dumped on top. When I told the waitress I could not eat it, she asked me if I wanted a box. Huh? It stayed on the bill and there was no apology or offer of something different. Visitors or local, please avoid Dukes if you want a fresh, tasty, decently priced meal.
(1)
Jeremy J.
Dukes is less than 10 minutes from the airport and a great place to visit on your way to/from the island. Their mai tai's are delicious and their food can really hit the spot. Head downstairs to the bar area and enjoy relaxing views of the beach and bay with mountains in the background.
(4)
John V.
Had the opah and the ono and they were delicious. Great service! Went twice on our honeymoon and I highly recommend for a nice relaxing night out on the beach.
(4)
Joe M.
Our meal tonight was simple put....... Out of this world! From the salad bar, to the BEST calamari I have ever had to the Ono fish breaded in macadamia nut crust and then to finalize it with a slice of absolute heaven, the macadamia nut ice cream slice on an Oreo cookie crust with whipped cream and hot fudge........yep......I'm in a food coma. My only issue was my steak was a little over cooked, but still pretty decent and I thought the salad bar should have a few more ingredients to put on the salad, but still really good. Our server was fantastic and we walked away with full bellies and a huge smile on our faces! Fantastic!!! 2 thumbs up and a must go to spot!
(4)
Sara S.
A great time! We went here for lunch and cocktails after stand up paddle boarding at Duke's canoe club. Great drinks, great food, and great atmosphere. The strongest drinks I got the whole trip with the best food. The fish tacos, crab and mac nut won tons and the Mango BBQ ribs were delish! Wrong island iced tea and the el patron margarita was also delish! We sat at the bar in our bathing suits with an ocean view. Doesn't get better than that!
(5)
Jess F.
Greats atmosphere on the beach. Tried multiple appetizers and was most impressed with the poke roles. Other appetizers and entrees were nothing special. Have a salad bar which comes with entrees with a decent variety. Staff was friendly. Hula pie dessert is a must have! Would come back and order the hula pie!
(3)
Steven F.
Dinner was amazing, as was the hula pie. Wonderful atmosphere and great food!
(5)
Russell P.
Food selection is average with good food. Views though are great of the surfers coming in, beach, and volleyballers. Drinks are soso , and of course overpriced. Enjoyed the burger and waffle fries and went back for reuben
(4)
Yarin I.
Great place! Great food ( I had the steak tacos and hola pay) great experience in general
(5)
Nancie M.
If staying at Marriott this place is walking distance convenient but as far as restaurant quality/ service ridiculously priced for what is offered on menu. Very average ... View is nicer downstairs than upstairs been coming her for years and service keep going down and prices up!
(3)
Vicky T.
Still have reviews left over from my honeymoon. So overall if you are looking for a chain and a place to eat at the resort/hotel then by all means go for it. I was in need of a salad and as other viewers have mentioned.. The carmelized beet salad or whatever it was with goat cheese was pretty delicious. Staff was attentive enough. Note there are two places.. the barefoot lounge and the restaurant. Thank you for accepting American Express!!
(3)
G S.
We went twice on Taco Tuesday. Get there before the Taco Happy hours start - the crowd builds up quickly. Once seated, the service was excellent. The second time, we just got the tacos and no drinks. The waitress had no qualms about us trying to get in and out cheaply. I live in the land of Rubios fish tacos - and when Rubios isn't rushed and their tacos are fresh and eaten on site, they are great. I say this to compare with Duke's fish taco. It is far better! The Mai Mai fish are generous portions perfectly cooked with a rich and firm batter that doesn't get mushy under the sauce. The flour tortilla were very fresh. The decor in the downstairs lounge is breathtaking with waterfalls, Koi fish ponds, and tropical plants everywhere. Or if you sit in the outside part of the lounge, you get a view of Nawiliwili Bay. After we ate both times we decided to walk out into the adjacent Marriott Resort grounds. We were floored. We had never seen such a beautifully decorated set of gardens in a hotel courtyard and couldn't stop taking photos. The architecture and murals are incredible. Finding the parking lot is tricky and you need to go far to the back to find spaces. Or you can find the entrance to the valet parking (which is also hard to find) and that is free for Dukes customers.
(5)
Kip A.
Had to wait about an hour for a table so we waited in the bar. Really slow service at the bar and surprisingly weak drinks! Finally, got a table and the waitress was good. The food was mediocre. Great views of the bay!
(3)
Siobhan R.
We sat at the bar and order the single serving of ribs WHICH ONLY FEED ONE PERSON, so make sure to get one each because they're finger licking GOOD! The salad bar is also amazing, with tons of dressings and veggies!
(4)
Ron S.
5 stars for Tara at barefoot bar. She brought kids' water w/ little umbrellas. Thoughtful and nice. Dukes is part of Kauai Marriott- convenient walkable. Nice indoor waterfall w/ koi fish kept toddler occupied. Korean street tacos very tasty. Nice Arugula beet salad. Watered down cocktails.
(5)
Tammy D.
This was located right around the corner from our Hotel and we decided to take a stroll over. They seated us within 20 minutes (with no reservation). I had the mahchong fish Duke's style...it was delicious!! My husband had the shrimp scampi which was good, but too heavy for him. Wish we had room for the Hula pie...it looked delish!
(4)
Dana W.
This is one of those places that is super touristy - the hostesses are wearing long Hawaiian print skirts and the servers are in Hawaiian shirts. I usually try to avoid those places, but this one is worth it. We all shared the poke rolls and they were delicious. We almost ordered another one, but we're worried we would be too full. The muffins at the salad bar are delicious too. The opah and the mashed potatoes were perfect. I ate my leftovers for breakfast the next day and they were still delicious. Overall great experience. I took one star off because our server was a little rushed with us.
(4)
Beverly K.
My husband and I walked her from our hotel. They were pretty busy so we took a seat at the bar. There was bar menu and a restaurant menu. It was nice to have more options. If you just want a light bite the bar is perfect. I had the pineapple drink and it was great. Perfect to share and a must have when you are in Hawaii! Our bartender was friendly and attentive. We didn't feel rushed and it was a relaxed atmosphere.
(4)
Ed J.
Heard great things about this place, the reviews were 3+ stars, but I have to say, it was a huge disappointment. The location is fab and the views are awesome, but once you get pass that, the menu is very limited and food was bland. Waitress, was more concerned about taking the order than following up on "how was the food", well, if the light bulb was on, she would have noticed that I hardly ate any of the pasta in the bowl ! Although that salad bar was good, except for when the server dropped some tomatoes in the ice and used her fingers to put them back into the tomato serving bowl.
(2)
Alia P.
Came here for our last fancy dinner of the honeymoon. Did not disappoint. We were seated with a great view of the ocean. We did have a reservation but we're seated right on time. We started with some poke tuna rolls. very good, slightly crunchy on the outside with the rice paper and the tuna tasted fresh. Then had salad bar.. nice selection, could have been happy with that for the meal. For dinner we had the specials. The fish was cooked perfectly on both plates. Service was excellent. We were too full for dessert. Total including two tropical drinks was about $100... So a little on the high side but the meal felt totally worth it. Yum. Would definitely go back again for a treat.
(5)
Kat Y.
There is a long wait without a reservation, so definitely book ahead if you want to eat early. It's also on the pricey side. The non-bar menu is pretty limited and the salad bar doesn't have as many options as I would have liked. The bar menu was definitely better and had more variety. And the Kauai Pork Burger with Waffle Fries is absolutely amazing. I ordered it twice two days in a row.
(4)
Aimee E.
4 star just got ice cream. Went to dukes just for the hula pie and man oh man it did not disappoint. I shared with my husband and felt jipped that I didn't get to eat the whole thing myself.
(4)
Sue W.
Go to Dukes for the location and the ambience! Its festive! nice view of the beach! Decent food but nothing to rave about. Food - Their seafood is prepared very well. Flavor is ok. - We tried a bunch so I'm listing the good and the ok's Good Panko crusted calamari Fish of the day firecracker style OK coconut shrimp (sweet) mango bbq ribs (not tender) hula pie salad buffet - They were ok with one of us doing the buffet. Honestly there isn't much on the buffet to rave about, we liked the pineapple muffins and the freshly prepared featured salad. Drinks The tropical drinks are too sweet no fresh juices not even pineapple!!!! mai tai was average, lava flo is ur best bet Reservations - Nope - Theres always a line, but go take ur buzzer and sit on the grass patch in front and take in the scenery. - Park in the strip mall. Ambience - Indoor seating downstairs has a nice waterfall and koi pond. - Upstairs formal seating has the sea. The salad buffet is here. If you sit downstairs you get access to both menus of the barefoot bar and the fine dining. Thats what we did. - It gets pretty loud. Pricing It is expensive, like every restaurant in the island.:)
(3)
Jess D.
Best Mai Tai in town. Great fresh food. I like it. We seat at the bar so we did not have to wait, as this place gets pack pretty quickly.
(4)
Sandy C.
Always a good time! and great food!! The hula pie at the end just put us over the top. Yumminess!!
(4)
Mei-Lin M.
Great ambience! Beautiful view! The poke roll and coconut shrimp appetizers are delicious! The rest of the menu looked average. The four stars are for the view, the man-made indoor waterfall, and the live music!
(4)
Bonnie C.
We wanted to have at least one nice dinner, so we settled on Dukes. You pretty much pay for the view. All entrees coming with an AYCE salad/bread/fruit bar, so it's all a TON of food, but it's pretty mediocre. Fish (Mahi Mahi) was dry, and my lobster was overcooked. All in all I paid a little under $50, but I would have much rather got more spam masubi.
(3)
Arleyne A.
Ahi not as fresh as other places. View is good, drinks were good. A decent lunch option in walking distance of port.
(3)
Jason P.
The salad bar is Ono and the prime rib was massive, the biggest I ever ate. Oh, and the waitresses are pretty hot. The prices are horrendous though but I guess you get what you pay for. Highly touristy but if you want a nice cut of prime rib, overlooking Kalapaki and some nice looking waitresses, then it's worth shelling out the pesos
(3)
James K.
The food was very good, the Mai tai's were plenty strong. The only reason I only gave it 4 stars was: One they crammed us in real tight chairs back to back (hard to get up for salad bar without bumping people behind you). Two they ran out of salad plates so they had these 5" square plates that were way too small.Because of #1 I did not want to go thru Tha salad bar again.
(4)
Jeanne K.
Decent- but nothing spectacular. Nice view, helpful staff- but very typical chain-like food without originality.
(3)
Ryan S.
Good drinks, good food. Be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation! But a beautiful setting makes it worthwhile.
(4)
Shana O.
Had a great dinner here with my in-laws on their last night in Kauai. Mai Tais are great and come in cool glasses. Started with the Crab & Macnut Wontons since we had a coupon for a free order. Appetizers are unnecessary since all entrees come with the salad bar, but the wontons were really good - a great way to start the meal. FIL & I both ordered the Seared Seven Spice Ahi which came cooked perfectly rare per our requests. The spice rub is very spicy, but the papaya mustard served with it balances it nicely. In fact, the sauce was so good I asked for extra to be boxed with my leftovers. I highly recommend this dish, as long as you can handle spice! For those not a fan of spicy food, MIL ordered the plain grilled ahi which she really enjoyed. And I enjoyed her leftovers with the extra mustard sauce from my meal the next day! Duke's is definitely touristy, but the food & location are great, so you can't go wrong.
(4)
Genevieve B.
not sure if the place has gone downhill or my standards have gone up. food is so so. but service is not great. still, good option when staying at Mariott, but not as good as I recall.
(3)
Kendall B.
I really enjoyed this restaurant. Their food was fantastic, the best food I had while staying in Kauai. I recommend making a reservation because the place fills up. The waiters were awesome and very friendly. The food was so yummy! Plus, all the entrees come with a trip to the salad bar! I recommend one of their fish dishes. You have a few options of how you'd like it prepared and what it comes with. They also have steaks, which are great too. Their specialty drinks are yummy as well as just regular cocktails. And the hula pie for dessert is perfect! The restaurant sits on the beach and is open. You get a nice breeze through the restaurant. All in all, this restaurant is very good and I recommend coming here while staying in Kauai.
(5)
Carina R.
After doing a tubing adventure, our guide told us about Duke's and that we had to try it. We were hungry and wanted some drinks, so we thought what the heck. The place is in the Kauai Marriot near the airport. It's nice and on the beach, so the restaurant has great views. The host and waitresses were really nice. We ordered a beer and mai tai, which were good, as well. Then we ordered the calamari and nachos to share. Both were really mediocre. I didn't care for either to be honest. Although I was full, I wasn't satisfied with my meal. It just didn't hit the spot the way you'd want it to. It's a shame the food was so blah, since the ambiance is so cool.
(3)
Colby B.
They have trouble providing the food that's ordered. It's okay if you don't mind being hungry.
(1)
K. R.
A little pricey but the food, service and views are awesome. Highly recommend the fish tacos. And no where can compete for Dukes hula pie for dessert.
(4)
Meli N.
Hostesses could be friendlier & try to at least smile. We were there only for drinks & dessert. Lava flows & hula pie never fails to disappoint! The view at night is great since you can see the lighthouse flashing on both sides. Cute little cove out front.
(3)
Andrew W.
There are two restaurants here. Duke's is upstairs and barefoot bar and grill is downstairs. You get both menus if you eat downstairs but food and service is way better at Duke's.
(3)
Wardog M.
I'm a fan of their fish tacos. Go at 1100 when they open for fresh catch of the day. Service has always been great every time we went. We always eat down stairs on the beach and never have to wait long for a table. Korean street tacos are great too if you don't care for fish
(5)
Raych D.
Dukes has always been one of my favorite restaurants to eat at for lunch and especially dinner! Friends and myself have thrown birthday dinners and get together eating here. The lunch menu downstairs is very small but I do love their chicken quesadilla. The burgers the serve is always juicy and huge. But the best thing they have on the menu dinner time is the endless all you can eat salad bar! So many choices of toppings to choose from such as kim chee, fruit salad, potato salad, cucumber, tomatoes, and so many selection of dressings! The white and wheat bread is always fresh, warm and soft! it tastes great with the melted butter over it! I've pretty much tried most of the dinner entrees. But my favorites has to be the prime rib!!! I love meat in general but there prime rib has so much flavor and its always a huge cut! I've never gotten a small cut or a crappy tasting prime rib! The shrimp scampi is always great when I'm craving for pasta and the mahi mahi crusted macadamia nut is another favorite of mine when I'm feeling fishy! The HULA PIE is the best desert that they have! The price did raise by a few dollars but its worth it! I normally don't care for mac nuts but this pie makes it an exception! Just came here this past Sunday night to celebrate my #1 birthday dinner with my Kauai friends and the experience was of course wonderful! The food and drinks (lava flow) was a delight and the hula pie was free because it was my birthday!...which they normally give for free if you're lucky! The ambiance is so beautiful with so much space, and great views of the ocean, bushes, and small river while going up the stairs. The workers are very nice and gives good service. Only thing I don't like here is the lighting. It is very dim and it always makes me feel like i want to go to sleep! I love it here so much that I've never visited Oahu's location because it wont compare to Kauai's Dukes!
(5)
Ty M.
Decided it was too far to drive down to Poipu again for Tidepools, so went to Dukes instead. Have one at home, but not as nice as this one. Dukes is part of a complex of restaurants and shops next to the Marriott providing lots of choices. Very happy with ambiance, service, and the fresh catch we had for dinner.
(4)
Dustin G.
Had the steak kimo and my wife had the steak and chicken skewers. Both were excellent. Service was quick, no complaints whatsoever.
(4)
Beth B.
We came here for Happy Hour and were very pleased. We snagged a couple of chairs at the bar with a view of the beach. It was packed and very busy, but we still got really good service from the bartender. We ordered Wrong Island Iced Teas - which were yumm - o! - and only $6 during Happy Hour! For an appetizer, we split the Hawaiian pizza at $8. It was really good. Since we had eaten a late lunch, this was all we needed. It was a great meal at a decent price. Plus good service. Not usual in the islands, just saying. Happy Hour is from 4-6 every day.
(4)
Jeff M.
Dukes is one of the few restaurants I ran into at Kalapaki Beach that did get my business more than once. They offer good food, great service, and reasonable prices. I ate there many times at both the bar/grill section downstairs and the fine dining area across from (the horrible) Cafe Portofino. The Hula pie is not to be missed and their salad bar (fine dining area) is remarkable. If you have food allergies, the fine dining has a special menu available for gluten and nut intolerances. The lower level's menu isn't quite as accomodating but they will work with whatever you have. Seriously, all one has to do is look at business they produce to see that they get plenty of repeat customers. Also, the two servers we talked to had been there 10 or so years so they apparently treat their employees well. Happy employees translate to happy customers.
(4)
Kelly G.
Duke's is always fun and delicious. Love the chicken, steak, salads, Lava Flow drinks, and finishing dinner off with Hula pie. No matter what Duke's location you go to, the service and food is always consistent.
(5)
Bryan L.
Taco Tuesday is great. The food is pretty good but a bit over priced for what you get, so do a happy hour like taco Tuesday. The view is great and an easy walk from the marriott.
(3)
Gary L.
Beautiful view of the cover. Salad bar was average. Reminded me of Ruby Tuesday's. Prime rib reminded me of Las Vegas buffet quality. I asked my wife for she that her Opah was good, but it was average. For $100 was going for more. Not good value.
(2)
Pook M.
This review is for HAPPY HOUR ONLY. I had my doubts about going to a hotel for drinks, but Duke's was surprisingly excellent. The fruit drinks we ordered were made with actually fresh juices. This is my main compliant with overpriced, overrated bars. I don't want to drink fruit-flavored syrup. I want fruit! And decent booze! Duke's provided. It was delightful to watch the ocean while we enjoyed our drinks too. The prices were reasonable. Our sever was fairly quick and attentive.
(4)
Jack L.
The restaurant is only a short walk from the Marriott. I liked the service, but the food was just okay --- the beet arugula salad was quite good, but I definitely had fresher sashimi and better mai tai elsewhere on Kauai.
(3)
Ryan C.
Heard good things about Dukes so my family and I went in to have a beer. We sat at the bar and waited 10 minutes to be acknowledged. Finally we asked if we could order a drink and he replied "I have other stuff to do first. Then Ill get to you". That was our cue to leave. Later we went there to try dinner. We sat down and the service was shockingly bad again. It took 10-15 minutes per drink. My dad got his salad when we were done with our meal and the waiter said thats when it was supposed to come out. Okay as*hole. Each person we dealt with was rude to us. The only reason I gave this place 3 stars is because the hawaiian pizza was delicious. Other then that it was not a good experience. I would not recommend Dukes in Kauai
(3)
Chuck L.
We ate at several nicer restaurants on Kauai, and this was my favorite one. The food was good, the service was excellent, and the prices were reasonable. The salad bar is a big plus.
(4)
Kristen G.
Opaka opaka was super yummy with Mac nut crust. Salad bar was good too! Fettuccini was soggy and I do not recommend it. The pineapple drink was fun and good. Dante was the best server we had on the whole trip. So friendly and nice. He even took the fettuccini off our bill since my parents didn't like it.
(4)
Trish P.
Duke's is typical touristy dining. over-run with Aloha shirts, surfboard and paddle kitsch, and disgruntled wait-staff..... its funny how in some places local people are treated crappy-er than tourists. what is even funnier is that i was both a "tourist" and a "local".... which might explain the good and bad treatment my friends and i received at Duke's. our waitress Pam was nice and helpful at the start of dinner, but, at the end of dinner when presented with a discount card, became very rude. yes, i'm from Hawaii, no i'm not from Kauai.... and what is so wrong with trying to save a buck? hey Pam = maybe your tip would have been better had you not been un-necesarilly rude to my friends and I. oh well. despite the bad service, the food was decent. i had the Kushiyaki, which is 2 skewers, one with chicken, the other with steak, onions and bell peppers, pilaf rice and served with a teriyaki type sauce. this was pretty good. all entrees are served with their salad bar - its not huge, but is good. the pasta salad here is good and the tofu salad is the best! also tried the mac crusted opa with capers, crab and cheese won tons, and the seafood pesto pasta. the opa was AWESOME, the crab and cheese won-tons were good and the seafood pasta was bland. also, it is HOT and HUMID here.... for some reason breeze avoids this restaurant like the plague, so if you dine here - wear loose clothing and be prepared to sweat. i can't recommend this place, but if you do happen to venture here, be careful which waitress you get, and apparently discounts make them grouchy....
(3)
Randall M.
Everything in the salad bar is super fresh! Had the Cajun seasoned prime rib...awesome! It was very tasty and cooked to perfection(rare)...can't wait to have it again.
(5)
Pooja S.
Beautiful view, mediocre food and very slow service... I had expected more, but it was disappointing. In the evening for happy hour - the appetizers and service were better but still not a place I'll return to for a meal.
(2)
Pearl V.
Oh yes, Dukes... a tourist trap we got sucked into because it was just so damn convenient. It was located on the Marriott property we were staying at. Not only that, but practically everything GOOD closes early on the island... the little food stands, the mom and pop shop restaurants. All that is left are the chain restaurants. It was our first night on Kauai, and were originally drawn to this place because of the Yelp raves about the Happy Hour fish tacos on Tuesdays. We knew we weren't going to make it in time for happy hour but thought we'd see if we could order them anyhow. [You can't, by the way.] Our server was Jonathan, who we befriended that night and actually later hung out for a bit together one of the nights we were there. [Thanks again for the "mind-eraser" drinks! That was a creeper!] We started with the "Poke Roll" appetizer, which was recommended to us by Jonathan. It was [shoyu] poke wrapped in a rice paper roll and slightly fried. Served sliced like sushi, on a plate drenched with a mayo-based sauce, surrounding a ball of rice. I'm a huge poke lover, but this was way too salty for my liking. We managed to finish it, but it wasn't something that I'd go for again. Hubby had the "Koshiyaki" plate which was a chicken skewer and beef skewer marinated teriyaki style, alongside basmati rice. I had the "Huli-Huli Chicken and Baby Back Ribs" combo plate. All entrees come with their unlimited salad bar, which supposedly they are renowned for. It was pretty average to me, but what stood out to us the most was the potato salad because they use purple yams. They really try to push the Hula Pie for dessert but we were both extremely full and definitely had no room for anything else. But I hear it's like a mud pie with macadamia nuts. Anything with copious amounts of whip cream is probably not the best thing for my finicky stomach. Maybe next time. All in all, our dinner was about $86 after taxes and tip which was a lot more than we would've liked to spend on a mediocre dinner but we expected the bill since it was a tourist spot.
(3)
David K.
Had to wait a while for our food, but it was worth the wait. We had the fish tacos - the fish, swordfish, was fresh and delicious and accompanied with great tasting slaw. They were also huge. Ambience is great with beach front view. Yes it is touristy, but you get delicious food - isn't that what counts?
(4)
Sal E.
Dukes was consistent throughout our weeks stay. We had lunch 3 times here. Hostess - 4 stars. Decor indoor & out 3.5 stars. Food - 3 stars. Beach front view - 3 stars.
(3)
Ed C.
Having been to almost all of the TS restaurants throughout Hawaii and California, we were eagerly anticipating going to Dukes...that eager anticipation turned to disappointment though. It has been less than a week, and I can barely remember what we had for dinner because it was so underwhelming. Their salad bar, which I think comes with most entrees, was an absolute JOKE. Their entire menu has been paired down to the same-old-same-old fair that you get at most Hawaii restaurants these days. TS restaurants used to be so creative with their menus and have really tossed in the towel in our eyes. The ONLY saving grace was the Hula Pie, which is always delicious. Our wait staff was marginal at best...took our order, and then showed up with the check. Come on TS Restaurants!!! Bring back your creativity to your menus!
(2)
Robin A.
My husband and I dropped by after hiking along the Napali Coast. The Aloha Hour (aka Happy Hour) offers some decent deals! We enjoyed a couple of drinks, kalua pork nachos, and a veggie flatbread while overlooking the ocean. It's pricey compared to Happy Hour in California, but 1) it's Kauai, so everything is automatically more expensive, and 2) it's a "barefoot bar," so "decent deals" means $7.50-10 for drinks and $8-12 for food. If you're looking for cheaper bites, then you may want to look elsewhere... but the flavor was spot-on for everything we ordered!
(5)
Shae C.
I visited Kauai June 24th, came to Dukes right after I landed. I've always loved coming here when I use to live on kauai. Overlooking the beach. I had a lilikoi frozen margarita and my friend had a pau Hana drink. Both were really delicious! Our server introduced herself. And the specials. I ordered fresh ona (herb crusted) and my friend wanted one of the specials, server says "oh we actually don't have it" confused... So she ordered a shrimp scampi. We didn't understand why she would tell us and then say we can't have it. She seemed kinda flustered. Food arrived and my Fresh Ona (herb crusted) was really dry; tasteless. I tried to eat most of it, because I was starving and I really didn't feel like I could wait to get another entree. My friends shrimp scampi was delicious. Could never go wrong with shrimp scampi. Server asked me if I needed a box for the rest of my fish, I declined and she was surprised I didn't want to take it. Overall: scenery and ambience was a 5 star Food: 3 (I wish I could have gotten a different fish) Drinks: 5 Service: 3
(3)
Emma S.
Had drinks and apps after work. Can'T resist the crab won tons. Pretty view, pretty staff and pretty drinks. At the end of a long day it was pretty great!
(5)
Chelsea T.
Went here for our last night in Kauai. We both got different fish dishes and they were absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was great with their little waterfall and pond. We went on Halloween and all of the staff were all dressed up. Great place to have dinner.
(4)
Jamie W.
A hundred times better than the Duke's in Waikiki. Why? Better food, drinks, service, view and of course... the chickens! Yes, chickens. Everywhere. Hubby and I had a couple of "wrong island" ice teas and shared a burger. After a week of dumbed-down cruise ship food, a stiff drink and a decent burger was exactly what we needed to get through the remaining day. Nice view of a very quiet beach and a great spot to drink away the sporadic rain showers. We sat in the patio area but if I were having a real meal here, they have a super cute looking grotto area with koi and beautiful flora.
(3)
Phil G.
Stopped in twice on our vacation last week...It was so good the first time we had to come back again! On our first visit we had the ahi & kimo steak + lobster. The seven spice ahi & papaya mustard sauce was soo good! The lobster & steak were perfect. We finished it off with the hula pie Second visit we got the seven spice ahi again & the opah. The ahi was once again cooked to perfection and the opah was surprising VERY large and suuuper good. The salad bar is the best on the island with a great selection! No regrets here, would go back in a heart beat!
(5)
Sarah K.
This is a surprisingly veg-friendly restaurant. At least the portobella ciabetta sandwich minus the goat cheese pesto was vegan, according to the waitress. It was super yummy. REALLY really good. Staff was super friendly. Our waitress couldn't have been nicer and more on top of things. The waffle fries are really good too- they're seasoned brown and come with the sandwiches. I have heard amazing things about the Hula Pie too. Our ziplining guide actually recommended it. And I saw in reviews on here that if you eat here and save your receipt and bring it back later you get one free. It's not vegan so I wouldn't try but sounds like a deal! When I asked about it the waitress told me it's an oreo cookie crust with some kind of macadamia nut icecream type pie. That sounds evilly good. The restaurant itself looks like it's split into two pieces. Lunch is at the Barefoot Bar downstairs by the beach. That's the only one I've eaten at. The restaurant part looks nice but isn't open for lunch and I think it's pricier. There is free valet parking for Duke's at the Marriott Kauai hotel. There are no signs at the entrance or on the Marriott resort for Duke's. It was hard to find. The address is accurate and GPS will get you to the resort but unless you know to valet at the resort from there, good luck. I actually asked someone who worked there and I don't think she understood great English because she told me the restaurant was back on Rice street. Oh. well. After a phonecall to Duke's we found it. I'd definitely recommend and it looks like there are a lot of shops you can walk to after dining or you could just walk along the beach. Live music was also setting up by the bar as we were leaving too. Valet doesn't really check the receipt so I guess potentially you could take your time strolling around. I'd definitely recommend this place. Check it out! I hear it's the same menu in Waikiki too and I have yet to visit there so that's good encouragement for me. :)
(5)
Amy D.
Holy wow this place was good! After a flying tour around the island we all wanted something in our bellies. Headed to Duke's and it hit the spot. Drink: Nadine's Mai Tai - get it, drink it and enjoy it. Soooo tasty. Food: I got the mango barbeque baby back ribs and my friend got the mango bbq bacon burger and we split them. DELICIOUS! Flavorful burger and ribs were fallin' off the bone. Also sampled Uncle Kel's Kalbi ribs and those were great too. Sea, sun, surf + good food and drinks = big thumbs up.
(4)
Shania A.
Me and my family is prime rib lovers we all ordered medium well prime rib and two of us had medium rare and just so happen I was one of the two the server came back told her I order a medium well not medium rare she took it back and came out with the same plate and said that this was a medium well and I was just over eating it put it on the side and didn't finish eating it then we order desserts NOW THAT WAS TO TOP IT OFF THAT WAS THE BEST EVER. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone just make sure your food is cook good.
(3)
Charlie T.
Came back for fish tacos Tuesday night and they have improved the service and dining experience over my post from last year. Good things can happen and the tacos are great.
(4)
Andrea P.
The Hula Pie is delicious and our server was very personable and a pleasure. The environment is one of a kind with an indoor coy fish pond and great views.
(4)
Scott L.
My wife and I ate there on 10/22/13. Actually we ate in the grill downstairs. The ocean view was perfect. You can order off the main menu or the grill menu. I had the Mahi Sandwich which was good but plain. The bun was a cheap variety and it fell apart before I got finished. My wife had the Ahi Wrap and she really liked it. She said it was excellent. Our waiter was very friendly and knew the menu well and the ingredients of any entree we asked him about. We topped off dinner with a slice of Hula Pie. You need to try this at least once and one piece will serve two.
(4)
David K.
Really surprised by the food I experienced. The place does not look like it would have great food, but this was the best fish I had on the island. Staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about gluten free options. Would definitely recommend and go again.
(4)
Karla R.
Great stop for lunch on the beach. Fish and chips arrived hot and tasty. Fish tacos were fresh and well seasoned. Great service.
(4)
Kelly M.
This review is for the Happy Hour. Our last day in Kauai our plane was leaving Lihue at 7pm. We needed a restaurant to eat at that was near the airport. We stayed in the North Shore for an entire week and were not to sure where to eat in Lihue. I read about Duke's in a Frommer's Guide but thought it would be crowded or too expensive. Neither was the case. We arrived at around 5:30 and were seated right away. We had a friendly waitress who recomeneded that my husband and I order the Ono. It was delicious and less than $20 a plate. My kids ordered sliders and french fries. Everyone enjoyed their food. They played good music. A lot of reggae. We sat next to the Koi pond, which entertained my kids.
(5)
Susan U.
I was disappointed. The Mai Tai was weak and the appetizers where lousy.
(2)
Ally R.
My mouth waters when I think about the juicy and perfectly flavored 7 spice ahi. And an added salad bar! And $3 best i've ever had tuesday happy hour fish tacos. Lord. Dukes earns their five stars.
(5)
Christine O.
During a recent trip we ate their half a dozen times. Food was always amazing, especially their fresh fish tacos! The drinks were good too...try the lava flow. Their customer service was great and we were always seated pretty fast.
(5)
Megan V.
Second day here. After a day in the sun, we looked for a nice dinner to replenish our energy. Unfortunately, this place was not very good. The kids menu was decent, but my family was not impressed with the flavors. And, that doesn't happen often! Drinks were good; good salad bar but surely won't come back. Not worth the money the quality and flavors.
(2)
Shauna S.
Sadly, we had to duck out early because I wasn't feeling very well but I did manage to make it through the majority of our dinner and our waitress was amazing the entire time. The salad bar is extensive and I liked all of the options. The little macadamia nut muffins (it was probably just normal bread) were tasty and they had a wide variety of pasta salads -- even one my mom used to make. Along with your standard Caesar that is already prepared, you can make your own which I was all about. I got a mac crusted fish (I think it was the Ono, but as I mentioned, I wasn't feeling very well -- whatever it was it's the one described as buttery). The crust of it was amazing and the inside of the fish was tender. Well cooked and very delicious. An amazing blend of the flavours. My BF had the lobster tails but I wasn't there to see him consume it -- I'm judging by his desire to devour it that it was pretty darn tasty. We ended up getting a free hula pie to go -- compliments of our hotel, who also got us seats by the rail (so that we could see the beach). After I felt better and we were sure that no phantom pains would return, we opened up the hula pie. (Note: This pie would have not lasted the night in our refrigerator but that's all we had since we don't get freezers). Although the ice cream was partially melted, we let the macadamia nuts and the fudge loose and went to town. It was delicious. Overall, great food, great service, and great atmosphere.
(5)
Charlie B.
It's a little cheesy there, but as long as you know that's what you are in for, it's fun. And it is right on the water. We stopped for dinner on our drive home from the North Shore. After some fancy dins, we wanted some basic food, nothing too fancy, but still wanted something unique that screamed Hawaii. This was the place! And I had the mahi fish and chips, so moist and flaky and tasty, and perfect washed down with a couple of their strong and huge mai tais!
(4)
Ellie F.
I felt a little bit like I was at a theme restaurant in a strip mall in the midwest. But, I think that was mainly our thinks-he's-funny server than anything else. My food was tasty, and the Aloha Pie (I think?) was worth it. It was HUGE and perfect chocolatey goodness.
(3)
Tyler B.
Great food, delightful atmosphere, fantastic service. A book break from all the amazing local restaurants on Kauai.
(5)
Darren L.
Just had some lava drinks and they were great. Location is very nice as well right on the beach. Can't really say much more but seemed nice.
(4)
Charlene K.
I have to say "the Duke abides". There's a barefoot bar, downstairs close to beach. Indoor water fall, though not as epic as it sounds. Ocean View dinning, but there's not view at night. Salad bar of plenty, so you can have a meal before your meal. Get a pina colada in a pineapple. Lobster tails, Steak, chicken, and fish dishes. Not a place like Apple Bee's, but yes it's a chain. Service is friendly and wasn't a bad experience but it also wasn't authentic Hawaiian. Not fancy as I was led to believe, my heals took a tole. So if you are in the mood for large plates, large desserts, and all American good time. This is more close to home.
(3)
Olivia L.
Nice location ... very near our cruise ship. I heard alot about Duke's and my perception was totally different. The food was ok...I remember the salad bar was really nice, the drink that was pina colada with strawberries or something red was the highlight. the famous dessert Mudd Pie kinda summed it all up. They ran out of hot fudge so ate a Mudd Pie with just nuts and vanilla ice cream. It just lacked flavor. And our server didn't care and made us feel like he wanted to go home and not be here. Literally wanted to cash us out first and took off... Disappointment.
(2)
Kathy Q.
Great food the salad bar which is included in all meals was delicious. Shrimp scampi wonderful and tall fish great! Great atmosphere and good service.
(4)
Katie H.
Seriously, what's the big deal? Duke's has an ocean view but hello?? You're on an island, an ocean view isn't difficult to come by. We frequented this establishment twice while staying at the Marriott Beach Club. I realize we're tourists but seriously, if I wanted to eat at Applebee's or Chili's I would. Not only was the food not appealing but the service wasn't great the first time, and the second time we just went to the bar, it was horrendous, fool me twice I guess. We went to the bar reluctantly to meet some friends who were leaving the next day and we were going to have some drinks and appetizers and hang out a bit. The bartender took my husband's drink order and then proceeded to ignore us for the rest of our time there, I finally had to ask if we could close out our check otherwise we would have walked out. We finally went to Kukui's at the Marriott because their bartender's don't act like condescending douche bags. Yeah, I said it, condescending douche bags. Bottom line: If you want terrible service and Hawaiian style Applebee's/ Chili's food, by all means go here. If you want some great service and good food, spend a little more money and go to the restaurants on the Marriott property it has an ocean view too. If you want a burger, go to Kalapaki Beach Hut, yeah it's not fancy, but the food is awesome! If you want a real romantic dinner, go to Gaylord's, their food and service is impeccable.
(1)
Marc K.
casual is the word here! nice outdoor place with far off views of the water, we actually spotted a whale but you need binoculars to see anything like that. As for the food, I can't say, I went and sat at the bar and drank and had some poke and sushi. the bar is TINY but we were there at an off time and it was us and the staff who are friendly. If you want a casual spot in a place of upscale places, simple fish dishes this is the place you want to visit.
(4)
TJ E.
Dukes is a family favorite. We go to Dukes every time we visit Kauai, sometimes twice. You can't beat the all you can eat salad bar, green salad, caesar salad, carrot muffins, banana nut muffins, all included with your entree purchase. Even for the kids. Great for hungry families that have been swimming all day. Dukes style is our favorite preparation for the fish. Don't leave with out a piece of Hula Pie to share. Until next time Dukes.
(5)
Ray T.
Food: 3 out of 5 Ambience: 5 out of 5 Service: 5 out of 5 This is an absolutely beautifully designed restaurant, with a stunning indoor tropical garden complete with koi pond and waterfalls. The staff was friendly and professional from the moment we were greeted until we left. The food was good, but honestly nothing spectacular. We had the Huli Huli Chicken and Baby Back Pork Ribs Combo and the fresh Ono prepared "Duke's style." Both were decent, but wasn't blown away. Salad bar was pretty decent and had a nice selection. Overall, the food was just ok, but we still really enjoyed ourselves here because the great service and ambiance created such a nice, relaxing mood.
(4)
Kathy G.
Love Duke's in Kauai but was so disappointed in the new menu. I realize that changing food choices now and then is necessary. Removing the Stir Fried Cashew Chicken was disappointing. It was my favorite choice on the menu. There is nothing on the new menu close to this. Please return the astir Fry to your menu. It was the best!l
(3)
D C.
Great food and view! Nicest Dukes of the islands.
(4)
Debbie N.
The best part of Duke's is the salad bar. Stick with that and you'll be good. The mahi mahi special was overpriced, tasteless and too salty. This place is popular due to location and name but it was a disappointment for us
(2)
Scott A.
Best place to watch sunset n eat a nice meal. Lobster mac delish, great service and great mai tai. Always one of my favorite places..
(4)
John B.
Great location! Downstairs has good bar food. If you make a reservation you sit on the second floor with amazing food and an even better view. Great service, very friendly.
(4)
Liz S.
We went here 3 seperate times while staying next door at the Marriott- we never had a bad meal and everything was very very good. Well priced, friendly staff, quick service. The views are also beautiful.
(5)
Lyn S.
We really like Duke's! We got there early and got a great table upstairs on the railing overlooking Kalapaki Beach and within earshot of the entertainment downstairs. The Mai tais were good, the salad bar was very good (I especially like the banana chips) and the fish entrees (four local fish prepared five ways) were enjoyable. Needless to say, don't leave without having a Hula Pie for the table. Our waitress Claudia definitely deserves an award for most cheerful. Update 4/7/13: We've eaten at Duke's four times in the last week -- twice upstairs and twice down. Obviously we like it enough to keep coming back. Upstairs, we had opah, Ono and opacapaca served firecracker style and Mac nut crusted. Both preparations are good. The salad bar is nice -- to each their own, but we like the beets and the dried banana chips. Hula pie is free with your Marriott mahalo card! Downstairs, don't miss the discounted Mai Tais and coconut shrimp at happy hour. Don't bother with the flatbread, but the tacos (fish or Korean) are great.
(4)
Robin W.
4 for atmosphere/view, 2 for food. Grab a seat on the patio for a view or inside and enjoy the distinctly Hawaiian feel. Service is a bit off...slow to order, but food came really fast...and it was bad to mediocre all around. Everything lukewarm makes me think the food is pre-prepared. Hamburgers blah, uninspired. Crab wontons lack texture and unduly fishy. Nachos a towering heap of meh. Drinks way too sweet. Ahi wrap just tasteless. So on and so forth.
(3)
reza n.
1. Worst Burger Ever. Burnt costco patty. -5 starts if i could give it 2. Great view. Only reason they get 2 stars.
(2)
Melinda L.
Service staff very friendly. Wooden chairs horribly uncomfortable.-Slats make sitting a chore unless your a chunky American tourist. Salad bar limited in choice for toppings, and the ones that were there low in quality.-broccoli the size of trees & yellowing. To top it off, I observed salad bar attendant grab tongs by food end and put back in.Yuck! Had Opah macadamia encrusted style, overcooked and salty. If you arrive late and have no other options, it does the job. Stop by and have a drink and appetizer, that way you can say you were at Duke's.
(3)
Mike L.
Stopped here for dinner based on recommendation from brother in law. Had family with kids aged 10 and up. While everything we had was fine, it was not great. Wouldn't go out of our way to go back.
(3)
Susan W.
Great atmosphere- we ate at the more casual area downstairs with a terrific view of the beachfront. Food was good and drinks - especially my adult beverage served in a hollowed out pineapple was great! Go and enjoy. You won't regret it.
(4)
Kris F.
Great food and really nice view. Staff very attentive. Korean tacos were awesome!
(5)
Dan R.
Relaxing with live music and tropical drink during happy hour
(5)
Jennifer J.
I live on Kauai and find myself at Duke's quite often. Duke's has a great location on the beach which is surprisingly unusual on this island. Tiki torches lend a nice ambiance at night. Downstairs is affordable with simple food. Some favorites include the nachos and the hula pie. The hula pie is HUGE! It used to have a lot of hot fudge on it but lately they've been stingy so my advice is to ask for more. Upstairs Duke's has a fabulous salad bar. You can even get the salad bar downstairs but it is a bit of a walk up stairs. Recently the items in the salad bar changed. I am not a fan and hope they go back to their old standards. All in all, Duke's downstairs is one of my favorite spots to enjoy with friends. I recommend it.
YUMMY!!!Love Duke's......Up stairs is dressy and down stairs is casual......Down stairs there is a waterfall in the middle of the restaurant and a Koi fish pond.....It's very romantic....Great food and service
(4)
Rian F.
Best salad bar on the island by far...of course that's not going to get you in the door now is it? Fresh fish, friendly staff, great atmosphere, and the valet parking is a bonus! Definitely recommend.
(4)
Christine B.
Quite expensive for a meal. My pasta/fish dish neared forty dollars. The salad bar is amazing and more than enough to just have as your main dish. I regret not simply ordering the sixteen dollar salad bar (all main courses come with salad bar access, but it was easy to lose hunger for the actual meal.) The atmosphere is nice, the wait staff is polished, but the view was said to be spectacular. Unfortunately, my only view was the back of the restaurant because I ended up on the unlucky side of the table-- not a big deal, I just think the layout could have been planned a tinge better to avoid that.
(3)
Seagem F.
Cool bartenders and only place left open in town for a late night drink!
(4)
TheDude M.
Aside from the interesting decor and very cool location Dukes did not deliver. All my friends on the island told me to avoid Dukes but every staff member or tourist we ran into at the attached Marriott seemed to swear by the place. My wife and I both went with the waiters suggested fish dishes hoping he would have the scoop on what their flagship dishes may have been. In the end we both agreed the meals were mediocre at best, too expensive in relation to taste and quality, and the waiter up sold my wife's cocktail to ultra top shelf liquor without asking. That being said maybe just get bar food here, do not expect much from their dinner menu. Like suggested by others, do yourself a massive favor and drive the 10 minutes to Poipu and eat at The Beach House. It's just a fraction more expensive but they over deliver on location,service,food quality, flavor and class. The Dude
(2)
James D.
2 stars for the buffalo wing appetizer. The rest of the food was blah.
(2)
Blake W.
I knew that there was too much riding on this stop at Dukes. It was our first night back on Kauai and the main thing that I remembered about this island was Dukes and how good it was. I am going to pretend it was a different restaurant. We somehow made it here during Happy Hour and there was a band, this means that there is a wait for the outside tables. Surprisingly, the wait was only 10 minutes so that was no big deal. We were seated in front of the band, they were good, so why 2 stars? Service number one, food number two. I have a tip for anyone working in the service industry, if you sell more drinks your tip tends to go up. Well, at least with me it does. You don't have to smother me, just an occasional "Ready for another?". Don't make me flag you or ask another server to get you. And where do you go when you leave the floor area any way? Do you have a treadmill in the back or something? I know I am on the islands and things travel at a different pace but this isn't my first rodeo. Anyways, I got our first round from the bar. Later, I got the menus. Much later, I got the silverware. Next the food. The coconut shrimp apps were good but if you are going to leave the tails on please don't fold them over and bread them. It sucks to get a shell in your mouth when coconut is in the equation. It doesn't matter if you look at the rest of the shrimp because it will still seam like you are eating shell. The fish and chips, what did you change? It might have been that they were overly greasy fish fillets or it could have been because they sat all lonely in the back wondering who ordered them under a light. Hey, at least you got the waffle fries right. Next, the Mango BBQ Bacon Burger and fries. It tasted great but if you are going to serve some kind of pork on a burger you need to name it correctly. If you are going to put bacon in the title you have to cook it. Pork that bends is called, "Ham", bacon is the crispy stuff. "Hamburger" is a relative term, check out the stuff at the end of the salad bar that says bacon bits to get an idea of which direction to go here. Actually, the burger, sauce, onions, cheese, and "ham" all worked together. It actually tasted really good. If the bacon had been cooked this would have been a top notch burger. Again the waffle fries were good. Don't get me wrong, if you get a chance to go to Dukes you should. The view is worth any pain that you have to put up with. Don't expect great service unless you sit at the bar, the front of the bar, when you get there you will figure out what I am talking about. If you hit the night that the food is on you will be thinking that I am out of my mind for this review. If you hit it on the wrong day just remember you are in a beautiful place and enjoy the views.
(2)
Saumya C.
Lovely ambience and decent food. But don't come here if you are craving a good meal. The menu is limited and not all the items on it are good. Great place for drinks though.
(3)
Henry L.
location is perfect. Like most Duke's its right on the beach or ocean. Only had drinks there but it was such a relaxing atmosphere. 4 drinks ran $45. Avg price for this place like this. They have a upstairs and a downstairs at this location. When you enter in from the bridge side you tend to go a path that takes you upstairs. I didnt even know there was one down but the waiter mentioned that the upstairs is a restaurant and the down part is the bar/lounge with the live music. As you walk to downstairs you get to the beach area where is its just beautiful. Theres only like 6 locations of Dukes so if you have a chance to check one out you should.
(4)
Ken W.
We were given a very, very nice "window" table, that is, right next to the balcony edge, so we were able to enjoy the last notes of sunset. The breeze was cooling, the restaurant was buzzing, and the Mai Tai was...alas, a letdown. However, it was our first Hawaiian Mai Tai after getting off a 12 hr flight and so I willing to let it pass. The Mai Tais by the pool at the Marriott are much better. The salad buffet was okay, no big deal, but provided some very welcome veggies! We speculated on whether the pineapples were local. Our main courses were good, but not terribly memorable. For New York prices, it's ugh-inducing but I try not to rate on value. The ambiance and view gets them the fourth star!
(4)
Bob G.
Are at Dukes 2 times during my stay. Beet salad and fish tacos in downstairs portion of the Restraunt where awesome. Salad bar upstairs was great too. Staff was quick and efficient. Wait on the weekend can be a little long. Definitely worth a visit
(4)
Jean W.
This Duke's location is right on our resort property, which at first caused me to giggle like a schoolgirl and jump up and down. Considering the outstanding Waikiki location, to which I award 5 stars, I was somewhat disappointed with this one. There are many similarities, however. This Kalapaki location also provides their Barefoot Bar on the bottom level with the dining level on top. It's also pretty much on the beach, with an incomparable view from either level. The menu is virtually the same at both locations...so what is it about this one that doesn't cut it for me? It's the quality of the food. For whatever reasons, they just don't compare to Waikiki for me. The fresh fish specials here are good, not great. The wicked-pricey specialty Hawaiian cocktails are just ... okay here. Still, I cannot resist a Tropical Itch...but, in a good way. The only menu item that I feel equally fond of at both locations is the amazing Duke's salad bar. I love that you can order just this if you don't feel like a larger entree; or you can choose to add it to any entree for a reasonable price if you're feeling ravenous. I absolutely live for fresh Ono and Opakapaka, which Duke's serves regularly as specials. Although they're frequently out, the few times I've found them available here, I've been somewhat underwhelmed compared to Waikiki. And they don't charge less for them here, I assure you. I do love their t-shirts and other wearables, and usually end up augmenting my summer wardrobe with a piece or two. In our several years of coming to Kauai, we've since found many other great places for fresh Hawaiian fish, sushi, apps, drinks and other favorites, so we typically choose somewhere other than Duke's Lihue. But, in a pinch, if your rental car gets swallowed up by a sinkhole and the resort transit is done for the day, I'd still grab an Itch and a salad bar here.
(3)
Meredith K.
We dined downstairs for dinner one evening and we had the fish tacos and Mahi Mahi caesar salad. We went another night and tried the Hawaiian pizza. Overall this place is ok, but convenient to the Marriott hotel, and a nicer venue with the patio seating. Prices are to be expected and service is up & down, it can be slow at times because they're busy.
(3)
Zeny O.
Came here for a very late lunch, right after getting off the plane so my review may be influenced by the fact that my family and I were starving. Fries were great, waffle cut, crisp and nicely seasoned. Hubs had the chicken cashew which was yummy but small portion. I had the Korean steak tacos which were the bomb! Asian seasoned tender cubes of beef, with some kind of amazing green sauce and veggies spilling out of soft taco shell. Five star for that! The kids had cheeseburger which was huge and yummy, the other had chicken fingers which were more like "where's the chicken in these fingers?" they were skinny and there wasnt much to thrm. kid #2 was still starving so he finished off the fries. 4 star for the over all experience, eating right on Kalapaki beach, great ambiance, lots of cool surfing memorabilia to look at.
(4)
Gail Q.
Yeah, it's a chain, but you know what? You're a tourist. Shut up and have a huge piece of whatever that giant pie thing is because it's good and bigger than your head unless your head is much bigger than it should be, in which case, seek medical help.
(4)
Amanda K.
A group of us came here our second night in Kauai for a nice sit down dinner. The view of ocean is beautiful. Our waiter was great and very helpful. The salad bar was a bit of a disappointment to us all. Drinks were tasty and I enjoyed the rib/chicken combo. The rest of the group wasn't very found of their dishes (they all got different fish meals). The hula pie is to die for though and I highly recommend that you put aside your calorie counting for a night and order it.
(4)
Nick V.
Made reservation just a couple hours before and ended up with a great seat! Claudia gave us great service and explained the menu very well. Highly recommend!
(5)
Amy M.
Wonderful food! Ahi was sashimi grade, super good. Macadamia nut and herb crusted fish is super good. Firecracker roasted fish is super good, very spicy, and served with fresh avocado. Coconut shrimp is yumy. All meals come with a nice salad bar. The hula pie is great! (oreo cookie crust with macadamia nut ice cream, fudge and whip cream, btw it serves 4) Our waiter was Rusty and was also great at his job. The View of the bay is spectacular. Decor is very nice. Waterfall on the way upstairs to the restaurant. Make reservations so there is no waiting. free valet parking, please tip the guys. Downstairs has a barefoot bar is if you are on their beach all day and want to walk in for a bite before leaving. We went back to Dukes several times on this vacation just so we could try more entrees.
(4)
Lindsay H.
Took longer for them to sit us than told, waitress didn't come get our drink order until 20min sitting at the table. Mahi mahi sandwich NO BIG deal, tasted like a frozen filet, crab& macadamia wontons were very good with peanut dipping sauce. Disappointed :( probably won't return, bummed this was our last dining out before our vacation ended.
(2)
Kayli H.
Just got back from our stay at the Marriott next door for our honeymoon, and we went to Dukes maybe 5 times that week? The hostesses started to recognize us and seemed happy to see us each visit. Either we went too much or they're really good at their job. The food was great, didn't have a bland meal once. Sat in the dining room the first time and the barefoot bar the rest. Love the coconut shrimp, and the Huli Huli chicken was awesome too. Also tried the Hawaiian pizza with Kalua pork, it was really yummy. Our favorite drink was the "Wrong Island Iced Tea," which was made pretty strong and not a bad price at $8.50 regular price (great deal considering it's a tourist location and the hotel bar's regular drink prices are around $11.50 for a similar drink). Fish was fresh, the appetizers and sauces were all yummy. Food prices weren't bad either, we were surprised being next to the resort and all. We came in September and never had to wait more than 30 minutes for a table at around 7pm, service wasn't always the fastest but what do you expect being next door to the biggest hotel on the island, and the staff does a great job of trying to make you feel special and keep a good mood. We couldn't get enough.
(5)
Karen T.
This review is for the happy hour only. We had Duke's and Nadine's mai tais and hula pie. It was happy hour so there was a band playing Hawaiian music as we sat on the patio overlooking the beach at dusk. The hula pie was huge so our nephew gladly helped us eat the dessert. The restaurant is a short walk from where the NCL cruise ship docks. What a way to celebrate a birthday!
(4)
Brooke H.
An absolute must in Kauai! Every dish I've had has been amazing! We've made it a tradition that Duke's is the first and last place we eat when visiting the island. They also have an awesome happy hour and a spectacular view.
"A Switcher of Accommodations" I suppose if I lived in Lihue I'd be a regular here. It's on the beach, it's open air, the furnishings are all wood. Sports are on the telly, the bartenders are cool, the crowd is from everywhere. There's even a complimentary ocean breeze. You can have it at your back, your side, or in your pretty face. Your choice entirely. It was a short walk from my hotel, and I came here twice before switching accommodations. I'm like that, you know. A "Switcher of Accommodations." I think they call people like me itinerant. Although I prefer the term "hotel slut." Anyway, my first night here I ordered a mai-tai. I had to. You're supposed to do that. It's practically what's expected. So after my drink came I consumed half in three gulps and looked at the menu. Almost immediately I honed in on the Panko crusted calamari strips and fresh fish tacos. While I read the descriptions I listened to an annoying man in a Hawaiian shirt. He was sitting at the end of the bar, trying to sell a customer a timeshare on the island. "It's a great deal, man," he said, "I'll take you to see it and you'll love it." But the customer wasn't interested in timeschlocks. He just wanted to sip his drink and cuddle his lady. Hawaiian Shirt got the message and went back to his Bud Lite draft. So I went with calamari and fish tacos and finished my mai-tai right quick. I ordered another when my food came and then another when I ordered more tacos. In case you're keeping score at home here's the current tally: Three consumed mai-tais, one inhaled calamari plate, and four swallowed-whole fish tacos. Everything was fine. Tasted exactly like it was supposed to. Not five star, of course--you know that going in--but I'm not a five star guy anyhow. I'm a white collar boy with mostly blue collar tastes. The check came but I wasn't done. Oh, no. Not by a longshot. So I ordered a Tropical Itch--a rum drink with vodka, fruit juice and orange curacao. Very tasty. I also ordered a slice of Hula pie, which ended up being extremely large and good. Here's a picture and description: dukeswaikiki.com/hula-pie Needless to say when my meal was through I was so full and buzzed I could barely walk or stumble. But I had planned it that way. And I love when things go to plan.The next night I had coconut shrimp and firecracker roasted ahi with avocado and black bean relish, with, of course, more alcohol. Only this time I merely had one mai-tai, one Wrong Island Iced Tea and two Longboard brews. No Hula pie this time. Good, but very rich. I like it here at Duke's. The beach, the crowd, the drinks. I'm happy here. Very happy. And that doesn't happen often.
(4)
Eric S.
Great beach front views. Great for people watching. Good service. Bit pricey. Downstairs is more casual. Would come here for a casual drink and hang out. Not sure if the food is anything to brag about.
(3)
Nathan S.
We got a $50 gift certificate for our wedding and it lasted 1.5 meals at Duke's Barefoot Bar. That's good value considering it is Kauai and we ate very well here. The Korean Tacos are the best, and a great value. The food comes pretty quickly too.. Nothing bad to say really. It's the best food in the area for sure.
(5)
Kelly G.
After hearing "not bad" reviews from my boyfriend, I was willing to give Duke's a try and I'm very unhappy that I did. Since my boyfriend usually only grabs lunch here, I opted to gear our dinner towards the dinner/evening menu. Ordered the poke rolls to start and the Kushiyaki for me and the filet peppersteak. Everything we ordered was SO DISAPPOINTING. The poke rolls were basically poke with a wasabi-ish sauce. They also served this dish while we were up at the salad buffet. I would have rather they waited to serve us the appetizer when we are actually at the table. Who knows what insects have been touching the plate since we've been gone! The kushiyaki is basically a chicken and a beef kebob with a side of your choice. The chicken was dry, the beef tough. The garlic mashed potato was not bad. But portions were so small for their price it made me physically cry out in sadness when the plate was served. The filet was also a small portion, but thankfully they cooked this one well. Unforunately, they SMOOOOTHERed this nice piece of meat with their creme of cheese, or something. The boyfriend wanted to try their Hula Pie to see if it would redeem Duke's. It didn't. What are you people raving about?! The Hula pie is just vanilla ice cream pie over a cookie crust with fudge. so NOT worth it. All this plus drinks totaled $80! Come for lunch. I hear the burgers are decent, and for the prices, can't be as disappointing as dinner.
(2)
L G.
It was so good, we went back on our last day. Gorgeous setting, we asked to sit on balcony when making reservations (strongly recommended) and both times they were able to accommodate us. Food was delicious, we both had fish, selection changes daily, and you have several choices of preparations. Salad bar is included and it was perfect, not too much, but sufficient to make it a great deal. Good food, good service!
(5)
Christine G.
We ate here twice. Once in the upstairs restaurant - which was very good, and once downstairs in the bar which was okay. I had a great fresh fish of the day prepared in 1 of 5 ways that they do their special fish every day. The Opah with garlic mashed potatoes was delicious. The all you can eat salad bar was nothing terribly special, but pretty good -and really made a great value for the money. The happy hour specials at the barefoot bar were okay - a little overpriced, not terribly impressive, but i do recommend the cocktails, especially the Beach Boy Daquiri. They had live ukelele music when we were there which was a nice touch. The views from most seats in the bar area are very nice. The service was attentive and quick enough.
(4)
Keith W.
Best fish taco I had all week! This was the first place we stopped at all week during our honeymoon. Sat at a table by the bar overlooking the water for a quick snack break. Ordered a fish taco, a Korean steak taco and the Hawaiian pizza. All three were fantastic! My wife says that Korean steak taco was her favorite food she ate that week. The fish taco set the precedent for the week, was by far the best I had all week and I absolutely believe that it was the best fish taco I ever had. The pizza was darn good too! Great food. Great view. Friendly staff. I also LOVED the blonde ale they had! Needless to say we came back 3 more times. Sat in the bar area each time. Only came during lunch time as we didn't eat out for dinner all that much.
(5)
Karen L.
Two words: Happy Hour! Two more words: Taco Tuesdays!!! 5 stars for their awesome $2.50 fish tacos on Tuesdays. Fresh crispy Mahi Mahi with coleslaw and a cool sauce, a good size taco in fact. 5 stars also for their drink menu! We loaded up on all our tropical drinks and beer. 2 stars for their fish and chips. I was disappointed with this. The batter was overly greasy and the fish was dry. Boo boo. Overall 3.5 stars, I'd definitely come back for the beach front view (pretty Koi pond too), the friendly service, and the awesome tacos on Tuesday and Happy Hour 4-6pm drinks! Don't bother with anything else.
(4)
Michael L.
Same chain and bad/boring food as the place in Poipu. Fish was ok - wife's was overcooked. Rib's ok. Don't get fooled by "best salad bar", the most important part to read into that is "on the island" - well - it's likely the only one and not something to be that proud of
(2)
Nali M.
duke's is definitely one of my top picks for dining out here on kauai. if you're looking for a more casual and fun dining experience, the downstairs barefoot bar is a great option. they have a variety of different things on the menu, at a reasonable price. the upstairs dining room is my favorite, though. i love the selection of fresh fish they always have. i usually go with a more mild fish (mong chong, opah, opakapaka (if it's in season)) duke's style. it's very appealing to the taste buds. pair it with mashed potatoes and the great salad bar & i'm fully satisfied everytime. the wait staff is generally very good as well. i think my favorite waitress, laulima, moved on with a different career choice. overall, this is a great place to eat, drink & have a great time.
(4)
Alyssa G.
Amazing view, and wonderful service. The waitress was very nice, making sure everything was good for us. The food was wonderful! I got the Poke Rolls and the Coconut Shrimp, and both were to die for! I recommend sitting downstairs at the Barefoot Bar, the prices are much better then upstairs. Overall it was was a really good experience.
(5)
Tina A.
Fish tacos & kalua pulled pork sandwich, good noms!
(4)
Chuck B.
Excellent service with very knowledgeable wait staff. Great salad bar. Meal was above average - just didn't meet expectations for the price. View was nice in a relaxed ambiance. Pineapple Mojito was excellent. We were pleasantly surprised to be seated promptly at the time of our reservation.
(4)
Brian B.
Great seafood and steaks, awesome cocktails. Its in the Marriott, its not cheap, but the place is worth it. The fish is very fresh and well prepared and the beef was very tasty. The salad bar is well stocked and has a great variety, nice fresh bread as well. It was the best Mai Tai I found on the island. Have the Hula Pie for dessert.
(4)
Karen H.
This was our first time on Kauai and I made reservations for my 50th bday dinner here. We have a Jake's restaurant in San Diego which is (I believe) affiliated with this establishment. Jake's isn't the best but i'd been there before so i thought what the heck. At least I'd know what i was getting. Or so I thought. When i made the reservation by telephone several weeks ahead of time, I told the person that it would be my 50th bday and if they could give us a nice table that would be great. When we were seated, our table was 2 tables away from the kitchen and we couldn't have been further away from the window so we didn't have any sort of view unless we stood up and looked over the rows of tables in front of us. I ordered the ahi entree and it was easily one of the worst pieces of ahi I've ever had. Horrible. My BF had some sort of pasta dish and he was completely UNDERwhelmed. How do you screw up pasta?!? The only good things about this evening was our waitress, Taeru, who was adorable, attentive & friendly and the free hula pie. The salad bar was mediocre. I was really looking forward to a memorable meal but this wasn't it. A couple of days later, we stopped at the "Tacos Al Pastor" food truck in Kapa'a and I had the ahi burrito. That ahi was SO much better than the piece I had at Duke's and the seating & view were much better too!
(1)
Jen C.
Fish taco tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.! Great deal and delicious tacos (although I'd admit it would be tastier with some type of sauce). I ordered the shrimp and louie salad, and they were tiny shrimp, and not much crab meat. Also got the beach fries, which were waffle shaped, they were yummy. Also got the Lava Flow drink which was good. Great ambiance, customer service was fine, just seemed busy. I'd like to go again for fish taco night, especially at $2.50 a taco. Recommend that everyone should go there at least once during their Hawaii vacation!
(4)
Thao T.
The restaraunt, i give a four, the location on the marriott resort, was a five and maybe even a six. the resort was so beautiful, i would haev loved to stay there! there was an excellent view for oceanfront dining and the food was good. It's the same chain as Jake's and Chart house from what i've heard, so it's pricey and posh but the hawaiian feel made it more laid back. Every entree had a salad where you could go to a salad bar and treat yourself to a bit of a buffet. the fish and steaks were delicious! And the dessert hula pie is a must have, it's a macademia nut ice cream cake with an oreo cookie crust, whipped cream and chocolate sauce all over and about 6 inches high! It was so good. i really enjoyed the time here during dinner and afterwards hanging out at the resort.
(4)
M V.
Food and location are OK. It all depends on the day you go there. The seafood and service both could have been better. I liked the kimchi in the salad bar (it is included with your entrees). Overall I'm not a fan.
(2)
Robert c.
5 for the view. Get front left corner table upstairs if possible. As everyone stated, salad bar is terrific. Music downstairs was a bit loud so we ate upstairs and it worked out fine. We were there early and they had music going around 5 pm and from upstairs it sounded great. Great service as well!
(4)
Mike H.
We went our first day here at the Marriott. We both got the fish and chips. The fish was amazing, as was the tarter sauce. The fries were criss cut and were excellent. The fish and chips were great. I'm glad everyone else had great service, but the time we went was around lunch and our waittress had no personality, she didn't say much but just take our orders and run. There was maybe but 4 tables and 3 waittresses, maybe it was a good looking guy hanging around or something. Lol oh well. Fish and chips are excellent, and service can be hit or miss.
(3)
Chris S.
Good, solid food (yet sorta limited) choices and reasonable drink prices are why you should go here. Oh, and the view of Kalapaki Beach and Nawiliwili Harbor. Yeah, those aren't so bad, either! I had the fish tacos and split a fresh veggie platter with the rest of my party. I did see a guest send back his fries because they were cold, though.
(4)
Mike M.
The pizza was horrible. We should have tried something else. The service was below par and not friendly.
(1)
Nanucktucktuc K.
Fabulous view, of course; very good food (fish and chips; fish tacos); nice service and right next to the tackiest '60's era Dean Martin-style pool at the Marriott! Treat yourself to a stroll past that after having a meal and a drink.
(5)
Laura E.
This was by far our favorite place to eat on Kapaa. First of all we had 4 adults, one kid, adults all got adult beverages, two got steak and lobster, other two just steaks, bill was $200. so its pricey, but not break the bank pricey. well worth it. I got the biggest lobster I have ever seen in my life, and it was cooked perfectly. The Lava Flows we got were the best we had on the island. My parents both ordered desert and couldnt stop raving. Me, i was full from a salad bar, steak and huge lobster. Our waiter was excellent, and the salad bar was good. We loved it so much we've found one where we live that we plan on going to soon. The place is good for kids, although not if they want to run around. Its somewhat noisy-which drowns out your kids noise, and we played family guy on our phone for our daughter with no complaints from other tables. This restaurant is classy hawaiin atmosphere and I would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Ryan A.
As a couple under the age of 30, this places seemed a touch too cheesy and seemed to cater more towards families and an older crowd. I cannot explain why, but something about it reminded me of Red Lobster / Steak & Ale, etc. Anyway, the atmosphere was the main problem that we had. The food was decent enough, and considering the outrageous prices elsewhere on the island, the cost was pretty reasonable. My wife's lobster was so-so and my local fish was pretty good. Our service was excellent. The waiter was very attentive and everything came out timely.
(3)
Joel D.
Excellent view. A little dark but a great atmosphere. The drinks were pretty weak. The food was good. Lots of fresh fish options. We had a friendly and helpful waitress. Free valet parking. Beautiful stroll through the hotel courtyard on the way to the restaurant.
(3)
Joshua E.
Yeah it's a resort restaurant, but was exactly what I was looking for. Some decent food and a couple drinks. What more could you ask for after a rough day of trail running?
(4)
John F.
Went here on our last day on the island because of the great review in the Lonely Planet guide. Ah well. Fish tacos were nothing to be excited about and the Mai Tai was tasty but weak. The view of the bay is nice. There are many better places to eat on Kauai. Try them all first.
(2)
Mike A.
-=The deets=- Between 6/16/12 and 6/24/12, I visited Duke's a handful of times as a tourist staying at the nearby Marriot, at both their downstairs (Barefoot Bar) and their upstairs (Canoe Club) areas. I sampled a number of tropical drinks, Mai Tai varian
(4)
Ralph T.
We ate there, PUPU's a couple of times. It is convenient to the Marriott. Good drinks. Prices were decent for an on property independent restaurant. They and the hotel have to make their money. Service was good 2 of 3 times. The third time the server was a little flaky and misordered our food but corrected the problem. Though she charged us for the wrong food too. My wife caught the error. 15% tip vs. our usual 20 for good service. We had all the Pupu's on the menu. All were good with decent flavor and great sauces. Most were deep fried that was a little disappointing. We had the pork nachos. Those were good. A lot of chips, salsa, cheese, tender pork and sour cream. The jalapenos were mild though. Did I mention the drinks were good. OH the Hula Pie was excellent. Really it is enough for three people but he two of us at the whole thing. There are two different restaurants here. The upstairs takes reservations while downstairs is first come, first serve.
(3)
South Bay R.
The only coconut shrimp I have ever had that wrap the shrimp in a ball, tail included, and then batter and deep fry it. It was hard to eat because you never knew when you were going to bite into the tail, you would just have to fish it out of your mouth while chewing (very awkward and unpleasant). If you tried to remove the tail before eating you had to pull off all the beading first. Also had the nachos, which were pretty plain with very little toppings.
(2)
M C.
Cant go wrong if you order fish with mac nuts, capers and lemon! Love the salad bar! Save room for the Hula Pie! Would definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Katty C.
The Duke became my staple for my week long stay in Marriot, Lihue. You pretty much don't have a lot of choices when it comes to food if you don't want to drive. After eating there and Kukui (not as good) everyday, for a week or so, the lesson I've learned is stay away from steak if you are a regular steak lover. Fresh caught fish : It is always Opah, Ahi and one more fish I forgot. I had the Opah and it is fresh and tasty. It is a white fish with firm texture. You have a number of choices to prepare the fishes they offer, I had it grilled with vegetable. 4 star. Ahi sashimi : Not sure if they are really fresh caught as the sushi has that wrapped by plastic wrap shape when it is served on the plate. It seems that they have been pre-sliced, wrapped and put away in a fridge or something. But nonetheless it taste fresh, not melting in your mouth good but I say it is 4 stars too. Fish and Chips : The fries that comes with the dish are those that looks and taste like curly fries but is actually straight cut type. I have never seen people screw up curly fries. The fish is really fresh (compared to those frozen fish fillet people usually use to make fish and chips), but on the other hand, that fresh fish when fried, makes it less crispy. Somehow maybe the juice from the fish got absorbed by the batter or something, the entire piece is not that crispy either. 3 star Baby back BBQ ribs and Huli Huli chicken : The Huli Huli chicken is something like BBQ chicken, made with chicken breast. It is very soft, supple and juicy. I always prefer dark meat when it comes to chicken but I can say this taste very good. The baby back ribs is the type that comes with a thick layer BBQ sauce on top. I personally prefer the dryer type as I can taste the meat more, but their ribs is soft and tender too. I would say that is a 3.5 star dish.
(4)
Tammy B.
Such friendly staff and great location. We loved the wings and salad with grilled beets (and I don't usually like beets). Great atmosphere. I was really impressed at how nice the wait staff interacted with all of the customers.
(4)
Meha M.
Nothing special, the food was decent. The appetizers were amazing, almost better than the actual food. The place is constantly crowded, and loud. The waffle fries were amazing though. The service was nice and the waiters were quite attentive. Wouldn't say not to go there, but there are a lot better places to eat.
(3)
Melissa C.
The best place to have a fun, romantic, and relaxing evening with your spouse. My hubby and I went back three times in two days because we loved it so much. The coconut shrimp is amazing! The live music, drinks, and sitting near the ocean leaves nothing to be desired. The waitresses are great and personable, and really know the drinks to try if you're unsure of what you'd like. I should mention that upstairs Duke's is more formal and downstairs is more relaxed and a bar type of atmosphere. We ate upstairs as well and the salad bar is great, the hula pie is just as spectacular as people say, and the overall experience is a must! We've been to the Duke's on Maui and Oahu as well and I have to admit-Duke's anywhere is a must on your list of places to go.
(5)
Kristin W.
Love the atmosphere. Little bit pricey, but to be expected at a hotel on the beach. Staff are friendly...many familiar faces. The food is pretty decent. Drinks are fun.
(4)
Dan G.
Terrific salad bar! A new menu was launched just three days ago according to our server. Fresh fish varieties and prep were excellent. Hula pie is a bit overrated. Hostesses were ok, waiter was very good.
(4)
SoCal G.
Ehhhhh. Expensive, greasy and kind of blah. The convenience of being right by the Marriott makes this place popular but I wish I had just eaten a fish sandwich at the Beach Hut. Just OK.
(2)
Leanne K.
Great dinner with a view this evening! Hula Pie is the bomb.....excellent valet service!
So, there are technically 2 different restaurants here, the upstairs and the downstairs. The downstairs is way more casual and the the upstairs you typically need reservations or your wait will be over an hour. We tend to eat downstairs, but occasionally, we like to get a little more upscale and eat upstairs. Upstairs the food is expensive and the last time we ate there we were very unimpressed. Our waiter made us feel rushed and unwelcome and our food was just OK. The salad bar was the highlight of the evening. This is a pretty expensive place compared to others on the island and likely a place we will skip next time. Downstairs is a different story. It's basically the same menu (minus the steak & lobster) with a more family friendly selection. If you are looking for something fast and easy with the kids, this is a great place
(3)
Austin O.
We had lunch and drinks. The food and service was great. We had Mai Tais too. Needless to say, the Mai Tais were awesome. You can't beat the location right on the beach. Perfect for the view and people watching.
(5)
Vince L.
The advantage of this restaurant is that it's REALLY close to the Marriott. The food is decent. I had the ahi burger and it was just okay. It gets so busy that the servers don't really come around often to freshen up drinks. You just kind of sit there and watch the hustle and bustle. Then you realize that it would be nicer to walk along the shore and admire the sunset from the beach itself.
(3)
Beach Bum W.
Gentle Reader: I am on an annual pilgrimage to Kauai which I have made for 23 years. I have eaten at this restaurant many times. It is part of the T and S Chain which I have found to have good food. I took my family to this place tonight and the food was just awful except for my child's chicken. My Ahi which I love medium rare seared was not even seared. It was ice cold inside. My wife teryaki steak was sooooo tough as to be inedible. Our server was kind, considerate, friendly, but not attentive to drinks. He was not busy. He was always apologizing for not being around. Strange..... For this I spent 155 dollars. I will keep an eye on the reviews before going back. Funny but I had an excellent meal at Keoki's in Poipu just two nights before. Same Chain.
(1)
Nancy B.
This is a happening place at the Marriot Resort at Kalapaki Beach. We enjoyed drinks at the bar and their wonderful salad bar and seafood dinner. The views are great and so is the people watching. We had fun here.
(5)
Stella M.
No thank you. Service 1 star. Food 1 star. Ambiance 4 stars. Pros: Really fun decor and ambiance. Right on the beach. Fun for tourists. Coconut shrimp was good. Great hula pie, that shit was good. Cons: Horrible service. Disgusting food. My father has a garlic allergy so we asked which menu items do not have garlic and apparently everything has some amount of the ingredient. This was obviously a clear sign of a horrible chef/menu; garlic is an overpowering flavor and using it in everything you make shows laziness, lack of creativity and just lack of skill in general. Later we asked for a side of bread since this restaurant doesn't offer any for free like most restaurants do and they brought us garlic bread... I ordered a passion fruit iced tea and the waitress brought me something that tasted like syrup. Apparently passion fruit iced tea here is something like an arnold palmer but with passion fruit juice instead of lemonade. I thought it was going to be passion fruit tea that had been iced, which is what I've had numerous times at other restaurants. This was just way, way too sweet. My ahi wrap was just weird and the lettuce was wilted. Lastly my little sister's pizza was taking forever and finally our waitress came to let us know that the kitchen had burnt it! Finally it came out and I swear it tasted like something out of the frozen section of the supermarket. You would expect after something like that to happen that it would be comped. Well, it wasn't. Absolutely ridiculous. Get drinks or get the pie and get out of there.
(1)
Sierra F.
Order the Sous Vide chicken and ribs
(4)
Carly D.
Both the downstairs casual restaurant ("barefoot bar") and the upstairs more formal restaurant are delicious! Upstairs I had amazing ono and a pineapple mojioto with the tastiest salad bar ever (beets! kale! marinated garbanzos!) and downstairs I had a great mahi mahi salad. We went for taco Tuesday also and while I wasn't expecting deep fried fish the tacos were pretty good anyway. Definitely a great bargain! Make a reservation if going upstairs, it's always busy!
(4)
Kahanalei M.
Eating at Duke's, you obviously are paying for the location right by the beach and the view, but I personally thought that the food was good and worth it. Of course $28.95, I have to admit, is very expensive (as in I'd go to a place like this once or twice a year, because sweetheart - I ain't Ms. Moneybags) for the entree that I ordered (Mahimahi sauteed w/mac nut and herb crusted w/lemon and caper butter w/side of garlic mashed potatoes), but other than the price, there was nothing to complain about; the dish was honestly good and the salad bar (that's included in the price of any entree) was great too - easily go for seconds on that. I liked the warm rolls and the Caesar salad that they offered. But try not to fill up too much on the stuff at the salad bar, otherwise you'll have trouble trying to finish your entree - and you don't want to waste that. Service here was good, the waitresses that we encountered were nice. I saw some folks ordering the Hula Pie, but there was no way we could have consumed that - it was seriously the most hugest pie I've seen!! Oh, and if you have some time, go check out the Marriott hotel that this place is located next to - the grounds and landscaping there are beautiful.
(4)
Medina Z.
What's not to love about Duke's? It's a casual spot right on the Marriott premises, overlooking the beach and a short walk of maybe 3 minutes from the pool area. The burgers are sooooooooooooooooo goodddd and so is their delicious hula pie (PLEASE ORDER THE HULA PIE NO MATTER HOW FULL YOU ARE!). I ordered an asian-inspired dish one time too. I can't remember what it was called, but that too was delicious. They place orders to-go, which is great if you want to sit on a bench on the beach and look at the stars at night. Dukes is a great spot!
(5)
Jess R.
Major attitude problem -- the hostesses act like TSA agents, like they are special because they perceive they have you over a barrell. Wrong!! Went Tuesday afternoon for Taco Tuesday (special $3 mahi tacos). I called in advance to ask when it started. I was told 4:00 p.m. We got there at 3:45 and found out they actually started at 3:30 and now they snootily informed us we had at least a 25 minute wait, longer for a sidewalk table. OK, we were wet from the pool, so we took their beeper (how Orange County CA), and went upstairs to our room to change. I got back down just as they were beeping me and I was taken to a table back in the place in the dark next to a family of toddlers. This may work some some, but not for me. Not on my Hawaiian vacation! So we waited some more, and after another 15 minutes we finally got what was an acceptable table for us. We ordered happy hour martinis and two fish tacos each, and for certain, they were very good. But was it worth the hassle? We returned today for a light lunch at 2:15 p.m. and were told we were looking at a 35 - 45 minute wait. Excuse me - the food isn't THAT good. We left and ate at the Kalapaki Grill. I highly suggest the Kalapaki Grill -- it is just a few hundred steps away at the Marriott pool. It is also much quicker (see review), more spacious, no attitude, great food, great view. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.
One of the few places to grab a drink after 9pm over in Kauai. Appetizers are as expected if you been to it on Oahu. Live Musician. Staff is friendly.
(3)
Susie P.
Hed a very nice view but I would actually go somewhere else for food on this island. Not that it wasn't good but I felt as though I had a better experience at other places with service.
(4)
Bill B.
We ate upstairs and the service was great. We had a large group (13) and there must have been at least 3 servers. I'm always a fan of their tropical drinks. I sampled the Wrong Island Ice Tea and the Mai Tai...both were great. Definitely not an every day place for the locals...too pricey...but the food is still excellent! It's at a resort...what do you expect? LOL My Fillet Mignon and Lobster Tails were to die for. The salad bar was fresh and well stocked. And the Hula Pie...well...what else can I say but...ONO!
(4)
Danielle M.
As much as I wanted to love this place I just couldn't. The food was blah, nothing special. My husband ordered the surf and turf and I ordered the Ahi. For drinks I ordered a mojito, and that's not what I received. I drank it anyway but probably the worse one I ever tasted. We then ordered a pina coloda in a pineapple, that was probably the best thing I tasted at the restaurant. Views were spectacular. Restaurant was gorgeous. A great place to hang out for a few cocktails.
(3)
Joe D.
Food was ok, service was ok, atmosphere was good and Hula Pie was awesome.
(4)
Kristina D.
I dined at this restaurant twice on my vacation. My first visit I enjoyed the coconut shrimp with spicy lilikoi (passion fruit) sauce and a caeser salad. For dessert we orded the hula. The hula pie is a macadamia nut ice cream piled high on a chocolate cookie crust and topped with chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and more macadamia nuts. Warning It is sized for sharing. The second night I order an appetizer the mac nut brie crepe with honey comb. Not a fan of the dish. Although I love brie it was too soft and the crepe did not complement the brie or honey.
(4)
Kristin D.
We were on Kauai a week and this was actually the best meal we had. For the money, we were really happy. We went to a few other fancier and more expensive restaurants on Kauai and here at Duke's we got larger portions (of fish) and more tasty, fresh food here than anywhere. My son even had teriyaki steak which was unbelievable good! Drinks were great and the view can't be beat - on the beach, overlooking a beautiful bay. The Hula Pie was the best end to a great dinner. This is a short walk from the Marriott Kauai resort - if you have time, walk through the hotel grounds, the place is beautiful.
(5)
Jen B.
Great view and very relaxing environment. Service was great! Salad bar was yummy! Order the Mahi Mahi with pineapple chutney! so delicious! dont forget to save room for dessert! Hula Pie is amazingly delicious! Kind of pricey but its Hawaii! everything is pricey here! :)
(5)
Alex M.
We ate here last night and the food was BOMB!! There service was excellent and our waiter was very attentive to us and helpful. He came by frequently to see if we needed anything and always had a smile on his face. I highly recommend this place. We're back again for a second night. And most importantly, the food was excellent. Everything tasted better than expected.
(5)
debbie l.
We ate dinner upstairs at Dukes one of our last nights on Kauai. Remembering how good we remembered the fish was we were looking forward to our meal. We both ordered fish with the macadamia nut crust. The salad bar was good as always, but the fish was just not that good and we both had upset stomachs that night. Didn't make us sick, just didn't sit well. By far one of the most disappointing meals for the price during our entire stay. Close to $100 is way too much for mediocre food that kinda makes you sick. Sorry! Service was ok, he didn't bother to explain the entree options in detail, and appeared to be distracted the entire time. It was busy but really look us in the eye when talking to us. And when you notice uneaten food ask why. Eat at Roy's Josselyns, or any of the other highly rated restaurants instead, it will cost you close to the same price and you will get a much higher quality of food. If you are going to eat here and see a cruse ship in the harbor be sure to make a reservation or you may have to wait a long, long time. Drive to Poipu instead you will be glad you did!
(2)
chavo d.
A view worthy of Hemingway prose, Duke's in Kauai blows our mainland brethren (Malibu location) clear off the decks... The entire experience from food to staff was soild as koa boards. Keeping it short and sweet, highly recommended and best right before sunset.
(4)
Kyle M.
For the Hula Pie alone, this gets 5 stars. Delicious fish dishes don't hurt the score much, either. Great service, great salad bar, decent enough price. And I really can't get over that Hula Pie.
(5)
Eric J.
I researched good places to eat before my recent trip to Kauai, and Duke's Canoe Club was the first place on my list for dinner. In fact although it was pretty late, we went straight from the airport to Duke's before checking in at the hotel, and got there just in time to order dinner before the kitchen closed down. There aren't a ton of choices on the menu, but there's enough variety to satisfy most. The food was pretty decent and the service was good (very fast), but what makes this place unique is the restaurant itself. There's essentially a jungle growing inside of the restaurant, from the 2nd level all the way down to the first floor. A waterfall and stream runs through the foliage down to a Koi pond at the bottom with several very large Koi fish. Duke's sits right on the water in the bay, and although both our visits to Duke's were at night on our recent stay, I'm sure the view is stunning during the day. Attire ranged from casual to dressy. We didn't have a reservation either of the two times we went and we didn't have to wait at all for a seat, but we also ate pretty late. Others have said that it gets very busy there and you should make a reservation. If you're going to Kauai and you're looking for a fun and interesting place to eat, definitely check out Duke's! Oh yeah, one important thing to mention for the tourists who are trying to find Duke's for the first time. If you're using a GPS and if it's after dark you'll probably have some trouble. Duke's is located about 100 yards from Rice St., hidden behind other buildings, and with no adjoining parking lot. There are a couple different places you can park and a few different paths you can take to get to Duke's, but I suggest you look for JJ's Broiler which is situated just off of the road, and park in that parking lot (which is also parking for Duke's). From there you should see a Duke's sign over a path leading away from the road. Just follow that for about 50 yards around the edge of the lagoon and it will take you to Duke's.
(4)
Bob D.
Expected much more from this well known establishment. Service was fine, but meal arrived cold. I rarely send things back but did this time. Mashed potatoes were cold and prime rib was, too. Wife's meal was cold as well with fresh fish being only thing presented at table that was at temp. Second meal presented was a totally new plate (not reheated original plate) but cold as well. Mentioned it to waitress and she said she would inform manager. She did - but I would have expected the manager to come to our table and address us personally. The waitress said the manager comp'ed my meal - nice, but..... Two cold meals and no visit from the manager? With so many options, we will not be back.
(2)
john h.
Came here a couple of times for happy hour. Sat outside with a great ocean view. The bar has the nice tiki ambience. The food and drinks are good, although a bit pricey. Great spot for people watching. My wife really liked this place. It should definitely be in your Kauai restaurant rotation.
(4)
Alan C.
I first went to this place in year 2000 as a single guy, and I recently came back around New Year's Eve 2012 with my wife. The food and service here are really fantastic. At first glance the prices seem a bit high for dinner by Kauai standards, but when you factor in the great salad bar that comes with it, it justifies the higher prices. It's probably somewhere between $$ and $$$ in pricing, depending on if you get alcohol and dessert or not. It's in a great location, but due to the huge size of the Marriott Hotel that it's attached to, you can count on long waits (often over an hour long) for dinner. If you can plan a couple of days in advance and make a reservation, that's your best bet. The hula pie is huge and delicious as well. We weren't even staying at the Marriott but felt the food worth a second visit.
(4)
Samantha P.
I really enjoyed my meal at Duke's! Typically, I HATE spending money on food. If given a hundred dollars to spend on anything I'd much rather stop at McDonald's and spend the rest of the money shopping than spend it all at a restaurant. However, I'm glad I chose Duke's to spend one of my four evenings in Kauai. The salad bar was fresh and the drinks were really good. My fish was excellent (seasoned "Duke's style"). I usually save room for dessert but my main course was so good that I ate it all and couldn't try the Hula pie. The view is very nice. It is very busy and loud, so definitely not as romantic as it could be given the fact that it is right on the beach. I would definitely return though.
(4)
C1221 C.
We preferred the Duke's on Maui on Kaanapali Beach to this location. Though, we did enjoy the salad bar at the Duke's Kauai :)
(3)
Kay A.
We wanted to eat dinner here right after we got off the plane because we went to Kimo's in Maui before and loved the muffins. I know, weird reason to go back to a place...Maybe because I didn't have high expectations, I was totally fine with the food. I didn't think the food was expensive. It was about $30+ per entree, which comes with the salad bar and muffins! The hubs ordered the ribs which were very tender, fall off the bone. I had the lobster tail which was juicy and filling. We both had the garlic mashed potatoes which had flavor and was a little bit chunky, too. We were too stuffed and didn't have room for dessert. The restaurant is nice and open and you can see a nice sunset. It wasn't loud or too busy on a Sunday night.
(3)
Russ T. S.
Amazing! The salad bar is very good. Everything is perfect! It's kind of hard to get to if you aren't in the hotel by it. But the walk there is heavenly! A beautiful garden of plants. The view is perfect! You are on the beach and it's very relaxing. It's very expensive, but the food is great! You will leave there stuffed. Also, it might be a good idea to make a reservation for lunch or dinner.
(5)
Rose K.
This place is not very veg-friendly - there is absolutely nothing on the menu (other than the salad bar) that you can order as is. I was disappointed because I had looked at the downstairs menu and thought that I'd be able to eat here. I was wrong, since I didn't realize that there were two separate Duke restaurants at the same location. The downstairs menu has a portobella sandwich - but you cannot order items from the downstairs menu upstairs. I really hate when restaurants do that. As someone else mentioned (how did I miss their review?), you have to order seafood without the seafood in order to eat here if you're a vegetarian. I ordered the macadamia nut pesto fettuccine without the seafood. Unfortunately, they still charge you the same price even though they take out the most expensive ingredients. I didn't find it to be very good, and I'm sure I was cheating on my vegan diet, but it was our first day in town, I was hunger, and there were no other options. I should have just stuck with the salad bar, which surprisingly was WAY more veg-friendly than anything else on the menu. I should have just stuck with the salad bar. They actually had tofu at the salad bar. I could have made a decent meal out of just that, and I was glad that it was included with my entree so that I could get my tofu fix. But it wasn't the world's best salad bar, just kind of a standard one. The best part about my meal was the La Pina - a pina colada served in a pineapple. If you're a vegetarian, avoid the pasta and stick with the salad bar. Or go downstairs and have the mushroom sandwich. Or avoid all together except for drinks. I really hope they become more veg-friendly in the future - how hard is it to have one item on the menu? Lots of the other restaurants, even those more upscale, have at least one vegetarian item.
(2)
Amy L.
We ate here three times while we were staying at the Marriott. Once for a nice dinner upstairs and twice downstairs for lunch. The dinner was amazing! The menu is different upstairs and if you want fresh fish this is definitely the place to go! We were thrilled with our meals. They do have the all-you-can-eat salad bar which was a nice way to start. The hula pie for dessert was yummy! The service was excellent and we didn't feel rushed at all. We had called ahead for a reservation and they had a lovely table overlooking the ocean ready for us. For lunch we had sandwiches and some tropical drinks. We thought all of the food was fresh and fairly priced by Hawaiian standards. We enjoyed the live music that they had here at night. I loved the casual and island feel of this restaurant and would definitely go back again if we were in the area.
(5)
Paul H.
Duke's at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club. Fancy but casual? I dunno how to categorize that. But the food I had was ono. The waitress was right about the kalua pig nachos. Tasty and massive. The ribs were juicy and tender. Would've liked more sauce, thicker sauce, spicier sauce. That's just me.
(4)
Catherine F.
Happy Hour / Taco Tuesday! The Happy hour Fish tacos were awesome, and.... who doesn't like Hawaiian music while sitting near the beach? We had dinner here a few nights during our trip...great spot!
(5)
Megan J.
So, my husband and I came here during our honeymoon and it was ok. I expected a little more since I heard so many great things about in Huntington Beach and Oahu. I had a steak which was ok. The salad bar was ok. The bread was ok. The service was blah. My lava flow was pretty good though. We had a pretty decent seat looking out onto the water. The downstairs bar had a guy playing guitar which we could hear upstairs and he was pretty good. Loved the ambiance the most and the drinks. Considering how expensive it is, the food and service should be WAY better!! Next time, I think we will just go to the bar downstairs and have some appetizers, listen to the band and have some drinks.
(3)
Rachel S.
You're staying at the Marriott which limits your options to extremely expensive or Duke's. The atmosphere is great at Duke's. Cool little river thing and it's packed for dinner (due to limited options). Really cool inside but this place is a rip off and a half. We went here for Happy Hour. Go to Kalapaki Joe's around the corner for happy hour and you'll walk out 10 times for satisfied. We paid aover $10 for limited wings. Joe's has them for a mere $0.25 each. Beer selection is also much better at Joe's.
(3)
Tom C.
Great food and great setting! Try the "La Piña" for a piña colada inside a hollowed out coconut! The Ahi is amazing, and the ONI was fantastic. Salad bar included with every dinner, with homemade dressings. For lunch, try the Kailua pork sandwich and the coconut shrimp.
(4)
Thomas C.
Food was less than appetizing. Overdressed pasta and over seasoned fish. Price is far out of line with the food and the location is nice being on the beach and right next to the Marriott. Would rather spend a little more effort with a longer walk to a better priced eatery.
(2)
Lennie C.
Great food, beautiful view and excellent service!
(5)
Tina P.
Great location right on the beach and delicious mai tais and pina coladas for $6.50 during happy hour. Also, try their pie if you have a big appetite and a sweet tooth. It's a massive piece of ice cream pie with all the fixings.
(3)
Kristan B.
Great service, hula pie was amazing and their salad bar was huge! If you are looking for good, reliable food and service I recommend Dukes.
(4)
Matthew A.
Pretty nice place. They accomodated our request for a table along the rail. My wife's Opakapaka was dry but my Ahi was delicious, juicy and tender. Nice bottle of wine, good service. Could have gone 4 stars but more like 3.5. We'll be back when in Kaui. Besides it's on the property of our resort.
(4)
K K.
On vacation here in Kauai and went to yelp for help. Yes this was a great pick. Ate upstairs at the restaurant right a opening. Seated on the lanai. So nice to sit and watch the ocean. A little early for sunset but nice anyway. Had the seared Ahi and Steak and Lobster. all excellent. will definately go back.
(4)
Rhonda D.
This is a review of the restaurant (or upstairs as they refer to it). There were four of us in our group (husband, sister, nephew, myself - ranging in age from 21 to 61). We originally had planned to eat at the Barefoot Bar (downstairs), but there was a wait; the hostess told us we could go upstairs with no wait. We asked if the menu was the same, she said yes. WRONG!! The menu was totally different - it was an upscale dinner menu. We decided that perhaps it would be nice to have a nice dinner in a more upscale place. The prices on the menu started at $26 for an entree; which we figured was reasonable. Our server, Sam, was "johnny-on-the-spot" to greet us, get our initial drink order, give us the specials list, and inquire about appetizers. All of the fish entrees were listed as "market price, inquire with your server." (My fish was $32.) My nephew really wanted the french fries that we had had earlier in the downstairs bar; Sam said he would see if he could get them; which he did. (We were thinking...Wow, what great service!) Unfortunately afterwards, the attentiveness went downhill. It tooks us multiple requests and long waits to get refills on water. He rarely checked back on us and when he did, we would request a refill on water or tea; the next time we would see him he was greeting people just seated; we'd catch him and make the request again. It usually took at least 15 minutes to get a drink refill (this is not an exaggeration). When we asked for our check, we timed it - 20 minutes! After he took our credit cards, another 20 minutes. I am so disappointed at the lack of attentiveness that is a Marriott hallmark.
(1)
Doug M.
Best of the limited selection around the Marriott. Big claim is the "all you can eat" salad bar - that really tells you alot about the quality of the dining experience. The seaside views are very nice and Duke's is not a bad choice for an informal meet-up. The interior is stunning and there are a few highly select tables that could turn this into a good place for drinks, albeit expensive. No need to go out of your way to get here. If you need to drive here, skip it and go to Poipu for a better food selection. Definately do not order the steak - mine tasted very much like it was boiled.
(2)
Nicole G.
After a long day of carting my boy around the golf course I was ready to get some no nonsense food and a mai tai. Sounds simple, right? We ended up at dukes and I ordered some simple fish tacos and an adult beverage. Now I always try and be nice to my server. I know how hard it is to juggle tables, take orders and give hungry diners their food in a timely manner. I've been there, I understand. But when I have to watch my tacos sit at the service window for a good 20 minutes, while you stand at the host station chatting with your bff's, i'm going to be a little pissed. Even more so when said mediocre fish tacos arrive at my table barely over room temperature. sick. I don't care if you're on hawaii time, I would have had better service from the taco truck back home.
(2)
Alicia M.
First stop right after the airport. Beautiful location, even used valet to park and watch the car with all our luggage. Nice way to start your vacation with a beautiful beach in front. Nice staff and food was good. Could of used a refill on our drinks, but the waitress was busting her ass, so ill cut her a break.
(4)
Sheri Y.
Amazing dinner here! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the service was amazing! We were dining with our toddler son, who can't seem to eat a meal sitting down ever, and our server Claudia made sure he got his food before the appetizers even got to our table! She was friendly, funny, and attentive. Her recommendations were spot on. She was fantastic! Really enhanced our dining experience. I was worried we wouldn't get a table at 6:00 on a Saturday night with no reservation. (Our original dinner plans fell through, so we came here as a last minute choice. ) But we didn't even wait 5 minutes for a table! And the seating was good, with a nice view overlooking the water. This was great, as our son was pretty hungry and could have melted down at any moment! Food came out quickly, and the quality was fantastic. Good portions for the price, and salad bar included. Just awesome! Oh, and hula pie for dessert? Ummm..... YES PLEASE!!!
(5)
Christine B.
Good seafood, unbeatable view if you're overlooking the water, good value since entrees include their salad bar. The Hula Pie is huge but delicious. Our waiter was really not very knowledgeable, but he was nice. The drinks were standard for Hawaii touristy venues. The view is what keeps people coming back.
(4)
Cheri H.
It's our first time in Kauai, and Duke's was our first meal here. We loved the catch of the day, Caesar salad, and Nadine's maitai's. Beautiful atmosphere and decent service.
(4)
Chi N.
This was the first place we went to when we got to the island. It was better in Oahu. The drinks were ok, the fish tacos were a little dry and their crab wonton was all right. The Hula Pie is still delish as ever.
(3)
M B.
We went for xmas eve dinner...I had the Prime Rib/Lobster combo that came with garlic mashed potatoes. Very good! Husband had the Ono...he loved it; I thought it was decent. They have a salad bar as well which wasn't bad. I tried the Ceasar saladand Potato salad which were both good but I'm not a big fan of salad bars, especially at nice restaurants. We would go back but my fav at Dukes is breakfast.
(4)
J J.
Great food and beautiful restaurant. Food is reasonably priced and the drinks are to die for. Best place close to the Marriott
(4)
Shanna O.
Great food and very attentive service! Hula pie delish! We ate here a couples times during our stay and was satisfied every time. They do have a late night menu of you want to eat after 9. I had fish tacos and another night salad bar and opah fish. Everything was cooked to perfection!!!
(5)
Dave L.
It's part of the Marriott but in kind of a separate building, a nice setting overlooking the beach and the ocean beyond. Overall I can't say I was impressed. It started with the wait for the table: from our Marriott hotel room we called down to see if we could get a table without a reservation. Answer: come on down and we'll either seat you right away or there will be short wait. We get down there and now it's a 20 minute wait, maybe 30 minutes. 45 minutes later, we're seated, no apology. You can do better than that--it may be hard to estimate timing but it's not hard to show some contrition over a longer-than expected wait. That's part of the job. Other than that the waiters were fine and they had an all-you-can-eat salad bar that while not extensive had a decent selection, including fruit that we had for desert. The main courses were just okay and I can't even remember what I had. Nice view, good service (aside from reception), okay food, kind of expensive: pretty much sums up the typical resort hotel restaurant. Downstairs is a casual bar and restaurant, I don't think they take reservations.
(3)
Greg F.
A lot of hype and not very good food. The prices on the menu are very high. I personally thought that the service was weak and the food was bland. This seems to be a place for the hotel sitting right next to it. The Duke's mai tai was mediocre at best. The ribs were OK but not even close to make me go back. Overall, I don't recommend Duke's for your island dining. Try Keoki's Paradise in Poipu and order the opa.
(2)
Ingrid C.
So we came here after a night at Kukui's, after the bride (a day post-wedding) said we should come here for some after-hours drinks. This was her high school hangout spot. And rightly so. The Hula Pie (which she ordered several slices for the table) were simply delicious, in a comfort-food sort of way. No wonder teenage girls would flock here. Since I was in a tropical paradise, I wanted a tropical drink, so I ordered the "Deep Blue," which consisted of Maui's Organic Ocean Vodka, Malibu rum, blue curacao and pineapple juice. Super girly and tropical, and surprisingly potent. I needed to pace myself (and eat more of that Hula Pie than my diet would allow) in order to keep my bearings. All and all, a fun place.
(3)
Tammy M.
Never disappointed, friendly staff. Fun to grab it Togo and enjoy the beach. Softess sand in Kauai
(5)
Colin B.
Meh. Great view, even better location, but the food is mediocre compared to some of the other places we ate. Service was great, good for a group, but it is a chain and you can't expect much more. It has a salad bar if that tells you anything... If I could do it again I'd eat downstairs at the beach side bar. Same view, similar food, cheaper prices, same drinks, don't need reservations.
(2)
Jill S.
Best chain restaurant in Kauai. Bad service at times but great food! Ono was great and the pork wontons! The pineapple monitor also was great!
(4)
C M.
Go upstairs to get seated much quicker than at the bar downstairs, we learned that the hard way. We were greeted fairly quickly with drink orders taken and told about the different variations of sauces/toppings for the fish. I opted for the Opah (Moonfish) which also came with rice pilaf and the salad bar. The salad bar had the plates located in a freezer which kept the food nice and cold. The banana bread muffin and papaya dressing were really good. The cole slaw was also crisp and not soaked in mayonnaise. I think the Caesar at the end should be moved in between the two romaine plates so people know it's an offering. I didn't realize it was there until my plate was already full. The timing between the salad bar, appetizer and main meal was great. We didn't feel rush, yet never felt like we were sitting forever. The Opah could have used another minute on the grill but the sauce/topping combination did not over power the lightness of the fish. If I wasn't so full from all of the food, I would have wanted to try their famous Hula Pie.
(4)
Kevin R.
We ate at Duke's for our last meal in Kauai before leaving. The food there was excellent and our waiter was very attentive. My only complaint about the place is that it seems the upstairs and downstairs appear to be operating separately. My wife and I asked about the wait for a table downstairs. We were told 40 minutes so we almost left as we had a limited amount of time until we needed to be at the airport. We saw what looked like seating upstairs and my wife suggested that we go up there and ask about a table. I assumed that we'd probably get the same answer. Much to my surprise we were seated right away. I would have thought the hostess downstairs would have suggested that we try upstairs but that wasn't the case. I am glad we checked though because as I mentioned the food was great. We both got fish and each entree was very good. The salad bar had a good selection as well. I'd go back here again.
(4)
James W.
Great food and great service.
(4)
Michael R.
Not too bad. The salad bar is great and the hula pie is amazing. Nice atmosphere too, but nothing unique to the region.
(3)
Elaine D.
The downstairs barefoot bar is a convenient place to grab a bite if you are wading the waters at Nawiliwili or kicking it at the public beach behind the Marriott hotel in Lihue. The atmosphere is kick back and the best part -- the "barefoot bar" statement is true. You can literally sit in your wet board shorts and have some good pupus. The calamari was good and if you want a drink in a pineapple, they have a pretty good one. Service was friendly and recommendations on the menu were well appreciated.
(3)
Tom L.
Outstanding location and views. Food is just OK and the service is OK, drinks are average. The food is good but not great. Valet parking - no charge.
(3)
Mr C.
Great service and the pokè is killer! It's definitely better than our Dukes in Malibu. A must go to while in Kauai.
(5)
Colleen Q.
I went to the first floor bar twice in the last few days and enjoyed the place on both occasions. The coconut shrimp appetizer as well as the Korean tacos were delicious, and I couldn't stop myself from having multiple lava flow drinks. Service on both days were excellent.
(4)
Dave C.
Good location, but they use insanely cheap alcohol for their drinks. Where on the hell do you buy 'Hana Bay' rum??? Can't you spring for the $8 bottle of Bacardi to make your $9 drinks???
(3)
Kathy J.
LOVE Duke's!! We arrived without a reservation on a Friday night. We waited about 35 mins for a table and went downstairs to the Barefoot Bar for happy hour. We enjoyed a couple of drinks while we waited and chatted with another couple. We were seated upstairs and had a beautiful view of the beach and ocean. I ordered the opah line and chili roasted and the flavor was excellent and a bit spicy. My mom ordered the opah mac nut and herb crusted and she loved it. The salad bar was okay.. nothing very exciting.
(4)
Kc S.
Ahi tuna wrap was really good, lots of ahi! Consistently good food.
(4)
SteffAnie O.
Dukes Upstairs: Dinner upstairs is alright, seems as if the prices go up periodically. For us Locals, its barely affordable anymore. :/ Service wise, depending on how busy it is and the mood of the server, I wouldnt expect more than just your food. Downstairs: Its more of a Laid Back scenery, on some nights, theres live entertainment (which is majority of the reasonwhy we go). its always nice to sit back, have a couple drinks while listening to music. And of course, the hula pie....this is where the HULA PIE is at. always fills that craving. macadamia nut ice cream, oreo crust, hot fudge...whats there not to like about it.
(4)
Don K.
It's Dukes. Made for tourists. If you want the stereotypical beachfront bar with palm trees and a maitai then this is the place to go. You'll pay for it but sometimes it's nice. Live music on fri and sat is awesome. No room to get your groove on but its still mean.
(4)
Jen P.
I'm a huge fan of Dukes so I was excited to try this one especially since we were staying at the Marriott. The ambiance is beautiful, right off of Kalapaki Beach. The Barefoot bar is good and that is probably all I would go there for. We had dinner in the main area one night during graduation time. It was busy and service was terrible. We both ordered the Ahi Tuna and they informed us they only had one left. The waiter apologized and ended up substituting my fiance's order with some raw sliced tuna which is exactly what it was. A few Raw tuna pieces with no flavor and charged us the same price for the dish. We weren't happy about that or the service. The Ahi wasn't that great anyways... way over seasoned. Really wish I could rate this better, but I can't.
(3)
Karen T.
We were at this hotel from Sunday morning til Wednesday evening. We had breakfast one morning, dinner one night and I think the food at the pool came from here. For breakfast we had the buffet which of course is a little pricey for what you get. What we did have we enjoyed, I especially liked the Egg White omelette I got at the Omelette station and Eggs Florentine. For meats they had some dried out corned beef with onions and bacon. There was a muffin selection as well as bread & bagels for you to toast with some preserves. They charge $24 for the buffet and we paid $12 for my 6 year old grandson. He had a scoop of rice and about 3 slices of bacon. So not worth it for kids. :) Dinner was good, My husband shared some of his prime rib that was perfectly done and so soft. I had a japanese plate-can't recall what it was called but there was some shrimp and vegetable tempura and I think some teriyaki meat. Very large portions. My son ordered the Ahi Salad and finished off my plate. The drinks we had with dinner were large and pretty potent & tasty. At the end of the meal our waiter asked where we were from. When he found out we lived on Oahu, he took back the bill and said he was getting us the Kama' aina discount! I think it was 10% off. We just signed it and let him keep it as part of his tip. He was really a great waiter, I wish I could remember his name. Yay for him cause that ended up like at 25% tip for him. I'm not sure if the food we ordered at the pool came from here but I'm adding it in anyway. We got an order of fries and the Kalua Pork Sandwich. The sandwich was good with a decent bbq sauce and the fries were just plain fries, nothing special although there were a LOT of them! The food came in bamboo steamer baskets and the one with the fries was so full!
(4)
Leia K.
This review is for the LAVA FLOW. To this day, the BEST LAVA FLOW I have had.
(5)
Brian H.
Four stars for Duke's from Yelpers is VERY generous. No matter what anyone says, Duke's is a glorified hotel restaurant with a great view. Unless you are staying at the Marriott, there is no reason to dine here. And if you ARE staying at the Marriott, get a Mai Tai and a order of calamari strips at the bar and leave happy. They only get the third star from me because of their ridiculously delicious calamari strips. Big, thick, tender strips of calamari fried crispy with a panko crust. We went back again just for those. Tip: The crowd is very geriatric, so dine late to avoid the wait for a table. By 8pm the place is already half-empty.
(3)
Allison R.
Both the upstairs restaurant and downstairs restaurant at this place are awesome - and don't forget the Hula Pie!! First off the upstairs - it is really nice with a GREAT salad bar. The Menus are different so choose wisely. Both have hula pie :) We had a great chicken entree up there, pretty basic but delicious and the salad bar really was excellent. The downstairs is excellent at lunch with some lighter fare - we went for a salad and fish and chips and then at dinner I went with their NE Clam Chowder and the cocnut shrimp app. I will warn you - the chowder is not the same as in NE, this is Hawaii after all, but it was still delicious, the seasonings are a bit different so don't go in expecting the best NE chowder of your life. The shrimp were great. Overall the food here was above average good but we really went for the hula pie. That's the money spot here, food will be good the hula pie will be amazing!
(5)
Don K.
Ate dinner at Duke's again. One of my favorite restaurants on Kauai. The mahi mahi was great along with the salad bar. Hula pie omg. Got a table on the rail. Beautiful view of Kalapaki bay.
(4)
Andrew E.
First stop after arriving at Lihue airport on the way to Poipu Bay, this restaurant is in the Marriot resort. It was just after 11am so lunch was just getting started and plenty of tables were available, we had a good view right outside. I had fish tacos, they were excellent with very fresh local fish, and good toppings/condiments. Probably coulda used a few tortilla chips but all in all a good lunch. My wife enjoyed her chicken sandwich. Prices are standard for Kauai meaning not cheap but they weren't outrageous given how good the food was. The hula pie was pretty decadent.
(4)
Rebecca P.
Dukes is a hotel restaurant and that about says it. The food is alright and expensive - as expected. The location, view and decor is outstanding!! You really can't find a nicer hawaiian spot to eat. It is right on the cove and the patio looks out over it. The drinks were delicious as well. I had the Duke's famous salad bar and the only thing I can think of that makes it famous is how unimpressive it is for all the hype. It has a very limited selection on just about everything. It does have kimchi which was a nice Hawaiian dish but everything else is fairly typical and boring. I have had better salads with more interesting options for a lot less than $15. I was very disappointed to see that their fish options for the evening were all on the 'Critical' fish list guide by Monterey Bay Aquarium. Where is Duke's environmental and health concern? They really should offer fish that isn't being overfished... One excellent food item at Duke's is the Hula Pie - WOW! Ice cream, macadamia nuts, fudge, cream - yum. If you go to Dukes - go for the location, the drinks and the dessert!
(2)
Marie B.
I love Duke's! It's the Hawaiian version of the Elephant Bar in California, but because you're in Hawaii and especially in Kauai where bars and lounges aren't a plenty, Duke's is awesome. Very casual, right there at the beach. Service is attentive and drinks and pupus are delish! I particularly like the criss-cut fries and the nachos. Full dinner and dessert is good too. Pay at specials as i do believe they have special offerings. The think the drinks are so good, they deserve a paragraph on their own. So pretty and tasty with their little fruit and umbrella...so very Hawaiian. During my last trip there I ordered the "Tropical Itch". Its so cute it came out with a wooden back scratcher to act as the drink mixer. Lovely tasting too...not too sweet and though the flavors now escape me, one was plenty and went perfect with the ambiance and food. I also went during Duke's 118th birthday and loved the two guys playing live were awesome. I actually still have one of the songs they played in my head...and it's been over a week now.... Duke's seems to be our standby cocktails and pupus joint, and again, good for dinner too.
(5)
Phil K.
Great fish tacos. Grilled Cajun style.
(4)
Erin K.
We ate here twice while staying at the Marriott. Once downstairs for lunch and then upstairs for dinner. Lunch was decent, nothing really exciting but hit the spot...chowder was good. For dinner we didn't have reservations (which I would recommend) but we only ended up waiting about 20 minutes so we grabbed a drink at the bar while waiting. Salad bar was good just be careful not to fill up too much so you have room for dessert! :) DH ordered the prime rib which was just okay. The rest of us ordered the fish specials which were delicious and cooked perfectly. Of course we had to have the famous hula pie for dessert, one was plenty big for the four of us. Everything was wonderful and we will definitely return.
(3)
Mike B.
We have eaten here more than 15 times or so, it's pretty consistent and the salad bar continues to be the best choice and value on the menu. The opah this time was pretty good, fish plates run roughly $30 and are good but not fantastic. View is amazing if you get a downstairs table by the ledge. The hula pie is still why we come back every year
(3)
Sanaz A.
Gorgeous outdoor sitting by the water and decent food! They messed up my friend's simple food twice though and that was annoying. The venue gets an A, the food gets a B!
(2)
Travis W.
This review pertains to the barefoot bar. Sure the scenery is nice and it's right near our room, but the food lacked magic. I must have been on a burger craze, because I ordered one here and from the Beach Hut the day before and it was forgettable. What stuck in my mind was the little rock path that winded its way to the upstairs restaurant. You can find places like this Los Angeles, no problem.
(3)
Kimberly M.
Worst meal I've had in a very long time & it saddens me to have bragged about Dukes to my parents we landed in Lihue after our 10 days in Maui. I raved to them how, 'we must do Dukes!'.... My dad's burger was practically raw & we waited for what seemed an eternity for our waitress to return and fix it. Our diet cokes, (we still had a drive to Princeville.. So no Mai Tais! ) ran empty, OR the waitress would fill one of ours and leave the rest of us on empty! No apology for bad raw burger... Just a rude 'local hates tourist' , 'so do you want it redone?' ... No! Really? Yeah! Your $15 burger was disgusting & my Mac-nut wontons & burned coconut shrimp make me never wanting to come back to one of my fav places in Hawaii. The only thing that gives this particular Duke's a star at all, is the awesome Hawaii view.
(1)
Jason B.
Awesome! Great service and great food. The downstairs is more pub style food and the upstairs is a more formal menu. If you go, get the Hula pie, probably not low in calories but very yummy.
(5)
Amanda G.
This is a somewhat difficult place to rate, since we re in the bar, and then later the restaurant. We had drastically different experiences in both. Our first and intended destination was the bar. We had heard they had fish taco specials and discounted beer for happy hour. The place also has a great view, so we were looking forward to it. We were seated right away, and began looking at the specials. It turned out the discounted beer was a cheapo brand that my husband wouldn't touch, and the fish tacos were fried, so I wouldn't touch them either. Nonetheless, we were there, and decided we'd have a drink and enjoy the view. We proceeded to wait for a server to come take our order. and waited, and waited...and then we waited some more.... Several servers passed us, and I even caught their eye, stil no one came over. We were actually getting ready to walk out when someone FINALLY noticed no one had taken our order. I think the only reason we were even spoken too,was because someone asked if we wanted anything else. There was actually a server, (she also seemed to be hostess) who looked me in the eye several times, and went on dancing at the hostess stand.Seriously? WTF??? Anyway...We ordered some drinks, they were good, but overpriced, and the same woman gave me the stink eye more than once. We were getting hungry, were a little buzzed, and couldn't decide what to do for dinner.Atter walking around the shopping center, we decided we'd try our luck at the restaurant, (which seemed to be staffed by different people.) The hostess there was very friendly and really pleasant, and we were seated immediately, and waited on immediately. Service proved to be MUCH better upstairs, and the food was pretty good.Nothing amazing, but not horribly overpriced, and did I mention the view??? I'd like to spend some time at the beach this looks onto, and if I did I would return if I was hungry enough.
(3)
Michael S.
Parking was a pain, but the Hula Pie was amazing and too much even for two people. I recommend starting with that and then seeing if you have room for "real food" after the Hula Pie.
(4)
Jeff S.
Our experience at Duke's was much worse then previous ones (we have been to Duke's in Oahu and Huntington Beach). We first attempted dinner at dukes on Monday December 10th, just to drive from Poipu and learn they were closed. We even called there phone number before hand, we left a message for a reservation. it would have been nice if they said "were closed" on the message. We then went to Duke's the next day and ate in the Barefoot Bar. The ribs were really good, but the burger was only OK. Each of our 4 alcohol drinks were watered down and had almost no alcohol. Even though its a beautiful restaurant, I would never go back to the one on Kauai.
(2)
Rod K.
You have to go here for the atmosphere alone! We get to Kauai at least once a year and this is the one place we stop every time. You can sit in the bar area with an incredible ocean view, sit inside by the waterfall and pond or sit upstairs for panoramic views. The food is good, the view is better, the staff is friendly and the service is on point. My best advice is to save room for the Hula Pie!
(4)
John P.
Duke's is a solid choice. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal in the dozens of times I've eaten there. I prefer downstairs so my kids can run around on the lawn after dinner and I can keep and eye on them. Also downstairs they have the cheap fish tacos on Tues and a la carte fish entrees (cheaper, but with no salad bar). Upstairs is chill too. Since Kauai is not really the world's best place to sample gourmet cuisine, I think Duke's is a really good choice for most folks visiting and who want a nice dinner with no drama. Now I see a lot of disappointed tourists saying the place is mediocre - in a way it IS. But mostly that's because you need to eat the right stuff there. Don't get prime rib in Hawaii folks! Especially when you live in Iowa or something. Get fish at Dukes for sure..pick one of the 5 ways they make it. I'd suggest mahi mahi with mac nut crust or the 5-spice opah if I was the suggesting-type. The salad bar, again, pretty mediocre compared to the over-the-top stuff on the Mainland, but we are very far from where lettuce grows so you've gotta keep that in mind. I mean the size of the portions I get on the Mainland are kinda scary! The salad bars with 12 kinds of soup, olive bar, cheese bar, bakery on site, etc etc..we just don't have that kind of thing here. So maybe lower your sights a bit and have a couple more drinks! ;-)
(4)
Charmie P.
Great atmosphere! We went at night, I wish we would have returned during the date because the Restaurant overlooks the ocean. The food was pretty good and I also liked that they had a salad bar. definitely a fun place.
(4)
Ashley J.
If you're looking for great food, local flare, fast and friendly service - then Dukes is NOT for you! I've been a frequent visiter to the island of Kaui.. we normally stay in the South Shore area, but on our way to/from Lihue we've stopped at Dukes. The food is typical hotel restaurant food. There isn't anything special about it! When you're paying $13 for a cheese burger, you expect something better than a cold patty and a crabby waitress. In fact, I wish I remembered her name, but our waitress was SO unfriendly that I had to approach the manager and actually make a formal complaint (this is coming from the girl who hates confrontation!) You'd think that being in such a beautiful place some sunshine would rub off on her.. AND last Christmas my brother went to Kaui, visited Dukes, and called me with the same complaint saying that the girl was STILL employed- shocker! Instead of going to Dukes- I'd spend the extra cash and go to the EXCELLENT italian restaurant upstairs!
(2)
Tiffaney L.
Service was great. Salad bar was large and had a lot to offer. Went with every entree at dinner. Calamari appetizer was tender. Came out in strips. My boyfriend and I both had opa. Me mac nut crusted and his firecracker. Both were good but mine I could taste the natural flavor of the fish better. Hula pie for dessert topped off our delicious dinner.
(4)
Jon T.
Food good, but selection not as good as Oahu.
(3)
Derek R.
Don't go out of your way to come here. It was serviceable for us since it was close to the Marriott, where we stayed. We also only came for happy hour from 4-6 in the barefoot bar. Good prices for good food and decent service. Having an ocean view and eating an $8 burger isn't too bad. Good fries. Weak drinks.
(3)
Dorcee S.
Very nice, scenic lunch at Duke's Barefoot Bar We valet parked - makes it so much easier. Seated by the Koi Pond looking out on Kalapaki Bay. Perfect people watching spot too. Hubby had the Kalua Pork Sandwich which he really enjoyed and our friend and I split a Caesar Salad and Fish Tacos. I had a Duke's Mai Tai, pretty darn good! $40.85 4.5 stars (only because I prefer batter fried fish tacos - this was healthier grilled Ahi).
I loved the food! I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich and it was so good. Although it was a little slow on service, the wait was worth it! Along with my food, I had the kids volcano drink. The strawberries are optional but I would definitely recommend them! My family was very happy with their order and we ordered dessert. We got the hula pie and it was huge! My sister and I shared it and still didn't eat everything. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Aaron L.
Im mixed on this place, some things are a total hit, others are a total miss. Perfect if you are staying or meeting at the Marriott. No need to go outta ur way to get here.
(3)
Jeannie R.
We've had dinner here twice - once in the bar & grill downstairs, and once at the restaurant upstairs. The staff has been super friendly on both visits (and I love that the hostess keeps telling us it'll be a 15-minute wait, and ends up being a 2-minute wait), though if you get out of your chair watch out for wait staff whizzing around you at 100mph! They're moving FAST! Food has been good... closer to average than great. We heard several great reviews about the salad bar... but can't figure out why. It was a very small one.... delicious banana muffins though! Mmm! Drinks are on the weaker side. I suggest shots if you're trying to get a buzz going. Hula pie was delish! Definitely meant for sharing - it's a HUGE dessert! If you've got a car I'd suggest trying someplace else, but if not you'll be fine eating here.
(3)
Heather D.
Duke's was a wonderful experience for my husband and me! We both had fish entrees. We also both loaded up at the salad bar, which was so vast it even offered tofu! I may have over-done it at the salad station actually. The spicy sauce that my fish was prepared in was absolutely amazing. Our waitress had sold me on it during the description! I like that you can put whatever sauce on the fish of your choice. The ambience was great, complete with ocean breezes and gentle music. Cocktails were also stellar, strong and flavorful. Wish I had known about the fish tacos. :o/ But I am happy with what I ate, and I would recommend it to anyone staying at or near the Marriott!
(4)
Nan N.
I met some friends for dinner at Dukes my fist evening in Kauai. The setting is beautiful & the restaurant is lovely & just perfect for HI. Service was efficient and pleasant. The fish was unfortunately overdone. I was so disappointed. I chose the special and was looking forward to a perfect preparation. At Dukes prices, I would expect the kitchen to be able to cook the fish properly. From now on I will go for happy hour & not for dinner.
(3)
Clare C.
Fabulous location, right on Kalapaki beach, you cant go wrong with the view. The food is quite good as well - I was here twice and had the fish tacos both times (they're REALLY good). Good selection of pupu's to choose from. Decent wine and beer selections. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
William B.
Started our Kauai vacation off right by coming to Duke's (upstairs) as soon as we got settled in. My firecracker Ono was excellent and my wife's macadamia crusted opah was just as good. Service was spit on. Nice views too!
(5)
Mark T.
The layout and view from this restaurant are first rate. I found myself looking out at the surf and not really watching what I was eating... That being said the Fish tacos were very good. The meal itself was better than I expected however the view of the beach and ocean are the real selling point here. It is not a culinary experience by any means.
(3)
Jim M.
Beautiful location, decent food and prices. As a local we come here once a year for special occasions.
(4)
Steve M.
Went to the Barefoot Bar twice, once for cocktails and dinner the other time for the taco Tuesday special. I had a Lava Flow cocktail, it was alright, not the best I've had, rating 4 stars. The mango glazed BBQ ribs were good, rating 4 stars. The best were the fish tacos. The type of fish can vary for any given day, depending on what was freshly caught. For us the fish was opah, the tacos were excellent, a 5 star. Normally comes with sides of tartare sauce and a mild pico de gallo. During Aloha Hour (4 to 6pm) the tacos are $3 each, well worth it.
(4)
Todd H.
Four stars for the fish tacos and calamari strips in the bar, the view, and the kitschy ambiance. Minus one star for the high priced and often mediocre dining room experience. My wife and I have stayed at the nearby Marriott three times and the vacation rentals up on the cliffs adjacent to the Marriott three more times. Our first day ritual after a long day of traveling has always been to head to Duke's and get fish tacos and drinks in the bar, and the bar is definitely where it's at at Duke's. One thing to be aware of is that the fish taco happy hour special has *fried* fish - the regular menu fish tacos are grilled. I personally prefer the grilled but the fried are decent too (and cheaper). If you do decide to dine upstairs, stay away from the overly sauced fish preparations and go for the simply grilled fish and you should be OK. As for the steaks and prime rib - WTF are you doing ordering red meat in Hawaii when there is fresh local fish to be had EVERYWHERE?
(3)
Jenny D.
Usually I am turned off by places that have multiple locations, but I was pleasantly surprised by this Duke's. Salad bar was perfect, not too much food but just right. Main courses were the same, adequately sized and just delicious. Even the rice was some of the best I've had. Service was very friendly and fast. Views could not be beat.
(5)
Elaine L.
I enjoyed evening dining on the lanai. The daily fresh fish selections are offered with a variety of seasonings and preparation styles. We went with our server recommendations for the fish selection and preparation, and were very happy with our meals. The salad bar buffet, with fresh fruit and fresh baked muffins, is a nice feature as well. Don't miss the Hula Pie for dessert - it's enough to share!
(4)
Dallas N.
Good burger shack (in the bar for lunch) to help avoid bad hotel food at the Marriott pool. I had the Teriyaki burger and it's solid. Dinner is where they shine though. You would be crazy to order anything but fish here. Fish is local, fresh and decently prepared. Why only 3 stars you ask? Service was generally poor. Slow and unorganized in both the bar and restaurant. Great views though, and it puts things in perspective. It's Hawaii man... chill...
(3)
Michael S.
Had the Mahi Mahi sandwich, it was moist and the sauce was good. I didn't care for the bun, but good overall. The Duke's golden ale was cold and had good flavor. The hula pie was amazing as always. It might be the greatest dessert of all time. Can't beat the view. My wife had the teriyaki chicken sandwich, she found the chicken a little dry and the same crappy bun. The sauce was bland too. On a positive note, my kids' quesadilla was great. Overall a pleasant experience, just steps from the sand. We will be back.
(4)
julie b.
food is mediocre. waiter was nice but was aggresively trying to upsell our orders-that was a total turn off. band in bar was okay on their instruments but their singing was horrible--to the point where it might have been a comedy routine they were so off-key. kinda nice view. nice old photos of Duke in old Hawaii-he was quite the hunk in his day. cocktail waitresses looked like they weren't old enough to sell booze. drinks were totally watered down-especially the "special hawaii drinks" -overall a tourist trap-salad bar was mediocre-lots of sloppy and fattening items with no real taste. best thing was the hula pie at $7 bucks
(2)
scott c.
Dukes is one of the best places to eat on the island. It has a bit of a tourist feel, but the view of the bay is awesome (go at sunset) and the food is very good. We went twice, had the prime rib, butter fish, and snapper. All of these were good meals and the salad bar is a great starter. If you decide on the Hula Pie -split it. The service is friendly and attentive.
(4)
Emily G.
Average food. Delicious drinks. Super over priced. Convenient to Marriot Resort.
(3)
Danielle S.
Best Mai Tai on the island! The views of the ocean are spectacular and the food is tasty. Will definitely come back next time I'm on the island.
(4)
Shelby D.
I live on Kaua'i and I have frequented Duke's since I was really young. I recently came home for a visit from college and I was saddened by the limited menu that is now featured. Our waiter, Curtis (who was really awesome), explained to me that the menu is in rotation every 3 months. As a local who frequents Duke's, I really miss some of the old local favorites. Their salad bar is still as yummy as ever and the Hulihuli Chicken (though not officially on the menu) that I ordered was beyond amazing! I also miss the former bread that was featured at the salad bar. Although the new bread is okay, the previous bread was bigger and much tastier. But no worries Duke's, I'll still be a dedicated customer...just don't forget your local fans!
(4)
Sasha R.
we stopped in for lunch at the bar. I had been hoping for a peek at the famous salad bar, but apparently that's only for dinner. the place is right on the beach walk, with lots of good people watching. beers are cheap and local. husband had the nachos -- crisp with plenty o' toppings. I had the ahi sashimi, little dry as it had clearly been sitting in the fridge for a while. just go for the setting. it's a fun place to hang out and have a drink.
(4)
Jaime A.
Way over priced, the place is nice but that's about it. The food was good but not reflective of the prices, better place for oldsters who like scenery rather than taste. I've had just as good of fish from road side stands in kapaà . The service was not the best, "salad bar" was lame sizzler has a better salad bar, yeah sizzler!
(2)
Grace L.
good food ! Good service! Beautiful atmosphere.
(5)
Thia T.
It is hard to eat fish when you are watching coi swimming around near the bottom of your feet...not really! Especially when the fish tacos and the calamari are so yummy! And to help tip it off, hot girls serving you! Of course my boyfriend did not notice (right) but it was a nice touch on a Tuesday. We went for Happy Hour literally right after snorkeling on the beach. There was plenty of seating so we did not have to wait and with the weather being so warm and the cool breeze providing the ac...paradise. We did not stay for dinner so I cannot vouch for how great everything else is but the pretty drinks sure made it easy to think positively about this place.
(4)
Chad R.
Great food and service without the tourist vibe....
(5)
Chris B.
Yes, it's in a hotel and it is overpriced. Fine, get past it, because the food is good and the view is excellent. Don't get me wrong, I've had better meals for less money, but there's something to be said for dining at sunset and watching surfers catch waves while drinking mai tais. I had the Poke rolls (basically raw ahi in a fried wrapper) which were ok. Their salad bar is decent, though not amazing like some make it out to be. My main course was the ono done firecracker style. The cut was a good size and it was cooked well, the sauce was rich and spicy and accompanied with a scoop of avocado/black beans. Yum. When you go, make sure to specify that you would like a table with a view of the water. Not getting a table with a view would make this place simply decent, but still overpriced.
(4)
Bobo Y.
Food: fresh fish Service: good, but there was some miscommunication at the reception. It was my birthday dinner, my husband had ask for a piece of cake for me as a surprise when he made a reservation. But nothing came out after we finished our food. So, my husband asked our waitress. She had no idea. Location: in the Marriot hotel, on a beach.
(3)
Mel G.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner one night, and really enjoyed the ambiance. It's almost like dining inside a treehouse, and the lighting makes it really cozy. I ordered the New York Steak which was really tasty, and Joe also liked his ahi dish. Would recommend to those looking for good eats -- also a tip: if you want to sit in the restaurant/treehouse portion on the 2nd floor, you're good making reservations beforehand.
(5)
Stan W.
Fantastic view and a solid salad bar. That's about it. A lot of the fish around our table was overcooked, except for the ahi which was quite good. Hard to overcook a rare seared fish. I liked their take on kimchi in the salad bar. I hated my dried up overcooked fish so I filled up on this. Beware - this restaurant is EXACTLY THE SAME as KEOKI'S PARADISE in Poipu. The menu is IDENTICAL, except they call the baked lemon/garlic/caper fish preparation "Duke's Style" instead of "Keoki's Style". I swear the font was even the same. I saw that the same company owned both restaurants but come on, mix it up a bit. We didn't know this and unfortunately followed up dinner at Duke's with dinner at Keoki's the very next night.
(2)
Baron V.
We've been coming to Duke's Kauai for dinner for a dozen years. Have to say the service this year (5/31/2011) is down from previous experiences. The valet was downright rude, "allowing" me to drop off three mobility-impaired passengers (aged 50 to 88), and then telling me that I had to park off site - with no suggestions as to where I might be able to park, other than "at the Marriott." Once inside, the staff was competent, the food was good, but the manager was "too busy" to speak with me. [Funny, he seemed to have time to pay attention to every pretty female staff member and client, but ...] As a manager of a service organization, I prefer to let management know if there are issues that impact the experience a client/customer has I checked their Facebook page and Website, but there is no contact information listed.
(4)
David F.
Still not that great. At least they had tristan lobster. Service not so great....will jus go downstairs bar instead....steak over done and kept forgeting to refill my water.
Dukes is highly recommended my brother-in-law for the fish tacos at happy hour we started with the couple appetizer drinks before the happy hour started we were allowed us to order the happy hour 15 minutes in advance we order six plates of the fish tacos which turns out to be three dollars a plate fish tacos were to die for atmosphere was really good. I even left a T-shirt that I bought there in a bag.The next next morning the bag was the front, get there early for happy hour, great access to water .
(5)
Drew M.
The food is always good. The view is wonderful! And the wait staff is the friendliest! Never disappointed at Duke's
(4)
Jasmyn M.
Came here for the breakfast buffet... Shame on you, Duke's. Shame on you for not giving me change and assuming all the cash was for your pocket. And shame on you for copping attitude when I asked for my cash back. Food was mediocre. Only thing fresh that was fresh was the made-to-order omelettes, which weren't OK. Service, as stated above, was terrible. The server refilled everyone's coffee except for mine because she ran out, but never returned to refill for the rest of our meal (another 30 min). "Seasonal fruit" consisted of honeydew and cantaloupe. Am I not in Hawaii? Apparently those fruits are seasonal all year long across the entire country...even Hawaii.
(1)
John G.
Duke's is from the TS chain that runs Kimo's and Leilani's on Maui. Well run in a great location overlooking the bay in front of the Kauai Marriott. Stopped by for lunch. Great view and very attentive servers. Had the fish taco special which was just so very tasty. Menu had lots of Hawaiian fish along with grille type foods. Nice appetizer choices. Recommended for a lunch or dinner out on Kauai. Very nice!
(4)
Michelle Z.
The ribs are great!! Excellent service. Plus unlimited salad bar with every entre. Great views. Best restaurant at the Marriott.
(4)
Albie F.
Unfortunately I couldn't relax and dine at Duke's Canoe Club Bar & Restaurant because it was a beautiful setup and filled with people. I had to settle to takeout a mango BBQ bacon burger as my last meal on Kauai while waiting at security checkout at the Lihue Airport. It sure did beat grabbing anything to eat at the airport and I feel sorry for everybody in line watching me down this succulent combination of applewood smoked bacon, glazed mango BBQ sauce, and grilled onions.
(4)
Jay O.
Yes, this is another touristy destination with delicious food & drinks and great ambiance. The downstairs bar is great for gettin' your drink on and snacking on various delicious appetizers. The upstairs restaurant is great for getting so full that you forgot you drank anything. They have an excellent all-you-can-eat salad bar with freshly tossed, extra-fishy caesar salad, and lots else. For your entree, get the opah (which they usually have), but avoid the heavy, rich crusts or sauces they offer, which tend to overhaul the delicate flavor of this fish.
(4)
Jana M.
Dukes Kauai: good food, nice views, awesome location, stocked salad bar, yummy tropical drinks and a downstairs location for a more casual menu. The menus aren't extensive but the food is always consistently well prepared and we appreciate that. I love getting the fish (usually opah or Ono) herb and mac nut crusted, so wonderful. We like celebrating special occasions here and we make sure to tell our waiter that for a free hula pie. We like to go downstairs for happy hour Tuesdays 4-6, good deals like $3 fish tacos but usually packed. I love that they often have live music downstairs, so you can just cruise and unwind with some panko crusted calamari, Mac nut wonton, and a basket of waffle fries.
(5)
C T.
Went here thinking I was going to have some really nice food, was I wrong in thinking that. Our waiter was not nice, not helpful, never there when we needed him, never checked on us to see if we needed anything. When he brought our food the potatoes we luke warm at best and they were hard and lumpy. The prime rib tasted good but it was small; it was about 5" in diameter and it was only about 1/2 inch thick. We also get a salad bar with the prime rib. I went to the salad bar and there was hardly anything to chose from, it was REALLY poorly put together. I would never go back here again. It's over priced and the food wasn't good. I would however go to The Bull Shed. There prime Rib was HUGE, my wife and I ordered one plate to share and we couldn't finish it. Staff was friendly and out waitress was always checking on us. go to The Bull Shed for prime rib and other select cuts of beef and also seafood. They are right on the beach. Ask for a window seat in the back, the windows are right on the water. LOVELY!
(1)
Holly H.
Dukes used to be one of my favorite restaurants but not anymore. Sadly it isn't the same as it used to be a few years ago. Service upstairs wasn't great. We sat there for 10 minutes or so before we even got water! And I had to ask another server for it. Our waitress didn't return for a long time. Not sure what she was doing?? As we sat and watched a group that was seated after us already eating appetizers! Since they took the filet off the menu I had to order whatever they replaced it with. I ordered it medium rare and it came back WELL DONE. Same for my boyfriends prime rib. If I wasn't on a time limit having to eat and drop my friend off to the airport I would have sent it back. Everything was too salty. Overall a big disappointment. The only thing you can't go wrong with is the view and the salad bar!
(2)
Lil M.
Solid food. Amazing bbq, fish and chips and hula pie. Service was bad. Food is worth it though- delicious. Pretty expensive but beautiful setting on the beach and chill vibe.
(4)
Marc P.
Duke's has two separate and distinct onsite dining options: a) the Barefoot Bar (the downstairs area of Duke's). The bartender downstairs was extremely friendly, and the Fire Rock ale tasty. They offered appetizers, burgers, and other fare to dine on, but we opted instead to eat upstairs at their restaurant (see below) b) the restaurant (upstairs). All meals include a complimentary salad bar, which was really good (lots of fixing, and all was fresh, of which the pineapple was notably delicious). This restaurant was consistently good. So much so, that although we had a rent-a-car, we opted to eat dinner at Dukes (adjacent to the Marriott Kauai Beach Club resort -- the hotel where we stayed) three of the six nights that we were in Kauai. Over the course of three meals we tried their fish, their luau fish dish, their ribs & chicken, and their filet mignon. Everything was good. The pasta & fish luau dish tasted really fresh, but it could have used some more zip/zing to it. CALL AHEAD TO MAKE RESERVATIONS; you can get in without them, but you will probably be waiting a while if you don't have any.
(4)
Shirley M. J.
Duke's Fax.(808) 246-1047 Ahhh . . . I was just stating that Carol and I began our Tropical Itch Escapade at Duke's in Kauai. The restaurant is located at Nawiliwili District, Kalapaki Bay by the humungous boat docks and small beach area just down the street from Motel Lani on Rice Street . . . from Motel Lani and downtown Lihue on Rice Street curves down hill to the right and on your left side past that corporate hotel immediately is a funky driveway on your left side of the street where you make a sharp left hand turn into the driveway. Please drive into the driveway and not up that steep street, ok? Do try to find parking by the beach because parking in front of the shops has a limited parking time. You must walk across this covered bridge and meandering pathway to get to Duke's. Keep in mind that this Duke's property is not as nice as the Duke's in Waikiki, but the food cooked by the Duke's Chefs and the drinks made by top-notch bartenders makes up for the lack of majestic scenery. Although, Duke's does have a beach in front of the restaurant, you cannot bring your drinks to the beach . . . Sorry-rules are rules and these liquor rules are directly part of Hawaiian State Laws for Kauai. It seems to both Carol and me that the food and drinks served here surpass the food and drinks served at the Waikiki Beach location. We cannot seem to gather a substantial reason, but I have a distinct feeling that the best Chefs and Top-Notch Bartenders prefer to work at this secluded, off the beaten path location. Needless to say, but I will-this Duke's location is secluded, but romantically cozy while the food and libations served here ironically surpasses these other Duke's locations I have frequented past, present and future: Waikiki, Malibu, Maui (Kimo's), and Huntington Beach.
(5)
jen r.
great breakfast deal. 14 buffet (vs ala carte menu at marriott next door which adds up to more money and less food) there were plenty of food options, eggs, omelette station, french toast, rice, potatoes, fruits, cereals, etc.. the service was top notch considering it was a buffet. the decor is outdated but the view more than makes up for it!!
(4)
Tara S.
Great "hawaii-esque' atmosphere that is typical of your tourist spot complete with indoor water features and island decor. Was there on a Saturday at lunch and the place was PACKED. Service did their best to keep food and drinks moving, but still took forever for our food (maybe 30 min for two burgers?). Best part was the open air seating with our table being closest to the beach. Eh... I don't need to come back, but it would work in a pinch.
(3)
O O.
This review is just for the restaurant downstairs, not the part upstairs which I think has a different menu. I gave it two stars instead of one because it is a nice beachfront location and it's great to sit out there looking out. Other than that, the food is very, very lacking. I should've known better, but when it's running late and you want to grab food, you just walk downstairs to the hotel restaurant - big mistake. their clam chowder tastes worse than the stuff you get from cans. My husband said his criss-cut fries were worse than carl's jr's. that's just sad. the fish and chips are not that great either. the shrimp and crab louie was a bunch of lettuce and thousand island dressing. sort of cafeteria style. go if you're desperate for food. at least you'll get a good view.
(2)
Bobbie C.
We sat at the downstairs "barefoot bar" for dinner and drinks earlier this week. The bartenders were fantastic, the food was good, and the drinks were exactly what you want from a beachfront bar in Kauai. Overall great time!
(4)
michael m.
I wound up trying quite a few of the fanciest restaurants on Kauai but have to say Duke's was by far my favorite place =) While being incredibly affordable, it's got the ambiance that I'd love to have in restaurants. The quality of the food was incredible (truly fresh fish served in "Duke Style"), but I had heard their salad bar, of all things, was one of the things the locals love the most. I had never really gone to a place for a salad bar, but I sure would here! It was perfect =) The nice ladies wandering the place singing various Hawaiian style songs really finished it off though. I had heard from someone who'd been there a lot that one of the ladies that sings owns the place, and that would be an incredibly nice touch if that were true =) Loved it, and have no way it can be improved. =)
(5)
Catherine W.
When I sat down, I realized that this is part of the same Duke's that I've been to in Malibu, so I was a little disappointed that I wasn't trying something "different." Still the setting right on the beach is lovely, service is friendly and it has a pleasant Hawaiian feel. Overall, the food is subpar for the price point. The calamari sticks are pretty weird. Kind of a breaded squid stick. I wish they left it in the proper rings and tentacles form (that nature intended), with a natural chewy texture that yields just a bit more crispy breading. The way they prepared them was more like a fish stick, strangely textured and very odd to eat. We tried a fish special in a lemon cream sauce. The fish was somewhat overcooked and dry. Since seafood is more expensive, I expected more. I had the shrimp scampi which was pretty tasty, creamy and garlicky. The view is what you are paying for here and for that, it wouldn't be bad for drinks and ambiance.
(3)
Koko L.
The view and ambiance at Duke's was great. We got a fabulous table next to the walkway and were able to watch the beach and people walking by. They have shades on top and they protected us from occational showers. The food was great and drinks were also fabulous. We ordered Ahi Wrap, Coconut Shrimps, some salad, and Fish and Waffle Fries. All good for two adults and one child. The size of their portions are just ok. However, I have to say the location and ambiance is better than the food. It's also kind of pricy!
(4)
rusty r.
Head to the bar, 5 STARS! 1. Go to the bar. 2. Drink Mai Tai's. The best, GARENZ BALL BARENZ! 3. Meet the Manager and his brother... and experience some of the coolest brothers on the island. 4. Drink the Kalapaki Leg Spreader. 5. See how that treats you. 6. Attempt to find your way home, enthralled in the Aloha spirit. I would repeat this every day of the week in 2009 if I could!
(4)
Chris B.
3 stars for the upstairs dinner portion, 4 starts for the Barefoot Bar. We liked the appetizers more than the dinner entrees. The crab & macadamia nut wontons are AWESOME. Calamari was good too. For dinner we both had two different fishes - they were ok, but not worth what we paid. Drinks were good, so at least they know how to make drinks! Thats always a good thing. You definitely feel at home in this place, just too bad my home isn't Hawai'i !
(4)
Forrest S.
Duke's is an institution, but being an institution is not necessarily synonymous with being good. There are local institutions and then then are tourist institutions. Duke's falls into to the latter of the two categories, and while not necessarily a bad place, I wouldn't say it is a great place either. It is made for tourists who want a lively Hollywood style Hawaiian ambiance and mai tai's. I reluctantly came here with my family while they were on vacation and atmosphere wise, it was very nice. Clean, friendly and very lively, which is nice if you are into being surrounded by a large group of people and having to weave through a crawling mass of humanity on the way to the salad bar. Our server was polite, and kept the water glasses full, which was no easy task considering there were enough people here to fill a cruise ship. The salad bar was, well, your typical salad bar with nothing that really made it stand out from any other salad bars you can go to. The coconut shrimp appetizer with spicy lilikoi was my favorite dish. The shrimp were fresh and not overly done, and the sauce was tasty, but again, I have had better coconut shrimp at local food stands that were better and cost less. My main entree was unmemorable. So much so that I really cannot remember the name and it is no longer on the menu. It was angel hair pasta with Ahi tuna and a sauce that is best described as bland. The fish was decent, and the pasta wasn't over cooked, but the sauce that should have really helped made the dish didn't really do it any favors. Last was the hula pie (chocolate cookie crust, vanilla ice cream, macadamia nuts and fudge topping), which was not only huge, but delicious. Do not try to eat this dessert alone, because you will fail. In the end we the meal for four was about $100, and if it weren't for the hula pie, it would have left me wanting more. Duke's has a great view, good service and is a good place if you like touristy places. They do a good job at what they do, but what they do just doesn't do it for me.
(2)
Jessica F.
One of my favorite chill out places on the beach. I have been to the one in Waikiki and it was just too crowded and chaotic. Dukes Kauai has a very mellow chill vibe and you cannot beat the setting. Love the drinks and the poke! Yum!
(4)
Katelyn R.
Three stars for food and atmosphere. The staff was so not with it. First out hostesses who both appeared to be 14 were about to start a wait line... More than 1/2 the restaurant was open tables. Then it took about 15 mins for our waitress to come over. She circled several times, but never landed. Eventually the ball got rolling. Food was great, atmosphere fun. Maybe the service is better on different nights?
(3)
Chris G.
Like it's cousin, the Hula Grill on Maui, this is a great place to be: good food, great Hawaiian craft beer and it overlooks a beautiful beach with white sand and blue water. What's not to like?
(4)
Craig V.
Overpriced and underwhelming. Duke's is a big chain in Hawaii and the quality of food and service can vary a lot between locations. This particular location is not one of the better ones (and they're all merely fair). Not much to say except that you'll probably get a better meal at an Applebee's back home than you will here and the cost will be significantly less. If you're just stopping here for a drink and a view, it's not too bad.
(2)
Rob H.
Yeah funny after reading some of the reviews. We went as family of four to Barefoot bar for lunch. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich and wife had Dukes cheddar burger. The buns were straight out of Safeway bag and burger not that great. Think we could of made our own burger better at hotel BBQ. Mahi-Mahi was ok, seems small portions for burger and fish sandwich and overpriced. Only good things were the waffle fries.
(2)
Michael L.
Ate here about 3 times for dinner, and twice for lunch. Never knew you could get really fresh prime rib in Hawaii. (Ordering it extremely rare, you can see the red freshness and non-reduced fat lines/marbling.) The ribs were tender, juicy and fall off the bone. It also has a great fish selection. Fish tacos for lunch were very fresh. The lunch calamari was totally unexpected. They were not the round ringed calamari that is the usual fare at most establishment, but long lightly battered strips. The squid was fresh and juicy. Lots of beer choices. The deserts are also humongous. Open air dining right on the beach is an extra special plus since it's rare where I am. The prices were fair. The waiter was very attentive and well mannered. The tables and chairs are spaced wide apart giving you privacy and room to stretch. The decor give tourists some insight into the history of surfing and to the man that made surfing into a cultural sport. Definitely the best restaurant on those Marriott grounds, and the best bar grill (Not counting Pit Master or BBQ joints) I've been to in the country.
(5)
Bob W.
After a few days of experimenting with different restaurants at the Marriott, we leaned that Duke's is definitely the best. Whether you stay at the Marriott or not, Duke's should be one of the places you go for a good meal. We had several meals there (lunch and dinner) and each time we had fast, friendly service, and a excellent and reasonably priced meal. We tried many of the different appetizers and entrees, and were never disappointed. The view of the bay is excellent, and at night the tiki lamps are lit and there is live music. This is one place we can definitely recommend, and don't forget to have the Hulu Pie!
(5)
Jodie P.
Have visited Duke's several times.. both the inside finer dining area and the downstairs patio/beach area. The mahi mahi sandwhich, and the calamari are pretty tasty downstairs. The food is not so tasty that it is anything to write home about, but it's very good bar food. It's a nice setting with a great view of Kalapaki Bay. The upstairs has a much better menu and the dinner entrees are very good. My husband had "firecracker ono" and it was spicy but very good. I had a macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi which was very good as well. The salad bar is HUGE and very good. The dessert.. of course you have to get the hula pie.. atleast once. The service was slow each time we were upstairs. I love how it is so casual...and you can still have a good meal.
(4)
Margaret B.
This was a nice place to eat, especially for the kids, after a long day. We try to avoid chains - and this is a chain restaurant - however, the service was excellent, food good, and relatively reasonably priced. Kids were exhausted from the beach, we were not dressed too well, it was a bit on the late side, and this place worked out great. Good ambiance. $12 for turkey sandwich, $12 pina colada, $6 kids meal.
(4)
Amy B.
Delicious BBQ burger, fast service, friendly waitress. Also, this is a perfect setting on the beach, a typically Kimo's ambience, and the best part: Hula Pie. We were seated right away for lunch at an indoor table near the koi pond. My only complaint: I asked for my burger to be medium-well and it was pretty pink inside. I didn't want to wait for her to send it back, so I just ate it. Otherwise, good food, fun surroundings.
(4)
T M B.
Great setting! Even the locals come here! The view (and the walk through Marriot) is just gorgeous. The food was very good and it was pretty cheap (at lunch) for Kauai. Over all, I would totally come here again. Beautiful setting, lovely koi pond. This is the only place we visited twice and had we gone there earlier in the trip, I would have eaten there more often. For the island, the prices were reasonable and the quality was absolutely great.
(5)
greg n.
If you are a snob or a hard core foodie, you may not enjoy it at Duke's but if you want a fairly solid meal that doesn't try to swing for the fences, then you will leave satisfied. They have a great salad bar, which is really the only one on the island. The steaks were better than the fish. Filet was very good. And come on, there's Hula pie! The prices were very fair considering location.
(4)
Rachael G.
We came here for dinner (not appetizers/pupus) and I think that's what is mostly throwing off the reviews for this place. It really isn't fair if you sat at the Barefoot Bar and ordered so-so appetizers and left a review for a RESTAURANT. We had the crab & mac nut wontons which were yummy & the presentation was good but like someone else said - they were unduly fish-y tasting. The entrees we ordered were the steak & shrimp scampi and the teriyaki chicken & beef. I thought the chicken and beef were overdone (blackened around the outside, dry-ish in the middle) however the steak with a herb butter topping were incredible. Usually I think a place is trying to hide cheap meat when they do a butter or butter sauce on beef but in this case it complemented the scampi and tied the whole thing together perfectly. The salad bar was very fresh, coleslaw and potato salad were unique and very very tasty. The fruit on the salad bar was also exceptional although they need to learn how to cut a pineapple so they aren't serving the core. All the breads were very good as were the dressings for the lettuce salads. All the vegetables were nice and crisp and fresh. All the salads were tasty and well-prepared. Service was amazing. The waitress went out of her way to accommodate our children (without us asking) and told them to go ahead and hit the salad bar (even though they were splitting an entree). Overall this place gets a solid 4.5 stars from us but yelp will only let us do 4. :P
(4)
George S.
We ate upstairs for dinner one night, downstairs the next night. The upstairs is more expensive but found the service better downstairs. The ambience is great in both places, even if you are not seeing the bay. The lighting, waterfall, plants, lighting is a five star. Just loved it. The salad bar is very good upstairs, food was good, service was just so so. Downstairs the service was much better, both at the bar (unbelievable fast, crowed and the drinks were there within 2 minutes ) Good place, will go back, good food.
(4)
Aimee R.
First of all, it took us forever just to find the entrance to this place. If you're not staying at the Marriot, you might want to allow yourselves a few extra minutes to get lost before finding this restaurant. We had reservations and showed up 15 minutes late due to confusion of how and where to find it. Restaurant itself is very bustling and super busy...Location right on the water is fabulous, which is what i was looking for, however we were seated inside unfortunately, despite an advanced reservation. Still, we were able to enjoy the breezes and views as the entire restaurant is "open" to the outdoors more or less. Felt bad for the people who got seated further inside though, near the main entrance. Entrees were surprisingly good, but i would have appreciated a discount in price on the fettucine noodles i ordered without shrimp, fish or scallops! I don't eat fish, and the only real way to eat here as a vegan/vegetarian is to ask them to hold the fish in certain entrees. Obviously the prices are set with the fish in mind, so i was a little put off that i didn't get a discount for omitting all fish entirely from this meal. It was afterall, just a plate of fettucine and nothing more. Salad bar was ok, but nothing to write home about. I don't get why this place is famous for it's salad bar. It's a typical salad bar. The throngs of people at it, kind of turned my stomach a little. I don't know, i don't like seeing massive amounts of the general public swarming around and handling the food i'm about to eat, but that's just me. Service was kind of weird. Our waiter was so busy that he was blindly rattling off specials while looking at other tables around us and paying attention to other goings on. He flew by to refresh drinks and was always in a rush. This place is very super casual and the surrounding neighborhood leaves something to be desired. We took a quick little walk around the beach after, and it was kind of dirty looking and smelly. The food was surprisingly good here, and suited our purpose for a quick bite to eat before heading to the airport, but i would not return again, nor recommend it as anything special.
(2)
Matt P.
We ate at Duke's for our last dinner on the island, as it was close to the airport. Although we thought it would be a bit played out, we were pleasantly surprised. Before we were ready for a dinner table, we had a couple of drinks in the downstairs "Barefoot Bar". They had some pretty good live Hawaiian music going on, and though the drinks (Mai Tais and Pina Coladas) were not strong, they were tasty. Good people watching and view into the bay. We moved upstairs for dinner where the main dining room was pretty busy. Our meals - both fresh fish cooked in one of Duke's signature styles - were fantastic. Exactly the food we wanted to finish our trip on. I am not sure why folks come here and get a burger; go figure. Service here was above average in Kauai, which was also nice. Price was on par for the quality, again relative to Kauai.
(4)
Ginny C.
Drinks are cold, food is hot and view is spectacular!
(5)
Lee R.
Duke was born 118 years ago today ... Happy Birthday Duke. A lot of people were celebrating your birthday today at your old surfing spot. Man, you sure had the life! I was glad I was there tonight to sing along with the talented John while he remembered Duke and his contribution to this community. And dinner was great! I learned that the best time to get get a reservation at Duke's upstairs is 5 pm so you can get a table with a view and you do not have to wait for at the salad bar. Excellent advice. We had a seat at the rail and the view was amazing. We could even see John downstairs belting out familiar songs like Brown Eyed Girl. My brown eyed little girl loves singing that song to me ... and I sing it back to her ... and the people around us chimed in too. It was festive and fun. Our server was a joy and very good at her job. (On the receipt it says her name is Kapua). She managed several large parties along with us and never missed a beat. She recommended the Opah with a light macadamia nut and panko crust and served in a white wine and caper sauce. She suggested the garlic mashed potatoes along with my choice since the sauce is so good mixed in. She was right ... it was fantastic. I would give Duke 5-stars for this dish alone. Yummy! I agree with fellow Yelp reviewers that highlight Duke's upstairs for the salad bar ... you will find a lot of good and healthy choices. They even have some fruit salad and pineapple which made a refreshing ending to our meal. We saw several people getting a huge (really HUGE) piece of pie and it looked inviting, but we passed. I think they enjoyed theirs very much since they devoured it and it did not seem possible. We enjoyed our meal and the entertainment, and we will definitely be back again and again.
(4)
mamminger z.
I like this place. Sure, it's fairly touristy, but it's a lot of fun. The people who work there are very, very nice. It was hard to find the valet parking, but I think even the valet guys are used to it, and they happily waved us over and helped us find our way to the restaurant. We made reservations and had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated at our table, and we spent our wait time walking around the restaurant, which had a lot to see. There's a small waterfall inside with a koi pond, and the bar area in the bottom floor is open air and is right by the beach. The restaurants had super yummy appetizers. My husband and I have a hard time finishing portions at almost any restaurant, so we decided to share the entree, and the waitress proactively had the chef split the appetizer into two and brought it to us on separate plates. We went on a Friday night, and they had a lot of live entertainment. A small group of locals (mostly older ladies) were going to certain tables and singing Happy Birthday (and other songs) while strumming on Ukelele's... and two guys were singing downstairs. I'll take that over a mariachi band any day. =) Overall, 5 stars. Hopefully, I'll be able to go to this Duke's again.
(5)
Cyndi W.
You have to go once... this place is an institution! Get a drink at the barefoot bar and move on to the next place. The drinks are EXCELLENT though pricey. The food was only so so... the view was AWESOME.
(3)
Russell M.
Good food, excellent service and great view.
(4)
Dan A.
Fish taco and Frozen Mia Tia, that is all I need to say. Go there for Happy Hour and get one of each and you will be glad that you did!!!
(4)
Jennifer L.
Great fish entrees, huge salad bar, prolific muffins, a strolling pair of Hawaiian singers (sometimes that can be charming, sometimes it can be a bit much and you want to eat in peace!), and nice view of the ocean (if you are seated well). Good solid restaurant.
(4)
Maria A.
Food was so hood here we ate 3x's w/in a week!! Downstaires the food is the best! Mango burger, mango ribs, and stir fry are the best foods! Volcano drink is to die for! Everything made perfect! Upstaires sucks. Over priced, sml portion bland tasting meals. Dine dwnstaires only, top isnt worth it! I give it 4 stars cus of that
(4)
Ellen O.
Would be a nice place for a cocktail but our meal was terrible. The clam chowder was less than mediocre. The crab wontons were just alright. My calamari strips were served cold and uncooked, not good for a pregnant gal. My husband's bun was served cold on his mahi mahi sandwich.
(2)
M L.
Food: I enjoyed a nice Crab Louie salad. Food was decent, but nothing to write home about. Ambience: Open-air seating is right on the beach. There is also a lovely koi pond and waterfall built into the structure and is a prominent feature of the dining room.
(3)
Natalie D.
Came here 3 times since we were staying at the Marriott. The appetizers are good (hard to mess up fried stuff), and the drinks are fine (nothing fancy or special- standard hotel bar Mai Tais and piña coladas). The fish entrees were fine; the fish tasted good and fresh, but not quite special enough for the $30 price. The steak and chicken entrees ($20) may have been more appropriately priced. The salad bar that comes with the entrees is nothing special. The hula pie is good and huge. The service was good and the location is great. Really, the only reason to come here is if you are staying at the Marriott and don't want to drive home after dinner, or if coming for the location.
(4)
Bryce R.
Nice restaurant right next door to the Marriott in Lihue. The food is pretty good, we had good service, and they have a nice happy hour special up to 6pm. Otherwise, everything is a tad overpriced, which is normal for the area. Nicely located right on the beach, and my daughter loved the koi pond and waterfall located inside.
(3)
Darlene L.
Fantastic fish makes this a winner. Nice ocean views and friendly service are so welcoming. A trip to the salad bar is fun and inviting. However, it is a typical salad bar with lots of deli type items. Could kick it up a notch with some homemade bread and better salads. On to the entrees. Both the mahi and ahi were fantastic. Pacing was excellent; the waiter was sensitive to our salad bar visits as he proceeded with the entrees. In summary, Duke's has lovely views, excellent food, and attentive service.
(4)
B G.
So I was taken to Duke's for my birthday. My family made a reservation 4 days in advance for a table on the rail. They said, "Yer all set, we will have your table on the rail..." When we arrived, the rail was full and they said that they couldn't garuntee where we sat, just that we would have a table. No apology for the confusion or mismanaged expectations. STRIKE 1 We sit down and our waiter is very cool and very helpful. I am a bit upset because my family went through effort to make my birthday cool and these idiots screwed it up. The places is hotter than hell so we ask if they can turn on the ceiling fans. So the helpful waiter goes to the back and asks the manager to turn on the fans. They do...all except the one over us and the next table over. We had to call him over again to point this out and finally it gets turned on. STRIKE 2 The food comes and my fillet was outstanding. 5 people order the seared ahi. After two weeks I am a little seared ahied out. Three of them get nice choice 4 inch tall pieces seared perfectly....my sister and her husband get these pinner pieces about 2 inches tall with not a lick of pink to be found. They sent them back. STRIKE 3. My meal was great, the wine was great, coctails were great, the salad bar is amazing. It's just too bad the supporting cast can't help out the waiters who are busting their asses. I am sure their tips suffer because management is so poor....
(2)
Emilie R.
I love eating here not simply because of the gorgeous ocean view, but the service and food are amazing! We came here 3 times on our vacation and we always last satisfied. The best was when we went in the evening. We ate upstairs, which apparently is a different menu than eating downstairs. We had a great view of the ocean and they lit tiki torches as the sun began to set. It was such a wonderful ambience. My favorite drink was the Virgin Beach Boy drink. I can't remember exactly what it was called. But it was delicious, made with strawberries, passionfruit and lime! YUM! I love this place :)
(5)
John O.
Well, it is not the same as the one in Waikiki, but this one is okay. The prices are a little more and the service is a little slow. There are two levels, the top level is the main restaurant and the bottom is the bar area with plenty of tables. The food is okay. I ordered the fish tacos and it seemed much smaller than the one from Dukes Waikiki. I will have to try this place another time as I think it deserves another try. I will also stay at the Marriott as it seems to be in a good location with shops and restaurants.
(3)
Ed M.
Fun place to go, great for watching people and good food. Tuesdays they have the fish taco's for about 3 bucks each. They do a good job with them and for the location, a really good deal . We almost always get the table that's up by the little fish pond. For dessert we share the Hula Pie. My wife loves it, and I have to admit, I like it as well. Nice location to stroll around after dinner and see the lights etc.
(4)
Andrew A.
My wife and I hated this place. It was by far the worst meal I had on Hawaii. After seeing other reviews for 4 stars, I was like WTF. I got the prime rib, my wife local fish. The fish my wife did not like and she threw most it away. The steak was highly mediocre, but very thick cut. That would have been fine but service was terrible and I was never able to get a steak knife. It was also a bit on the cold side. Our waiter showed complete disinterest in us the entire meal. This is supposedly part of the Marriott but is separately owned. We were staying at the Marriott so maybe other reviewers are distracted by the view which is good, but it was the same view as from my hotel room so they got no points from me there. There salad bar is nice, in that it has wide selection but nothing special. It has nothing over Ruby Tuesdays. Nothing great for this price range. This place is certainly not comparable to any high end steak house in the states. I'd rather eat at Outback. I'd only come here if you don't care about food and are looking for a view.
(1)
Lawrence S.
Food very good. Prices are better during lunch. Fish and.chips are.great!!! Hula pie is big and soooo good!
(5)
Amy g.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz. So disappointed. I have been here before with my family a while ago and have beautiful memories of a salad bar, steak and fresh fish paradise. Not to mention the Hula Pie which just about every local on the island raved about. Total bummer. The atmosphere was super fun and drinks were great. Food was completely dull. Salad bad, while it looked wonderful with the fresh made Caesar tossed right in front of me, was a total bust! Seriously how do you make a salad so bland? Literally had no taste. Steak was awful and the fish was OK but not great. Hula pie? Alright, but they have nothing on my mother's ice cream pie. Stick to this place for the novelty of what it is - a cheesy beach front tourist bar. Great drinking atmosphere!
(2)
Michelle M.
Excellent service, excellent ambiance, excellent food. We had the opah prepared 2 different ways. Both were awesome but the macadamia nut crusted is wonderful. Great salad bar. The hula pie is incredible. The sashimi appetizer is also an A+.
(5)
Big Room Nine X.
Nice place. I'm not picky but hard to please (I guess...). As long as my basics are met I get pretty satisfied. Easily said but not seldom done. anywayz... Food is decent, view is awesome, service good, great dinner salad bar, and walking distance from my hotel. I ordered the prime rib - it was okay, can't touch Lawry's in LA. Wife ordered the Ahi Salad - this was pretty money...very fresh & yum. Would definitely go back. Everything put together this place gets 5 stars.
(5)
Stacy S.
Its your average Hawaii hotely-type restaurant. It's not a local's restaurant, its fit for tourists. However, I felt like we had a nice dinner and got our money's worth. I had the fish of the day (I think it was called Opa?) and it was cooked Duke's style, which was delicious. My friend had the ribs and huli chicken, which I had a few bites of, which were tasty. Entrees come with a salad bar, which was very filling. It wasn't anything spectacular to write home about, but it was a nice dinner. Make sure you ask for a table with a view or near the waterfall, as we had a table in a not so great location. Had I known to ask for that, maybe this restaurant would of gotten 4 stars.
(3)
Ashley N.
im a big fan for their CHICKEN CAESER SALAD :) basket of fries and their wonderul HULA PIE :) yummmm! good prices , and if your dining upstairs , try to make reservations because they get pretty busy! their salad bar , all you can eat and is totally worth it :)
(4)
Tisha B.
Food in the restaurant (upstairs) was very good. Huge portions. Very friendly and very attentive service in the restaurant also. Good all the way around. Would return. Fair price for amount of food. Only dislike was it was very big restaurant, no atmosphere. Chain-like, lots of big groups. Noisy. Downstairs, at bar. Nice atmosphere, but hostess was surly and waitress was snotty too. WTH? Charging $10 for a pina colada and you are going to give me attitude? I don't think so! I'll go buy my cocktail elsewhere! 4 stars restaurant 2 stars (barely) for the bar
(4)
Frank P.
Technically I would have given this place a 4-1/2 star for not having a free refill but its ok their food and ambiance made up for the lack of refills. Awesome place, view and food! My wife had the Steak and Lobster, and I had the Steak and shrimp scampi. Highly suggest these two dishes. Seafood was so fresh and delectable. Did I mention the salad bar? SO GOOD! To top it off, we were lucky enough to be seated by the far end of the room over looking the beach. Highly recommend this restaurant. Would go back again.
(5)
Steve H.
I ended up at Dukes downstairs at the bar. When I was seated by the hostess, she mentioned the "fish of the day", I inquired "what was the fish?" She responded, "i don't know". When I asked her if she could find out she told me to "Ask my server". The net,; the servicer provided good service, knew the menu, and the fish sandwich was very good, salad bar was o.k., the 6 oz beer was good, but the bill with a 15% tip was $35.
(2)
kris k.
Duke's is one of our favorite places to go for dinner. For a while we went once every few weeks. Downstairs is okay...basic burgers, drinks, pupus, etc, and a nice view of the bay...but upstairs is GREAT. The prime rib is TO DIE FOR...try it grilled cajun style. All dinners come with the best salad bar on the island (tons of salad stuff plus bread, mac/potato/pasta salad, fruit and muffins. My favorite is the opah done firecracker style. Probably one of the best places on the island. There are other restaurants that are far more expensive that we've been to and most of the time, the food at Duke's is just as good or better, and more affordable.
(5)
Jaynie K.
New Year's Eve, late night... STARVING, but since we woke up late from a late evening nap, every place we called was closed... except Duke's. Took a while to find it, which was unfortunate, since we were so hungry and cranky. But once we did, things looked better! Super tasty BBQ Kalua Pork sammich for me, and a burger for the boy... perfect NYE meals! Our server was friendly and helpful. The view was quite nice, and provided a nice atmosphere for our pig-out session.
(4)
Gold S.
Dined here three times last week while staying at the Marriott. Each time the food and drinks were very good. Not five star, but good food and good service. Nice and close to the hotel, it was easy to walk over to Duke's and flop on back to our room! If you're staying at the Marriott, I would recommend this as a good dinner spot when you're too tired to drive somewhere down the road and not have to worry about driving back. Mahalo!
(4)
Carey M.
Eating good food on the beach with a great view is our idea of a good time. Duke delivers just that.
(4)
Toni M.
This is where we stop for lunch after arriving in Kauai, now that the Fisherman's Galley has turned into a Harley-Davidson shop. We ordered a shrimp and crab Louie for each of us, plus mai tais and their waffle-cut fries. The mai tais were good. My salad lacked the promised avocado, so husband shared his, and the amount of seafood was fairly skimpy. The Louies at the Sardine Can, The Front Room and the Brass Door are all much better but the view from Duke's and the weather beat them all to hell! And the fries were great.
(3)
Jerry W.
One of our traditions on a beach vacation is to have a burger on the beach. For whatever reason, there aren't that many of those type of places in Kauai so we settled on Duke's. Duke's is two stories, the lower floor is the bar area while the upper floor is the formal restaurant. We came for lunch so the formal restuarant was closed. The bar area was pretty happening with a lot of people milling about drinking and eating. We found a table that was shaded (luckily since it drizzled a couple of times). Got a burger...and was a bit disappointed. It was only ok, which we were kinda warned about earlier in the week by one of the locals (the way he talked it sounded like there weren't any good burger joints on the beach). What made it worse was that we found mold on the bun. We were comped for it, but I can't ever remember a time when I found mold on a burger bun. Overall, Duke's has a great view but so-so food.
(3)
Lou G.
It has been a couple of years since we ate at Duke's and we made reservations for dinner at sunset. We were seated at the Lanai, what a great view right over the beach overlooking Kalapaki Bay. The waitress was slow getting to us, the table next to us was a large party and got more attention. Once she arrived we were told of the fresh fish for the day. They had 5 different fish and about the same methods to prepare the fish. These included grilled, baked, firecracker. My wife had mahi mahi and I had the ahi. The meal included a trip to the all you can eat salad bar. In my opinion, the salad bar was average and a bit tired. In fact the restaurant like many in the TS chain looked dated, nice but getting a little long in the tooth. No complaints about the fish but it wasn't standout or exceptional. Just A-OK
(3)
Steve V.
Duke's.... ah yes where my wife and I, (actually she was my girlfriend at the time) had our first ever Mahi Mahi Taco. We have been in love with this place ever since. We flipped the menu over and discovered there is one right in Malibu, CA. The rest is history!
(5)
Patrick L.
Slow un-caring wait staff plus pricey food and weak pours, BUT amazing location and great views. One star for food and service and two stars for awesome location.
(3)
Tiffany B.
This goes out for all TS (dukes, keoki's, etc) restaurants all over Hawaii. great food, not a lot of variety, as in they have the same menu for years, salas bars kick ass, drinks are good. cool chill place to hang out to have a pau hana dirnk
(4)
Ruby L.
Always love Duke's! You have a choice here, eat upstairs at the restaurant or downstairs at the beach bar. Both are great. Live music sometimes at the bar. Drinks are fine and they have yummy fish and chips. Upstairs is very good. Fish is always good. My husband loves their prime and the salad bar is fantastic. And yes! The hula pie is to die for - even if you are stuffed. Beautiful views, good service. Pretty much has it all.
(5)
Armen S.
The downstairs Barefoot Bar is in a beautiful location on the beach. Friendly service. Tiki torches (everything is better with tiki torches.) Close to the airport if you skipped that $6 inflight meal. Food is just okay for the the price.
(3)
Amanda V.
The lava flow drink was yummy.Pot stickers,chicken wings,and the calamari was a nice light dinner.
(5)
Craig I.
great atmosphere...the restaurant has a great feel to it., situated right on the beach with open air views. I had the Opah (hawaiian moon fish) baked Duke's style in garlic, lemon and sweet basil glaze (excellent), Salad bar and we shared the Hula pie (huge..gotta share after the large portions, salad bar and breads). dukeskauai.com
(4)
Krissy H.
For the price, atmosphere and service you can't beat Dukes! It's located on the Marriott resort with a killer ocean view from just about every table. My husband and I have eaten here 3 times in the last week and every time the food and service were fantastic. Try taco Tuesdays. Between 4 and 6(I think) they have $2.50 fish tacos, which are huge and extra yummy with their chili sauce if you are into spicy. The ambiance is incredible with a waterfall and koi pond inside. Go try them, you won't be dissatisfied.
(5)
Theresa B.
Screw the food...come for the hula pie!! Came here a couple of hours before we had to leave for the airport..and it was such a perfect dessert to cap our vacation in Kauai!
(4)
Mimi L.
Shockingly, this tourist trap left a great impression. Live music, great drinks and one of the best ahi dishes I've had. Service was good. Would go again, but be sure to order off the upstairs menu. Most of the negative reviews seem to be from the bar menu.
(4)
Ryo S.
No complaints, and that's a good news! We had a dinner there. I had a grilled Seven Spices Ahi plate. My wife had a plate called Fish Luau. Both great dishes. Dinner comes with a complementary salad bar access. Just don't go crazy if you plan on getting around to eating your dessert too! I had Duke's Mai Tai. That was great too. There servers seem friendly and prompt too! Definitely recommended for a special outing occasion.
(4)
Julie U.
Five stars doesn't cut it. Duke's is utterly fantastic. Fantastic food, fantastic drinks, fantastic service, fantastic atmosphere, fantastic location. It is one of my favorite restaurants on the face of this planet. And let me again stress this... the location. It sits upon Kalapaki Beach, which means you can rent yourself a paddle board or surfboard and enjoy the tiny little waves on the perfectly calm harbor. Almost all of it is sandy-bottomed here, so you won't hurt yourself. Oh, the paradise! Then, when you're good and tired, stumble swimsuit-clad up to the barefoot bar for your drinks and dinner. Or, for those who prefer to make this a dressier occasion, there's a lovely full restaurant upstairs with amazing balcony seating. You can have yourself a five-star dinner there! Pause to note this... I just read that someone else gave Duke's a 2-star review and noted this comment: "The burgers were served unappealingly with a burger and bun, nothing else." I have to ask, why in the name of God would you go to a place like Duke's on an island like Kauai AND ORDER A BURGER?!? If you want a good burger, go to Chicago. When in Rome. Seriously. Duke's has some of the best fish I've ever eaten in my life... and I've eaten A LOT of fish. The sashimi was flawless... the kind you'll pay fifty bucks for on the mainland, and we paid only $14.95 (nearly every day because it was so good). The salads were also great, as were the other appetizers we sampled on one of our many visits there. As far as drinks go, as with all restaurants owned by their parent company, I highly recommend the Plantation Lemonade, the Tropical Itch (complete with back scratcher), and the Lava Flow. Yum yum!!! Duke's will definitely be seeing more of me.
(5)
Jake A.
Delicious food. Delicious Mai tais. AWESOME atmosphere! Live music to set the island mood and an ocean front view. Great setup, can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kimber C.
haven't tried too much of their menu, but everything I've had has been good enough to keep me coming back for years. one can't go wrong with an order of beach boy fries- big enough for 2 or 3 people (or at least people with my size appetite). cashew chicken stir fry is so ono, as are the nachos. service is consistant and friendly...best is always from Kim at the bar. And while you're at the bar...have a pau hana punch or wrong island ice tea. a couple of those make aloha friday that much mo' bettah. another perk...great view and close to the airport. usually the last stop we make before dropping any friends and family off for their trip back to the mainland. definitely a place to stop in and enjoy!
(4)
Chris H.
Casual atmosphere. Decent prices (8 to 20) for entrees. Right on the water. I say this place is a win. Downstairs is dukes and is more casual. Upstairs seemed more formal and less bar oriented.
(4)
t. w.
I love this place. We ate at the upstairs restaurant on a Monday evening. The 2 open sides of the restaurant, decorated in "tiki nouvelle" contained a small stream which fell from the upper level to the lower (if you go, ask for the table at the base of the falls - I bet it's a reservation-only table). We were there just at sunset. While on the eastern side of the island, the skies still put on a nice show, playing nice light off of the approaching clouds. Our waitperson (Kristen) instantly made us feel at home. She was amusing, informative, and attentive (not too much so). I told her I wanted a typical Hawaiian tourist experience. Out came a Pina Colada in fresh pineapple to which she added an orchid and umbrella - served with a grin. The wine list is very limited, but was not horrible. Grocery-store fume blanc ($32) to Silver Oak (Alexander Valley) cab ($104). OK, we had a bottle, but it seemed out of place here. They have a few draft beers on tap, and other silly "Hawaiian" drinks, which seems to be the way to go. Though the place was packed, and all of the people working on the floor were very busy running food to tables, returning empty plates and taking orders, they all seemed to smile and engage with the customers. Kristen helped to steer our orders to the fresh fish selections, though the beef looked really good as it went past on plates. She was spot on. Wow. Opah with their "Dukes Firecracker" preparation (~$30) was very seasoned, and not the dish for the nuance-seeking pescophile, but I finished what my partner could not. I had the "sushi grade" Ahi pan-seared with the recommended honey ginger (wasabi?) sauce (~$30), which was, appropriately, not drowning this beautiful fish. It was encrusted with salt, pepper, and ginger (I think), on one side, and was amazing. I ordered it rare, and it was delivered as promised. The portion was generous, and I savored it with only very small bits of the sauce. The salad bar, however, seemed a relic from simpler restaurant times, both in contents and flavor (my Cesar salad was soggy) but it did help us to imagine this place as a fixture Hawaii of the 50s and 60s, though we needed little reminder of that. Mid-century surfing photos and memorabilia spot the dark wood walls and help in the transformation. The views were spectacular. As often happens here, a short rainstorm blew in just after sunset. As if choreographed, all of the staff headed for the exposed side of the restaurant and lowered the many awnings to prevent the rain from blowing in. Once the storm passed, they were all reopened and the soft windward breezes over the bay created magic. Many of the tables had children, and Dukes seems prepared to deal with them acceptably (high chairs, crayons, paper). We heard many languages spoken by the customers, and the staff seem prepared as well for the difficulty of communicating with them. The tables are well-spaced on the top floor, so we felt very comfortable amongst our neighbors. The dinner (and pineapple colada) was filling, and we were done, but several tables around us had the Huli Pie ($13), their special dessert. A Pint of ice cream mandates this be shared - it was visually striking. This is the first restaurant on Kauai that we've felt we must return to, and we will before the trip is over. A real treat for all the senses. Make a reservation and ask for a table bordering an open window.
(4)
drew n.
The upstairs is nice, but the service was bad. Downstairs, we waited an hour for fried food which arrived cold - we left and didn't pay. People have a nice attitude but it doesn't make up for late, cold food. Give it a miss and go somewhere else instead.
(1)
Michael W.
My wife and I went here for dinner one night on our honeymoon after reading The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook (that is a great book to buy if you're going to Kauai btw). We went around 7 pm so it was packed. But we were able to find 2 seats at the bar downstairs. Man this place is jumping! It's right off the beach so you get a nice view of the cove. We started off with an order of the coconut shrimp, crab and mac nut wontons and a salad. The coconut shrimp had a nice crunch but not overcooked. The wontons were good, but similar to other crab wontons at other restaurants. I ordered the prime rib and my wife ordered ahi. Man the ahi was so fresh and the prime rib... man oh man was it so juicy and tender. I like my prime rib medium rare so you get the full flavor of the steak. I've been to a lot of prime rib places, but I think this has to be in the top 3. The prime rib had a nice marbling throughout and was cooked to perfection. It's a good size cut of meat too, not some skimpy piece. I was too stuffed to order any dessert so we just walked around the beach for a while before leaving. Even though this restaurant was packed, the service was excellent. It is a bit pricey, but if you want a nicer restaurant, skip Roy's and come over here. Parking can be tricky though. Make sure you look at the signs because they will tow you.
(4)
kimberly c.
Having already posted a review stating I'm a fan of Duke's Waikiki, it should come as little surprise that the Lihue location is also a fantastic destination for me. If you haven't been to Kauai, know this - it's an island that's absolutely tranquil, and many places just don't cater or want to cater to the same crowds that hang out in Honolulu/Waikiki. That said, there's a small area in Lihue that's sort of the 'hot spot' on the island (besides Hanelei area). Duke's is there, along with a number of similar island bar/restaurants perfect for coronas with friends. This Duke's has an AWESOME view of the beach and bay. Man, at night, it is ABSOLUTELY beautiful. And they sort of themed it out, with a little bit of the Rainforest Cafe vibe (there's a running waterfall in the middle of the restaurant), but Duke's pulls it off much better than Rainforest Cafe. Doesn't seem that cheesy at all. Seems perfect - especially if you're on the island to be in the middle of this tropical paradise - don't want to take a departure - even for dinner! :) Food is good - basically the same menu as all the other Duke's. But I think the draw is sitting on the lanai, looking at the beach at night - no city glow, just stars. Very quiet (that's how the island is anyway). If you go to Kauai, go to Duke's.
(4)
Randall J.
This is the original Duke's. Good food great atmosphere, if you want solid food at a decent price go here. If you are staying at the Mariott, definitely go here for at least one night. Dukes on the sand for walk in is very good as well.
(4)
Ryan D.
Great restaurant with great view! the food was good.
(5)
DANIEL R.
The view is great but besides that it's unimpressive. The food is goodish and in portions we should all normally eat but the salad bar is lame and the service was alright. I guess you're really paying for the view, so enjoy what you can!
(3)
Frank H.
We always stop at least once at Dukes and we were once again pleased that it was still a great place for food and service. Meals are fairly reasonable considering that all good food is high priced in Hawaii. Salad bar included with all entrees and pretty good. Never have had a bad meal or bad experience here.
(5)
Kevin A.
Very over priced food... The mango bacon burger is horrible...
(2)
Janet D.
I came here for lunch with low, low, low expectations (I suffer from a serious case of "chain-itis"). Did they know I was a Yelper when they gave us the best seat in the house...on the front patio on a perfect day overlooking the beach and bay??? (OK, so there were way too many pudgy pale tourists...just focus on the water.) I ordered the fish tacos and...wow, they were surprisingly great! Service was excellent. So far, so good. Then, my lunch date ordered the mud pie for dessert...I managed to take 3 bites before my illness flared up. I prefer searching for the more off-the-beaten path local joints, but this place will definitely do in a pinch...or if you just don't feel like expending the energy to treasure hunt.
(3)
David B.
Went for drinks and pupus, but stayed for a wonderful dinner. Mai Tais were excellent and served in cute glasses with happy tiki one side and angry tiki on the other. We decided that it may represent the before and after Mai Tai experience. Chose nachos for pupus. Well-prepared with ample real cheese, beans, jalapeños, sour cream and guacamole, but a bit smaller than we expected. Decided to share the Huli Huli chicken. Came with salad bar, which was a definite highlight! Three kinds of breads and more salad choices than you can imagine, plus freshly made caesar salad. Huli Huli chicken was so good, we ran out of room for the famed Hula Pie. No worries, brudda, we'll be back.
(4)
Roxie B.
Amazing! Incredible service. The waitress (Mel) was extremely knowledgable of the menu items and very attentive. The Monchong with pineapple chutney and buerre blanc sauce was probably the best fish I have ever had. Daughter did not care for mac n cheese. The Hula Pie was also good.
(5)
Jim S.
Good service. Yummy salad bar if not very diverse. Ribs and chicken were very good. Mac nut Brie crepes were to die for. Half the rack of ribs was grissely but the sauce was good.
(3)
Erin K.
The ambience is fantastic in this place! It's exactly what I pictured when thinking of my Hawaii experience (before I went). We sat in the bar downstairs right at sunset, so it was gorgeous. The drinks were good and the staff friendly. I tried the poke appetizer and it was delicious! I plan to duplicate it here at home immediately :)
(4)
Scott M.
Probably not the best meal on this islands and certainly not fine dining, but it's a great family restaurant that served us a perfect Thanksgiving dinner at a reasonable price.
(3)
Tawny A.
the fish tacos are to die for. seriously.......kick the tourists out of the way to get to them.
(5)
Mari J.
So Duke's isn't exactly a local hangout, but for being part of a (fairly small) chain, I thought it was great. The ahi was very very good. I wasn't a huge fan of the mashed potatoes, but they were ok. Also their salad bar wasn't the best (beware of anchovies) and it was hard to figure out what some of the things were. Now despite this I have to give Duke's 5 stars because the food was a good value, the decor is very nice, and the service was great. Had a fish sandwich in the bar a few days later and it was basic, but good. The waffle cut fries are delicious as was the virgin strawberry margarita. Duke's is worth a stop, go for the free valet parking because the parking lot otherwise is a bit difficult to navigate.
(5)
Dane H.
For a bit of a splurge, it's hard to beat Duke's in Lihue. I've eaten at the Dukes in Waikiki, and the Dukes on Kauai is a little smaller and mellower, but the same quality experience. I took my sister there for he birthday (Nov. 2007) and we both had eaten at the bar downstairs before a couple of times with my folks, but never upstairs at the Canoe Club. The view is nice for this end of the island, but of course can't match Waikiki. The service we got from Laulima, a native of the Big Island was excellent. My sister lives on the Big Island, and It was towards the end of the evening, so we got to talk to her for a while about life on Hawai'i. The food is very good, not amazing, but definitely better that what I usually expect from chain places. The fresh ingredients are the difference. I had grilled Opa with a Buerre blanc sauce and pineapple chutney. It was cooked perectly--not overdone. My sister just did the salad bar, which was also included with my fish. The salad bar is a steal at $12.95--fresh tossed Caesar, plus a complete regular salad bar with fruit, extras like kim chee and tofu, and a pasta bar! If you're not into a big meal or a "veg head" that's the way to go. We each had a glass of Kendell Jackson Chardonnay-not my favorite, but good with the fish. The tab was $62--with tip $77--a pretty good deal! Laulima even offered us a free mud pie because it was my sister's birthday, but we were both too full and we saw a couple of the mud pies when we were being seated, and they were huge!
(4)
D N.
The only good thing about this place is that its on the beach. I made sure to go to the barefoot bar b/c they serve the same food as the restaurant but with cheaper options. I could tell by the looks of it, that it wasn't worth paying $$$$ for a chain restaurant that didnt serve authentic hawaiian food. My b/f and I both got a burger with bbq sauce and pineapple. I ordered my medium rare but it came out more well done unfortunately. They were kind enough to offer a diff. burger but it was too much trouble, our original waiter left and i was hungry but I really would have thought it would have made a difference. Otherwise, their pesto pizza was yummy, their mixed strawberry drink was super good...just that unfortunate burger. poo.
(3)
Kim K.
Most of the food at Duke's is mediocre, but they do a few things well: 1. Caesar salad (I started making my own dressing because I no one else makes dressing as good as this place). 2. Seven spice ahi (Can be hit or miss depending on who's cooking; this is the only TS restaurant that I've seen this on the menu) 3. Fish tacos (Haven't had any better than these in Hawaii; make sure to go on Taco Tuesdays) 4. Hula pie (Not to die for, but a popular dish nonetheless, more of a novelty experience than a foodie's passport to heaven) 5. Salad bar (You'll be hard pressed to find a better selection elsewhere) I've been to TS (parent company) restaurants in California (do not recommend) and all over Hawaii. I think the waterfall inside as well as the location on Kalapaki beach make this restaurant their best. The service is consistently friendly and good, and they try hard to maintain that tropical Hawaii theme of tiki torches, hula girls, and umbrella topped mai tais. It's rare that a place is able to be a hot spot for tourists and locals alike, and somehow this particular restaurant accomplishes this.
(4)
Hel L.
Great ahi tacos ($12.95 for 2). This place is in the Marriott, right on the beach therefore the view is fantastic.
(4)
Paul F.
I've eaten at the bar for lunch and the restaurant upstairs for dinner. The bar has great drinks and a nice selection of beers. My wife and I both had burgers and neither of us were very impressed, just OK. Dinner was a much better experience. For dinner we got there right at 5:00 when they opened. We got an awesome table in the corner next to the railing with a great view of the lagoon. I recommend reservations if you come any later as it fills up fast. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very nice, it's not as crowded and noisy as the Duke's Waikiki. My wife and I both love the salad bar. We both ordered fresh fish, and for both of us it was something we had not tried before. It was well prepared and very tasty. We both really enjoyed our dinner here.
(4)
Shawna S.
Ended up here because I wanted a decently priced salad bar and found out about Duke's here on Yelp. I ended up getting the Macadamia Nut Pesto Linguine as it came with the salad bar. It was good but a bit heavy on the sauce. Salad bar by itself is $12.95. Decent salad bar at a decent price. The papaya seed dressing is really good. can't beat the views from this restaurant. It's part of the Marriott and parking for Duke's is kind of a pain to find at night. Nothing really special about Dukes except for the view.
(3)
Jimmy D.
Sure it's corny and expensive, but places like this are why I love Hawaii. Good food with a stunning view, sipping rum drinks in the tropical breeze, taking a break from the bar to walk 30 feet to the beach and dip your toes on the warm water, and don't forget the tiki torches. I love fish, I love sauce, and I love drinks. How can you lose?
(4)
Paul Z.
Nice atmosphere. Fish was tasty as was the salad bar. Got the chili lime Mahi and the wife got the seared ahi, hers was the better of the two. Hula pie was huge - I would have gladly traded some of the quantity for quality. Great service!
(3)
Jennifer W.
I was really torn for awhile on whether to give Duke's a 3 or 4 star rating. What pushed it to the extra star was ultimately the quality of the main dish I had. But let me start fro the beginning. We had reservations for 6:30pm, and when we arrived right on time, the table was not ready. No big deal, as we just went downstairs to the bar area for a drink. So, of course, as soon as we sit down and order a drink, our little buzzer goes off indicating that we are ready to be seated in the main dining room. So, I get up to look for our cocktail waitress, and when I find her, i ask if we can transfer the bar tab to our dining room tab. She replied with a no, that all tabs must be settled at the bar. Okay, again no big deal, and I settle the bill while my mom goes upstairs to let the hostess know. So, bar bill is paid, and when I go to grab my drink and my mother's, I am told that I can only carry one drink at a time upstairs. Whaaaaat? So now I am getting a bit annoyed and our waitress then offers to carry the "extra" drink for me. Finally, we are seated at the table and the three of us all order fish, with different coatings. Each meal comes with a complimentary salad bar trip so my mom and I get up to go first and proceed to stand in line for the salad bar for 10 minutes! So now I am annoyed that this restaurant offers a salad bar to anyone who orders a main entree, yet cannot get two lines going or better situate the salad bar to accomodate a huge amount of hungry customers. And low and behold, when I finally get up to the ceasar salad station, the guy has to start making a brand new one, from scratch, which takes another 5 minutes. Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of fresh salads, but this is going a bit too far. So the redeeming factor in all of this? The FISH!!! The fish here is absolutely wonderful and I had mine coated with a crunchy macadamia nut breading that was just out of this world. It made me want to suffer in the salad line all over again for another chance at eating that fish. So in the end I give this place four stars, for the fact that the main dish can make me forgive and almost forget the frustration of the rest of the restaurant.
(4)
Philip K.
It's a chain place, don't be scared. The food was excellent, nothing insanely great, but very very good. It's really close to the Marriot so most likely you'll eat here. It does have very nice decor, right along the beach and the staff is very nice. Most of them are not from the island as you would suspect. I went with a burger, and of course it was very juicy and large. That's how I like my burgers.
(4)
Kalae P.
Great service! I am a local resident and this was my first to the famous Dukes. If they have the monchong for fish, choose it! Very soft and delicious! Atmosphere is great and salad bar is fresh!
(4)
Ken N.
Hard to beat Duke's! Great food, music, and service...!!
(4)
Jan C.
You read reviews because you really want to find out whether to try a place or not... We had Five nights on Kauai, two of which were spent here. If you have a limited time on an island, and you choose to go back to a restaurant, Score big points for that place! What's special about it? The wait staff are a big plus, you want to be generous just because of their unbridled friendliness, and attentiveness. This is a fave with the locals for their big night out, you see native Hawaiians here with families all decked out. The food is superb, fresh fish like monchong, opah, and ahi, as well as generous steaks cooked to perfection. Gentle breezes float into the open dining room, the beach cove just below with waves lapping and crashing oh take me back! Take me BACK!!! If you are in Kauai, TRY THIS Great restaurant, try their maitai's, All you can eat salad bar filled with the freshest locally grown produce! GO! NOW!
(5)
Keith B.
Was great, awesome service, the food was very tasty, and just a great atmosphere!
(4)
J S.
The food is incredible try the firecracker style of fish and ask for Emily she is incredible!
(5)
Diana D.
Definitely only eat at the barefoot bar so you won't feel ripped off. Food is decent here but minus 2 stars for the ants and charging .50 for a refill. When you are already charging 2.50 for a fountain soda, you do not charge for a refill you nimrods! I had the mahi mahi sandwich and ordered a basket of fries since it didn't come with my order. The waffle fries were good, but the mahi sandwich is what I would come back for.
(3)
Jen S.
A must in Hawaii, the one on Waikiki beach is the best. Home of the mai tai. Great service, get the crab wontons. Salad bar is extensive and good. Fresh fish is always fabulous and my husband is loyal to their burgers. The lower restaurant (no reservation) is much more informal. For some reason cats and chickens are all over Kauai and outside of Duke's patio seating is no exception.
(4)
Marcolm A.
I came here during my second trip to Kauai about six years ago and remember it being a great place. I wish that held true during my last visit this past week. The food was surprisingly very poor and the drinks were just ok. Amazing backdrop helped make up for it slightly, but overall it wasn't a great experience.
(3)
Adrian F.
Good to sit in the bar area, eat apps, drink booze and watch the sunset if you're at the beach. You can walk up from the beach and go in there in your beach clothes.
(3)
Russ C.
Go here every time we visit Kauai. The location is perfect, with excellent views of the sunset if you make a reservation. The salad bar, which comes with your meal is simply amazing. Normally bland salad bar items like potato salad, pasta salad, and cole slaw are all phenomenal, as is the salad and hand tossed ceasar salad. Fish is the only thing you should be ordering if you are at Dukes since it is phenomenal. Service is a bit sub-par compared to the other fine dining options in this price range (more of a fast paced touristy feel than more personal resort service), which is the only reason they drop a star, but still well worth it. Hula pie desert is good.
(4)
Mike F.
The best burger I have ever had. True story. I had the mango bacon cheese burger on the advice of a stranger. Soooooooo good. Great service. Highly recommend.
(5)
Lolly L.
On the recommendation of a couple we met on the beach we decided to give it a try.....SO GOOD! Definitely try the BBQ mango burger! The atmosphere was great and so was the service.
(5)
Cole R.
My husband and I went here looking for a nice dinner on our honeymoon. The atmosphere is definitely touristy, but we couldn't pass up the view. First off, the service was horrible. The hostess scoffed at us when we asked if there was a bar upstairs. It seemed as though everyone just wanted you in and out and no one seemed to be enjoying their jobs. The salad bar was Sizzler status. I just think that a less than average salad bar is hokey for their prices and the caliber of food they were supposedly offering. Overall, it wasn't the worst dining experience, but it was definitely sub-par. There are better restaurants with a cool view that won't treat you like a dumb tourist.
(2)
avery o.
Dukes was good, but not the most phenomenal food ever. The hubs and I loved that it was within walking distance from our hotel, so we went for the breakfast buffet, as well as dinner during our stay in Kauai. First- since I'm a so cal native, dukes is a staple from the mainland (la & hb). That meant that we knew we weren't getting ourselves into authentic Hawaiian cuisine, but at the same time we knew we could rely on dukes for good drinks and steaks. For dinner, the steaks were great. The salad bar us decent, but nothing to write home about. For breakfast they have an all you can eat sitch for about $14-15 per person, including coffee. There is an omelet bar & some super tasty fruit!! We couldn't stop eating the pineapple & oranges. Other than the omelets, it's pretty much standard potatoes, toast, bacon, etc. All in all, dukes is pricey, but the food is reliable. Plus, the location is great. The whole restaurant is opened up to the beach.
(4)
Allison S.
Great location and great food! The prices are not too expensive. I mean when you are in Kauai and going to a restaurant like dukes I think you can expect to pay atleast $20.00 a person ( every entree includes a great salad bar). I got the shrimp scampi and it was excellent. You have to save room for the hula pie... Amazing! Have fun and watch the sunset over the ocean as you dine!
(5)
Joel S.
A bit expensive, but you get a lot for the price: large portions, beautiful setting, great service. Good range of food items, and everything is delicious.
(4)
L U.
Yes, it's a tourist destination, but a great place to have drinks and appetizers downstairs in the Barefoot Bar with friends and a view of the bay.
(4)
Mitsuyo F.
My husband and I recently visited Dukes and it was our favorite restaurant in Kauai! The staff is very friendly, food in incredible and the ambiance is romantic. We had dinner here our first night of our honeymoon (by recommendation) and our last night. We ordered seafood and champagne. All entrees come with the yummy salad bar. Both visits were around $50/person and equally amazing.
(5)
kahau m.
cmon! its dukes! always busy. always good. always a great view! always sit at thew bar. met a couple who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. IN A ROW! amazing. beautiful views. beautiful women. great end to a day off. cough. cough.
(4)
kevin o.
Even though it is part of a big chain operation the food was fresh and well prepared. The upstairs salad bar is a nice addition on an island where a fully dressed entree is considered to be a chunk of grilled or fried fish plopped onto a few slivers of cabbage (kim chee, sardines, garlicky Italian style white beans and other surprising elements make it more interesting than your average steak house salad bar). Plus a great view. Not cheap but a better value than many other higher priced restaurants on the island, because they actually seem to know what they are doing.
(4)
Melanie C.
Nice atmosphere with a koi pond right in the middle. Food is overpriced ($6 for a few carrot sticks and dip and up from there). Limited vegetarian menu, but the staff was at least knowledgeable about the lard in the beans and didn't include them. You can feel your arteries slam shut...everything's pretty greasy. The cheese on the nachos was congealed and had to be cut with a knife. The papaya seed dressing on the salad was nice, but you can buy that at Hilo Hattie's and make your own salad when you get home. Come here and share a Hula Pie with someone, but that's about all I can recommend.
(3)
Denise N.
Food was good, they play reggae music!!!! YAY!! They also have live music on certain nights. We ate downstairs - definitely had that island vibe....
(5)
ben A.
Tried the bbq ribs with salad bar and the blended mai tai it was good nothing to get excited over paying for the name.
(3)
Herbert W.
I'd come here again. The price is decent, the view is good - all you can eat salad made my night! Too bad the steak was pretty lame. 3.5 stars really in my book.
(4)
M J.
Duke's is a Hawaiian Island chain restaurant. Nice location. The food is constantly good. Tues. night has cheap tacos. I like to sit beach-side down stairs for the atmosphere. Dukes, serves local beers, which you should try. When in Rome... Decor is Hawaiian.
(4)
Kevin R.
Well positioned and executed chain location.
(3)
Tracy D.
Duke's has great drinks, a huge koi pond with enormous koi, and a great view of the harbor. It's very popular among tourists, with good reason. Service is friendly and competent, and probably a little closer to mainland speed than other local venues. The hula pie should come with a disclaimer that it takes at least 3 people to eat it, though. Order it, but bring plenty of friends to share in all that goodness!
(4)
bebe c.
too commercialized version of hawaii, kind of like a glorified Islands (the restaurant on the mainland for those of you who don't know what it is). the ambiance is nice, the koi pond is cool and the marriott hotel itself is pretty.
(3)
Leang E.
It took us a bit to find this place. It's sort of connected to the Marriott Hotel. It's so nice to sit outside and see the ocean from where you are eating. There are roosters and other birds that just waddle around. I had a virgin pina colada here, and it was pretty good. I also had a fish sandwich, which was good. I wished I tried the fish tacos that also looked good. I was disappointed that there wasn't a wider variety of menu items. Our waitress was ok, a little difficult to get her at times, but worth the wait. It seems like one of the few places that people in the town talk about.
(4)
Rob K.
This place takes Hawaii kitsch to the max. Hawaiian singers going table to table and over-the-top decorations really give you what you want if you want Hawaii all in your face. The salad bar was straight out of the Sizzler too. That said, the entrees were really awesome. The fish was fantastic - I had a huge, high-quality Ahi steak with excellent simple seasoning. If you can handle the atmosphere, the food makes it all worthwhile.
First stop once we all landed on kauai. The food was very good as were the drinks. The service was a little slow thus only four stars. Not a bad place for lunch. I do recommend any of the special fish choices as we had all of them at our table and ate every bite.
(4)
Richard A.
With a visit to the salad bar thrown in with your main meal, we were too full to try the hula pie. We enjoyed the food and atmosphere with the ocean view, but nothing leapt out at us to warrant a return visit - outside of trying the hula pie.
(3)
Alex B.
This place is awful! we went there twice upstairs and downstairs. Downstairs I had the roast turkey and avocado sandwich and all it tasted like was mayo and bread. It had more bread than anything else! Upstairs the pesto pasta tasted absolutely terrible. If it wasn't for the hula pie and the virgin beach boy daiquiri( which was amazing by the way) I would have given this place 1 star. This place is way overpriced for the quality of the food.
(2)
Nate M.
Waikiki restaurant is WAY better, but this is okay. It's part of the Marriott and overlooks the harbor in Lihue. The food was decent. My fiance and her aunt raved about the ribs. My burger was just okay. I must say though that the service is absolutely wonderful. It's a good place to eat in front of an amazing view and it's bar is lively. Four stars for the service, two for the food. Three Stars!
(3)
Gary S.
Simply put the best Dinner Option or Afternoon Drinks within miles. Do yourself a huge favor and try the Hula Pie !!!!
(5)
Tamara N.
A so-so beachfront hotel restaurant in a so-so hotel. Nothing to write home about. The view and the decor of the restaurant are the best things about Duke's. The servers were nice, but overworked. There were lapses in food and drink delivery. The burgers were served unappealingly with a burger and bun, nothing else. We had to flag down our server just to get condiments. The fish and chips I had were about Denny's quality. If you find yourself in the area and want a great ocean view and don't care about the food, then give Duke's a try. If you're a little more exacting about the quality of the meal, go someplace else.
(2)
T D.
We stopped by Dukes on recommendation of a friend back home. We showed up after a daytime excursion on the Lihue side of the island. It was 4 ish and happy hour was going on. Along with happy hour and drink specials, being Tuesday thy also had 3$ Mahi Mahi tacos. Over all the food and happy hour timing of our meals was great. We both enjoyed our tacos, also enjoyed a Caesar salad along with it. And afterwards we split their hula pie for dessert. We also ejnoyed that as much as everyone else on here did. The view of the beach was among the nicest as far as restaurants go. We however took first seating which was inside, still not bad. The inside is decorated nicely and you still had views of the ocean. The only complaint I had was on our server once we got seated. It took about 5 minutes just to get greeted. But thanks to runners we got our drinks rather quickly thereafter. And then trying to pay to leave took sometime once again just for the server to show back up. Looking around it didn't seem that this was the case at other tables and other servers prob just ours.
(4)
Kristin C.
Had a quick lunch at the downstairs bar while hanging out at Kalapaki Beach -- good food, good drinks, good location. Price is comparable to most other restaurants for lunch -- not cheap, but about the same as other places. The fish tacos were good, as was the ono. Waffle fries were much appreciated, too.
(4)
Mimil H.
Nice place to hang out for a "beach vacation style". Friendly staff.
(4)
John W.
Bar food here is absolute rubbish. Fish tacos seemed to be stuffed with leftovers and everything is served lukewarm to cold. Too bad since it is such a beautiful setting, and the service is fine. We've been coming here since it opened and have eaten well at their other restaurants, but we'll do the local BK before we return here.
(1)
Rajiv B.
The fact that I have almost nothing to say attests to the abject mediocrity that embodies Duke's Canoe Club. Dining here was truly an overpriced and underwhelming experience, much like the evening I spent with that one-legged Mongolian hooker during a stopover in Ulaanbaatar. For whatever reason, both just seemed like really great ideas at the time. Now all I have to show for it is a hefty credit card bill and an obnoxiously persistent case of the clap. It's unfortunate, really. Duke's affords a tremendous view of Kalapaki Bay on the eastern side of Kauai. With such resplendent surroundings, you feel almost obligated to put something equally beautiful inside your mouth. Visitors are advised to fulfill this obligation elsewhere (perhaps at the superior Cafe Portofino next door). To be honest, the view is just about enough to warrant a snack here, so don't let me dissuade you too much, dear reader, from getting a table at this overcrowded restaurant. This restaurant caters to tourists and works hard to remind them that they are still within boundaries of the United States of America, while subtly reminding them of Hawaii's tropicality. Duke's has a plethora of tasty rum-based cocktails adorned with the paper umbrellas that middle-aged Midwesterners desperately need to feel exotic. However, the food is nothing special and epitomizes the concept of the chain restaurant (yes, Duke's is, in fact, a chain). While the dishes are interesting in theory, they taste a little too bland in practice. Of course, in theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice they are usually different. For the sake of posterity, I'll mention that I had the pork ribs with mango barbeque sauce, which were cooked well, but somewhat flavorless. My inestimable wife had a pasta dish that had no business being prepared in Hawaii, its only connection to that paradisiacal island group the lone slice of pineapple on the side. Again, the pasta was lacking in the Tastiness Department, though it seemed as if the burgeoning Bland Department was showing record profits. Clearly, I have told a falsehood. I had a lot more to say about Duke's than I anticipated. But I don't want to sound like I hated it. It's a great place to get a drink, or even some appetizers, and relax near a scenic beach. If chain restaurants are your thing, then this will be your Seventh Heaven. Else, be chary.
(3)
Adrian P.
This place is fine! Good food, and it seems the main complaint is that it's trendy or pricey! Of course, I don't know what else you'd expect afterall this is Kauai and there isn't a lot of choices unless ofcourse you get a plate lunch and save $$! And if you're a "local" then of course you think you deserve the royal treatment. With that attitude don't expect any help from tourist money coming your way to your state. As a native Californian, I rarely complain about people coming to visit, CA tourism is always helpful to our economy. With most restaurants it's hit or miss. We had a good experience, but I guess it all depends. Don't expect a true hawaiian experience by any means, but a restaurant-chain like experience is what you'll get. And perhaps that's all you want at the moment. If you wanna save on dinner, drive o Kapa'a and walk into a hole in the wall type place. The best dinning for me was always the unplanned!
(4)
Erica F.
I didn't think it was possible to fuck up a chicken quesadilla till I ate here. The mai tai's are good though.
(2)
Doug W.
We ate lunch here yesterday and waited at least half an hour for our food. The server was OK and the food was decent however, my coke tasted watered down so we won't return anytime soon. Setting and views are great so if you just want drinks it would be fine.
(3)
Amanda W.
Duke's is a beautiful spot - but not a place to eat. The view is gorgeous, the food is dismal. Based on the reviews of my fellow Yelpers I ordered fish tacos. Enter 2 flour tortillas, with 2 large white fish chunks. Nothing else to speak of on the plate - including flavor. Just white blandness. Boo. When I ordered a Pina Colada the waitress offered to bring it in a coconut. She did this in an off-hand, we-have-one-lying-around kind of way and , yeah, that sounded good. But the drink was twice as expensive (it wasn't offered on the menu) and was smaller than if it had come in a glass. Boo again.
(2)
Mike W.
Mrs. and I walked over last night for 2 drinks. $9 each, couldn't have been an ounce of alcohol between them. Acknowledged by the server, who implied that everybody gets the once-over before learning not to order booze at Duke's. The wise ones, she said, monitor (and/or befriend) the bartender. $9 Kool-aid, plain and simple. Canceled dinner plans. Fool me once...
(1)
Scott M.
I like Duke's Canoe Club and I love Duke's Barefoot Bar (downstairs). The Canoe Club has a good menu, well prepared and well seasoned. I either go with the fresh fish of the day grilled as simply as possible or the teriyaki steak and they have been great. Hula pie for desert of course. As to the price, given the setting, the food and the service, I think it is pretty reasonable. The Barefoot Bar I like even better. I could eat there every day and did my last business trip to Kauai. The Cheddar Burger, Teri Burger, Teri Chicken Sandwich, Fish & Chips, Fish Tacos and Turkey Sandwich, I never got bored and sitting right there on Kalapaki Beach in front of the volleyball court was great. We could play a game, grab some beers in the shade, go back to playing and grab a burger to end the day. This isn't the best restaurant on Kauai, it does have one of the prettiest views and if I ever came into Nawilili on a cruise, theis is where I would eat.
(4)
Linda B.
Great location for the Hawaiian experience that you thought it should be. Happy hour is one of the better ones and I've tried a few here in Kuaui. The restaurant has beach views but the interior is also quite the view. If you are looking for a resort type location Dukes will fit the bill. Music is played for happy hour 4-6 pm.
(4)
Candace L.
Beautiful decor, cool atmosphere, I'm sure it would have been a great ocean view but it was nighttime and very dark so it didn't make a difference that we were by water. Fish n chips were good, coconut shrimp was ok (too much batter imo), the Cajun Mahi Mahi Caesar salad was to die for! Over all a chill place to have a fun meal with your friends or loved one.
(4)
Jason F.
Right next to the Marriott hotel. (You can charge to your room). There are two parts to this restaurant. The upstairs and the downstairs. Upstairs in only open for dinner. Downstairs has a bar. They are not the same menu. Many people have made this mistake. You can order off the upstairs menu when you are seated downstairs, you just have to ask for the menu. The downstairs is open seating. The view is amazing. It is right on the beach. The bar is downstairs as well. They have large TVs, so you can catch a game (remember the time difference) if you want. Upstairs is more formal with full waiter service. There is a salad bar that comes with every entree. So you might consider skipping an appetizer. The hula pie is huge and oh so tasty. You're diet will get blown away by it. The view is really amazing and worthwhile, it is 50 feet from the ocean on the Kalapaki beach. The food is good. They often have specials, depending upon what they can buy that day from the fresh catch. There is zero parking here. You can park either by the main road and walk across the street or park at the Marriott and walk down through the hotel to get to Duke's. If you are staying at the hotel, it is a two minute walk from the pool.
(4)
Evan S.
Great service, good solid food and not over priced for the view. Go to this place if your near by!
(4)
Sarah R.
We ate here 3 times while on our honeymoon in Kauai. I think the food was great and the atmosphere was fantastic. We also had great service all three times. Other than great breakfasts at another place, this was the best food we had in Kauai.
(4)
Gabriel T.
Great food and a live band!!! Awesome steak and lobster! You have to try the Hula Pie!
(5)
Brian R.
Great little place to grab a drink or dinner if you are staying in the Marriott. Stopped by for dinner one night than two other times for drinks at te barefoot bar. Staff was great and the Mai Tai's were excellent!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Alicia M.
On my trip to Kauai I visited Duke's twice. The first time we ate downstairs at the bar (kids are still allowed) and the second time we ate upstairs in the actual restaurant. The food was very delicious both times around! For a cheaper but still fun experience, dine downstairs. I ordered the mushroom sandwich at the bar. We had a lovely beach view, and the mai tais are poured much more generously than that of bars close by. The second time around, I had the Ahi tuna steak and it was DELICIOUS. a bit expensive, but i have found that good food and atmosphere in restaurants is hard to come by on the island. It was well worth it. Staff was friendly and gave us free ice cream at the end! The salad bar was somewhat unique with purple potatoes and papaya seed dressing, among other things. The atmosphere is awesome! Whether you are right by the beach or indoors next to the waterfall that comes into the restaurant from outside, you will probably have fun looking at the scenery. There was also live ukelele music the second time around, which was super fun and hawaiian. I highly recommend a stop in this restaurant if you're on the island.
(4)Remy H.
I just love dukes. Mainly because its a great casual restaurant with tasty food, great service, and a wonderful view. Dinner upstairs can get a bit pricey but I totally think it's worth it since you get a salad bar buffet (which is excellent). Expect about 40$ for a two person dinner. If you're a tourist- do try something other than the fish and chips! And if you're a local- I hope you've tried it here at least once!
(4)Mattias A.
A typical beach side burger kind of establishment catering to tourists. The food was good but too salty. I always enjoy the historic Duke photographs and the interior is very nice, but our table was located in a dark section of the restaurant and we got mosquito bites while dining. Service was pretty good. I would probably only go back if there was no other option.
(3)Cohner G.
Dukes was better
(3)Tiffany O.
I have to rave about the service we received at Dukes. We had a party of 16 and after our reservations at another location fell through, Duke's manager went above and beyond to get our group of 16 in. I'm talking about 5 minutes after we called them. I have to say thank you to them! The food was also amazing and our server was great too. I highly recommend the fish. You can't go wrong!
(5)Jessica G.
Always love Duke's! Love the one at home in Malibu and the one in Maui as well. We went here one night for dinner since its on the Marriott property.
(5)Shal V.
Duke Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian Olympic medal-winning swimmer, legendary surfer, actor, lawman, and sort of a diplomat. This restaurant is named after him. It is located on the beach at the Kauai Marriott in Lihue. This is a great place to relax in the shade and enjoy views of the seashore while sipping mai tais and eating delicious food. The food, service and location are excellent. I love the koi pool in the middle of the restaurant and the pictures and memorabilia from Duke's life.
(4)Tim W.
Best place to dine on the island. Great atmosphere, good portions, very reasonable prices, and fresh seafood. Their service was friendly and flexible. Definitely would return. Compared to various restaurants on the island, their food, portions and prices reflect great value.
(5)Ann S.
It pains me to write this since Duke's used to be our favorite restaurant but like all of the restaurants in the TS chain, this one has gone downhill as well. The steak was overcooked (like every steak I've had at TS restaurants the past 2 trips) and the potatoes are salty to the point of being almost inedible. Our server was really kind of odd. I'm thinking next trip we may just swing in for the salad bar or skip Duke's altogether. Never thought I'd say that. Yes, the view is amazing but it's not enough to save a chain hell bent on shooting themselves in the culinary foot. Sigh.
(2)Tasha C.
Every time I eat at Duke's I have a bad experience not with the food or the service but with the people I'm with. Maybe it's a bad luck spot! I keep giving it second chances but after this past 4th chance I'm never going to eat here again. I only gave it a 4th chance because my 3rd chance turned out good! On the 4th chance I didn't even get to eat anything. But I guess on Kauai there isn't much to choose from. My recommendation is The Beach House Poipu, HI!!!
(2)Sarah M.
I wasn't impressed with Duke's this trip around. We went there for happy hour and considering that I was so hungry after ignored my airplane food, I probably could have eaten anything. The appetizers satiated my hunger but weren't anything to write home about. The nachos and chicken wings were all just typical barfood quality. We came here again for dinner and it was terrible. First, our server, who my parents liked because he comped the food that wasn't good, was really rude but somehow got away with it. He would roll his eyes whenever my parents said something but they didn't notice since he was standing behind them. Lovely. Then the food wasn't good AT ALL. I had the maui onion soup which was probably the worst I've ever had. The broth was off...it was edible but not very good at all. The potstickers were disgusting. They were fried and had some kind of mustard on top of them which made them inedible. The server comped them since we didn't touch them which was nice but I was disappointed in them. I thought they were steamed but they ended up being fried, too. No one complained about their food but no one really raved about it either. I'd say this place was pretty on par with Barbeque Inn, unfortunately...
(2)Jill P.
Went there for the conveinience and view. Food was probably the best we have had this week. I had an amazing Shrimp salad that was suggested by the waitress, my husband had the Turkey sandwich. Paired with the Mai Tai and ambiance, it was fantastic. Would go back again, next visit!
(5)Jadie K.
I was craving some steak and wine for dinner. So we checked out Duke's menu. Realized there was a 20min wait so opted to go downstairs for the bar food. We sat down at the bar ready to eat another meal of fried/deeply fattening/mediocre Hawaiian style food when the bartender gave us the Duke's upstairs menu. Great! We ordered the slow cooked Prime Rib, sashimi app and a couple of drinks. The steak was perfectly cooked, tender, and so juicy. It was definitely the best meal we had during our 5 days in Kauai. We also tried the Hula dessert which is big enough to share, worth ordering if you have a second stomach!
(4)Tony L.
After staying in our private cottage for most of the week (filled with ants, moths, spiders, cockroaches, geckos, centipedes, and duck poo), it was nice to have friends at a resort that would give us an opportunity to get some chlorine in our hair and a few drinks with pink little umbrellas sticking out of them. Enter dukes. Nachos. Fish tacos. Friendly service. 'Nuff said. As far as resort restaurants and bar food goes, I thought Duke's was pretty good. Greasy. Satisfying. Great with beer. Yes, it's at a Marriott. And yes, it's touristy. But nestled in the lush crook of Kalapaki Beach, how can you really complain?
(4)Luke W.
We ate here twice on our vacation and each time left us scratching our heads as to why we chose to eat there. The service was slow and waiters were unfriendly. My wife ordered coconut shrimp and we had to return it the dish because it was cold. The server looked offended and didn't offer any sympathies. There are much better options in the area.
(2)Elizabeth K.
Came recommended and now gets my recommendation! I loved this restaurant. Everyone gets a salad bar with their meal. Then, my meal came. I ordered ono. Excellent!! No one at our table complained. We just ate and ate and ate. The atmosphere celebrates the restaurant's name sake, Duke who was one of the original surfers. There are many beautiful sights to see from the restaurant windows and there are koi ponds and waterfalls inside. However, the decor is aimed at tourists with Hawaiian patterned chairs and whatnot. That's ok - I am a Hawaiian Tourist!
(4)Christina W.
Good food and good service! I will go back for sure!
(4)Cin T.
Great view from the lanai, overlooking the band. Our server was really friendly, super hilarious and on top of things during the whole dinner service. Why only 2 stars? I had a sad plate of food. I got the guava ribs and huli huli chicken combo. My guava ribs were overcooked and so sweet that you couldn't taste the pork. My "Huli Huli Chicken" breast seemed overboiled, grilled and then drowned in teriyaki sauce. Not Huli-Huli style at all, they should've just called it like it is: boiled teriyaki chicken! Sonofa..... I gave the rest of the ribs to my friend to finish off (the same guy that always polishes off everyones' leftovers). He took one bite of the ribs, wiped off the sauce and asked for a doggie bag. He wasn't taking it home for himself, it was really for his dog.
(2)Adriana K.
Heard that Kauai lacked night life and the thing to do was to hit Duke's at the Marriott. So, our last night we went. I know I know that friends advised to hit the downstairs bar and not the upstairs restaurant, but my guy was starved and wanted something special for our last night. The best seating appears to be right on the edge of the balcony. That night it was full... one of the locals had a bday party and filled the section. So, we sat nearby. The ambiance was nice. Since it was night time, couldn't really see the beach, but it was nice to know it was there :) The server was friendly and came by right away. A little shocked at the cost for dinner, but nice that it included unlimited salad bar. I overloaded on pineapple MMM! My dinner was disappointing... basically a tiny square of fish in the middle of a big empty plate. For $28, I expected a little more. My guy ordered steak and dayam, that looked great. He took pity on me with my sorry little fish and shared. The fish was good though, just not great. The steak was excellent. We couldn't really afford drinks or anything else, so I wondered if the downstairs area would have been a better choice. The main problem with Duke's though - and we noticed this as we bypassed it in Honolulu, is that the bar clientele appear to be mainly annoying, drunk, loud 20 year olds... my guy used the word "douche bags". The experience was a let down and we had to walk through the maze of a hotel (reminded me of Vegas) to get there and back. Maybe if we had gone earlier and could actually see the view better, it would have been more worth it.
(2)J R.
Aloha from Kaua'i! We've lived here on Kaua'i for 14 years now and I can't tell you how many birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions we have celebrated here with friends (who were born and raised here) - it is a great place to have good food, a great atmosphere, friendly service, and where you are just as likely to have locals celebrating a birthday next to you as visitors - it is a real mix of both - rare here in most restaurants. Just a beautiful view of Kalapaki Beach and Bay, a fantabulous salad bar, and I've always loved their fish dishes - if I ever have hula pie, I usually split it with a girlfriend 'cause we are too full to eat one each! It isn't a "foodie paradise" - but a good, moderately priced (for Kaua'i) restaurant full of casual fun, beautiful views, and good food! Leave your pretentions at home and have good fun - Kaua'i style!
(4)Paul M.
A must for any Hawaii visit
(5)Judi M.
As many have already said, this is your typical hotel/restaurant that caters to tourists. It's overpriced, crowded and nothing special. We only ate here because we were staying at the hotel and my meal was free. If I had other options, we would have eaten elsewhere. The service was okay. The server sounded like he was reading a script when talking about the specials. My dad and I were asking questions and he seemed to keep reverting back to his script, which made him sound unknowledgeable, at best. One thing that irked me was that I asked what the zip code for the hotel was and asked several employees and no one knew. They didn't even try to find out or venture a guess. Just shrugged me off and went about their way. So rude! Food was okay. Like I mentioned, nothing worth mentioning twice. I ordered the Opa which was good, but nothing remarkable. Not sure if I would ever go back to any Duke's restaurant in the future. Maybe, if my meal was free again.
(2)Tina L.
We drove down from Princeville for the day, so we parked out in the lot and followed the signs to walk to the restaurant. The walk through the resort made me consider staying there next time I'm on Kauai. The mac nut crusted opah is amazing! Its my favorite Duke's dish. We sat right on the beach and people-watched while we ate and drank. Worth a visit for sure.
(4)Helen V.
Awful food. Great view. If you're going to give someone 4 french fries, get smaller plates. Mahi Mahi Sandwich was ok. Mahi Mahi should never be just ok. Then, why have Mahi Mahi? Coconut Shrimp was floating in a pool of ick. Forget the caramelized beet salad, awful too. Way too expensive for awful food. Please fix your food, there is hope. Someone in your kitchen doesn't care about presentation at all. Like, AT ALL.
(2)A T.
Duke's is a must-experience while in Hawaii. My first experience was the one in Waikiki on a sunny weekend afternoon. This location in Lihue struck me as more resort-like instead of beachy casual. The prices are kind of high but they have a more casual menu for downstairs while maintaining a nicer romantic higher end version upstairs. I had a hula pie and a lava flow (yes, for dinner...what of it?). The view is great and the service is friendly.
(4)Gloria C.
Came here for happy hour Mai Thais. Duke's is in a great part of Kauai and we kept hearing from all the locals to come here for their taco tuesdays so we did. Made it just in time! Loved the mai thai but overall, prices were still expensive. Tacos were $3.50 each for happy hour, cocktails were about $9. Loved the atmosphere and drinks at the bar but overall I was not too impressed with the fish and pork tacos. Fish was... fish and pork was pork? The most exciting part of the meal was that we sat next to a retired NFL referee at the bar so got to hear some inside scoops on football players. Would recommend coming in your bathing suit, having some tacos and mai thais during happy hour, then going for a dip or playing some frisbee by the beach.
(4)Neen J.
Fun spot, sit at the bar and look out at the small beach attached to the Marriott hotel. I loved my pineapple mojito and the beet salad was yummy too. I ordered the fish tacos on corn tortillas (to make them GF friendly). The tortillas were like cardboard so I removed the inside filling and the fish was delicious! came with a generous side of salsa and guacamole. My honey had the panko calamari and beet salad - delish too. The calamari was a bit oily but tasty. A fun spot, it was really busy on a Sunday night and many children there. Be prepared to wait for a table however it's decent food with a great view.
(4)Michelle M.
Great atmosphere here with a view of the water and the tiki torches burning. We ate downstairs on the patio. Our waitress and the hostess were kind and accommodating. I wanted a light meal after flying in to the island late so I ordered a caesar salad with chicken. This was an authentic caesar so I could taste the anchovy. We also ordered the Tropical Itch which was a fruity rum drink. It was served with a backscratcher in it...,,very cute!
(4)Andy J.
We enjoyed Duke's so much we made 3 visits here during our 2 week vacation. We visited both the barefoot bar downstairs for lunch and drinks and the dining room upstairs for dinner. We really enjoyed the Mai Tai's (I ranked them #2 on Kauai) and Lava Flows (ranked #1 on Kauai) each visit. Parking can be a bit difficult at times here (we did not use valet parking) but we always managed to find a spot within a few minutes of arriving. At the barefoot bar we had the Sashimi with wasabi that was good and for dinner upstairs we had the filet mignon and lobster which was very good. The hula pie is so good here so save room for dessert. The laid back atmosphere, good food and the view of the beach make this a must visit in my opinion.
(4)Mel S.
Beautiful view. I suggest making reservations- you can do it on yelp! Aside from the view, the food is amazing. They have maybe 5-8 fresh fish of the day that you can have prepared 4 different ways! From macadamia crusted to garlic something to a fire-pepper preparation, you can do whatever you want! Which is pretty awesome in my opinion. Our bartender at the Marriott recommended the calamari and the salad bar and the prime rib and the fish. We decided to get 4 of his 5 recommendations. First of all, the salad bar is a MUST. I love Cesar salads and I haven't seen one restaurant serve it with anchovies. Ladies and gentleman, anchovies are available at this salad bar. I grabbed 6 of them and I swear it made my Cesar salad 1000 times better than any Cesar salad I've ever had. The muffins at the salad bar are also amazing. The one I had was carrot and the other was a banana muffin. Soo good. Grab 2 muffins, trust me. They have a bunch of other salads to try and they were all great, but I'm a fan of the Cesar for sure. We also ordered the prime rib and the halibut like fish (moonfish?) prepared with macadamia nut crust. The prime rib was a bit rarer than I wanted (asked for medium rare). I sent it back to be cooked a bit more, but overall it was delicious. The fish too was good! I'm not quite sure why this place doesn't have more stars. I'm definitely a fan! And would love to come back.
(4)william f.
First night was wonderful, had the prime rib...very juicy. Added the salad for three bucks. Perfect dinner. Due to hukilias screw up, we were back at dukes for a second night. Second night......had the prime rib again. Was a bit concern about consistency. Perfect again. Was celebrating my birthday.....a few days early and they gave us that monster mud pie....on the house. I'd recommend going early so you can enjoy the sunset....we were here after 730.....pitch black but I still loved my dinner.
(5)Angelic G.
If you enjoy a great meal and amazing view of the ocean this is the place for you. The restaurant is very nice. They offer The Piña drink (which is basically a piña colada in the pineapple). It was yummy. The meal was very tasty and the service was very good too. Only bad thing was the Hula Pie (which came very highly recommended) it's just a huge ice cream pie for $15 nothing fancy. I didn't even like the taste of the ice cream and it was vanilla! Either way the experience was great and I would def go back, just never order the pie again. This place is a must go if you are visiting Kauai. It's beautiful and you will enjoy it. I will add the place has Valet parking for free which is pretty sweet!
(4)P L.
Great ambiance but food is mediocre. Very tough, chewy lobster. Ribs okay. Had the macadamia crusted fresh fish which was drowned in sauce. None of us would go back for the food but would for a drink and the view. Our advice, have a cocktail and find some place else to eat. Good service but very disappointed in the meals.
(1)Robert H.
The location was fantastic. The food was fair at best. Ribs were salty, salad bar was weak and I found a stone in my salad. I ordered fresh fish which was good but the sides were again weak. Small portions and overpriced. This restraint is a tourist trap. Locals don't eat here because they know better. Our waitress was very nice and my daughter says her fries were good. 2.5 in my opinion.
(2)Maddie H.
chose this place as our last meal in Kauai. the interior is so pretty and there's a waterfall and koi pond and a great open view of the ocean. I got the barbecue chicken flatbread and it was absolutely delicious. fish and chips was also delightful. great service and the food came quick. perfect place to end our vacation. if I ever find my self in Kauai again this will definitely be our go to spot for my family of 5.
(5)Elyssa S.
We have been to the Dukes in Malibu before and my husband loved their wings so he wanted to go back. My husband had the wings and I ordered a cheeseburger. My husband asked for extra buffalo sauce on the side and then he didn't get any sauce actually on the wings only on the side. He was disappointed by this but not enough to send his order back to be tossed in sauce. I ordered a cheeseburger. It was supposed to come with cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato. When it arrived it had BBQ sauce and bacon. I was surprised by this because if I saw the BBQ and bacon on the menu I would've asked for neither to be on the burger. I asked the server who said that's how it comes. When the bill came I saw she ordered me the wrong burger hence all the stuff I didn't want and $2 higher price tag. $2 aside, it wasn't what I wanted and I had to scrape off the sauce. We ended the less than stellar meal with a piece of Tuxedo Hula pie which was delicious! At least we ended on a high note!
(3)Diane K.
Duuuuuukkkkkesss. I don't know why, but that's what I say in my head every time I go to this place. This is a beautiful place to enjoy a meal and bevy. Excellent views and the always cooperating weather (for us at least). Service and food are both good. We hope to take advantage of the happy hour next time!
(4)Will D.
I was disappointed in my experience at Duke's Kauai. The facility and service was fine, but the food and drinks were subpar. Our particular disappointment was in the Mai tai's and flat bread. Our drinks were weak and obviously premixed. The flatbread looked and tasted as it was out of a frozen box. Go to Merrimann's at happy hour and spend the extra 50 cents for a FAR SUPERIOR cocktail.
(2)El A.
We came here for dinner on a Saturday night. We didn't have reservations and wait for our party of 2 was about 35-45 minutes. We ordered the fish of the day "Duke's" style, prime rib and the salad bar. Salad bar is all-you-can eat for $3 with an entree. The salad bar was stocked with pineapple carrot and banana macadamia nut muffins. The food and service were both great.
(5)R H.
Had the best fish at the recommendation of our server Taru. She provided excellent service and the hula pie she recommended was to die for. Great view and excellent service and food. Don't forget to add the salad bar to your meal! My husband had macadamia ahi and it was excellent!
(5)Cassie C.
We ate here a few times while staying at the Marriott. We ate at the Barefoot Bar twice. The food was good but a little pricey for the quality. It is open later than most other places which is a huge plus. We were able to call in an order from our room and pick it up which was nice. Overall, it is convenient to the beach and hotel but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. We ate upstairs the night of our wedding on a Saturday. I made reservations more than a month in advance to ensure they could accommodate our party- although there were only 9 of us. The waitress was very attentive and sweet, even took pictures and prepared the small wedding cake we brought from outside. The food was great, everyone was pleased with their choices. The salad bar is wonderful, 2 of our wedding party went back another night just for the salad bar. We were pleased with the quality of food and service upstairs. It was pricey but we expected that, but unlike downstairs the food matched the pricing. There were some musicians playing downstairs and they were awesome, the sound carried upstairs but was not distracting or too loud to talk. If you're looking for a nice dinner, definitely come here.
(4)tim l.
The best place I have eaten in The south side of Kauai. That isn't a compliment, really. The food is so bad around here that Duke"s sets the standard. Fish is good. Ribs. Good. Salad bar is excellent. Kinda like Roy's.
(4)Kalena Y.
-don't get the gnocchi --check your receipt carefully - we've been charged for something we didn't get the last two times we were there -be ready to use your muscles to lift the new chairs (pretty, but heavy and bulky) -most people won't care, but I miss
(2)Ben M.
Service was really good, after the wait for a table. Salad bar needs an olive oil option (Added since review originally posted). The fish was delish! Prime rib well, it was prime rib. Don't forget your discount card for the 50% off Hula Pie!
(4)Callea B.
I hate to say it, but definitely not worth the hype. I ordered the Opah with the Duke's style preparation and it was far from great. The fish itself was a little dry due to its being overcooked. The other two entrees my table ordered were both lukewarm and lacking flavor. The salad bar was pretty basic, worth the $3 up charge but definitely wouldn't recommend it for your whole meal. We were bummed!
(1)Rachel J.
This place is awesome!! The atmosphere is really neat with an indoor waterfall and coy fish pond. We sat on the back porch which backs right up to the beach. It was so nice watching the sunset while we had our tropical drinks. There is a happy hour 4-6 where most of the more expensive drinks are discounted. I got the tropical itch (the drink not a disease) and it came with a back scratcher stuck in it which is a funny touch. I would suggest making a reservation or going early because it's a really popular place. I had the ribs which were really good and the other people in my party got the fish and chips which they recommend. Service was really good and fast with decent prices. Definitely a must try! The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the bathrooms grossed me out so much. Toilet paper all over the ground and water all over the toilet seats. Send someone in more often to clean that stuff up! Overall great experience and I would go back.
(4)Baron C.
Duke's is exactly what you think it's going to be. No surprises here. It's pretty much interchangeable with any other expensive tourist trap restaurant that you would find with a nice ocean view. This review is only to help you navigate the best possible choices to make if you find yourself here. And you might, given the convenience of the place, especially if you're staying nearby or have a large group. First off, the view is a little nicer from upstairs but you will most likely need reservations. Given the slower service time, and overall increased expense of dining upstairs, it's probably not worth it and I would recommend saving yourself some time and eating downstairs at the bar (it's pretty much the same menu, with more options downstairs). If you find yourself entertaining a larger group with parents and grandparents, they would probably get a kick out of dining upstairs, but I would keep the expectations low and make sure you get a table with a view. The nacho appetizer with pork was pretty tasty. The deep-fried shrimp appetizer and fish and chips were forgettable. The macadamia nut crusted fish was worthwhile and in general, I would recommend the fish dishes over anything else here. The chicken seems to be an afterthought here, so I would avoid it. lastly, the mai tais were good and stronger than I would've thought.
(3)Mechelle V.
Can't beat the view!! Breathtaking ocean front dining. The service is so polite and attentive. The lava flows are my favorite yummo! Their best grass fed burgers around, you can taste the quality! Alika is the best bartender
(5)Meg R.
Duke's was the perfect place to wind down after our flight landed in Lihue. We came during lunch and ordered fish tacos and mojitos. Both were delicious and fresh and the tacos were ginnormous! The views here though are what really steal the show. I would recommend coming during the daytime though - the beach where the restaurant is situated is stunning, which you wouldn't see as much of at night.... and I hear their lunchtime prices are much cheaper. OH and order the Hula pie for the table - you won't be disappointed!
(4)Jonathan F.
This place is amazing great atmosphere with the mini waterfall running straight in the middle of the restaurant. Open balcony style with a view of the beach. Some of the best service I've ever had in my life. And the food was very good and reasonably priced. Plenty of parking. Dinner here made our Hawaii trip just a little better.. Thank you
(5)Erik Y.
Love coming to this location, one of the best places to go in Kauai. We have been here a couple of times, as well as the Dukes in Maui. Expect about $40-60 a person with tip depending on how hungry and/or thirsty you are. Dukes is a Hawaii tradition and a lot of fun. Great atmosphere, lots to look at. Great views of the ocean and a lot of great service. Our Servers have always been top notch and given us great service and recommendations of other places to visit on the islands. The food is very good, not spectacular, but good. Drinks are well made, again good, but not great. This is the kind of place you expect to find in Hawaii and probably won't be disappointed. A little on the pricey side, even for Hawaii, but nothing to crazy.
(4)Roger B.
I really enjoy the Canoe Club Barefoot Bar. It has great local bartenders. The view, great beers and awesome fish tacos seal the deal. Plus you're going to save a bundle rather than eating upstairs.
(4)Owen S.
Dukes Kauai, Well I have had two meals at this Dukes in the last 4 days and the food is not anywhere near up to par with what it should be. I am in the airline business so I eat out a lot and I would not eat at this restaurant again. I had their "famous" Prime Rib tonight and it was so-so and the rice Pilaf was dry and not edible. The nice waiter took a few bucks off the bill which I appreciated but all in all not impressed. Two thumbs down for Dukes Kauai. Don't waste your money.
(1)Sarah L.
Duke's was great! We had eaten at Kimo's in Maui and loved it - Duke's runs under the same management and you can definitely tell by the quality of food and service. The mango martini was delicious. The appetizers were good; the Maui Onion soup was ok (prob skip this next time only because it is no different than the French Onion soup you would get elsewhere) and the Thai Chicken Spring Rolls, also pretty good but if you're not that hungry would suggest you focus on the Entree! We had the lobster tails and the seared seven spice ahi. I have been eating seafood (largely Ahi) all over Maui and Kauai for the last week and a half - this Ahi was the best I have tasted. We also opted to add on the salad bar which has lots of good options. It's a lot of food, so come very hungry.
(4)Roberta T.
I dont think this place deserves 3.5 stars. This is a 5 stars restaurant for kauai. Great location, nice view of the beach, very beautiful decoration and very nice waiter are just the beginning. We had: - Crab Wonton (omg, so tasty!) - Plancha Grilled (great fish and risotto) - Seared Seven Spice Ahi - as a dessert we had something like a dark chocolate mousse with coconut and vanilla (so good!!! The best mousse I have ever had so far) One bad thing: a bit pricey. It is not $$. I would say $$$ is the correct price range
(5)Gary F.
As much as I wanted to love this place I just couldn't. The food was blah, nothing special. My wife ordered the surf and turf and I ordered the Ahi. For drinks I ordered a mojito, and that's not what I received. I drank it anyway but probably the worse one I ever tasted. We then ordered a pina coloda in a pineapple, that was probably the best thing I tasted at the restaurant. Views were spectacular. Restaurant was gorgeous. A great place to hang out for a few cocktails.
(3)Howard L.
We were pleasantly surprise by the food , location, and service of this restaurant. The Koreans and nachos were excellent. They had a lot of servers around to serve us.
(5)J B.
Love this place! It's my Mom & step fathers go-to place for any special occasion (they are locals) We had poke rolls, crispy coconut shrimp and Thai spring rolls for pupus (appetizers) and I had the Ono & lobster tail combo with the salad bar. Every single morsel was delectable. And seriously don't get me started on the ambience and view. Next time we go I'm gonna ask to sit at the table in the middle of 3 little waterfalls. Though the view of the bay and ocean breeze was terrific were we were this last time.
(4)Larry D.
We go to Dukes every year but this time the food was lousy - fish was dry Doubtful we will return anytime soon Larry D
(1)Erin M.
Out of control!!! Everything I had was amazing! Pros: The view The service The spaces between seating The food! Ono and dessert Cute little flowers on your plate Cons: Limited parking Prices are a little high but worth it Will come back!!!!!
(5)Jessica L.
I was VERY disappointed with the service. The only reason this even deserves any stars was the food! Love the lava flows!! Me and a few friends went during happy hour. And it was mildly crowded. We all ordered drinks and something to eat. Then we decided to take a picture. I asked one of the waitresses if she could take our picture and her answer was "one moment" and not in a nice manner. Then she walked two feet to the register, punched in the check, walked past our table, and never came back. Rude! Our waitress was a little nicer but I still didn't feel like a valued customer. The only time we saw her was to quickly take our order, deliver the food, give the check, and take the check. Each encounter there was hardly any eye contact. Also as she was picking up the check she said thanks for coming as she was walking away!!! Overall terrible service. And I probably will not be returning any time soon.
(2)Dave K.
Long wait for dinner. Food was good and service excellent. The bar made a good MaiTai!
(3)Jocelyn G.
We came here since it was basically attached to our resort and we didn't have a car. The food was decent, though the portions small in some cases (especially when it came to the fish). The teriyaki dish I had was fairly tasty and plentiful. We were seated right next to the walkway, which sucked in some ways, but also next to the beautiful koi pond. It was nice being able to order off of the upstairs menu without having to change tables or anything. Be aware, the downstairs menu is fairly small.
(3)firefly b.
Highly recommend the poke rolls as an appetizer. You will not be disappointed. The accompanying sauces are amazing. They're not listed on the bar menu for some reason for you can still order them.
(5)Melissa S.
The #1 recommended restaurant to eat at when you visit Hawaii. I haven't gone to dukes in 7 years because I haven't been to Hawaii in 7 years lol but the food and drinks here are amazing! I told myself, next time I come to Hawaii I'm going to Dukes. I'm not sure if they have it on all the islands of Hawaii but when I planned to come to kauai, the first thing I checked was if they had a Dukes because the first time I tried this place was in Oahu. Anyway! I ordered the shrimp scampi with a side of asparagus, my boyfriend and I had the Kalua pork nachos as an appetizer and they have a SALAD BUFFET! Shrimp scampi: this was probably the best shrimp scampi I've ever had. It was linguine pasta with a rich creamy sauce poured all over along with shrimp. Asparagus: asparagus is my FAVORITE veggie and they made it perfectly how I likes it. Asparagus with a good amount of salt and pepper. Kalua pork nachos: a MUST appetizer. It's, obviously, covered in pork, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole, and olives. I didn't eat to much of it because I wanted to save my stomach for the main portion but it was super delish! Huge restaurant. There's and upstairs and downstairs but they apparently have different menus. This place should be mandatory to eat when visiting Hawaii. Just sayin.
(5)Elizabeth L.
Dukes- Several weeks ago, I wrote a comment on how bad our server was and for being regulars we weren't planning on going back....The General Manager personally contacted me and told me how very sorry he was and sent us a certificate for a complimentary meal for 2... Last night when we arrived with no reservation, there were at least 13 people waiting...I walked up to the reservationst and told her 2 for walk ins, she smiled, then told the girl next to her to give us a table, we were immediately seated, I guess because the other people waiting looked like had 3 groups, anyways it only took our waitress ASHLEY 5 minutes to greet us with a happy smile and then took our orders... We knew we had to wait because they were busy but it was ok because we had their fabulous salad bar and drinks... During our wait, Ashley was constantly checking to see if everything was ok and re- filling our glass with water and our beverages, I also noticed that she was very delegent in checking on the other 2 tables in the back and on the side of us...when we got our meals, it was AWESOME, perfectly cooked, tho we had no room for dessert, everything was perfect. Ashley was so friendly and she took the time to chat with us, then when we got our bill, the night Manager comp our alcohol beverage which we didn't expect because we were ready to pay for it, we normally tip 20%, but because of the service we got from Ashley, she got a generous tip...To the General Manager Jaime Arreola, thank you for making things right....because of the service we received last night, I've decided that we will be celebrating my husband birthday next month with our family. Mahalo for a memorable evening. We look forward to seeing Ashley next month as our permanent waitress
(5)Dave G.
There are a few traps the weary traveler falls into upon arriving at a new place. The carpet shops in Morocco, for one instance. The conveniently located, decent tavern, just a short hop from the airport, might be another. Duke's is a touristy spot of long standing in Lihue, HI. There is a beautiful view of the bay from their bar and grill. The food is safe, predictable, and appealing to the blandest, most mid-western of palettes. They do a brisk business with the tourists. You will get a lot of recommendations for Duke's. Yeah, it is the place to send people where no one will possibly be offended or disappointed. You could transport Duke's to any touristy spot on earth and they would not miss a beat or a dollar of revenue. Duke's would fit in to the strip in Bar Harbor, Maine, or the riverfront in Savannah, Georgia without anything seeming strange. Decent for a quick bite after your 5 - 8 hour flight from the mainland, but otherwise, skip it for better, more interesting fare.
(3)Jennifer M.
The view here is absolutely gorgeous! I enjoyed sipping on my La Pina while watching people kayak and stand-up paddle board near the beach. I ordered the Seared Seven Spice Ahi and, goodness, it was delicious! It had a spicy kick, but not to the point where my nose and eyes were watering (which was nice). It was perfect because I didn't have much of an appetite, but the ahi is so light that I finished the entire plate without feeling stuffed. My husband ordered the Filet Mignon rare, but it came out more medium well-- hence one less star on the rating. He still liked his meal, but I could tell he wasn't entirely satisfied with it. I definitely recommend Duke's and we'll be back again someday!
(4)Chee K.
This place has so much potential but the food is just so so. We ate at both Duke's, the fancier upstairs and more casual downstairs. We decided to just eat at the more upscale upstairs restaurant on our first night here on Kauai. I got the lava flow cocktail, a delicious concoction of strawberry, banana and coconut creme? Sweet but so tasty, just try one. The appetizer fried calamari was bit greasy for my taste. They came out like long sticks not the usual rings. You get a salad bar buffet with your dinner, pretty standard fare. For my main, I had the shrimp scampi over linguine. The sauce was so heavy and overpowering. Creme everywhere. The shrimp was pretty fresh and it had the perfect amount of shrimps. In the downstairs, I tried their Korean street taco. What makes something a "street taco"? Seems popular to call them that nowadays. The sauce was overwhelming, cloying and sweet. A spicy pepper sauce called kokujang and on top it looked like a chimichurri. The beef was tasty and tender. Also, for $14.95, you get 2 tacos and a tiny side of sweet vinegar cukes. Kind of expensive for not much. If they layoff on the sauces, I think they would get better ratings. The service is decent. The place gets kudos on the view on the beach, it can't be beat.
(3)Shannon L.
Aside from the food being absolutely amazing, our experience was outstanding thanks to our server, Dustin. I dined at Duke's (the upstairs restaurant) for my parents' 25th anniversary last week and he made sure everything was perfect. His recommendations were spot on also- ask him about the fish of the day, and take advantage of the salad bar before your meal! I come to Kauai usually once a year... Visiting Duke's will definitely be on my list for all of my trips to come. Ask for Dustin.
(5)Karl S.
Duke's, a local chain. This one located on the beach adjacent to the Marriott in Lihuie the beach is awesome. The location is great. We came for drinks and sat outside and watched life go by. Very nice.
(4)Steven D.
Location and atmosphere are what helps Duke's. We waited about 35 minutes for a table and once we got seated about another 25 minutes once seated. Not complaining, just want to give an idea of the wait time you're looking at. The food itself was pretty standard. The shrimp wasn't as good as we were expecting, pretty chewy. Nachos with pulled pork and the waffle fries were great. I wouldn't say it's worth the hype. Not sure I'd go again.
(3)Brett H.
Decent food - a bit pricey. The wings were good and spicy and yet crispy - the way I like it. The ribs were good - but I was still hungry for more, portion size is a little small. Mango BBQ bacon burger - very good but pricey at $16, same price as the ribs. Of course the hula pie is awesome.
(4)Brian A.
Always a sensational meal. From the Ahi Poke to the Duke's Style fish of the day, this place is a slam dunk must any time you are in Kauai. Excellent service too.
(5)Peter W.
Came to Dukes for dinner but since it was happy hour in their casual Barefoot Bar; decided to take advantage of the ocean view laid back setting. Got a Margarita and fresh ahi fish tacos and kalua pork taco; appetizer nachos dip & guacamole; mango baby back ribs. The tacos were awesome, ribs were delicious and appetizer was fresh. I would recommend this place, food was reasonable priced and service was excellent.
(5)Keri N.
This review is for Duke's Bar (downstairs area of the restaurant) and only covers the food as we had take out. 1. Caesar salad with chicken: caesar salad was a good size with basically a lightly grilled chicken breast - nothing to write home about. 2. nachos: great to share, although could have had a little more cheese and beans on the nachos rather than just chips 3. mango ribs: ribs came with rice but no vegetables other than a light coleslaw. Ribs were tasty and fall off the bone. Overall food wise, could be better, but the restaurant overall has great ambiance with views of the ocean and definitely a place to grab some drinks and food with large groups. Would recommend to visitors, but food-wise, not going to blow you away. Be sure to make recommendations as wait take can be anywhere from 15-30 minutes.
(3)Phillip T.
Excellent food and great location. We ordered the fish tacos and the fish of the day. Very well done and no overpowering. The natural and pleasant taste of the fish came through without being overpowering. A great choice.
(5)Alexandra B.
On our flight to Kauai, we asked a local to recommend our first food stop, and she automatically started praising Duke's. For tourists and locals alike, Duke's offers a variety of mouth watering menu items along with great service and an amenable atmosphere that is just right for getting you into the Kauaian spirit. It was hard to make a choice at Duke's since their menu was filled with tantalizing options. Our table got a key items I would recommend. As a starter, go with the Harvest Flatbread. It's perfect for sharing. The beet salad is a must if you're looking for greens. As far as seafood is concerned, the Ahi Poke Wrap is the way to go. Lastly, anything with the mango bbq and waffle fries is a winner!
(5)Laura C.
Meehhh Duke's was ok, nothing special or out of the ordinary. We only dined there because we had a gift certificate. Service was excellent. Drinks didn't seem very strong. Their specialty mai tai didn't even give me a buzz. Entrees include their "famous salad bar" which was just a couple potato/pasta salads, bread, fruit & green leaf salad. I wouldn't go out of my way to dine there again.
(3)Kanoe I.
My Boyfriend and I came to Dukes Kauai for our anniversary. . I was craving prime rib and he said this would be the perfect spot. The restaurant is pretty large. We ate upstairs under a covered lanai in the nice warm breeze. Everything we ordered was sooo delicious.. We started off with the salad bar.. where a nice worker would make the Caesar salad right in front of you that lead to many options of salad toppings and sides, such as bow tie pasta, tofu, sweet potatoes, muffins, breads, etc. Comparing my piled high plate to my boyfriends decent sized plate, he warned me to save my appetite for the food that was coming our way. ( Good thing I listen.. Kindda) We ordered an appetizer.. Poke Rolls... it was so good.. it was Ahi wrapped in some type of dough. Reminded me of Pork Hash. YUMMY My boyfriend ordered the Sauteed Mac Nut & Herb Crusted Opah in a Lemon Caper Butter w/ Garlic Mashed Potatoe. It was soo Ono.. the fish was nicely cooked.. the sauce was salty and creamy..I wish the mashed potatoes were a little more moist.. seemed a little dry. I ordered what I was craving for... Slow Roasted Prim Rib served with a Horseradish & Au Ju sauce & a Fully Loaded Baked Potatoe with all the trimmings. . DELICIOSO.. The servers were all nice and kind to us.. we will definitely be back.. and WE WILL try the Hula Pie... TIP_ Dont get full off the salad bar
(4)Marta T.
Everything was perfect! We went to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The fish of the day was heavenly good, great service, beautiful view...can't wait to be back!
(5)Jim R.
I was disappointed with this Duke's. It doesn't compare to the one on Oahu. The service was good but the food was marginal. My prime rib was cold as well as the garlic mash potatoes. When I went to buy a shirt they were all out of XLs in all shirts. The gal said they would have them in two weeks. I was told I could buy one on line. Well a lot of fun that is. I had pumped this place up to my girlfriend prior to going there. Unfortunately she really want impressed. If you want good food and are in Oahu then eat at the Duke's there. Your experience will be much better.
(2)Arik T.
Better late than never! We heard so many great things about this place and decided to wait until our last day on vacation to go (best for last type of deal) SO WORTH THE HYPE! The service left something to be desired but the food was amazing! And then came the Dessert.. HULA PIE! It was everything I had hoped for. Thank god we waited with this place otherwise I would've eaten there every single day!
(5)Jose R.
The ambience is the best part- right by beach, the Pacific breeze flowing through- I can hang here for a very long time- We stayed away from the traditional Pupus and went for the Flatbread and the Shrimp Kale Salad- Both great choices- the vegetarian flatbread was tasty with a hint of gooeyness from the cheese-veggies were grilled perfectly- The salad was amazing!!! Kale with a hint of pesto, macadamia nut brittle as croutons-with grilled shrimp and creamy goat cheese on top of beets-it was a nice break from all the pork we've been eating!!!
(4)David L.
Now this is serious business. We were looking for a great place to hangout, eat and enjoy. We were not disappointed by Duke's. Our waitress was truly awesome and super nice, she added a nice touch to our evening. We went there for the food, and we were not disappointed, not one bit. We took the fish tacos and fish&chips, and but were more than succulent. It was the best fish tacos we had in Hawaii. Go there, enjoy and don't mind if they ask you to wait 15min, it's totally worth it... We came back for more later that week!!!!
(5)Marianne R.
Me and my husband came here to eat twice . The place is right on the beach and perfect if you staying at the Marriott or trying some beach activities in Lihue . The food is reasonable priced for the area and decent portions . I had the coconut shrimp one day as an appetizer and my husband had the pulled pork sandwich . The food was great , the second time we tried a flat bread pepperoni pizza . The pizza was big enough for Each of us to Have two slices and was great as well. I tried a pineapple mixed drink inside of a pineapple which was very sweet but all and all ok .
(5)Brad V.
Food consistent with other Duke's restaurants I have dined at. Prices always seem high for the quality and amount of food you receive at Duke's. Sit outside near the sidewalk and enjoy the ocean air. Three star rating. Updated 8-28-15 Returned to duke's and ate upstairs. Much better experience this time around. I will update rating to four stars! Salad bar is worth the additional charge. One tip for management: put a pepper mill on the salad bar. Compliments to you for offering a CAESARS salad, with hole anchovies available to garnish your salad. Get a pepper mill on the salad bar and you've a winning combination. You might consider either offering pepper fringing at table side by server or just replacing salt/pepper shakers on tables with salt/pepper mills. They are small and cheap! But they add to the flavor and step up the experience a bit! I asked my server for fresh ground pepper for my salad and he said he'd be right back. 10 minutes later I just went ahead and ate my salad. When server did finally return, he said he couldn't find the pepper mill.
(4)Cindy M.
Fish was great. Hula pie awesome. We got to sit next to the fish pond. We did not have reservations, but only had to wait 10 minutes. to be seated.
(5)V Y.
We came here to enjoy a birthday dinner. From our table, we had a beautiful view of the beach at sunset. Our daughter got the mac and cheese from the kids menu which comes with a trip to the salad bar. I got the prime rib which I got medium well and it was so perfectly done exactly to my liking. Even though it was thoroughly cooked, it was still tender and the flavor was so good. My favorite prime rib place is Lawry's and also their Five Crowns restaurant and this prime rib was just as good as theirs. Duke's prime rib comes with rice or garlic mashed potatoes. My husband got the seared ahi yellowtail which was delicious. Cooked rare just the way he likes it. For our birthday, they brought us a hula pie with a candle on it. It is so huge, we could barely finish it, but somehow we managed to.
(5)Desiree M.
Great place for on the beach location. Coconut shrimp was amazing. Had the veggie flat bread pizza and my husband had the pull pork sandwich. (Sorry about the lack of a picture was fresh out of the water) Traci was awesome.. If I asked a question she didn't know she would find out for me.. Great service. It wasn't to crowded but seemed like it was getting there. We were there about 20 mins after opening. I would defiantly recommend stoping here after a day in the sun.. Still on the beach but not baking in the sun.
(5)Gerald G.
This spot was ok. We sat right next to the koi pond, which was cool. The ambience is nice, and the place was poppin'. We ordered the mango baby back ribs and the fish of the day. The server (only one guy serving food for the whole bar area) was both bussing tables and delivering food. Food sat on the delivery counter for a while. By the time we got our food, it was barely warm. There were many baskets of fish n chips on that counter that literally sat for 10 mins on average. Service aside, the food was not bad. Mango bbq ribs didn't have a hint of mango in it, so that was a miss. The fish of the day was pretty decent. Overall, nothing spectacular, and probably not worth the price. Food gets a 3, food delivery gets a 1.5. Too many waitresses, not enough servers.
(2)Jenette M.
I've been here a few times and this place is steady eddy always good. Calamari fries, nachos, bbq chicken pizza and the salad bar are very delicious!!! Both upstairs and downstairs are good depending on the setting you desire.
(5)Marisa R.
Feeling disgusted. I don't eat animal products but that normally never impedes me from finding a dish I can modify at almost any restaurant. Most servers, if you ask nicely, will tell you what they can modify. The server here let me order fries and guacamole (two items that are normally pretty safe) and it turnout both of them had dairy and maybe other animal products! She specifically told me they did not. Later,another server confirmed the guacamole is mixed with sour cream and the fries have a non-vegan batter. Why? I could have ordered something else? Maybe their seafood and other food is good. Defined not vegan friendly.
(2)Heidi S.
Great views of Kalapaki beach. Happy Hour is a favorite with live music 4-6pm and drink specials. The best appetizer is the nachos. Hint: add the pork. It is delicious. Other great dishes are the mango bacon burger and the veggie flatbread. For dinner, I would suggest upstairs on the deck. The salad bar is amazing, but be careful you won't have room for the fresh fish specials. My favorite is encrusted with macademia nuts.
(4)Jason C.
Staff is amazing. Prices are decent and it's right on the beach....boi! Would give five stars bit the food is 'ok'. I can over look the food as the view is amazing. Overall, we ate there 6 or 7 times and would go back. Big swell IPA is the cats pajamas :)
(4)Mark O.
A Hawaii favorite. There are few things more enjoyable than eating here with the beach in front of you. the weather seems always to be perfect. The beach is great for almost anything (other than surfing). The food upstairs is more expensive and upscale than the bar food downstairs, but even the bar food is several steps above what you would get other places. There are several Duke's around the islands and we have never been disappointed.
(4)Rick P.
You can't go wrong here. Save some money and get ready to spend. With that said, everything is well worth the money.
(5)Alanni K.
I have always loved this place its a v day ritual for me and my gf !!! It's sad tho Cuz the salad bar no longer has the tofu salad which is amazing but there food is always superb
(4)Danie B.
5 stars for dinner and 3 stars for downstair's takeout. Let's start with the positive. Our dinner was AMAZING! Not only was the food top notch, the service was incredible. Jeremy was attentive, sweet, and had a vast knowledge of the menu. Make sure to add the salad bar to your dinner for an extra $3. Totally worth it! I had the mahi mahi served Duke's style and loved it. We finished with the Hulu Pie which was as decedent as it was delicious. The whole staff was friendly and attentive. I will definitely go back for dinner sooner rather than later. Now to the not so good. We ordered take out from the downstair's location. When we brought the food back to our condo we realized that both salads were dry. They completely forgot to put dressing on them or on the side. We ate them anyways. Since we were staying at the Marriott Lagoons I was able to go back a couple days later and talk to a manager about it. I thought he would offer a discount for our next visit or possibly a redo of the salads. Nope. Not even an apology but just an acknowledgement that the salads should have been served with dressing. Uh, duh. Dressing is the best part of the salad. We did also ordered a flatbread, ahi sandwich, and calamari. All three were excellent. I would have rated Duke's easily five stars if it wasn't for the problem with take out.
(4)Stacey J.
We are here for dinner twice in the dining room area on the second floor. Excellent service and great views. A bit pricey, but the food was great and nice atmospheres. I had the red snapper the first night and the chicken and beef tenderloin skewer the second night. They have an excellent salad bar that you can add for $3 which is a great deal! We made reservations both nights which made it extremely easy and we were seated right away.
(5)Paige B.
Dukes barefoot bar has always been a good experience and part of our "tour" when we have company join us on the island. Service is fast and friendly and the food is delicious! We had the kalua pork sandwich, ahi fish tacos, ahi fish and chips and nachos and everything was delicious. This is one of our favorite places on the island and make sure that we visit at least once when we are on the island.
(5)Peg M.
Great time. Good times friendly fast service!!! We have eaten at the restaurant a few nights ago & had a good time. But tonight we are at the barefoot bar & had a great time thank to Tiara!!! I totally recommend her!!! Thanks for everything!!!!!!
(5)Gordon C.
Came for the Hula Pie. Did not disappoint. Great location to get out of the sun and have a few drinks. Service with a smile - they were clearly setting up for a big event scheduled for later on in the day but everyone was super friendly and dropped their task to answer any questions we had. This was our first stop in Kauai and we're glad we chose to come here.
(4)Steven J.
Despite being a chain, Dukes was probably my favorite dining experience during the week I was in Kauai. The atmosphere is really cool, lots of wood walls and an open air dining room. I had the 7 spice ahi tuna steak with rice and a mustard sauce. The ahi seasoning and mustard sauce worked perfectly together, it was fantastic. However, my white rice was extremely overcooked, which was disappointing....it was like mush. We also split a spring roll with ahi tuna and I would highly recommend that as well.
(4)Megan T.
This place is great!! It's a must if you're staying in the area. The wait may be long, but totally worth it. Atmosphere is fun and waitresses are friendly. Get the fish of the day :)
(5)Helen G.
Stopped by Duke's after golf at Kauai Lagoons. Really lovely setting on Kalapaki Beach. We shared the Korean Street Tacos and the fish tacos, and both were outstanding. Recommended!
(5)Rhiannon H.
Best food and SERVICE we found on the island!!! Everything we ate there was wonderful, drinks were great, the view and they had wonderful live music for a few hours we were there! Definitely our favorite little spot and we'll be back next trip!
(5)Darlene B.
So I literally went to this place 4 times while on vacation in Kauai for 5 days. The first night i had dinner, ordered the Korean Tacos, a little too spicy for my taste. The second night we went for some drinks since i was close to where we were staying. Ordered a mojito and it was good! Great presentation on the pina coladas and mai tai, they came in fun glasses. The third and fourth night is when we came for the HULA PIE! I saw the pictures online and seeing it be delivered to other people, I just knew I had to have it. So i had it...TWICE. OMG -- it was so gooooood. I mean i feel like I've had a similar dessert, but this was delicious. The perfect combination of soft ice cream, cookie crumble and chocolate. Heard there was a local spot in San Diego that I will definitely try..i need that hula pie in my life!
(4)Sue C.
This place is a must do feel good restaurant. Great for the barefoot bar with a nice view. The food was good.
(4)Katie L.
Location is amazing, it's a great place to go if you've just spend the day hanging out at the beach. Don't expect anything great by way of food, though. It's like any other chain restaurant.
(3)Shanna F.
Stayed at the Marriott next to Dukes so we went for dinner. Dukes has a good salad bar for $17.95 for adults and $6.95 for kids. You can add to any meal for $3. Great deal for the area. My husband got the pesto seafood fettuccine which our waiter split for us since we both got the salad bar. It was just ok, not a lot of seafood. My daughter didn't love her kids shrimp scampi so the waiter took it off the bill, which we did not expect or ask for. 3 stars for food overall and 4 stars for service and wine selection.
(4)Katt K.
"Special occasion, sons birthday dinner" D+ overall rating. On the positive, Whitney held our table because we were running late. On the positive,waitress lent out her lighter for a couple of minutes. Why a D+, low rating?? Our server, name unknown was alright. Did not introduce herself. But maybe it was because I asked her what the specials were. Not very bubbly, not very personable. Now maybe it was because I saw that awesome server, Claudia. I wish I requested her as our server. She should train every waiter/waitress and manager. She wasn't even in our section, yet when she saw our water glass empty, she quickly refilled it. We listened in to the table she served next to us and complimented on how awesome she is! On to my drink ordered. A Nadines's Mai tai. Female bartender? Or busser, dropped it and apologized for it taking long. Drink was not frozen!! It had been sitting at bar melting. Birthday boy & sisters Mac & Cheese came out looking strange. Almost like some really cool furikake sprinkled on it. The server said "maybe it's a spice?" Spice on M&C?? Wow dukes is getting creative! Manager then returned with 2 new bowls. When asked what the mystery spice was, he replied, it was burnt cheese! (WTF) glasses of water were nearly empty quite often. My shrimp scampi had giant chunks of green tomatoes. Price increase on salad was fine but shread your carrots again and bring back the sweet potato and dinner rolls. salad bar attendant was very nice (younger local boy) and Also the valet boy and man was awesome! I don't think I'll be returning soon. I'll be cringing when visitors ask me for reservations and I'll be sure to share my experiences with them because no one ever wants to eat burnt Mac and cheese. Also tried to push my reservation back 30 minutes and was told the next reservation was at 7:45pm. By 7:30 the restaurant was empty. Sad to see such n awesome place go down the drain.
(1)Erick T.
Had dinner there, We made Open Table reservations and we ended up with a very nice front row table view of the ocean and beach. Had the Prime Rib and a seared Ahi. Ask for the sauce on the side for the fish. The salad bar option with the entree was well worth the additional $3. You could fill up on that alone. We used the free valet parking.
(4)Yolanda L.
Stopped in for a Mai Tai. Had the Kalapaki Mai Tai. It was pretty awful. Could not finish it. With that bad start I did not stay to eat. That said, the view is lovely.
(2)Reuben L.
The fish tacos are so yummy, but I never have room for the Hula Pie (although it looks outstanding). The view is top notch as well.
(4)Curtis O.
Stopped by for our last meal on the island before we got on a plane. We ate downstairs with the commoners. I enjoyed a great half rack of ribs. Food was good. Service was good. Had to wait twenty minutes but that didn't matter because we were able to watch the surfers come in. Cool place and the hula pie was worth the calories.
(4)Sharon H.
Lunch overlooking the bay in Lihue, Kauai was the atmosphere but unfortunately that is where it stopped. No greeter at the entrance but lots of workers standing chatting by the bar. Plenty of tables open but really could careless to come seat us. Menus were placed on the table and then we waited quite some time before the waitress came. The pulled pork sandwich was prepared well but the sides were thrown in the plate and looked a mess. One of our party order the Kale salad and asked if the jumbo shrimp could be replaced with fish (any fish)... No response from the waitress, she turned and walked away. I saw her speak to another woman so I assume it was a manager. She returned to the table and said " yeah, for $30. That is going to be a dinner plus the salad." Since the salad was $11 and they offered ahi tuna tacos ( chunks of fish), We were not sure what the problem was. "So do you still want the Kale salad with fish?", she asked sarcastically. The salad was over dressed and the shrimp were undercooked. The fish tacos were good, nice aioli, but they fell apart after two bites as they had too much aioli. Overall, service was ridiculous. We never saw the waitress after the food was served. No water for the table, extra napkins or refill on the drinks. We usually come here every year and have recommended Dukes to others. Not sure that will happen again. Didn't seem to care.
(2)Angela R.
Went here as soon as we arrived in Kauai, the Lava Flow drink was amazing, and the fish sandwich was the best I've ever tasted. Great views of the beach, and free valet parking. I definitely recommend to stop here while you are in Kauai.
(5)Karen C.
Went at recommendation from hotel, let's just say very disappointed, thought that it would be a class act based on reviews and prices but it was not. Salad bar compared to "Golden Corral" . Fish was good but not in comparison to keoki's which is affiliated. With so many good places in kauai, would not come back.
(2)Bree M.
The food was ok. I had the fire grilled shrimp salad. I asked for no beets as it's not something I like apparently no beets also means no goat cheese was a little disappointed that the exclusion of one meant the exclusion of both without the waitress for warning you. This was really the only choice on the menu for me at the moment. If you have any dietary restrictions I would not recommend the barefoot bar area there is not a wide variety of choices.
(2)ImLookingAt U.
Finally...A good/great restaurant on Kauai. From the downstairs menu and eating area we: Ordered the Chicken Caesar (see pic) very good $11.90 Spouse ordered Shrimp Salad with goat cheese and roasted beats over greens (see pic) very good. $13.95 Pineapple Mojito was a bit tart for $10 Lava Flow was great $9 Hula Pie was great $7.95 $1,000,000 scenic views was "free" Will go back UPDATE Went back for dinner upstairs this time. We arrived about 5:15 without reservations and waited 1 hr to be seated. Ordered the Macadamia Pesto Seafood Fettuccine. It has prawns, some scallops and white fish (see pic) for $25.95. Taste was pretty good but I have had better. Also ordered was the Macadamia Mahi Mahi for $30.95. Tastes was great but it was paired with average red potatoes. Domestic Beer $5.50 TIP you can order off the upstairs menu in the downstairs eating area but you cannot order from the downstairs menu in the upstairs eating area. Make reservations.
(4)K W.
The dining room upstairs deserves a 4.5 or 5. First, the view is great if you get a seat looking out at the ocean, and the restaurant is nice as well. Started with wine and got their special wonton appetizer- yummy! We both had fish and my plate had lobster as well. Both were really good, and of course Hula Pie. I like the downstairs area as well. We've been a few times: live music is nice and view is great. The coconut shrimp are wonderful, nachos with pork are good and love the street tacos. I think they should have a few dessert options. The Hula pie is good, but would be nice to have a non- ice cream option.
(4)Sher R.
I have eaten at Duke's in Huntington beach a lot and love it. Too bad they don't have some of the same things there in Lihue on the menu. We ate at Duke's several times while in Kauai and it was good each time. One night we ate upstairs and I had the Opa; probably the best fish dish I've ever eaten. The atmosphere was nice, the view fabulous. We ate there on Tuesday night as well which was taco tuesday. Very good tacos, although the guac was obviously out of a package. Living in SoCal we eat the best guac and it is easy to tell an imposter, they need to change that. More fresh fish dishes would be nice to see on the menu and really frresh local produce. I'd go back but Huntington Beach has a much better menu in the bar area.
(4)David D.
Great salad bar, staff was helpful freindly and prompt. Goto location for a great meal in Kauia.
(4)Christine C.
Every time we visit Hawaii, whether is Waikiki, Maui or Kauai, we feel like we have to go to Duke's, it's like an iconic. And every time our experience is really just so so. To begin this time in Kauai, the drinks was watered down, when mentioned to the server, she didn't offer me another drink - so I just left it. The food was just ok, really nothing spectacular for $25 - $30 dinner. Their hula mud pie is great - chocolate crust top with macadamia nut ice cream, chocolate sauce, macadamia nuts and whip cream. But just think, none of the above ingredients are made in house, they just put it together and freeze it. The location and view is always spectacular, that's really all there is for Duke!
(2)Karen W.
During our stay in Kauai over the past week, we had dinner at Duke's twice. The first time we had reservations upstairs in the dining room and it was my understanding that we would be seated by the rail overlooking the ocean, and this was my expectation as I made the reservation almost two months ago. We were seated on the second tier which has an good view as well, but I was upset because we were told that the empty tables by the rail were being held for bigger parties. My husband and I ordered fresh fish and the $3 salad bar as an add on. For the service and meal served I would give this 3 stars. Several days later, we came back and had dinner at Duke's downstairs in the barefoot bar. We were seated at the edge overlooking the water. There is a more casual menu available in the barefoot bar so this time we ordered flatbread and Korean street tacos. I think the casual and open air atmosphere downstairs is a bit more fun. There was live music for part of the dinner. For the service and meal on this day I would rate 4 stars. Dukes Tip: If you are driving here for Dukes, the parking can be a bit difficult in the public lots. We used the Duke's Valet both times and were really happy that we did.
(4)Jade R.
Overpriced and tasteless food. There's a dozen better options that aren't as well known but have much better food. Do some research on Yelp and stay away from here.
(2)Brandon S.
This was disappointing. The location is great. There are great views of the ocean in most areas within the restaurant. The service was ok throughout our meal. Our server was nice. The meal was the disappointment. I started with the salad bar. It was lacking options. I really expected more given the fact it costs $17 if you get it without a meal. The options that were on it tasted ok. For my meal I ordered the Mango Barbecue Ribs. The ribs are slow cooked in the mango barbecue glaze. The ribs were tender, but lacking in flavor. I was really looking forward to some Hawaiian barbecue. The food was not bad, but just needed more flavor. This is an ok place to grab a casual lunch, but for a quality dinner you may want to look elsewhere.
(2)Ashley W.
My husband and I came here before checking into our hotel for a quick bite to eat. The food was great! We ordered the ahi wrap and the fish tacos and they were both to die for! I also had the drink with the back scratcher (forgot the name) and it was super yummy. The best part is that we were beach front.
(4)David T.
Had a good time with family. Service was good. Can't beat the beach side view. Food was tasty can't wait to go back. Megan had the best Kalua Pork sandwich she has ever had, even after starting with the Super Nachos with Kalua and finishing the night with the Hula Pie.
(5)Susan C.
Awesome location. Menu varied, but beware you pay for the location. The bar is lively and located right on the beach in Nawiliwili harbor. I like lunch there because our condo is in Poipu and I generally do not like that drive after dark. It is very dark here and not a lot of street lights. FYI-A bottle of LA Crema Chardonnay was $50, priced today at Costco, $15.99. I opted for a glass of the house Chardonnay, $8.
(4)Norm D.
I always enjoy going to Duke's in Kaua'i (and Waikiki as well). A great busy hangout for tourists with a large selection of meat and seafood dishes. Not a big fan of tropical drinks so I ordered a Bombay Sapphire dry martini. It was a little "wet" but was passable. I ordered a rare prime rib dinner and the Hula Pie at the end. The prime rib was a little fatty and a bit more rare than I would have liked it, but again, it was fine. The baked potato was perfect loaded with butter, sour cream, chives, and bacon. The Hula Pie as usual was great and was shared with my companions. Service was great with great and humorous interaction with the waiter, but laid back in the true Hawaiian style. Great view of the water from our seating spot. Always a fine visit. The wait was longer than usual and the reason for the 4-stars.
(4)DJ B.
Delicious! Great good, great service. Prices are a little high but it's Hawaii. You're paying for the incredible view of the ocean.
(5)Heather N.
We had a great time dining for dinner at Duke's upstairs restaurant. The hostess was accommodating to our table requests and our waiter, Hunter, was awesome. He was friendly & personable, even going above & beyond with advice on activities & must see places on the island. Food was good, though not as amazing as I had remembered. The salad bar for $3 is the best value on the island. The Lavaflow was pretty good, as was the chicken & steak skewers. The pesto seafood fettuccine was nothing special. Of course the hula pie is a must!
(4)Jaz Z.
The food is five stars. The view is six. All the food was prepared very well, zero issues. Great salad bar. We got the catch of the day - phenomenal. The shrimp scampi was fantastic. Great sauce. Fish tacos were fantastic. Chicken lemongrass amazing. Hula pie amazing!!!
(5)C F.
We started downstairs in the bar area,and sat next to the koi pond and trees area leading next tot the restaurant. After some confusion on our part, we moved upstairs to the restaurant for our meal. I had the steak and coconut shrimp and single trip through the salad bar. All of our food was great, and the only complaint is that we didn't have room to try the famous pie for dessert. Our service was also great, although it seemed like there were a lot of extra employees standing around looking for something do. The salad bar, which is self serve and only ~20 items, had 6 employees standing around talking behind the sneeze guard.
(4)John R.
Really two different places. Upstairs is Dukes restraunt. Classic Dukes. Got your steaks, chicken, shellfish and seafood dishes. Large dinner portions but pricey. Really beautiful views or the bay. Great wait staff, pleasant and at least pretend to care. Downstairs is the barefoot bar. Similar to Dukes but more like a standard bar and more like burgers and smaller meals. View is still great. If in the area you owe it to yourself to go!
(5)Aubrey P.
Thanks to the beautiful beach view we wandered in and out of this place during the day we spent on he beach. Beers and drinks were reasonably priced. Tuesday's are taco Tuesday during happy hour. SO DARN GOOD! Got both a fish and Kailua pork taco. Will be back.
(5)M N.
Dukes- please extend our most sincere thank you to Kapua! We had the most excellent dinner and were so greatful for her accommodation and recommendations. Every since item was perfect to our taste (even with a food allergy...unheard of service!) Thank you for making our stay memorable, we are so excited to explore her favorite island hotspots and endorsements:) Excited to to return!
(5)Brigitte S.
After reading my community manager Emi's review of Dukes in Kauai and having a good experience at the Oahu location, I already knew we needed to stop here. Luckily my boyfriends parents were staying at the hotel where Dukes is located so we stopped in a few times. I really liked this location; right off the beach at the Kauai Marriot. There are two levels, the top being more restaurant while the bottom is more beach cafe bar. The vibe is happy, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Everybody had a drink in their hand so we immediately went in on the menu - after all, we were on vacation! Food wise we only tried the Korean steak tacos as its my go to dukes dish. It wasn't bad, meat was a little chewy but the flavor was good. Drink wise, we tried a bunch and we were pleasantly surprised by how good they were & we definitely left with starry eyes. ;) First off, every drink we ordered was way more alcoholic then I would expect for a tourist joint. They had the frou frou umbrellas and tiki cups but they made sure the drinks were tasty, pretty & well worth the money! I wound up starting with a Kalapaki Mai Tai. I usually don't love Mai Tais but I found this one extremely tasty. They use local Koloa spiced & dark rum, Malibu rum with passion & pineapple juice. So smooth, so tropical, so good. I had been awake since 4am and had the morning feel still so I ordered a Bloody Mary, spicy, no celery. It was delicious with a perfect kick & plenty of vodka. The boyfriend ordered the Hawaiian Salt, which was ocean vodka with lemonade, passion fruit juice & Li hing powder. He seemed to enjoy it but switched it up for drink number two as well. The Kalapaki Colada was up :: local Koloa gold rum, macadamia nut liquor, pineapple juice & coconut syrup, served on the rocks. He really liked it, it was so yummy & okay, a little girly, but that rum was hidden in there haha, you feel it even if you don't taste it. We truly felt this was the perfect start to our weekend island hop adventure vacation. We decided to wander to the pool at the hotel for drinks but first we ordered a Hula Pie to go. If you've never had hula pie, it's a must and perfect for sharing. It's ginormous with vanilla ice cream, chocolate shell, chocolate fudge, macadamia nuts, whipped cream and all sorts of goodness. It's like a childhood ice cream sundae in a pie. Best part was our waitress packaged it perfectly with the hot fudge on the side so it don't melt as we walked to the pool. The man looked so happy eating it! As for the end of our Dukes experience, we had excellent service, quality drinks and a fun atmosphere. I highly recommend stopping in for at least a drink. You'll feel the Aloha Spirit. :)
(5)Joe M.
Stopped in for taco Tues, but could not have them, So had to order the reg tacos at 4 times the cost. So that was not my fav thing but we came back a couple time and had some of the tuna and apps. For us we loved sitting at the bar and looking out at the waves. Great spot. In the evening they have live music, Crazy never hear them play Hawaiian music, but its was good music. Go for the view.
(4)Stephanine W.
Horrible. Overrated. Location = great. Set up looks cool too. Food was the one of the worst experiences on the island. Marriott was a better dinner, which was shocking!
(1)Emi H.
Yes, this is a totally touristy spot, but guess what? You're probably a tourist if you're reading this so you'll most likely enjoy the experience. There's not a lot to eat in Lihue, especially in the evenings, and Duke's is a solid choice if you're staying in the area. It's a much better alternative to eating at a hotel restaurant as it's somewhat better priced in comparison. We were hanging out with our parents at the nearby Kaua'i Marriott and decided to go to Duke's after looking at the alternatives in the area. We had a party of 5 adults and 3 kids, and they were able to sit us within five minutes of arrival. Duke's is split into two levels with two different menus and experiences on each. Upstairs is a more formal dining experience and great if you're wanting a romantic dinner, while downstairs more casual. We chose to go downstairs because the menu was more affordable and kid friendly. Deep fried shrimp: Very deep fried but one won't kill you. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Crab stuffed won ton: I don't know why, but everytime I go to Duke's I have to get these. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Beet salad: Your basic beet salad, so don't expect to be blown away. I'd get the dressing on the side. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Ribs appetizer: This and the beet salad made up my entree for the evening. This was my favorite dish of the night as it had great flavor. I ended up ordering a bowl of rice to eat with it and balance out the saltiness. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Korean street tacos: Not the greatest I've ever had but certainly a big portion if that's what you're looking for. The meat was cut way too big and it's a lot to have to chew your way through. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Chicken tenders & fries: We got these for our kids and they enjoyed them. Not gourmet fair, but completely what we expected. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Hula pie: No first time visit to Duke's is ever complete without this bad boy. Be forewarned that it's gigantic so order one to share with the table. yelp.com/biz_photos/duke… Wonderful service throughout the night and gorgeous restaurant right on the beach. Great spot to get your daily mai tais and enjoy your Hawaiian vacation!
(4)Lee H.
Our favorite bartender Castildo recommended the Wialua Wheat on draught, he was right on, it was the best beer we ever had. I love Dukes and the great folks here, we're going to be back!!!!! Great views from the bar and incredible food upstairs.
(5)Jerry L.
First meal after that 5 and 1/2 hour flight from the Mainland. Pretty close in proximity to the Marriott Resort. Decor is great with all the pictures on the wall of Hawaiian surfing legends and a huge koi pond right in the middle of the restaurant. It's an open air restaurant with lots of flora and fauna to make you feel right with nature. On to the dishes: Fish tacos for the SO - SO wolfed them both down - must have been hungry and/or must have been good Chicken tenders and crosscut fries for the little guy - some good chicken and fries! Buffalo wings for me - lots of sauce, but those wings must have come from some huge chickens Service was good - refills on the Shirley Temple and Ice teas came quickly and frequently. Will likely eat here again before the week is over.
(4)Eric And Arisa C.
Ambiance: 5-star Food: 3.9-star Service: -1-star We called ahead to inquire about happy hour for Friday night and they told us 4-6 downstairs. We show up Friday at 5 and Duke's is hosting its own private event downstairs. While it would have been nice to have been told about this when we called, luckily we had made reservations upstairs for 5:30 so we still had a seat in the main dining area. The part that was the most frustrating was how they handled their miscommunication. I asked if it would be possible to still be able to order the drinks at happy hour prices since the whole reason we came early was for the happy hour. The response of the larger hostess was incredibly rude (she basically said, look, it's not our problem do you want to eat here or not? She literally told us if we wanted a happy hour we could go to another restaurant.) A manager eventually agreed to let us order drinks upstairs at the happy hour prices. Honestly, Duke's - congratulations on your 25th anniversary and all, but would it be THAT hard to accommodate for your customers while you party in front of them? Like you couldn't consider moving the Aloha Hour to the upstairs dining room instead of putting your patrons out? These days it's all about customer service - if you fail at that, it's only a matter of time before you fail period. I feel terrible having told so many people to visit your restaurant on their way out of Hawaii, none of the 8 parties I told had ever heard of you, and now I know why. Anyone who's experienced your bad service and poor management decisions would never recommend someone cap off their vacation here. Now I know.
(2)Tom A.
It is a beautiful place with an amazing view. Food and service were very good. Salad bar is nice. Parking is tough so go for the free valet. Also call for reservations it is always crowded
(4)Toni D.
We had lunch at the barefoot bar yesterday. Atmosphere was great and the wait was only 10 minutes. We had burgers and steak. All the food was served hot and quickly. My favorite was the Lava Flow drink. Yum.
(4)C J.
Excellent food and service! I enjoyed the ahi very much and the mai thais are delicious! Dennis was my server, he was very pleasant and attentive. I give this place 5 star and A++++ for service, ambience and food!
(5)Jennifer S.
Staying at the Marriot and I wanted to eat somewhere local. Duke's was recommended but the reviews on yelp were poor. I still trusted my instincts and tried it..............FANTASTIC MEAL! I had the amazing salad bar for only $3 and I ordered the prime rib with garlic mash potatoes. The meat was cooked perfectly, and loaded with flavor. Potatoes were delicious! Additionally, ocean view while dinning, epic!
(4)Karen S.
Not as good as it used to be. They charge $3 now for the salad bar with a meal (it used to be included). Ok, so it's only $3, but the entire menu is pricier while portions got smaller. Food was good, but not great as I remember it.
(3)Wayne S.
Okay, so maybe it's a little touristy... but, I had so much fun at Duke's I can't contain myself. I quite enjoyed the food and extensive salad bar (a meal in itself). The service was great. The views are breathtaking, and the ambience is spectacular. This may be my new favorite restaurant of forever. I mean, there's a waterfall flowing through the middle of it and everything! It's like something out of Swiss Family Robinson. Aloha!
(4)Rob K.
Based on the reviews we had low expectations which were greatly exceeded. We ate upstairs. Kids were very happy with the kids menu. My wife really like the Prime Rib and my fish was great (sauce was delicious). The four of us shared a Hula Pie for dessert which is a must have. Our waiter was fantastic and earned one of the larger tips I've left for a waiter in a long time. It's not a 5 star restaurant and the view is good, the food solid and the service for our one evening was super.
(4)Jaimelynn D.
I always find my boyfriend and I coming back to Duke's.Their food is excellent. When we dine in upstairs I order the seven spice seared ahi. That lilikoi sauce(i believe it's lilikoi) is amazing! My boyfriend gets the usual prime rib, medium rare. The waitresses check up on you often and they create a positive vibe when you're there. Never did I come across unacceptable service here at Duke's.
(4)Bob B.
This place is insanely average at best, which is what makes it so painfully over priced. $30 for a half a rack of okay ribs with no sides are you fucking kidding me?! Great atmosphere but that's all it has going for itself. This is nothing but a tourist trap; don't get gouged for meh food.
(2)Chris L.
I'VE HAD BETTER - Positives: the salad bar, service and open/airy ambiance. FOOD - Salad bar is huge and the server was great. However there was nothing spectacular about the +$100 meal we had. I had the fresh fish special, herb crusted with Mac nut. My girlfriend had the same fish in Duke style. Her fish was undercooked and she ended up sending it back. Mine was just okay, kind of overcooked, and not worth $30 in my opinion. It's very chain like so if you like that type of thing this is the place for even keeled food that has no surprises. TIP - You can pay $16 just for the salad bar which is what I would do if I came back to enjoy dinner by the beach. But next time, I will stick to the more local places.
(2)Niyant S.
I loved this place! Duke's was attached to the Marriott that we stayed at during our honeymoon, and we had a couple of meals here. After each meal, I left completely full and satisfied with my meal, and if we had more time I would have gone back again (can't beat charging to the room either!). One of our first nights on the island, we came down to Duke's for dinner. Duke's is a nice sized restaurant with a good amount of seating with a decent sized bar area as well. It is also open and facing the bay, which is always a nice plus. Also, in the middle of the restaurant, they have a small koi fish pond, adding another nice element. All that being said, Duke's is definitely the kind of place that is laid back where you can come to dinner in a t-shirt. The first night I ordered one of the fish dishes (this was so long ago I can't remember the details), and needless to say it was awesome! One of the best fish entrees I had my whole time here. I should mention I was not a big fish/seafood eater before coming to Hawaii, but my time there definitely opened my eyes to the wonderful cuisine. The second time we came was for their fish taco Tuesday, in which all fish tacos are at a discount price! I ordered 2 of these, and enjoyed every bite! Would definitely recommend checking Duke's out to anyone staying at the Marriott or around the area, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Francisco T.
Food was not good. Service is slow. This is a very well known restaurant that is much better in LA. I am surprised that this Duke's in Kauai was not great. If you compare the food in all of Kauai to food in Duke's is on par.
(1)Bernie C.
Really quite a poor restaurant. Service was sketchy, ribs awful and drinks lacked any appreciable alcohol. The salad bar was pretty good though. I won't be back.
(1)Lynda W.
We actually at at the Barefoot Bar. We heard someone on the plane talking about Duke's so we thought we would give it a try. Awesome food. BBQ pork sandwich with Mango salsa was great. My husband had the fish taco. Also great. Both were very filling. Anytime we come to Kauai we will come here.
(4)Greg C.
We needed to switch rental cars at the airport and decided to visit Dukes again. We had been there once before and thought it was good for the view and drinks. We sat upstairs this time and enjoyed a beautiful view. Waiter was a very nice young man (Hunter). We each had fresh fish that Hunter recommended. We skipped the salad bar after seeing a lot of big fat people loading their plates multiple times and dropping food on thier way back to their table. I would say my first impression was correct: good views and drinks. Food only average.
(3)Jim R.
A gorgeous setting right on the beach with an open airy restaurant and music the night we came in. We arrived right on time for our 530 reservation but saw lots of folks waiting to be seated so they said we would have to wait a bit. Apparently they do this to space out timing for the kitchen. In the end our wait was less than 10 min. All the entrees come with their large salad bar which features regular lettuce with a variety of toppings plus a Caesar salad and a few kinds of rolls and muffins. Their menu features lots of fresh fish options in the $35-$40 range and they come with mashed potatoes or rice. I tried the sea bass prepared in the special Duke's style which was a delicate drizzle of basil, lemon and herbs and some diced tomatoes marinated in some balsamic vinegar and oil along with rice as my side. This was one of the best fish dishes I've had in a long time, it just melted in my mouth and I would not hesitate to recommend it. My wife's fish dish coated in Parmesan and sautéed was not nearly as good and a bit over done. And of course, no meal at dukes would be complete without a slice of Hula pie which must have been nearly a quart of ice cream covered in fudge and macadamia nuts. There were 4 of us sharing it (including 2 college boys) and we didn't finish it! Definitely put Duke's on your list some night during your visit to Kauai.
(4)Tiffany H.
Loved my last Mai tai on the island! Great for the beach and sunset views. Liked being able to walk the gardens in the Marriott too! Very pretty...and I just discovered wailua wheat from Lima brewery! Ask them to add some pineapple!!!!! Omg heaven
(4)Monica C.
We stayed at the Marriott and it was very convenient eating here. We always ate at the Barefoot Bar because it's prices are better and you still get a bomb meal! We also liked the ambiance there and were always able to get seated pretty quickly. We had our share of lava flows, mai tais, and La Piñas (all very tasty) and tried most things on the menu. Korean street tacos are a must, as is the hula pie! Go, you will not be disappointed :)
(4)Erin N.
My husband and I came out to Lihue on our honeymoon, and ended up at Duke's most nights. We're not partiers, but by the time we were ready for dinner Duke's was the only place that was open. Not to mention, it was colocated with our resort which made it easy and safe to stumble to after drinks in our room. The food was always delicious, the services was decent, the convenience essential, and the view amazing. There's nothing like ordering a fancy drink, tasty appetizers, and hearing waves crashing on the shore behind you.
(4)Alyssa T.
The worst restaurant experience we've had on the island so far. We went in for lunch and were excited as we've been to Duke's on Maui and their sister restaurant in the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Our waitress was short and rude, questioning us if we had even checked in with the hostess. We were craving Pina Coladas and Mai Tais, which turned out to be awful. The Mai Tai was no more than Pog mixed with light rum?! And the Colada was no more than coconut syrup blended with a splash of rum and pineapple juice. The worst $13.00 drink we've ever had. We expressed this to the waitress, Kristol, who hesitantly took our drinks back to the bar for floaters and persisted to charge us an additional $2.00 each. Our appetizer, the calamari, was small and cold, and our lunch (the Korean tacos and Ahi Wrap) was okay. The Hula Pie was great, no complaints there, but our lunch was not at all worth the $135 we spent. VERY disappointing. Sadly, we will not be returning or recommending this place to anyone.
(1)Deeps M.
Dinner date with husband. Lovely place on the beach. Ask for a table near the front overlooking beach. With every entree you get access to the all you can eat salad bar which was very good. You can also order from lunch menu, just be careful as two different kitchens are making food so may be some time difference when food comes out. We ordered nachos to start with, and then risotto cake with portobello mushroom and fish and chips. All delicious. The risotto cake dish was really tasty a top rated dish on my list. Had the "Hoola Pie" to finish. This was a mountain of cookie base, macadamia ice cream and chocolate fudge with whipped cream!!! Also ordered the pineapple mojito. A billion calories later- very satisfied customer. :)
(4)Giulianna N.
When my husband and I returned to Kauai, we knew we had to fit in dinner at Dukes.... The service is always top notch, with that one-of-a-kind aloha kindness!! We always reserve a table by the balcony railing for the beach front view! Gorgeous!! To start, the hubby and I got a couple of drinks to celebrate our trip, the hubby got the Lava Flow and I got the Mango Martini.. great island drinks! Next up, the salad bar.. which is... to die for!!! The staff whips up ceasar salad to order, perfectly creamy and dressed! And then they have the most amazing banana mac-nut muffins!! AYCE!!! I can eat like 5 of those babies!! Yum!!!! For our entrees, we often go with the fresh catch of the day..well, because we are on an island.. I got the ono mac nut and herb crusted with delicious lemon and caper butter sauce!!! DELISH!! Succulent and moist!! And for dessert, the hubby and I split an order of their famous Hula Pie! This is an enormous slice of ice cream pie.. the hubby ate every single last bite!! Love it! :)
(4)Matt M.
The ambiance was great. Great for families and intimate dinners. They have a bar menu downstairs, but if you would like to splurge, I would suggest staying on the main level. Prices are steep ($30 a plate) but so is their salad bar (included). One of the best potato salads I had eaten out. My wife and I shared the opah fish (Firecracker Roasted and Sauteed Mac Nut and Herb Crusted). Best dinner we had in Hawaii.
(5)De C.
Beautiful setting, free valet, good food, pricing and drinks. This would have been 5 stars if the waitress wasn't in such a terrible mood. We ordered the turkey sandwich and the burger and both were delicious.
(4)Cloud L.
I love this restaurant!! My wife and I visit Kauai last year and we stayed at the Marriott. After a long flight from LAX to Kauai, we head straight to Duke's. We sat at the bar and was service by a very friendly bartender and which made our trip to Kauai even better. And everyday after that we head to duke's and have a few drinks before bed. My advice is sit at the bar!!!!
(5)Sarah B.
Excellent service! Timing of drinks, appetizers and main course was impeccable. Our server Rusty was fantastic and really knew the food! we will definitely be coming back here, as well as recommending this restaurants to anyone and everyone we meet!
(5)Jeff N.
(For the dinner menu). Pretty standard fare. The food is good but not outstanding. It's priced exactly where you'd expect for a restaurant attached to an island resort. Lots of typical turf options, but if you like seafood, go for the fresh fish. I ordered opah and was very happy with it. Service is generally very pleasant and reasonably attentive. The location and ambience are solid: most tables have line of sight right to the ocean, and there's a pleasant little waterfall and koi pond inside.
(4)Brittany Z.
Our favorite restaurant on the island!!! The salad bar is amazing and we actually went back to have it more than once!! I got the steak and chicken the first time, and honestly left unimpressed. My husband got the fish of the day (swordfish) and that was great! The next time around, we got the ribs and they are honestly the best tasting ribs we have ever had!!! You must get the ribs! The hula pie is pretty delicious, but very similar to ice cream cake. The atmosphere is great! The service was also fantastic each time. It's a great location with the view of the beach and then an inside jungle. We did not eat at the barefoot bar, but they had live music.
(5)Pixie G.
The best parts about this restaurant honestly are probably the view (opens onto a great view of the beachfront) and the service (went there three times and each time had great and chipper servers). All times, we ate at the barefoot bar, which is the downstairs part of the bar. The first time, I had a lava flow and an ahi tuna wrap. Both were quite tasty. The second time, I had another lava flow and some appetizers (calamari) during their aloha hour (happy hour). Lava flow this time may have been watered down a little (I didn't get the buzz I usually get from alcohol, and I'm a lightweight), but the calamari was good. The last time, I got a pina colada (pretty good) and a kalua pork burger, which I thought was very flavorful. I do think they do "bar food" better. A perk of eating at the barefoot bar is you also get to order off their "upstairs" menu. Hubby ordered a macadamia pesto fettuccine, which came with two small scallops and many two shrimps. The fettuccine was fine, but nothing too impressive, especially for the $20-something price tag. So if you do order from here, I'd stick with the downstairs menu (or maybe a fresh catch, I didn't try any of those).
(4)Tomer P.
The environment was great, Location on the beach was great, service was great but the food wasn't that good, we went with 2 more people and only one of them liked the food, I will still recommend to go there, not a bad spot.
(4)Winston S.
My goal is to eat at all of the Duke's restaurants and have yet to visit Maui, but just went to this location for the first time on Sunday. I love the interior! The plants and everything were so nice, like Disney-esque! I don't have my iphone cord with me, otherwise, I would post the pics. There is a waterfall and a mini pod with Koi fish. The service was decent, nothing special though. I ordered Korean tacos and they tasted better than I expected. Not quite Kogi BBQ, but that's hard to beat. The outside view is amazing! Great to see fellow surfers and stand up paddlers catching waves at Kalapaki Beach. Can't wait to return and also to surf Kalapaki Beach!
(4)Tim F.
Had a delicious lunch as our last meal before heading back to the mainland. We definitely saved one of the best for last. I had the pork sandwich had my wife had the ahi tacos. Both of which were delicious and definitely worth ordering again. We finished off the meal with a Hula Pie which was the perfect ending to a great lunch. Aloha Kauai!
(5)Hisako S.
Service was awful here. Especially front lady lying to everyone half short time than actual. I was told 20~30 min wait. When I went back to her after 30 min passed, she yelled at me and told "6 more min, OK!" With irritated voice. All other people are upset waiting too long. We could finally seated 60 mini of total wait and there were so many empty tables. I didn't understand why they didn't seat us if there are empty tables. Anyway, that front lady start even ignored me to my question why it is taking so long after we were told 6 more min. All other customers were angry with her attitude and lying about waiting time. If she could told me that 60 min waiting time, we would have gone to other place. 2 of my boys got too sleepy to eat after 60 min wait. All of my family member upset with that lady's attitude and ruined our 1st family re-Union vacation night. FYI: I definitely recommend to make a reservation, but be prepare to wait 30 min from your reservation. Many customers complained because of length of waiting time even with their reservation.
(1)Bobbie B.
Good- Lovely setting with view of the Lihue harbor in the Marriott resort. 80% of the tables with a great view. The salad bar had very good variety of vegetables all of which were delicious. Bad-The cook does not know how to prepare fish. My ono was overcooked, my husband's ahi had handful of salt thrown onto a portion of the fish fillet. The salad bar ran out of all the muffins and speciality breads, for the night, at 6:00 pm on a Sunday. The price would have been reasonable if they knew how to cook fish.
(3)Joe E.
We've been to all the Hawaiian Dukes and this is our favorite. Don't go to Dukes for trendy gourmet fair. They have basic, solid recipes for everyone, great service and a wonderful salad bar. We actually ate there twice -- the prices are fairly good for on-the-beach Hawaii.
(4)Dave M.
Resort dining at its worst. Long wait, poor service, bad food at high prices. Got sat downstairs when we asked for upstairs, which makes a difference because the menus are different. Ordered chicken and steak, chicken was ice cold and bland. Steak was rare when asked for well done and also ice cold. Salad bar has like 10 types of dressing yet none are marked in anyway so built my whole salad and dumped a bunch of blue cheese dressing on it thinking it was ranch. I hate blue cheese. Yet they pay some local kid to stand there as each and every person asks him the same question over and over again which is " what kind if dressing is this?" just so stupid. I can go on and on but why bother. Just avoid at all costs.
(1)Krystle M.
One of my favorite places to eat. Downstairs: casual dress, near the beach. Love their ahi wrap. Upstairs: little fancy, still casual dress tho. Different menu compared to downstairs. Always have the shrimp scampi. Delicious! For dessert, have one of their hula pies. Share one cause their huge!! Valentines they have a strawberry one.
(4)William C.
Love this place, great location with a perfect view of the beach. At happy hour today they had a fantastic acoustic guitar player and singer.
(4)Sarah d.
Mac nut and crab wontons are stellar!! BBQ chicken flatbread & coconut shrimp are also! Great location! Great drinks! Super pretty tall blonde waitress! The place is pretty busy but tables turn over fast. I highly recommend it!
(5)K J.
Food and service was great. Long wait for a table but not a problem if you make a reservation in advance!
(4)Layne R.
Nice salad bar, nice location on the beach, really good service, and good food. Definitely worth a stop when you are on the island. I had the Steak Kimo and it was all very good. Well cooked and seasoned steak, nice size too. The mashed potatoes were delicious. The salad bar has a lot of good options and I enjoyed the Caesar salad, though if you aren't a fan of the more fishy tasting Caesar dressing, you might want to consider something else. Our waitress was friendly and fast. All in all, a filling, tasty dinner with good service and a nice view.
(4)Jaymie D.
Dined at both the Barefoot Bar and at the upstairs restaurant while staying at the Marriott Beach Club. Super convenient if you're staying at the hotel and they are open until 11 pm which is awesome. The Barefoot Bar seating area is a great place to grab a simple bite to eat (you can also order from the full Dukes menu) They have burgers, salads, tasty apps, etc. Upstairs is a bit more pricey and upscale but still decent and food is worth the price. The salad bar upstairs is around $14 but gives you quite a few options. Servers were friendly and gave the place a great vibe. Don't forget to save room for the Hula Pie!
(4)Ethan G.
You can never go wrong with Dukes. Let's be real. If you're near Lihue, make a dinner reservation for this place. They get busy quick! I like how they have a salad bar that's given to you if you order an entree. It's a rare thing for restaurants to do that, actually. Get the hand-tossed Caesar salad at the end of the salad bar; it's the best! Get a seat on the top level with an ocean view. Great ambiance, and delicious food. Cocktails were good, and I definitely enjoyed my Ono fish entree. Ask what the catch of the day is, or what's the freshest. Just go with the server's suggestion, they know what's good and what's not!
(5)S E.
Satisfying Salad Bar My vegetarian husband was getting antsy for more salad. We did have good salads at other restaurants, but they were not the main meal. We came here for the salad bar and were not disappointed. The selection about 5 of pre-made salads were all good and you could make your own with enough ingredients to do a salad justice. I particularly liked the beets and two different sprouts. Ranch dressing was good too. There was no vinaigrette choice for dressings. There were also good homemade muffins. I do wish that soup was included in the salad bar, but if they only had onion soup (only menu choice for soup), I wouldn't have eaten it anyway. The service was very nice. We made reservations, but arrived early and were able to be seated after a short wait. We were given a nice table on the edge with a view of ? (because it was already dark). The only bad part was that I had hurt my foot that day and it was sore to walk on. Our table was probably the farthest one away from the salad bar! Normally that would give me incentive to eat more since I would feel like the walk was working off some of the calories.
(4)Dawn H.
Consider the location, price and quality of food, it is really 4.5 star. After you eat there, you will feel it is better than I expected from a 5 star hotel, but nothing spectacular. We will go back.
(4)Stephanie W.
First... The ambiance is beautiful. You're on the beach and the decor is very nice. The whole dinning area is open and airy. We didn't have a reservation, but was seated quickly. And then we waited... And waited... And waited for our waiter. Finally a gal came up and filled our waters and we asked if we could but our drink orders in. Then we waited some more and our server came by with the drinks. We already knew what we wanted so we ordered our dinner then. The salad bar was really good with fresh choices. The main course didn't take too long. The food came and looked very well plated. 2 out of the 3 steaks were not cooked as requested but still really good. Drinks were never refilled during the service. Overall the food was really good, we all walked away full... I just wish that we could have received better service since we were paying $35 per person.
(3)Max V.
We had our "after wedding dinner" at Duke's and the service was amazing! Hunter, our "server" is incredible! He made our dinner experience effortless. I highly recommend requesting him as your "server" if you go here. He is a Kauai native, free dives, and knows all about the island. Super nice and friendly. Oh, and the food at Duke's is delicious!
(5)Brent V.
I've ate here many times and the food is just OK, I go here because it is really the only decent restaurant around besides the Marriott. This dukes has an amazing indoor waterfall flowing through the restaurant.... Pretty Cool !
(3)Sara S.
Very touristy and overpriced but very good food. Just go for the Hula pie and skip the rest.
(4)Jarod H.
Prime Rib (PR). Best on Kauai. Period. The Bull-Shed once held this title, but the quality of the PR dropped at the Bull-Shed. SO, Duke's is the reigning champion of Kauai for PR. Service is great. Attentive and friendly. Highly recommend, when you are on Kauai.
(5)Gregg H.
We stayed in Princeville for 9 days but found a way to eat at Duke's 4 times. Simple but great menu, friendly service, and a great happy hour. We ate downstairs and the atmosphere and view was wonderful.
(5)Wendy E.
People complain about the "touristy" part of Duke's, but we have been coming here for years and it is always top notch. The fish has honestly always been my favorite on the island. The preparations are perfect, not over done. My daughter had the steak and fish special, the steak was ok but the fish was amazing! I always get the mahi-mahi, and I am never disappointed. ....the hula pie is legendary and the views are spectacular. Everything I am looking for in a great restaurant....thanks for being consistent over the years Duke's!
(5)Andres L.
This is a safe option. I went twice for dinner and had the fresh catch, burger, bbq flatbread and the hula pie dessert. All dishes were solid and the location is too convenient if you're staying at the Marriott.
(4)Bernadette M.
Perhaps it's because this was the first stop when I got picked up at the airport by my cousin, but this place was wonderful. Life is good when you're in Hawaii. We parked in the dirt parking lot, walked across a bridge with the water leading to the ocean, passed a shop selling souvenirs and another one of some gear to hit that gorgeous water. At the restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly hostess but we declined her services and sat at the bar. Tables of four covered the bar area but past the low barricade and retractable awnings, there was that ocean. People were getting ready for their surf lessons, sun bathing and loving life. Paradise. We ordered the Won Tons and Mahi Caesar for snacks. The won tons had ginger in it. I'm not a fan so I ate the wrapper. I had the Pau Hana Punch and my cousin had the Pineapple Mojito, both $9.50 each. Evan was the bartender and it was quite obvious I was not a local with my Niners gear and he gave me a hard time about the Super Bowl. We had a good time here. Sales tax is 4% here so consider that when tipping.
(5)Ann B.
Great service, fun atmosphere, excellent location as with all TS Restaurant properties. Bar was fun and live music was excellent although the set seemed too short (2 hrs with a 30+ minute break). Food overall is just so-so but if you stick to bar food (burgers, tacos, apps, etc.) it is very good. The free salad bar with all dinner entrees is a nice touch and added value.
(4)Wayne K.
I upgraded my rating mostly because of the overall improvement of our entrees. We both had fish. I had grilled monchon (?) with a lemon basil glaze. My wife had the Macadamia nut ono with a lemon caper sauce. Both were excellent. The salad bar had a huge selection of fresh salad ingredients and dressings. The prepared salads were very good too. Service was friendly and efficient. Ya better get reservations unless ya want to have a drink or two downstairs! We had the drinks and were entertained just watching the bartenders in action. Downstairs dining is casual and has a different menu.
(4)Sydney H.
Customer service was alright, our waitress was nice but the hostesses weren't that friendly. The place is absolutely gorgeous. Kind of pricey, but hey, you get what you pay for: food was absolutely amazing. I got the Mong Chong dukes style, which was wonderful, but my aunt got the seared Ahi and I wish that I got that!! It was amazing. My only downside was that the rice pilaf accompanying the fish was not very good.. But the fish was so great that it made up for it. I forgot to mention but they also have a beautiful salad bar.. Hard not to stuff ourselves! Hula pie was fantastic as expected. Another thing was that we made a reservation but still had to wait like 15 minutes to be seated.. Anyways.. Was a great meal, and I really enjoyed myself and left happy and full. Fun night.
(4)Cassie H.
We stayed at the Marriott so this was our go to appt for happy hour. I won't deny I had the nachos two nights I'm a row because they were so amazing!!
(4)Dan M.
Overall --- average at best. I've been to many of this chain of restaurants. Leilani's (on Maui is by far the best). Dukes just seems tired. The environment is also not really anything special. The nachos were awesome. Food was just ok. Price is higher than average. I wouldnt go out of my way for this place anymore (which is unfortunate)...
(3)Neesh Q.
Super convenient for the Marriott resort guests. I kept ordering carry out orders from here and over a week sampled quite a bit of their Barefoot Bar menu this way. Grilled chicken quesadilla- REALLY good. Perfect-size portion Duke's Nachos- Meh Cheddar burger- Decent (also really filling) Cashew Chicken Stir-fry- Meh Korean Street Tacos- YUM! The best thing off their menu is the hula pie! SO GOOD. All in all, a convenient, but pricey place to go for decent food. Definitely stop by for the pie though!!
(3)Elena P.
Visited Dukes in Oahu and Kauai and loved them BOTH! Went here for a quick lunch before our surfing lessons. Our waitress was sweet, SUPER fast service, and everyone loved their meals. Mai Tais were great, but the Lavaflows took the cake! De-lish! Some might complain about the decor of the place, but I LOVED their Koi pond, the gorgeous waterfall and the beach view. If you wanted small mom and pop experience, then don't go to a beach side chain. But if you're into good food, fast friendly service with a garden like interior and a beach view...this is your place!
(5)Christophe T.
Amazing place by the beach. Great cocktails, super fresh and tasty fish, and nice servers. Try the fish tacos, or if you're here for dinner, the fresh fish dishes are amazing (especially the plancha grilled one).
(5)Rhonn A.
Great Salad bar and great food and drinks! Service can be slow at times
(4)Claire T.
Great place in Lihue, specially on Tuesday from 4 to 6pm to get the Fish Tacos at $3. The view is beautiful, people really kind and there is a band sometimes which add a good ambiance to this place. The fresh fish is delicious, the fish tacos too, but I'm not a huge fan of their fish & chips.
(4)Ron C.
Duke's is one of the better places to eat on the island, period! I've eaten here plenty of times and have dined all over the island to know that this place is good. You can't go wrong with the fresh fish which is caught and served that day. While the staff raves about the salad bar (which leaves little to be desired in my opinion) the drinks and the fish are the stars here. But be adventurous: Order the Ocean Vodka made right there in Kauai! Dare to have one Duke's over the top adult beverages! In fact, have a steak and "take it surfing" and I promise you'll not leave hungry! Visitors should beware that this is a popular place both upstairs and downstairs (It is after all, right next to the Marriott) and reservations are a must! Get their promptly lest you find yourself without a seat. Prices are reasonable considering this is one of the finer eating establishments on the island.
(5)Richard L.
Enjoyed a lovely dinner at Duke's on our last night in Kauai. The Ahi & Hamachi was very tasty though the pieces on the small side. We then shared the Ribs dinner which were very tender and tasty. But the best was our awesome server Justin. He looked after extremely well and was a joy to chat with. Mahalo and Aloha!
(4)Nick D.
This was our second time eating at Duke's and we enjoyed it very much. Our server recommended several dishes to our group and he was spot on. The food was prepared to perfection. Duke's will be one of our goto places everytime we visit Kauai.
(5)Wes A.
Loved this place! Great atmosphere and service! The food was awesome! Full of unique flavors you just wanted to savor every mouthful! Mai tais were good and ended with their famous Hula Pie! Excellent dinner! Left extremely satisfied!
(5)Angelique C.
We ate at the restaurant part upstairs and was lucky enough that the bar downstairs was having live music that we could still hear. The food was delicious and the service was great. I really noticed the amazing teamwork with the staff. You also get a free salad bar with your meal that had such a great selection. I had the macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi. It was the best fish I've ever had. My husband and I can not wait to go back.
(5)Melissa S.
Waitress seemed to pay more attention to the men at the table than me at all actually. Maybe she was expecting a big tip from them. Even my fiancé noticed. I ordered the ahi wrap. It was okay. I have had better. Nothing to special here. Not disgusting but they could do better. The band they had playing that day was kind of terrible and distracting.
(2)Dean I.
Yeah it's over priced, but isn't everything on Kauai? The fish is fresh and good, and comes with the all-you-can-eat salad bar, which isn't nearly as fresh as the fish, but it's good. I would steer away from anything other than the fish here too, the non-fish dishes looked rather mediocre and my wife can attest to that. Pineapple mojito was insanely good.
(4)Darlene L.
Macadaima nut crusted Opah with a miso verBlanc sauce and rice was to die for!!! Fish tacos were good too. Drinks rock here!
(5)Mary G.
Good food and drinks for a reasonable price. Went here for dinner while on vacation. Had a group of 6, and only had a short wait. Which is always nice. We loved the yummy lava flows. Had a variety of things on the menu all were pretty good. Really enjoyed the fish of the day special. Only complaint was service was a little slow, but the place was busy.
(4)Deena S.
Ate upstairs in the dining room. Service was good and salad bar was fresh. The $32-$35 fish entrees were poor. My fish, which was described by the waiter as "like Sea Bass" was bone dry and flakey. My friend had Snapper, "Duke's style" and it was greasy. Very unappetizing. Best to eat in the bar area downstairs instead. If you want good fish / a nice dinner, Kukui's next door is the same price level but they have fresh food and they know how to prepare it.
(2)Renee S.
Love this place everytime and everywhere. Kuaii isn't as laid back as Waikiki though. Yum.
(5)Adrian W.
The food was very good and our waitress was extremely kind and helpful. We began with the calamari and coconut shrimp and those were delicious. I then had the catch of the day which was swordfish with macadamia nuts encrusted on it along with a very unique sauce and it incredible! Then of course the Hulu pie for dessert was so so good and 1 order was enough to satisfy 3 people. Do would deff inanely recommend coming here during your stay on this island.
(4)Celestine J.
A good place to have a date or just a family occasion. Lots of people here everyday. Customer service was friendly. But the food is too pricy in my opinion. Steak is average Love their desserts though. Lots of choices to choose from. A hawaiian style dining.
(3)Greg F.
Great place to relax, enjoy a beer or mixed cocktail, and take in the beautiful ocean and its' wonderful sounds. Great food and service always, parking gets a little tricky sometimes but well worth the effort. The seating inside away from the occasional rain has a great secluded spot next to a waterfall, real cool. Highly recommend for lunch and dinner, also have entertainment during the evening.
(5)Kursteen N.
Beautiful restaurant with an awesome view, had dinner upstairs. The food was average, ordered the Kushiyaki and the Lava Flow. The Kushiyaki was a chicken tenderloin, various vegetables on skewers, and beef teriyaki on skewers (it was just okay, nothing spectacular for $24.95). The Lava Flow was too sweet for my taste buds, felt like I was drinking my desert. Before leaving the restaurant, the band was playing some really great island music.
(3)Christy P.
Dukes was excellent. Overall the service was decent, however the ambience can't be beat. Dukes offers an open air environment on the water and delicious food with a local flair. Try to make reservations ahead of time, as there may be a wait. Additionally, the restaurant is incredibly convenient to the Marriott hotel. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant 5 stars is because the service didn't 'wow' me. All in all, dukes is a great place to eat.
(4)Andreas B.
Excellent food and the view was very nice. We are at the ground floor which we liked more they the upstairs. Fast service, great quality and not overpriced
(4)Brittany C.
Can't beat the view! Good food and drinks. Bartenders are usually very nice. Gets a bit crazy at night but that's to be expected. Prices are of course high but it's Hawaii after all.
(4)Alison M.
This was my first stop after a long plane ride. I have been to Dukes in the past and found that this location missed the mark a little bit. I enjoyed my coconut shrimp but my husband said his fish tacos were barely palatable but got them down since he was starving. Normally we would have visited again during our two week vacation, but after a lackluster lunch we opted to eat else wear. It could have been an off day, but I guess we will never know.
(3)Thomas G.
Dukes is part of a small family run chain of restaurants in primo locations in Hawaii. Each have different names and different menus. This restaurant is located in a hotel compound in Kauai. We went for dinner after a helicopter ride. The location is prime on the water and has a lovely garden and waterfall inside. It has a lovely ambience and the staff was attentive and friendly. The salad bar is very good and was the highlight of the restaurant for me. After stressing out that my son would try to open the door on the helicopter ride I wanted a drink and a steak. I ordered a lava flow which was good, my wife had a Mai tai which was very good. Unfortunately, my steak was on the mediocre side and was very bland and unseasoned. Disappointing to say the least, but whatevas! Wonderful location, meh food (excluding the salad bar). Worst food that I have had at one of these restaurants. I love Duke's Waikiki!!
(3)Charles D.
We always make it a point to stop off to have lunch or dinner here. We brought our daughter and her co-worker for early dinner.
(5)Aaryn P.
Dukes topped off a fantastic day for us out at the Allerton NTBG. Great view, delicious food, prompt service! We called ahead and made a reservation, and then went early to the bar downstairs. The entire Marriott grounds are spectacular, and inside the restaurant is no exception. Sweeping views of the coastline are everywhere outside, and lush botanicals with waterfalls are inside. At the bar, we encountered a great bar tender who was attentive, quick and friendly...even offering us menus for the restaurant upstairs to preview. The drinks here, as other Yelpers have mentioned are really great. We stuck to both types of Mai tais...the creamy one and the regular one are both spectacular drinks...they do them very well here and don't skimp on the alcohol. Upon going back up to the restaurant, we were seated immediately at a nice table with a view. Our waitress offered a detailed explanation of th different fish and cooking methods tonight, explained the salad bar and took our drink orders. Despite the fact that she started covering a huge table during our meal, she was spot on with all of her service. The salad bar was decent...lots of breads and muffins, a lady offering Caesar salads. Their veggie offerings were a little slim...but they did offer many cold salads like bean etc. We ordered an appetizer of the pork ribs, and they were very good....the glaze on the ribs added a lot of flavor. My husband had the sashimi grade ahi seared with garlic mashed potatoes and a side if pork belly. The ahi was cooked perfectly, and he said his entire meal was fantastic. I got the Parmesan-herb crusted fish with rice...very, very good. My Mom had a fish with their tomato based sauce but wasn't fond of it. Lastly, we ordered the Hawaiian pie. We were incredibly stuffed and honestly only finished half of it between three people. We didn't find it to be anything impressive except for its size. Just a giant fudge sundae - the Oreo crust is thin and is overwhelmed by he melted chocolate and ice cream. So, four stars...we had a really great experience here over all. 4.5 stars would be more accurate. There a few slight kinks this place could work out...but we had a great evening and I completely recommend stopping in here, even if it is just for the drinks.
(4)Kyle L.
I love this place. My wife and I stayed at the marriott and kept coming back to dukes to eat. We could room charge it and it wasn't overpriced like the hotel food. The staff was nice and the food was delicious. The cocktails were great too and their happy hour was great from 4-6. I'm a big guy and I would recommend the Margo BBQ bacon burger and piña colada.
(5)Duane H.
Beautiful setting. Great bar (the barkeep actually concocted a tropical drink with no Rum for Stormy that she really liked!) Very nice food. Only drawback was that it was pricey.
(4)Shazeen N.
It was highly recommended by many people and front desk, I must say it was the best food on the entire island!! our server Johnatton recommended amazing dinner plates with perfectttttt seasoning and hula pie which was to die for.. He made the drinks delicious and the entire experience unbelievable . I would highly suggest this place over any other at marriot hotel ... we had lunch and dinner there and would have gone again if we were staying longer. simply amazing service and food.
(5)Cooper L.
I've eaten at 3 of the 5 Duke's restaurants before (Waikiki, Lahaina, Malibu), so I pretty much rolled my eyes when my party chose to come to Duke's Kauai. I was pleasantly surprised. Located next to the Kauai Marriott on Kalapaki Beach. Beautiful view of the tranquil bay. Beware that there are two dining options - the Barefoot bar that opens up to beach-level and the main dining room upstairs. The reservations are NOT the same. We checked in, or so we thought, downstairs. The hostess said she couldn't find our reservation, so gave us one of those pagers and told us just to wait. We waited for 20 minutes before wondering if our reservation was actually upstairs. When we went to inquire, she just simply told us to go upstairs and ask. Hmm. Don't you think the 16 year old hostess should have said something like, "I don't see your reservation here, are you sure you didn't make it for the main dining room upstairs? This is the bar area." Went upstairs and sure enough we were seated immediately. Food was surprisingly good. Mai tais come out in a cool looking glass. Duke's "famous salad bar" is included with your entree. Standard salad fare, I would have hoped for some fresh mango or papaya but none to be found. Poke and barbecue rib appetizers were great. Skip the Maui onion soup which was awful. Duke's style mongchong was delish. A great last meal in Kauai before heading off to the airport.
(4)Steve S.
Great meal per usual. Always great ambiance and customer service. For the most part, Kauai lacks decent food options and Duke's fills the void.
(5)Alex R.
It should be 4.5, but I am rounding up due to excellent service. Ate here three time, one via take out, two in person and I am still missing it. DON'T GO UPSTAIRS. Now that we have clarified.....Downstairs, the patio literally kisses the sand, and anything they serve upstairs,they gladly prepare. I had the fish tacos twice, and Opah the third (see photos). Mercedes was an awesome waitress and even introduced us to Bubba Burgers (not as good as the Shack next door, but good) and where to go kayaking. yes, the hula pie will turn you into an addict.....don't try it alone!
(5)Josh G.
The salad bar was great but our fish wasn't that good. I would describe this place as a tourist trap. Service was very good, but the food was average and prices were high.
(3)Kelly W.
We went to Duke's barefoot bar at Happy hour one afternoon during our honey moon. We were able to get a seat right away. The menu for happy hour included both drinks and food and because we were there on a Tuesday it also included Fish Tacos. We were starving after a long day exploring the island so we ordered fish tacos, the quesdillas and the thai spring rolls. It was all delicious! The drink options were nice too. It wasn't just mai tai and pina coladas. We asked the bar tender about the upstairs menu and he grabbed one to show us. He then gave us his recommendations of what he likes and what each dish is like. We didn't end up getting back the upstairs part. I highly reccomend eating at Duke's when in Kauai and its a great spot to walk to if you are staying at the Marriott.
(5)Frank S.
We had dinner at Duke's just after we arrived in Kauai for a week. It turned out to be one of the best dinners we had all week. A Mai Tai helped start things off, but the tiki-mug was a bit over the top. My wife had the more sedate Pau Hana Punch, and liked it too. The salad bar got things going, with a mix of conventional Caesar salad bar ingredients as well as island fare (fruit, taro, etc.). The fish of the day was Opah (Moonfish) and it was just delicious! We had it "mac nut & herb crusted" with lemon and caper butter, and It turned out to be the best fish we had all week on Kauai. Wow! It was also a few days after our son's birthday, so they gave us a free Hula Pie for dessert, which we all ended up sharing. To cap it all off, we got to see a rainbow outside as we finished dessert. Very very nice. Welcome to Hawaii.
(5)Cathy S.
If it wasn't for the Mac nut crusted Monchong I probably wouldn't keep coming back. The service was as ridiculous as ever - I was still eating my salad, literally with a fork to my mouth, when the fellow delivering our entrees picked up my salad and started to take it away. Just because the servers and the kitchen can't properly pace a meal shouldn't mean I forfeit the right to eat my salad! They obviously started cooking our entrees the second the order hit the kitchen without regard to the time required to eat appetizers.
(2)Jeff L.
Just sat down at bar and ordered a martini and a vodka rocks both with grey goose......" watered down" or refilled with something not top shelf......service slow and employees seem irritated and unfriendly..... Too bad.....it could be a lot better with the right alcohol and happy servers
(1)Jan U.
For the price, this restaurant is just mediocre. The salad bar is good, but don't buy the calamari. It was $10.95 and tasted like it was fish stick from a box. Found a place with a fantastic view for much less money and the food was awesome. Beachwalk
(3)JP M.
Nice food ... Better service . Salad bar fills you up. Very nice on the water place. Great environment. Walked down along the shoreline from the Marriott hotel.
(4)Stephen A.
Nice setting and location by the beach but the service was slow and the food was not spectacular. It is the kind of restaurant you expect t have attached to a hotel that will move many people through its doors. (Though this place has no doors as an outdoor barefoot bar). Drinks were ok. I'd skip it next time in Kauai and go to the other hotel restaurant right next to it, Kukui.
(3)Manuel M.
Had the burgers and they were perfectly cooked to order and fantastic. Possibly the best burger I've had anywhere. Good drinks, friendly service, great view. Beautiful inside dining room with a crazy waterfall!
(5)Rachel S.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Duke's Kauai, but I'll be the first to admit, it's not really about the food. The view is amazing, pretty much as good as it gets. I found the staff very sweet and accommodating and waved when they saw me walk by later. As for the food... It's not bad, and I don't think it's quite as low-brow as Applebee's or Chili's, as some have suggested. But it's definitely not the most delicious stuff you've ever eaten, especially for the price. But I'm a big fan of the steak and at the Barefoot Bar, the pork sandwich and waffle fries. And best of all - the Lava Flow drink and the Hula Pie! Lord, do I miss Hula Pie (and the view from Kauai)! Excuse me while I drive to Malibu for a little Duke's fix. Not the same view, but it'll do!
(3)Michaela M.
Everything was excellent from the service to the amazing salad bar that's included with your entree. I ordered the seven spice ahi and it was to die for!!! Their presentation makes you remember why you're on vacation to begin with. We all enjoyed our meals. Very impressed!
(5)Lilah D.
My partner in dine and I ate here on the night of my birthday eve and due to our reservations being late-ish, we opted for appetizers for dinner. I had the coconut shrimp which was not bad. My sweetie had some forgettable appetizers that had a pate type dip that had an odd taste. On the recommendation of our fellow yelpers, we tried the hula pie. It is a delicious, massive dessert, probably fitting for 3 or 4 people! Somehow my sweetie and I finished the whole thing. Possibly due to not really eating dinner. Nice ambience. 5 for ambience. Food is about 3.5 stars. The hula pie boosts my food rate up a half point. As we reside on the mainland, we are open to try our local Duke's locations.
(4)Lizzie L.
We eat here every time we come to kauai. You can't beat the ambiance and view downstairs with the live music. The pork nachos are awesome. Hula pie is a must. : )
(4)Vanessa Miracle B.
Two words: HULA PIE. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
(4)Phoebe K.
Not as good as it used to be unfortunately. Service was good but they sat a terrible little boy next to our table who was hitting his mom and throwing silverware off the balcony, a bit distracting to say the least. Food not as creative and tasty as I remember it from 10 yrs prior. I wish they'd step up there menu a bit to keep up with the times.
(3)Matt G.
Went to the downstairs barefoot bar and grill. Had perhaps some of the best fish tacos I've ever had though I rarely eat them with fresh fish. Service was a tad slow but otherwise pretty good. Prices were reasonable for island standards and the decor is really nice with the waterfall and pond down the center. Overall I think it's a bit overhyped and prefer other places in the island with more charm and less people, like just a few minutes up the highway in Kapaa where the beach is WAY prettier and the locals don't hang out in the area like hippies. Check out the Beachwalk for better food and view overall. Parking was a pain as we had to drive past the restaurant, then JJs, then the shops till we got to the beach parking and walk a little ways back past all the locals drinking late on a Sunday night along the beach. Actually I don't get why this place is so popular but the food was good and reasonable, ambiance nice, so it's worth a try... if u don't mind crowds and trendy spots.
(4)Megan L.
Salad bar great. Skip the mushroom recipe. Mai thai was sad.
(3)Jeziell B.
Came to Duke's for dinner one night because it was walking distance from our hotel. Service was good and we were able to be seated right away. I just remembered I ordered a fish dish that was okay, not mind blowing, they have a salad bar that I did not get anything from, and their Hula Pie. I don't even remember what my husband ordered, lol. That Hula Pie though, whew, I'd come back just for that. I think it was as tall, if not taller than, our coffee spoon and it was just a chocolate syrup, cookie based, macadamia nut, ice cream, and whip cream dream. Otherwise, there are other place in the area I would eat at for dinner.
(3)Lesley M.
During the day they serve burgers and drinks in their downstairs area and at night they open up the upstairs area and offer a much nicer menu. The below review is based on the afternoon menu and dining experience. My husband and I ate here the day we arrived in Kauai. The view/location of this restaurant is wonderful. There is a good view from almost every seat downstairs (unless you sit at the bar, your back is to the view). Unfortunately we were not nearly as impressed with the food. We were starving when we arrived and spent the entire 10 minute wait to be seated eyeing everyones plates and drooling in anticipation to grub. We each ordered a cheeseburger and fries. Both our burgers were flat and dull, like a 99 cent McDonald's cheeseburger. They were just as tasteless as they were ugly. I even heard a women sitting at the table sitting next to us whisper to her hubby, "look at those burgers, I'm glad neither of us ordered that." Unlike McDonald's our burgers didn't cost 99 cents. Needless to say we will not return the next time we are on the island. Mai Tai was okay, and in a cute tiki glass.
(2)Christine H.
Duke's food is going down hill fast. It has a great location and view, but my barbecue chicken flat bread consisted of a bland piece of dough and smidge of chicken and uncooked barbecue sauce dumped on top. When I told the waitress I could not eat it, she asked me if I wanted a box. Huh? It stayed on the bill and there was no apology or offer of something different. Visitors or local, please avoid Dukes if you want a fresh, tasty, decently priced meal.
(1)Jeremy J.
Dukes is less than 10 minutes from the airport and a great place to visit on your way to/from the island. Their mai tai's are delicious and their food can really hit the spot. Head downstairs to the bar area and enjoy relaxing views of the beach and bay with mountains in the background.
(4)John V.
Had the opah and the ono and they were delicious. Great service! Went twice on our honeymoon and I highly recommend for a nice relaxing night out on the beach.
(4)Joe M.
Our meal tonight was simple put....... Out of this world! From the salad bar, to the BEST calamari I have ever had to the Ono fish breaded in macadamia nut crust and then to finalize it with a slice of absolute heaven, the macadamia nut ice cream slice on an Oreo cookie crust with whipped cream and hot fudge........yep......I'm in a food coma. My only issue was my steak was a little over cooked, but still pretty decent and I thought the salad bar should have a few more ingredients to put on the salad, but still really good. Our server was fantastic and we walked away with full bellies and a huge smile on our faces! Fantastic!!! 2 thumbs up and a must go to spot!
(4)Sara S.
A great time! We went here for lunch and cocktails after stand up paddle boarding at Duke's canoe club. Great drinks, great food, and great atmosphere. The strongest drinks I got the whole trip with the best food. The fish tacos, crab and mac nut won tons and the Mango BBQ ribs were delish! Wrong island iced tea and the el patron margarita was also delish! We sat at the bar in our bathing suits with an ocean view. Doesn't get better than that!
(5)Jess F.
Greats atmosphere on the beach. Tried multiple appetizers and was most impressed with the poke roles. Other appetizers and entrees were nothing special. Have a salad bar which comes with entrees with a decent variety. Staff was friendly. Hula pie dessert is a must have! Would come back and order the hula pie!
(3)Steven F.
Dinner was amazing, as was the hula pie. Wonderful atmosphere and great food!
(5)Russell P.
Food selection is average with good food. Views though are great of the surfers coming in, beach, and volleyballers. Drinks are soso , and of course overpriced. Enjoyed the burger and waffle fries and went back for reuben
(4)Yarin I.
Great place! Great food ( I had the steak tacos and hola pay) great experience in general
(5)Nancie M.
If staying at Marriott this place is walking distance convenient but as far as restaurant quality/ service ridiculously priced for what is offered on menu. Very average ... View is nicer downstairs than upstairs been coming her for years and service keep going down and prices up!
(3)Vicky T.
Still have reviews left over from my honeymoon. So overall if you are looking for a chain and a place to eat at the resort/hotel then by all means go for it. I was in need of a salad and as other viewers have mentioned.. The carmelized beet salad or whatever it was with goat cheese was pretty delicious. Staff was attentive enough. Note there are two places.. the barefoot lounge and the restaurant. Thank you for accepting American Express!!
(3)G S.
We went twice on Taco Tuesday. Get there before the Taco Happy hours start - the crowd builds up quickly. Once seated, the service was excellent. The second time, we just got the tacos and no drinks. The waitress had no qualms about us trying to get in and out cheaply. I live in the land of Rubios fish tacos - and when Rubios isn't rushed and their tacos are fresh and eaten on site, they are great. I say this to compare with Duke's fish taco. It is far better! The Mai Mai fish are generous portions perfectly cooked with a rich and firm batter that doesn't get mushy under the sauce. The flour tortilla were very fresh. The decor in the downstairs lounge is breathtaking with waterfalls, Koi fish ponds, and tropical plants everywhere. Or if you sit in the outside part of the lounge, you get a view of Nawiliwili Bay. After we ate both times we decided to walk out into the adjacent Marriott Resort grounds. We were floored. We had never seen such a beautifully decorated set of gardens in a hotel courtyard and couldn't stop taking photos. The architecture and murals are incredible. Finding the parking lot is tricky and you need to go far to the back to find spaces. Or you can find the entrance to the valet parking (which is also hard to find) and that is free for Dukes customers.
(5)Kip A.
Had to wait about an hour for a table so we waited in the bar. Really slow service at the bar and surprisingly weak drinks! Finally, got a table and the waitress was good. The food was mediocre. Great views of the bay!
(3)Siobhan R.
We sat at the bar and order the single serving of ribs WHICH ONLY FEED ONE PERSON, so make sure to get one each because they're finger licking GOOD! The salad bar is also amazing, with tons of dressings and veggies!
(4)Ron S.
5 stars for Tara at barefoot bar. She brought kids' water w/ little umbrellas. Thoughtful and nice. Dukes is part of Kauai Marriott- convenient walkable. Nice indoor waterfall w/ koi fish kept toddler occupied. Korean street tacos very tasty. Nice Arugula beet salad. Watered down cocktails.
(5)Tammy D.
This was located right around the corner from our Hotel and we decided to take a stroll over. They seated us within 20 minutes (with no reservation). I had the mahchong fish Duke's style...it was delicious!! My husband had the shrimp scampi which was good, but too heavy for him. Wish we had room for the Hula pie...it looked delish!
(4)Dana W.
This is one of those places that is super touristy - the hostesses are wearing long Hawaiian print skirts and the servers are in Hawaiian shirts. I usually try to avoid those places, but this one is worth it. We all shared the poke rolls and they were delicious. We almost ordered another one, but we're worried we would be too full. The muffins at the salad bar are delicious too. The opah and the mashed potatoes were perfect. I ate my leftovers for breakfast the next day and they were still delicious. Overall great experience. I took one star off because our server was a little rushed with us.
(4)Beverly K.
My husband and I walked her from our hotel. They were pretty busy so we took a seat at the bar. There was bar menu and a restaurant menu. It was nice to have more options. If you just want a light bite the bar is perfect. I had the pineapple drink and it was great. Perfect to share and a must have when you are in Hawaii! Our bartender was friendly and attentive. We didn't feel rushed and it was a relaxed atmosphere.
(4)Ed J.
Heard great things about this place, the reviews were 3+ stars, but I have to say, it was a huge disappointment. The location is fab and the views are awesome, but once you get pass that, the menu is very limited and food was bland. Waitress, was more concerned about taking the order than following up on "how was the food", well, if the light bulb was on, she would have noticed that I hardly ate any of the pasta in the bowl ! Although that salad bar was good, except for when the server dropped some tomatoes in the ice and used her fingers to put them back into the tomato serving bowl.
(2)Alia P.
Came here for our last fancy dinner of the honeymoon. Did not disappoint. We were seated with a great view of the ocean. We did have a reservation but we're seated right on time. We started with some poke tuna rolls. very good, slightly crunchy on the outside with the rice paper and the tuna tasted fresh. Then had salad bar.. nice selection, could have been happy with that for the meal. For dinner we had the specials. The fish was cooked perfectly on both plates. Service was excellent. We were too full for dessert. Total including two tropical drinks was about $100... So a little on the high side but the meal felt totally worth it. Yum. Would definitely go back again for a treat.
(5)Kat Y.
There is a long wait without a reservation, so definitely book ahead if you want to eat early. It's also on the pricey side. The non-bar menu is pretty limited and the salad bar doesn't have as many options as I would have liked. The bar menu was definitely better and had more variety. And the Kauai Pork Burger with Waffle Fries is absolutely amazing. I ordered it twice two days in a row.
(4)Aimee E.
4 star just got ice cream. Went to dukes just for the hula pie and man oh man it did not disappoint. I shared with my husband and felt jipped that I didn't get to eat the whole thing myself.
(4)Sue W.
Go to Dukes for the location and the ambience! Its festive! nice view of the beach! Decent food but nothing to rave about. Food - Their seafood is prepared very well. Flavor is ok. - We tried a bunch so I'm listing the good and the ok's Good Panko crusted calamari Fish of the day firecracker style OK coconut shrimp (sweet) mango bbq ribs (not tender) hula pie salad buffet - They were ok with one of us doing the buffet. Honestly there isn't much on the buffet to rave about, we liked the pineapple muffins and the freshly prepared featured salad. Drinks The tropical drinks are too sweet no fresh juices not even pineapple!!!! mai tai was average, lava flo is ur best bet Reservations - Nope - Theres always a line, but go take ur buzzer and sit on the grass patch in front and take in the scenery. - Park in the strip mall. Ambience - Indoor seating downstairs has a nice waterfall and koi pond. - Upstairs formal seating has the sea. The salad buffet is here. If you sit downstairs you get access to both menus of the barefoot bar and the fine dining. Thats what we did. - It gets pretty loud. Pricing It is expensive, like every restaurant in the island.:)
(3)Jess D.
Best Mai Tai in town. Great fresh food. I like it. We seat at the bar so we did not have to wait, as this place gets pack pretty quickly.
(4)Sandy C.
Always a good time! and great food!! The hula pie at the end just put us over the top. Yumminess!!
(4)Mei-Lin M.
Great ambience! Beautiful view! The poke roll and coconut shrimp appetizers are delicious! The rest of the menu looked average. The four stars are for the view, the man-made indoor waterfall, and the live music!
(4)Bonnie C.
We wanted to have at least one nice dinner, so we settled on Dukes. You pretty much pay for the view. All entrees coming with an AYCE salad/bread/fruit bar, so it's all a TON of food, but it's pretty mediocre. Fish (Mahi Mahi) was dry, and my lobster was overcooked. All in all I paid a little under $50, but I would have much rather got more spam masubi.
(3)Arleyne A.
Ahi not as fresh as other places. View is good, drinks were good. A decent lunch option in walking distance of port.
(3)Jason P.
The salad bar is Ono and the prime rib was massive, the biggest I ever ate. Oh, and the waitresses are pretty hot. The prices are horrendous though but I guess you get what you pay for. Highly touristy but if you want a nice cut of prime rib, overlooking Kalapaki and some nice looking waitresses, then it's worth shelling out the pesos
(3)James K.
The food was very good, the Mai tai's were plenty strong. The only reason I only gave it 4 stars was: One they crammed us in real tight chairs back to back (hard to get up for salad bar without bumping people behind you). Two they ran out of salad plates so they had these 5" square plates that were way too small.Because of #1 I did not want to go thru Tha salad bar again.
(4)Jeanne K.
Decent- but nothing spectacular. Nice view, helpful staff- but very typical chain-like food without originality.
(3)Ryan S.
Good drinks, good food. Be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation! But a beautiful setting makes it worthwhile.
(4)Shana O.
Had a great dinner here with my in-laws on their last night in Kauai. Mai Tais are great and come in cool glasses. Started with the Crab & Macnut Wontons since we had a coupon for a free order. Appetizers are unnecessary since all entrees come with the salad bar, but the wontons were really good - a great way to start the meal. FIL & I both ordered the Seared Seven Spice Ahi which came cooked perfectly rare per our requests. The spice rub is very spicy, but the papaya mustard served with it balances it nicely. In fact, the sauce was so good I asked for extra to be boxed with my leftovers. I highly recommend this dish, as long as you can handle spice! For those not a fan of spicy food, MIL ordered the plain grilled ahi which she really enjoyed. And I enjoyed her leftovers with the extra mustard sauce from my meal the next day! Duke's is definitely touristy, but the food & location are great, so you can't go wrong.
(4)Genevieve B.
not sure if the place has gone downhill or my standards have gone up. food is so so. but service is not great. still, good option when staying at Mariott, but not as good as I recall.
(3)Kendall B.
I really enjoyed this restaurant. Their food was fantastic, the best food I had while staying in Kauai. I recommend making a reservation because the place fills up. The waiters were awesome and very friendly. The food was so yummy! Plus, all the entrees come with a trip to the salad bar! I recommend one of their fish dishes. You have a few options of how you'd like it prepared and what it comes with. They also have steaks, which are great too. Their specialty drinks are yummy as well as just regular cocktails. And the hula pie for dessert is perfect! The restaurant sits on the beach and is open. You get a nice breeze through the restaurant. All in all, this restaurant is very good and I recommend coming here while staying in Kauai.
(5)Carina R.
After doing a tubing adventure, our guide told us about Duke's and that we had to try it. We were hungry and wanted some drinks, so we thought what the heck. The place is in the Kauai Marriot near the airport. It's nice and on the beach, so the restaurant has great views. The host and waitresses were really nice. We ordered a beer and mai tai, which were good, as well. Then we ordered the calamari and nachos to share. Both were really mediocre. I didn't care for either to be honest. Although I was full, I wasn't satisfied with my meal. It just didn't hit the spot the way you'd want it to. It's a shame the food was so blah, since the ambiance is so cool.
(3)Colby B.
They have trouble providing the food that's ordered. It's okay if you don't mind being hungry.
(1)K. R.
A little pricey but the food, service and views are awesome. Highly recommend the fish tacos. And no where can compete for Dukes hula pie for dessert.
(4)Meli N.
Hostesses could be friendlier & try to at least smile. We were there only for drinks & dessert. Lava flows & hula pie never fails to disappoint! The view at night is great since you can see the lighthouse flashing on both sides. Cute little cove out front.
(3)Andrew W.
There are two restaurants here. Duke's is upstairs and barefoot bar and grill is downstairs. You get both menus if you eat downstairs but food and service is way better at Duke's.
(3)Wardog M.
I'm a fan of their fish tacos. Go at 1100 when they open for fresh catch of the day. Service has always been great every time we went. We always eat down stairs on the beach and never have to wait long for a table. Korean street tacos are great too if you don't care for fish
(5)Raych D.
Dukes has always been one of my favorite restaurants to eat at for lunch and especially dinner! Friends and myself have thrown birthday dinners and get together eating here. The lunch menu downstairs is very small but I do love their chicken quesadilla. The burgers the serve is always juicy and huge. But the best thing they have on the menu dinner time is the endless all you can eat salad bar! So many choices of toppings to choose from such as kim chee, fruit salad, potato salad, cucumber, tomatoes, and so many selection of dressings! The white and wheat bread is always fresh, warm and soft! it tastes great with the melted butter over it! I've pretty much tried most of the dinner entrees. But my favorites has to be the prime rib!!! I love meat in general but there prime rib has so much flavor and its always a huge cut! I've never gotten a small cut or a crappy tasting prime rib! The shrimp scampi is always great when I'm craving for pasta and the mahi mahi crusted macadamia nut is another favorite of mine when I'm feeling fishy! The HULA PIE is the best desert that they have! The price did raise by a few dollars but its worth it! I normally don't care for mac nuts but this pie makes it an exception! Just came here this past Sunday night to celebrate my #1 birthday dinner with my Kauai friends and the experience was of course wonderful! The food and drinks (lava flow) was a delight and the hula pie was free because it was my birthday!...which they normally give for free if you're lucky! The ambiance is so beautiful with so much space, and great views of the ocean, bushes, and small river while going up the stairs. The workers are very nice and gives good service. Only thing I don't like here is the lighting. It is very dim and it always makes me feel like i want to go to sleep! I love it here so much that I've never visited Oahu's location because it wont compare to Kauai's Dukes!
(5)Ty M.
Decided it was too far to drive down to Poipu again for Tidepools, so went to Dukes instead. Have one at home, but not as nice as this one. Dukes is part of a complex of restaurants and shops next to the Marriott providing lots of choices. Very happy with ambiance, service, and the fresh catch we had for dinner.
(4)Dustin G.
Had the steak kimo and my wife had the steak and chicken skewers. Both were excellent. Service was quick, no complaints whatsoever.
(4)Beth B.
We came here for Happy Hour and were very pleased. We snagged a couple of chairs at the bar with a view of the beach. It was packed and very busy, but we still got really good service from the bartender. We ordered Wrong Island Iced Teas - which were yumm - o! - and only $6 during Happy Hour! For an appetizer, we split the Hawaiian pizza at $8. It was really good. Since we had eaten a late lunch, this was all we needed. It was a great meal at a decent price. Plus good service. Not usual in the islands, just saying. Happy Hour is from 4-6 every day.
(4)Jeff M.
Dukes is one of the few restaurants I ran into at Kalapaki Beach that did get my business more than once. They offer good food, great service, and reasonable prices. I ate there many times at both the bar/grill section downstairs and the fine dining area across from (the horrible) Cafe Portofino. The Hula pie is not to be missed and their salad bar (fine dining area) is remarkable. If you have food allergies, the fine dining has a special menu available for gluten and nut intolerances. The lower level's menu isn't quite as accomodating but they will work with whatever you have. Seriously, all one has to do is look at business they produce to see that they get plenty of repeat customers. Also, the two servers we talked to had been there 10 or so years so they apparently treat their employees well. Happy employees translate to happy customers.
(4)Kelly G.
Duke's is always fun and delicious. Love the chicken, steak, salads, Lava Flow drinks, and finishing dinner off with Hula pie. No matter what Duke's location you go to, the service and food is always consistent.
(5)Bryan L.
Taco Tuesday is great. The food is pretty good but a bit over priced for what you get, so do a happy hour like taco Tuesday. The view is great and an easy walk from the marriott.
(3)Gary L.
Beautiful view of the cover. Salad bar was average. Reminded me of Ruby Tuesday's. Prime rib reminded me of Las Vegas buffet quality. I asked my wife for she that her Opah was good, but it was average. For $100 was going for more. Not good value.
(2)Pook M.
This review is for HAPPY HOUR ONLY. I had my doubts about going to a hotel for drinks, but Duke's was surprisingly excellent. The fruit drinks we ordered were made with actually fresh juices. This is my main compliant with overpriced, overrated bars. I don't want to drink fruit-flavored syrup. I want fruit! And decent booze! Duke's provided. It was delightful to watch the ocean while we enjoyed our drinks too. The prices were reasonable. Our sever was fairly quick and attentive.
(4)Jack L.
The restaurant is only a short walk from the Marriott. I liked the service, but the food was just okay --- the beet arugula salad was quite good, but I definitely had fresher sashimi and better mai tai elsewhere on Kauai.
(3)Ryan C.
Heard good things about Dukes so my family and I went in to have a beer. We sat at the bar and waited 10 minutes to be acknowledged. Finally we asked if we could order a drink and he replied "I have other stuff to do first. Then Ill get to you". That was our cue to leave. Later we went there to try dinner. We sat down and the service was shockingly bad again. It took 10-15 minutes per drink. My dad got his salad when we were done with our meal and the waiter said thats when it was supposed to come out. Okay as*hole. Each person we dealt with was rude to us. The only reason I gave this place 3 stars is because the hawaiian pizza was delicious. Other then that it was not a good experience. I would not recommend Dukes in Kauai
(3)Chuck L.
We ate at several nicer restaurants on Kauai, and this was my favorite one. The food was good, the service was excellent, and the prices were reasonable. The salad bar is a big plus.
(4)Kristen G.
Opaka opaka was super yummy with Mac nut crust. Salad bar was good too! Fettuccini was soggy and I do not recommend it. The pineapple drink was fun and good. Dante was the best server we had on the whole trip. So friendly and nice. He even took the fettuccini off our bill since my parents didn't like it.
(4)Trish P.
Duke's is typical touristy dining. over-run with Aloha shirts, surfboard and paddle kitsch, and disgruntled wait-staff..... its funny how in some places local people are treated crappy-er than tourists. what is even funnier is that i was both a "tourist" and a "local".... which might explain the good and bad treatment my friends and i received at Duke's. our waitress Pam was nice and helpful at the start of dinner, but, at the end of dinner when presented with a discount card, became very rude. yes, i'm from Hawaii, no i'm not from Kauai.... and what is so wrong with trying to save a buck? hey Pam = maybe your tip would have been better had you not been un-necesarilly rude to my friends and I. oh well. despite the bad service, the food was decent. i had the Kushiyaki, which is 2 skewers, one with chicken, the other with steak, onions and bell peppers, pilaf rice and served with a teriyaki type sauce. this was pretty good. all entrees are served with their salad bar - its not huge, but is good. the pasta salad here is good and the tofu salad is the best! also tried the mac crusted opa with capers, crab and cheese won tons, and the seafood pesto pasta. the opa was AWESOME, the crab and cheese won-tons were good and the seafood pasta was bland. also, it is HOT and HUMID here.... for some reason breeze avoids this restaurant like the plague, so if you dine here - wear loose clothing and be prepared to sweat. i can't recommend this place, but if you do happen to venture here, be careful which waitress you get, and apparently discounts make them grouchy....
(3)Randall M.
Everything in the salad bar is super fresh! Had the Cajun seasoned prime rib...awesome! It was very tasty and cooked to perfection(rare)...can't wait to have it again.
(5)Pooja S.
Beautiful view, mediocre food and very slow service... I had expected more, but it was disappointing. In the evening for happy hour - the appetizers and service were better but still not a place I'll return to for a meal.
(2)Pearl V.
Oh yes, Dukes... a tourist trap we got sucked into because it was just so damn convenient. It was located on the Marriott property we were staying at. Not only that, but practically everything GOOD closes early on the island... the little food stands, the mom and pop shop restaurants. All that is left are the chain restaurants. It was our first night on Kauai, and were originally drawn to this place because of the Yelp raves about the Happy Hour fish tacos on Tuesdays. We knew we weren't going to make it in time for happy hour but thought we'd see if we could order them anyhow. [You can't, by the way.] Our server was Jonathan, who we befriended that night and actually later hung out for a bit together one of the nights we were there. [Thanks again for the "mind-eraser" drinks! That was a creeper!] We started with the "Poke Roll" appetizer, which was recommended to us by Jonathan. It was [shoyu] poke wrapped in a rice paper roll and slightly fried. Served sliced like sushi, on a plate drenched with a mayo-based sauce, surrounding a ball of rice. I'm a huge poke lover, but this was way too salty for my liking. We managed to finish it, but it wasn't something that I'd go for again. Hubby had the "Koshiyaki" plate which was a chicken skewer and beef skewer marinated teriyaki style, alongside basmati rice. I had the "Huli-Huli Chicken and Baby Back Ribs" combo plate. All entrees come with their unlimited salad bar, which supposedly they are renowned for. It was pretty average to me, but what stood out to us the most was the potato salad because they use purple yams. They really try to push the Hula Pie for dessert but we were both extremely full and definitely had no room for anything else. But I hear it's like a mud pie with macadamia nuts. Anything with copious amounts of whip cream is probably not the best thing for my finicky stomach. Maybe next time. All in all, our dinner was about $86 after taxes and tip which was a lot more than we would've liked to spend on a mediocre dinner but we expected the bill since it was a tourist spot.
(3)David K.
Had to wait a while for our food, but it was worth the wait. We had the fish tacos - the fish, swordfish, was fresh and delicious and accompanied with great tasting slaw. They were also huge. Ambience is great with beach front view. Yes it is touristy, but you get delicious food - isn't that what counts?
(4)Sal E.
Dukes was consistent throughout our weeks stay. We had lunch 3 times here. Hostess - 4 stars. Decor indoor & out 3.5 stars. Food - 3 stars. Beach front view - 3 stars.
(3)Ed C.
Having been to almost all of the TS restaurants throughout Hawaii and California, we were eagerly anticipating going to Dukes...that eager anticipation turned to disappointment though. It has been less than a week, and I can barely remember what we had for dinner because it was so underwhelming. Their salad bar, which I think comes with most entrees, was an absolute JOKE. Their entire menu has been paired down to the same-old-same-old fair that you get at most Hawaii restaurants these days. TS restaurants used to be so creative with their menus and have really tossed in the towel in our eyes. The ONLY saving grace was the Hula Pie, which is always delicious. Our wait staff was marginal at best...took our order, and then showed up with the check. Come on TS Restaurants!!! Bring back your creativity to your menus!
(2)Robin A.
My husband and I dropped by after hiking along the Napali Coast. The Aloha Hour (aka Happy Hour) offers some decent deals! We enjoyed a couple of drinks, kalua pork nachos, and a veggie flatbread while overlooking the ocean. It's pricey compared to Happy Hour in California, but 1) it's Kauai, so everything is automatically more expensive, and 2) it's a "barefoot bar," so "decent deals" means $7.50-10 for drinks and $8-12 for food. If you're looking for cheaper bites, then you may want to look elsewhere... but the flavor was spot-on for everything we ordered!
(5)Shae C.
I visited Kauai June 24th, came to Dukes right after I landed. I've always loved coming here when I use to live on kauai. Overlooking the beach. I had a lilikoi frozen margarita and my friend had a pau Hana drink. Both were really delicious! Our server introduced herself. And the specials. I ordered fresh ona (herb crusted) and my friend wanted one of the specials, server says "oh we actually don't have it" confused... So she ordered a shrimp scampi. We didn't understand why she would tell us and then say we can't have it. She seemed kinda flustered. Food arrived and my Fresh Ona (herb crusted) was really dry; tasteless. I tried to eat most of it, because I was starving and I really didn't feel like I could wait to get another entree. My friends shrimp scampi was delicious. Could never go wrong with shrimp scampi. Server asked me if I needed a box for the rest of my fish, I declined and she was surprised I didn't want to take it. Overall: scenery and ambience was a 5 star Food: 3 (I wish I could have gotten a different fish) Drinks: 5 Service: 3
(3)Emma S.
Had drinks and apps after work. Can'T resist the crab won tons. Pretty view, pretty staff and pretty drinks. At the end of a long day it was pretty great!
(5)Chelsea T.
Went here for our last night in Kauai. We both got different fish dishes and they were absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was great with their little waterfall and pond. We went on Halloween and all of the staff were all dressed up. Great place to have dinner.
(4)Jamie W.
A hundred times better than the Duke's in Waikiki. Why? Better food, drinks, service, view and of course... the chickens! Yes, chickens. Everywhere. Hubby and I had a couple of "wrong island" ice teas and shared a burger. After a week of dumbed-down cruise ship food, a stiff drink and a decent burger was exactly what we needed to get through the remaining day. Nice view of a very quiet beach and a great spot to drink away the sporadic rain showers. We sat in the patio area but if I were having a real meal here, they have a super cute looking grotto area with koi and beautiful flora.
(3)Phil G.
Stopped in twice on our vacation last week...It was so good the first time we had to come back again! On our first visit we had the ahi & kimo steak + lobster. The seven spice ahi & papaya mustard sauce was soo good! The lobster & steak were perfect. We finished it off with the hula pie Second visit we got the seven spice ahi again & the opah. The ahi was once again cooked to perfection and the opah was surprising VERY large and suuuper good. The salad bar is the best on the island with a great selection! No regrets here, would go back in a heart beat!
(5)Sarah K.
This is a surprisingly veg-friendly restaurant. At least the portobella ciabetta sandwich minus the goat cheese pesto was vegan, according to the waitress. It was super yummy. REALLY really good. Staff was super friendly. Our waitress couldn't have been nicer and more on top of things. The waffle fries are really good too- they're seasoned brown and come with the sandwiches. I have heard amazing things about the Hula Pie too. Our ziplining guide actually recommended it. And I saw in reviews on here that if you eat here and save your receipt and bring it back later you get one free. It's not vegan so I wouldn't try but sounds like a deal! When I asked about it the waitress told me it's an oreo cookie crust with some kind of macadamia nut icecream type pie. That sounds evilly good. The restaurant itself looks like it's split into two pieces. Lunch is at the Barefoot Bar downstairs by the beach. That's the only one I've eaten at. The restaurant part looks nice but isn't open for lunch and I think it's pricier. There is free valet parking for Duke's at the Marriott Kauai hotel. There are no signs at the entrance or on the Marriott resort for Duke's. It was hard to find. The address is accurate and GPS will get you to the resort but unless you know to valet at the resort from there, good luck. I actually asked someone who worked there and I don't think she understood great English because she told me the restaurant was back on Rice street. Oh. well. After a phonecall to Duke's we found it. I'd definitely recommend and it looks like there are a lot of shops you can walk to after dining or you could just walk along the beach. Live music was also setting up by the bar as we were leaving too. Valet doesn't really check the receipt so I guess potentially you could take your time strolling around. I'd definitely recommend this place. Check it out! I hear it's the same menu in Waikiki too and I have yet to visit there so that's good encouragement for me. :)
(5)Amy D.
Holy wow this place was good! After a flying tour around the island we all wanted something in our bellies. Headed to Duke's and it hit the spot. Drink: Nadine's Mai Tai - get it, drink it and enjoy it. Soooo tasty. Food: I got the mango barbeque baby back ribs and my friend got the mango bbq bacon burger and we split them. DELICIOUS! Flavorful burger and ribs were fallin' off the bone. Also sampled Uncle Kel's Kalbi ribs and those were great too. Sea, sun, surf + good food and drinks = big thumbs up.
(4)Shania A.
Me and my family is prime rib lovers we all ordered medium well prime rib and two of us had medium rare and just so happen I was one of the two the server came back told her I order a medium well not medium rare she took it back and came out with the same plate and said that this was a medium well and I was just over eating it put it on the side and didn't finish eating it then we order desserts NOW THAT WAS TO TOP IT OFF THAT WAS THE BEST EVER. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone just make sure your food is cook good.
(3)Charlie T.
Came back for fish tacos Tuesday night and they have improved the service and dining experience over my post from last year. Good things can happen and the tacos are great.
(4)Andrea P.
The Hula Pie is delicious and our server was very personable and a pleasure. The environment is one of a kind with an indoor coy fish pond and great views.
(4)Scott L.
My wife and I ate there on 10/22/13. Actually we ate in the grill downstairs. The ocean view was perfect. You can order off the main menu or the grill menu. I had the Mahi Sandwich which was good but plain. The bun was a cheap variety and it fell apart before I got finished. My wife had the Ahi Wrap and she really liked it. She said it was excellent. Our waiter was very friendly and knew the menu well and the ingredients of any entree we asked him about. We topped off dinner with a slice of Hula Pie. You need to try this at least once and one piece will serve two.
(4)David K.
Really surprised by the food I experienced. The place does not look like it would have great food, but this was the best fish I had on the island. Staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about gluten free options. Would definitely recommend and go again.
(4)Karla R.
Great stop for lunch on the beach. Fish and chips arrived hot and tasty. Fish tacos were fresh and well seasoned. Great service.
(4)Kelly M.
This review is for the Happy Hour. Our last day in Kauai our plane was leaving Lihue at 7pm. We needed a restaurant to eat at that was near the airport. We stayed in the North Shore for an entire week and were not to sure where to eat in Lihue. I read about Duke's in a Frommer's Guide but thought it would be crowded or too expensive. Neither was the case. We arrived at around 5:30 and were seated right away. We had a friendly waitress who recomeneded that my husband and I order the Ono. It was delicious and less than $20 a plate. My kids ordered sliders and french fries. Everyone enjoyed their food. They played good music. A lot of reggae. We sat next to the Koi pond, which entertained my kids.
(5)Susan U.
I was disappointed. The Mai Tai was weak and the appetizers where lousy.
(2)Ally R.
My mouth waters when I think about the juicy and perfectly flavored 7 spice ahi. And an added salad bar! And $3 best i've ever had tuesday happy hour fish tacos. Lord. Dukes earns their five stars.
(5)Christine O.
During a recent trip we ate their half a dozen times. Food was always amazing, especially their fresh fish tacos! The drinks were good too...try the lava flow. Their customer service was great and we were always seated pretty fast.
(5)Megan V.
Second day here. After a day in the sun, we looked for a nice dinner to replenish our energy. Unfortunately, this place was not very good. The kids menu was decent, but my family was not impressed with the flavors. And, that doesn't happen often! Drinks were good; good salad bar but surely won't come back. Not worth the money the quality and flavors.
(2)Shauna S.
Sadly, we had to duck out early because I wasn't feeling very well but I did manage to make it through the majority of our dinner and our waitress was amazing the entire time. The salad bar is extensive and I liked all of the options. The little macadamia nut muffins (it was probably just normal bread) were tasty and they had a wide variety of pasta salads -- even one my mom used to make. Along with your standard Caesar that is already prepared, you can make your own which I was all about. I got a mac crusted fish (I think it was the Ono, but as I mentioned, I wasn't feeling very well -- whatever it was it's the one described as buttery). The crust of it was amazing and the inside of the fish was tender. Well cooked and very delicious. An amazing blend of the flavours. My BF had the lobster tails but I wasn't there to see him consume it -- I'm judging by his desire to devour it that it was pretty darn tasty. We ended up getting a free hula pie to go -- compliments of our hotel, who also got us seats by the rail (so that we could see the beach). After I felt better and we were sure that no phantom pains would return, we opened up the hula pie. (Note: This pie would have not lasted the night in our refrigerator but that's all we had since we don't get freezers). Although the ice cream was partially melted, we let the macadamia nuts and the fudge loose and went to town. It was delicious. Overall, great food, great service, and great atmosphere.
(5)Charlie B.
It's a little cheesy there, but as long as you know that's what you are in for, it's fun. And it is right on the water. We stopped for dinner on our drive home from the North Shore. After some fancy dins, we wanted some basic food, nothing too fancy, but still wanted something unique that screamed Hawaii. This was the place! And I had the mahi fish and chips, so moist and flaky and tasty, and perfect washed down with a couple of their strong and huge mai tais!
(4)Ellie F.
I felt a little bit like I was at a theme restaurant in a strip mall in the midwest. But, I think that was mainly our thinks-he's-funny server than anything else. My food was tasty, and the Aloha Pie (I think?) was worth it. It was HUGE and perfect chocolatey goodness.
(3)Tyler B.
Great food, delightful atmosphere, fantastic service. A book break from all the amazing local restaurants on Kauai.
(5)Darren L.
Just had some lava drinks and they were great. Location is very nice as well right on the beach. Can't really say much more but seemed nice.
(4)Charlene K.
I have to say "the Duke abides". There's a barefoot bar, downstairs close to beach. Indoor water fall, though not as epic as it sounds. Ocean View dinning, but there's not view at night. Salad bar of plenty, so you can have a meal before your meal. Get a pina colada in a pineapple. Lobster tails, Steak, chicken, and fish dishes. Not a place like Apple Bee's, but yes it's a chain. Service is friendly and wasn't a bad experience but it also wasn't authentic Hawaiian. Not fancy as I was led to believe, my heals took a tole. So if you are in the mood for large plates, large desserts, and all American good time. This is more close to home.
(3)Olivia L.
Nice location ... very near our cruise ship. I heard alot about Duke's and my perception was totally different. The food was ok...I remember the salad bar was really nice, the drink that was pina colada with strawberries or something red was the highlight. the famous dessert Mudd Pie kinda summed it all up. They ran out of hot fudge so ate a Mudd Pie with just nuts and vanilla ice cream. It just lacked flavor. And our server didn't care and made us feel like he wanted to go home and not be here. Literally wanted to cash us out first and took off... Disappointment.
(2)Kathy Q.
Great food the salad bar which is included in all meals was delicious. Shrimp scampi wonderful and tall fish great! Great atmosphere and good service.
(4)Katie H.
Seriously, what's the big deal? Duke's has an ocean view but hello?? You're on an island, an ocean view isn't difficult to come by. We frequented this establishment twice while staying at the Marriott Beach Club. I realize we're tourists but seriously, if I wanted to eat at Applebee's or Chili's I would. Not only was the food not appealing but the service wasn't great the first time, and the second time we just went to the bar, it was horrendous, fool me twice I guess. We went to the bar reluctantly to meet some friends who were leaving the next day and we were going to have some drinks and appetizers and hang out a bit. The bartender took my husband's drink order and then proceeded to ignore us for the rest of our time there, I finally had to ask if we could close out our check otherwise we would have walked out. We finally went to Kukui's at the Marriott because their bartender's don't act like condescending douche bags. Yeah, I said it, condescending douche bags. Bottom line: If you want terrible service and Hawaiian style Applebee's/ Chili's food, by all means go here. If you want some great service and good food, spend a little more money and go to the restaurants on the Marriott property it has an ocean view too. If you want a burger, go to Kalapaki Beach Hut, yeah it's not fancy, but the food is awesome! If you want a real romantic dinner, go to Gaylord's, their food and service is impeccable.
(1)Marc K.
casual is the word here! nice outdoor place with far off views of the water, we actually spotted a whale but you need binoculars to see anything like that. As for the food, I can't say, I went and sat at the bar and drank and had some poke and sushi. the bar is TINY but we were there at an off time and it was us and the staff who are friendly. If you want a casual spot in a place of upscale places, simple fish dishes this is the place you want to visit.
(4)TJ E.
Dukes is a family favorite. We go to Dukes every time we visit Kauai, sometimes twice. You can't beat the all you can eat salad bar, green salad, caesar salad, carrot muffins, banana nut muffins, all included with your entree purchase. Even for the kids. Great for hungry families that have been swimming all day. Dukes style is our favorite preparation for the fish. Don't leave with out a piece of Hula Pie to share. Until next time Dukes.
(5)Ray T.
Food: 3 out of 5 Ambience: 5 out of 5 Service: 5 out of 5 This is an absolutely beautifully designed restaurant, with a stunning indoor tropical garden complete with koi pond and waterfalls. The staff was friendly and professional from the moment we were greeted until we left. The food was good, but honestly nothing spectacular. We had the Huli Huli Chicken and Baby Back Pork Ribs Combo and the fresh Ono prepared "Duke's style." Both were decent, but wasn't blown away. Salad bar was pretty decent and had a nice selection. Overall, the food was just ok, but we still really enjoyed ourselves here because the great service and ambiance created such a nice, relaxing mood.
(4)Kathy G.
Love Duke's in Kauai but was so disappointed in the new menu. I realize that changing food choices now and then is necessary. Removing the Stir Fried Cashew Chicken was disappointing. It was my favorite choice on the menu. There is nothing on the new menu close to this. Please return the astir Fry to your menu. It was the best!l
(3)D C.
Great food and view! Nicest Dukes of the islands.
(4)Debbie N.
The best part of Duke's is the salad bar. Stick with that and you'll be good. The mahi mahi special was overpriced, tasteless and too salty. This place is popular due to location and name but it was a disappointment for us
(2)Scott A.
Best place to watch sunset n eat a nice meal. Lobster mac delish, great service and great mai tai. Always one of my favorite places..
(4)John B.
Great location! Downstairs has good bar food. If you make a reservation you sit on the second floor with amazing food and an even better view. Great service, very friendly.
(4)Liz S.
We went here 3 seperate times while staying next door at the Marriott- we never had a bad meal and everything was very very good. Well priced, friendly staff, quick service. The views are also beautiful.
(5)Lyn S.
We really like Duke's! We got there early and got a great table upstairs on the railing overlooking Kalapaki Beach and within earshot of the entertainment downstairs. The Mai tais were good, the salad bar was very good (I especially like the banana chips) and the fish entrees (four local fish prepared five ways) were enjoyable. Needless to say, don't leave without having a Hula Pie for the table. Our waitress Claudia definitely deserves an award for most cheerful. Update 4/7/13: We've eaten at Duke's four times in the last week -- twice upstairs and twice down. Obviously we like it enough to keep coming back. Upstairs, we had opah, Ono and opacapaca served firecracker style and Mac nut crusted. Both preparations are good. The salad bar is nice -- to each their own, but we like the beets and the dried banana chips. Hula pie is free with your Marriott mahalo card! Downstairs, don't miss the discounted Mai Tais and coconut shrimp at happy hour. Don't bother with the flatbread, but the tacos (fish or Korean) are great.
(4)Robin W.
4 for atmosphere/view, 2 for food. Grab a seat on the patio for a view or inside and enjoy the distinctly Hawaiian feel. Service is a bit off...slow to order, but food came really fast...and it was bad to mediocre all around. Everything lukewarm makes me think the food is pre-prepared. Hamburgers blah, uninspired. Crab wontons lack texture and unduly fishy. Nachos a towering heap of meh. Drinks way too sweet. Ahi wrap just tasteless. So on and so forth.
(3)reza n.
1. Worst Burger Ever. Burnt costco patty. -5 starts if i could give it 2. Great view. Only reason they get 2 stars.
(2)Melinda L.
Service staff very friendly. Wooden chairs horribly uncomfortable.-Slats make sitting a chore unless your a chunky American tourist. Salad bar limited in choice for toppings, and the ones that were there low in quality.-broccoli the size of trees & yellowing. To top it off, I observed salad bar attendant grab tongs by food end and put back in.Yuck! Had Opah macadamia encrusted style, overcooked and salty. If you arrive late and have no other options, it does the job. Stop by and have a drink and appetizer, that way you can say you were at Duke's.
(3)Mike L.
Stopped here for dinner based on recommendation from brother in law. Had family with kids aged 10 and up. While everything we had was fine, it was not great. Wouldn't go out of our way to go back.
(3)Susan W.
Great atmosphere- we ate at the more casual area downstairs with a terrific view of the beachfront. Food was good and drinks - especially my adult beverage served in a hollowed out pineapple was great! Go and enjoy. You won't regret it.
(4)Kris F.
Great food and really nice view. Staff very attentive. Korean tacos were awesome!
(5)Dan R.
Relaxing with live music and tropical drink during happy hour
(5)Jennifer J.
I live on Kauai and find myself at Duke's quite often. Duke's has a great location on the beach which is surprisingly unusual on this island. Tiki torches lend a nice ambiance at night. Downstairs is affordable with simple food. Some favorites include the nachos and the hula pie. The hula pie is HUGE! It used to have a lot of hot fudge on it but lately they've been stingy so my advice is to ask for more. Upstairs Duke's has a fabulous salad bar. You can even get the salad bar downstairs but it is a bit of a walk up stairs. Recently the items in the salad bar changed. I am not a fan and hope they go back to their old standards. All in all, Duke's downstairs is one of my favorite spots to enjoy with friends. I recommend it.
(4)Desirée P.
YUMMY!!!Love Duke's......Up stairs is dressy and down stairs is casual......Down stairs there is a waterfall in the middle of the restaurant and a Koi fish pond.....It's very romantic....Great food and service
(4)Rian F.
Best salad bar on the island by far...of course that's not going to get you in the door now is it? Fresh fish, friendly staff, great atmosphere, and the valet parking is a bonus! Definitely recommend.
(4)Christine B.
Quite expensive for a meal. My pasta/fish dish neared forty dollars. The salad bar is amazing and more than enough to just have as your main dish. I regret not simply ordering the sixteen dollar salad bar (all main courses come with salad bar access, but it was easy to lose hunger for the actual meal.) The atmosphere is nice, the wait staff is polished, but the view was said to be spectacular. Unfortunately, my only view was the back of the restaurant because I ended up on the unlucky side of the table-- not a big deal, I just think the layout could have been planned a tinge better to avoid that.
(3)Seagem F.
Cool bartenders and only place left open in town for a late night drink!
(4)TheDude M.
Aside from the interesting decor and very cool location Dukes did not deliver. All my friends on the island told me to avoid Dukes but every staff member or tourist we ran into at the attached Marriott seemed to swear by the place. My wife and I both went with the waiters suggested fish dishes hoping he would have the scoop on what their flagship dishes may have been. In the end we both agreed the meals were mediocre at best, too expensive in relation to taste and quality, and the waiter up sold my wife's cocktail to ultra top shelf liquor without asking. That being said maybe just get bar food here, do not expect much from their dinner menu. Like suggested by others, do yourself a massive favor and drive the 10 minutes to Poipu and eat at The Beach House. It's just a fraction more expensive but they over deliver on location,service,food quality, flavor and class. The Dude
(2)James D.
2 stars for the buffalo wing appetizer. The rest of the food was blah.
(2)Blake W.
I knew that there was too much riding on this stop at Dukes. It was our first night back on Kauai and the main thing that I remembered about this island was Dukes and how good it was. I am going to pretend it was a different restaurant. We somehow made it here during Happy Hour and there was a band, this means that there is a wait for the outside tables. Surprisingly, the wait was only 10 minutes so that was no big deal. We were seated in front of the band, they were good, so why 2 stars? Service number one, food number two. I have a tip for anyone working in the service industry, if you sell more drinks your tip tends to go up. Well, at least with me it does. You don't have to smother me, just an occasional "Ready for another?". Don't make me flag you or ask another server to get you. And where do you go when you leave the floor area any way? Do you have a treadmill in the back or something? I know I am on the islands and things travel at a different pace but this isn't my first rodeo. Anyways, I got our first round from the bar. Later, I got the menus. Much later, I got the silverware. Next the food. The coconut shrimp apps were good but if you are going to leave the tails on please don't fold them over and bread them. It sucks to get a shell in your mouth when coconut is in the equation. It doesn't matter if you look at the rest of the shrimp because it will still seam like you are eating shell. The fish and chips, what did you change? It might have been that they were overly greasy fish fillets or it could have been because they sat all lonely in the back wondering who ordered them under a light. Hey, at least you got the waffle fries right. Next, the Mango BBQ Bacon Burger and fries. It tasted great but if you are going to serve some kind of pork on a burger you need to name it correctly. If you are going to put bacon in the title you have to cook it. Pork that bends is called, "Ham", bacon is the crispy stuff. "Hamburger" is a relative term, check out the stuff at the end of the salad bar that says bacon bits to get an idea of which direction to go here. Actually, the burger, sauce, onions, cheese, and "ham" all worked together. It actually tasted really good. If the bacon had been cooked this would have been a top notch burger. Again the waffle fries were good. Don't get me wrong, if you get a chance to go to Dukes you should. The view is worth any pain that you have to put up with. Don't expect great service unless you sit at the bar, the front of the bar, when you get there you will figure out what I am talking about. If you hit the night that the food is on you will be thinking that I am out of my mind for this review. If you hit it on the wrong day just remember you are in a beautiful place and enjoy the views.
(2)Saumya C.
Lovely ambience and decent food. But don't come here if you are craving a good meal. The menu is limited and not all the items on it are good. Great place for drinks though.
(3)Henry L.
location is perfect. Like most Duke's its right on the beach or ocean. Only had drinks there but it was such a relaxing atmosphere. 4 drinks ran $45. Avg price for this place like this. They have a upstairs and a downstairs at this location. When you enter in from the bridge side you tend to go a path that takes you upstairs. I didnt even know there was one down but the waiter mentioned that the upstairs is a restaurant and the down part is the bar/lounge with the live music. As you walk to downstairs you get to the beach area where is its just beautiful. Theres only like 6 locations of Dukes so if you have a chance to check one out you should.
(4)Ken W.
We were given a very, very nice "window" table, that is, right next to the balcony edge, so we were able to enjoy the last notes of sunset. The breeze was cooling, the restaurant was buzzing, and the Mai Tai was...alas, a letdown. However, it was our first Hawaiian Mai Tai after getting off a 12 hr flight and so I willing to let it pass. The Mai Tais by the pool at the Marriott are much better. The salad buffet was okay, no big deal, but provided some very welcome veggies! We speculated on whether the pineapples were local. Our main courses were good, but not terribly memorable. For New York prices, it's ugh-inducing but I try not to rate on value. The ambiance and view gets them the fourth star!
(4)Bob G.
Are at Dukes 2 times during my stay. Beet salad and fish tacos in downstairs portion of the Restraunt where awesome. Salad bar upstairs was great too. Staff was quick and efficient. Wait on the weekend can be a little long. Definitely worth a visit
(4)Jean W.
This Duke's location is right on our resort property, which at first caused me to giggle like a schoolgirl and jump up and down. Considering the outstanding Waikiki location, to which I award 5 stars, I was somewhat disappointed with this one. There are many similarities, however. This Kalapaki location also provides their Barefoot Bar on the bottom level with the dining level on top. It's also pretty much on the beach, with an incomparable view from either level. The menu is virtually the same at both locations...so what is it about this one that doesn't cut it for me? It's the quality of the food. For whatever reasons, they just don't compare to Waikiki for me. The fresh fish specials here are good, not great. The wicked-pricey specialty Hawaiian cocktails are just ... okay here. Still, I cannot resist a Tropical Itch...but, in a good way. The only menu item that I feel equally fond of at both locations is the amazing Duke's salad bar. I love that you can order just this if you don't feel like a larger entree; or you can choose to add it to any entree for a reasonable price if you're feeling ravenous. I absolutely live for fresh Ono and Opakapaka, which Duke's serves regularly as specials. Although they're frequently out, the few times I've found them available here, I've been somewhat underwhelmed compared to Waikiki. And they don't charge less for them here, I assure you. I do love their t-shirts and other wearables, and usually end up augmenting my summer wardrobe with a piece or two. In our several years of coming to Kauai, we've since found many other great places for fresh Hawaiian fish, sushi, apps, drinks and other favorites, so we typically choose somewhere other than Duke's Lihue. But, in a pinch, if your rental car gets swallowed up by a sinkhole and the resort transit is done for the day, I'd still grab an Itch and a salad bar here.
(3)Meredith K.
We dined downstairs for dinner one evening and we had the fish tacos and Mahi Mahi caesar salad. We went another night and tried the Hawaiian pizza. Overall this place is ok, but convenient to the Marriott hotel, and a nicer venue with the patio seating. Prices are to be expected and service is up & down, it can be slow at times because they're busy.
(3)Zeny O.
Came here for a very late lunch, right after getting off the plane so my review may be influenced by the fact that my family and I were starving. Fries were great, waffle cut, crisp and nicely seasoned. Hubs had the chicken cashew which was yummy but small portion. I had the Korean steak tacos which were the bomb! Asian seasoned tender cubes of beef, with some kind of amazing green sauce and veggies spilling out of soft taco shell. Five star for that! The kids had cheeseburger which was huge and yummy, the other had chicken fingers which were more like "where's the chicken in these fingers?" they were skinny and there wasnt much to thrm. kid #2 was still starving so he finished off the fries. 4 star for the over all experience, eating right on Kalapaki beach, great ambiance, lots of cool surfing memorabilia to look at.
(4)Gail Q.
Yeah, it's a chain, but you know what? You're a tourist. Shut up and have a huge piece of whatever that giant pie thing is because it's good and bigger than your head unless your head is much bigger than it should be, in which case, seek medical help.
(4)Amanda K.
A group of us came here our second night in Kauai for a nice sit down dinner. The view of ocean is beautiful. Our waiter was great and very helpful. The salad bar was a bit of a disappointment to us all. Drinks were tasty and I enjoyed the rib/chicken combo. The rest of the group wasn't very found of their dishes (they all got different fish meals). The hula pie is to die for though and I highly recommend that you put aside your calorie counting for a night and order it.
(4)Nick V.
Made reservation just a couple hours before and ended up with a great seat! Claudia gave us great service and explained the menu very well. Highly recommend!
(5)Amy M.
Wonderful food! Ahi was sashimi grade, super good. Macadamia nut and herb crusted fish is super good. Firecracker roasted fish is super good, very spicy, and served with fresh avocado. Coconut shrimp is yumy. All meals come with a nice salad bar. The hula pie is great! (oreo cookie crust with macadamia nut ice cream, fudge and whip cream, btw it serves 4) Our waiter was Rusty and was also great at his job. The View of the bay is spectacular. Decor is very nice. Waterfall on the way upstairs to the restaurant. Make reservations so there is no waiting. free valet parking, please tip the guys. Downstairs has a barefoot bar is if you are on their beach all day and want to walk in for a bite before leaving. We went back to Dukes several times on this vacation just so we could try more entrees.
(4)Lindsay H.
Took longer for them to sit us than told, waitress didn't come get our drink order until 20min sitting at the table. Mahi mahi sandwich NO BIG deal, tasted like a frozen filet, crab& macadamia wontons were very good with peanut dipping sauce. Disappointed :( probably won't return, bummed this was our last dining out before our vacation ended.
(2)Kayli H.
Just got back from our stay at the Marriott next door for our honeymoon, and we went to Dukes maybe 5 times that week? The hostesses started to recognize us and seemed happy to see us each visit. Either we went too much or they're really good at their job. The food was great, didn't have a bland meal once. Sat in the dining room the first time and the barefoot bar the rest. Love the coconut shrimp, and the Huli Huli chicken was awesome too. Also tried the Hawaiian pizza with Kalua pork, it was really yummy. Our favorite drink was the "Wrong Island Iced Tea," which was made pretty strong and not a bad price at $8.50 regular price (great deal considering it's a tourist location and the hotel bar's regular drink prices are around $11.50 for a similar drink). Fish was fresh, the appetizers and sauces were all yummy. Food prices weren't bad either, we were surprised being next to the resort and all. We came in September and never had to wait more than 30 minutes for a table at around 7pm, service wasn't always the fastest but what do you expect being next door to the biggest hotel on the island, and the staff does a great job of trying to make you feel special and keep a good mood. We couldn't get enough.
(5)Karen T.
This review is for the happy hour only. We had Duke's and Nadine's mai tais and hula pie. It was happy hour so there was a band playing Hawaiian music as we sat on the patio overlooking the beach at dusk. The hula pie was huge so our nephew gladly helped us eat the dessert. The restaurant is a short walk from where the NCL cruise ship docks. What a way to celebrate a birthday!
(4)Brooke H.
An absolute must in Kauai! Every dish I've had has been amazing! We've made it a tradition that Duke's is the first and last place we eat when visiting the island. They also have an awesome happy hour and a spectacular view.
(5)Krista M.
I had heard about Duke's but didn't expect to like it as much as did. We actually ate there twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. Lunch: We sat in the downstairs bar and got some local made beers which were good. We started with the crab Rangoon appetizers which were very tasty. Then I ordered the mahi-mahi tacos, absolutely delicious! I enjoyed them soooo much. My fiancé ordered the fish and chips which were nice and crispy served with some waffle fries. Oh and I have to mention the dill tartar sauce which was served with both dishes, wow, it was super tasty and I wish tartar sauce always has dill, because it rocks! Dinner: We sat in the upstairs dining room. We ordered 2 entrees and skipped an appetizer since the salad bar was included. The salad bar was wonderful! Very fresh with tasty salads. My favorite was the white bean salad....very yummy. They also had these amazing banana/nut and carrot/pineapple muffins; I was so tempted to stash some in my purse for breakfast the next morning! The entrees were a pleasant surprise; I had steak and shrimp scampi. My fiancé had a the short ribs. For dessert how could we not indulge in the famous Hula Pie?! It was huge! I mound of macadamia nut ice cream with an oreo cookie crust and covered with hot fudge, it was just heavenly. We really enjoyed Duke's too bad there are none on the east coast!
(4)Michael F.
"A Switcher of Accommodations" I suppose if I lived in Lihue I'd be a regular here. It's on the beach, it's open air, the furnishings are all wood. Sports are on the telly, the bartenders are cool, the crowd is from everywhere. There's even a complimentary ocean breeze. You can have it at your back, your side, or in your pretty face. Your choice entirely. It was a short walk from my hotel, and I came here twice before switching accommodations. I'm like that, you know. A "Switcher of Accommodations." I think they call people like me itinerant. Although I prefer the term "hotel slut." Anyway, my first night here I ordered a mai-tai. I had to. You're supposed to do that. It's practically what's expected. So after my drink came I consumed half in three gulps and looked at the menu. Almost immediately I honed in on the Panko crusted calamari strips and fresh fish tacos. While I read the descriptions I listened to an annoying man in a Hawaiian shirt. He was sitting at the end of the bar, trying to sell a customer a timeshare on the island. "It's a great deal, man," he said, "I'll take you to see it and you'll love it." But the customer wasn't interested in timeschlocks. He just wanted to sip his drink and cuddle his lady. Hawaiian Shirt got the message and went back to his Bud Lite draft. So I went with calamari and fish tacos and finished my mai-tai right quick. I ordered another when my food came and then another when I ordered more tacos. In case you're keeping score at home here's the current tally: Three consumed mai-tais, one inhaled calamari plate, and four swallowed-whole fish tacos. Everything was fine. Tasted exactly like it was supposed to. Not five star, of course--you know that going in--but I'm not a five star guy anyhow. I'm a white collar boy with mostly blue collar tastes. The check came but I wasn't done. Oh, no. Not by a longshot. So I ordered a Tropical Itch--a rum drink with vodka, fruit juice and orange curacao. Very tasty. I also ordered a slice of Hula pie, which ended up being extremely large and good. Here's a picture and description: dukeswaikiki.com/hula-pie Needless to say when my meal was through I was so full and buzzed I could barely walk or stumble. But I had planned it that way. And I love when things go to plan.The next night I had coconut shrimp and firecracker roasted ahi with avocado and black bean relish, with, of course, more alcohol. Only this time I merely had one mai-tai, one Wrong Island Iced Tea and two Longboard brews. No Hula pie this time. Good, but very rich. I like it here at Duke's. The beach, the crowd, the drinks. I'm happy here. Very happy. And that doesn't happen often.
(4)Eric S.
Great beach front views. Great for people watching. Good service. Bit pricey. Downstairs is more casual. Would come here for a casual drink and hang out. Not sure if the food is anything to brag about.
(3)Nathan S.
We got a $50 gift certificate for our wedding and it lasted 1.5 meals at Duke's Barefoot Bar. That's good value considering it is Kauai and we ate very well here. The Korean Tacos are the best, and a great value. The food comes pretty quickly too.. Nothing bad to say really. It's the best food in the area for sure.
(5)Kelly G.
After hearing "not bad" reviews from my boyfriend, I was willing to give Duke's a try and I'm very unhappy that I did. Since my boyfriend usually only grabs lunch here, I opted to gear our dinner towards the dinner/evening menu. Ordered the poke rolls to start and the Kushiyaki for me and the filet peppersteak. Everything we ordered was SO DISAPPOINTING. The poke rolls were basically poke with a wasabi-ish sauce. They also served this dish while we were up at the salad buffet. I would have rather they waited to serve us the appetizer when we are actually at the table. Who knows what insects have been touching the plate since we've been gone! The kushiyaki is basically a chicken and a beef kebob with a side of your choice. The chicken was dry, the beef tough. The garlic mashed potato was not bad. But portions were so small for their price it made me physically cry out in sadness when the plate was served. The filet was also a small portion, but thankfully they cooked this one well. Unforunately, they SMOOOOTHERed this nice piece of meat with their creme of cheese, or something. The boyfriend wanted to try their Hula Pie to see if it would redeem Duke's. It didn't. What are you people raving about?! The Hula pie is just vanilla ice cream pie over a cookie crust with fudge. so NOT worth it. All this plus drinks totaled $80! Come for lunch. I hear the burgers are decent, and for the prices, can't be as disappointing as dinner.
(2)L G.
It was so good, we went back on our last day. Gorgeous setting, we asked to sit on balcony when making reservations (strongly recommended) and both times they were able to accommodate us. Food was delicious, we both had fish, selection changes daily, and you have several choices of preparations. Salad bar is included and it was perfect, not too much, but sufficient to make it a great deal. Good food, good service!
(5)Christine G.
We ate here twice. Once in the upstairs restaurant - which was very good, and once downstairs in the bar which was okay. I had a great fresh fish of the day prepared in 1 of 5 ways that they do their special fish every day. The Opah with garlic mashed potatoes was delicious. The all you can eat salad bar was nothing terribly special, but pretty good -and really made a great value for the money. The happy hour specials at the barefoot bar were okay - a little overpriced, not terribly impressive, but i do recommend the cocktails, especially the Beach Boy Daquiri. They had live ukelele music when we were there which was a nice touch. The views from most seats in the bar area are very nice. The service was attentive and quick enough.
(4)Keith W.
Best fish taco I had all week! This was the first place we stopped at all week during our honeymoon. Sat at a table by the bar overlooking the water for a quick snack break. Ordered a fish taco, a Korean steak taco and the Hawaiian pizza. All three were fantastic! My wife says that Korean steak taco was her favorite food she ate that week. The fish taco set the precedent for the week, was by far the best I had all week and I absolutely believe that it was the best fish taco I ever had. The pizza was darn good too! Great food. Great view. Friendly staff. I also LOVED the blonde ale they had! Needless to say we came back 3 more times. Sat in the bar area each time. Only came during lunch time as we didn't eat out for dinner all that much.
(5)Karen L.
Two words: Happy Hour! Two more words: Taco Tuesdays!!! 5 stars for their awesome $2.50 fish tacos on Tuesdays. Fresh crispy Mahi Mahi with coleslaw and a cool sauce, a good size taco in fact. 5 stars also for their drink menu! We loaded up on all our tropical drinks and beer. 2 stars for their fish and chips. I was disappointed with this. The batter was overly greasy and the fish was dry. Boo boo. Overall 3.5 stars, I'd definitely come back for the beach front view (pretty Koi pond too), the friendly service, and the awesome tacos on Tuesday and Happy Hour 4-6pm drinks! Don't bother with anything else.
(4)Michael L.
Same chain and bad/boring food as the place in Poipu. Fish was ok - wife's was overcooked. Rib's ok. Don't get fooled by "best salad bar", the most important part to read into that is "on the island" - well - it's likely the only one and not something to be that proud of
(2)Nali M.
duke's is definitely one of my top picks for dining out here on kauai. if you're looking for a more casual and fun dining experience, the downstairs barefoot bar is a great option. they have a variety of different things on the menu, at a reasonable price. the upstairs dining room is my favorite, though. i love the selection of fresh fish they always have. i usually go with a more mild fish (mong chong, opah, opakapaka (if it's in season)) duke's style. it's very appealing to the taste buds. pair it with mashed potatoes and the great salad bar & i'm fully satisfied everytime. the wait staff is generally very good as well. i think my favorite waitress, laulima, moved on with a different career choice. overall, this is a great place to eat, drink & have a great time.
(4)Alyssa G.
Amazing view, and wonderful service. The waitress was very nice, making sure everything was good for us. The food was wonderful! I got the Poke Rolls and the Coconut Shrimp, and both were to die for! I recommend sitting downstairs at the Barefoot Bar, the prices are much better then upstairs. Overall it was was a really good experience.
(5)Tina A.
Fish tacos & kalua pulled pork sandwich, good noms!
(4)Chuck B.
Excellent service with very knowledgeable wait staff. Great salad bar. Meal was above average - just didn't meet expectations for the price. View was nice in a relaxed ambiance. Pineapple Mojito was excellent. We were pleasantly surprised to be seated promptly at the time of our reservation.
(4)Brian B.
Great seafood and steaks, awesome cocktails. Its in the Marriott, its not cheap, but the place is worth it. The fish is very fresh and well prepared and the beef was very tasty. The salad bar is well stocked and has a great variety, nice fresh bread as well. It was the best Mai Tai I found on the island. Have the Hula Pie for dessert.
(4)Karen H.
This was our first time on Kauai and I made reservations for my 50th bday dinner here. We have a Jake's restaurant in San Diego which is (I believe) affiliated with this establishment. Jake's isn't the best but i'd been there before so i thought what the heck. At least I'd know what i was getting. Or so I thought. When i made the reservation by telephone several weeks ahead of time, I told the person that it would be my 50th bday and if they could give us a nice table that would be great. When we were seated, our table was 2 tables away from the kitchen and we couldn't have been further away from the window so we didn't have any sort of view unless we stood up and looked over the rows of tables in front of us. I ordered the ahi entree and it was easily one of the worst pieces of ahi I've ever had. Horrible. My BF had some sort of pasta dish and he was completely UNDERwhelmed. How do you screw up pasta?!? The only good things about this evening was our waitress, Taeru, who was adorable, attentive & friendly and the free hula pie. The salad bar was mediocre. I was really looking forward to a memorable meal but this wasn't it. A couple of days later, we stopped at the "Tacos Al Pastor" food truck in Kapa'a and I had the ahi burrito. That ahi was SO much better than the piece I had at Duke's and the seating & view were much better too!
(1)Jen C.
Fish taco tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.! Great deal and delicious tacos (although I'd admit it would be tastier with some type of sauce). I ordered the shrimp and louie salad, and they were tiny shrimp, and not much crab meat. Also got the beach fries, which were waffle shaped, they were yummy. Also got the Lava Flow drink which was good. Great ambiance, customer service was fine, just seemed busy. I'd like to go again for fish taco night, especially at $2.50 a taco. Recommend that everyone should go there at least once during their Hawaii vacation!
(4)Thao T.
The restaraunt, i give a four, the location on the marriott resort, was a five and maybe even a six. the resort was so beautiful, i would haev loved to stay there! there was an excellent view for oceanfront dining and the food was good. It's the same chain as Jake's and Chart house from what i've heard, so it's pricey and posh but the hawaiian feel made it more laid back. Every entree had a salad where you could go to a salad bar and treat yourself to a bit of a buffet. the fish and steaks were delicious! And the dessert hula pie is a must have, it's a macademia nut ice cream cake with an oreo cookie crust, whipped cream and chocolate sauce all over and about 6 inches high! It was so good. i really enjoyed the time here during dinner and afterwards hanging out at the resort.
(4)M V.
Food and location are OK. It all depends on the day you go there. The seafood and service both could have been better. I liked the kimchi in the salad bar (it is included with your entrees). Overall I'm not a fan.
(2)Robert c.
5 for the view. Get front left corner table upstairs if possible. As everyone stated, salad bar is terrific. Music downstairs was a bit loud so we ate upstairs and it worked out fine. We were there early and they had music going around 5 pm and from upstairs it sounded great. Great service as well!
(4)Mike H.
We went our first day here at the Marriott. We both got the fish and chips. The fish was amazing, as was the tarter sauce. The fries were criss cut and were excellent. The fish and chips were great. I'm glad everyone else had great service, but the time we went was around lunch and our waittress had no personality, she didn't say much but just take our orders and run. There was maybe but 4 tables and 3 waittresses, maybe it was a good looking guy hanging around or something. Lol oh well. Fish and chips are excellent, and service can be hit or miss.
(3)Chris S.
Good, solid food (yet sorta limited) choices and reasonable drink prices are why you should go here. Oh, and the view of Kalapaki Beach and Nawiliwili Harbor. Yeah, those aren't so bad, either! I had the fish tacos and split a fresh veggie platter with the rest of my party. I did see a guest send back his fries because they were cold, though.
(4)Mike M.
The pizza was horrible. We should have tried something else. The service was below par and not friendly.
(1)Nanucktucktuc K.
Fabulous view, of course; very good food (fish and chips; fish tacos); nice service and right next to the tackiest '60's era Dean Martin-style pool at the Marriott! Treat yourself to a stroll past that after having a meal and a drink.
(5)Laura E.
This was by far our favorite place to eat on Kapaa. First of all we had 4 adults, one kid, adults all got adult beverages, two got steak and lobster, other two just steaks, bill was $200. so its pricey, but not break the bank pricey. well worth it. I got the biggest lobster I have ever seen in my life, and it was cooked perfectly. The Lava Flows we got were the best we had on the island. My parents both ordered desert and couldnt stop raving. Me, i was full from a salad bar, steak and huge lobster. Our waiter was excellent, and the salad bar was good. We loved it so much we've found one where we live that we plan on going to soon. The place is good for kids, although not if they want to run around. Its somewhat noisy-which drowns out your kids noise, and we played family guy on our phone for our daughter with no complaints from other tables. This restaurant is classy hawaiin atmosphere and I would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)Ryan A.
As a couple under the age of 30, this places seemed a touch too cheesy and seemed to cater more towards families and an older crowd. I cannot explain why, but something about it reminded me of Red Lobster / Steak & Ale, etc. Anyway, the atmosphere was the main problem that we had. The food was decent enough, and considering the outrageous prices elsewhere on the island, the cost was pretty reasonable. My wife's lobster was so-so and my local fish was pretty good. Our service was excellent. The waiter was very attentive and everything came out timely.
(3)Joel D.
Excellent view. A little dark but a great atmosphere. The drinks were pretty weak. The food was good. Lots of fresh fish options. We had a friendly and helpful waitress. Free valet parking. Beautiful stroll through the hotel courtyard on the way to the restaurant.
(3)Joshua E.
Yeah it's a resort restaurant, but was exactly what I was looking for. Some decent food and a couple drinks. What more could you ask for after a rough day of trail running?
(4)John F.
Went here on our last day on the island because of the great review in the Lonely Planet guide. Ah well. Fish tacos were nothing to be excited about and the Mai Tai was tasty but weak. The view of the bay is nice. There are many better places to eat on Kauai. Try them all first.
(2)Mike A.
-=The deets=- Between 6/16/12 and 6/24/12, I visited Duke's a handful of times as a tourist staying at the nearby Marriot, at both their downstairs (Barefoot Bar) and their upstairs (Canoe Club) areas. I sampled a number of tropical drinks, Mai Tai varian
(4)Ralph T.
We ate there, PUPU's a couple of times. It is convenient to the Marriott. Good drinks. Prices were decent for an on property independent restaurant. They and the hotel have to make their money. Service was good 2 of 3 times. The third time the server was a little flaky and misordered our food but corrected the problem. Though she charged us for the wrong food too. My wife caught the error. 15% tip vs. our usual 20 for good service. We had all the Pupu's on the menu. All were good with decent flavor and great sauces. Most were deep fried that was a little disappointing. We had the pork nachos. Those were good. A lot of chips, salsa, cheese, tender pork and sour cream. The jalapenos were mild though. Did I mention the drinks were good. OH the Hula Pie was excellent. Really it is enough for three people but he two of us at the whole thing. There are two different restaurants here. The upstairs takes reservations while downstairs is first come, first serve.
(3)South Bay R.
The only coconut shrimp I have ever had that wrap the shrimp in a ball, tail included, and then batter and deep fry it. It was hard to eat because you never knew when you were going to bite into the tail, you would just have to fish it out of your mouth while chewing (very awkward and unpleasant). If you tried to remove the tail before eating you had to pull off all the beading first. Also had the nachos, which were pretty plain with very little toppings.
(2)M C.
Cant go wrong if you order fish with mac nuts, capers and lemon! Love the salad bar! Save room for the Hula Pie! Would definitely recommend this place!
(5)Katty C.
The Duke became my staple for my week long stay in Marriot, Lihue. You pretty much don't have a lot of choices when it comes to food if you don't want to drive. After eating there and Kukui (not as good) everyday, for a week or so, the lesson I've learned is stay away from steak if you are a regular steak lover. Fresh caught fish : It is always Opah, Ahi and one more fish I forgot. I had the Opah and it is fresh and tasty. It is a white fish with firm texture. You have a number of choices to prepare the fishes they offer, I had it grilled with vegetable. 4 star. Ahi sashimi : Not sure if they are really fresh caught as the sushi has that wrapped by plastic wrap shape when it is served on the plate. It seems that they have been pre-sliced, wrapped and put away in a fridge or something. But nonetheless it taste fresh, not melting in your mouth good but I say it is 4 stars too. Fish and Chips : The fries that comes with the dish are those that looks and taste like curly fries but is actually straight cut type. I have never seen people screw up curly fries. The fish is really fresh (compared to those frozen fish fillet people usually use to make fish and chips), but on the other hand, that fresh fish when fried, makes it less crispy. Somehow maybe the juice from the fish got absorbed by the batter or something, the entire piece is not that crispy either. 3 star Baby back BBQ ribs and Huli Huli chicken : The Huli Huli chicken is something like BBQ chicken, made with chicken breast. It is very soft, supple and juicy. I always prefer dark meat when it comes to chicken but I can say this taste very good. The baby back ribs is the type that comes with a thick layer BBQ sauce on top. I personally prefer the dryer type as I can taste the meat more, but their ribs is soft and tender too. I would say that is a 3.5 star dish.
(4)Tammy B.
Such friendly staff and great location. We loved the wings and salad with grilled beets (and I don't usually like beets). Great atmosphere. I was really impressed at how nice the wait staff interacted with all of the customers.
(4)Meha M.
Nothing special, the food was decent. The appetizers were amazing, almost better than the actual food. The place is constantly crowded, and loud. The waffle fries were amazing though. The service was nice and the waiters were quite attentive. Wouldn't say not to go there, but there are a lot better places to eat.
(3)Melissa C.
The best place to have a fun, romantic, and relaxing evening with your spouse. My hubby and I went back three times in two days because we loved it so much. The coconut shrimp is amazing! The live music, drinks, and sitting near the ocean leaves nothing to be desired. The waitresses are great and personable, and really know the drinks to try if you're unsure of what you'd like. I should mention that upstairs Duke's is more formal and downstairs is more relaxed and a bar type of atmosphere. We ate upstairs as well and the salad bar is great, the hula pie is just as spectacular as people say, and the overall experience is a must! We've been to the Duke's on Maui and Oahu as well and I have to admit-Duke's anywhere is a must on your list of places to go.
(5)Kristin W.
Love the atmosphere. Little bit pricey, but to be expected at a hotel on the beach. Staff are friendly...many familiar faces. The food is pretty decent. Drinks are fun.
(4)Dan G.
Terrific salad bar! A new menu was launched just three days ago according to our server. Fresh fish varieties and prep were excellent. Hula pie is a bit overrated. Hostesses were ok, waiter was very good.
(4)SoCal G.
Ehhhhh. Expensive, greasy and kind of blah. The convenience of being right by the Marriott makes this place popular but I wish I had just eaten a fish sandwich at the Beach Hut. Just OK.
(2)Leanne K.
Great dinner with a view this evening! Hula Pie is the bomb.....excellent valet service!
(4)Kerri M.
We went here on a Friday night and had reservations. The restaurant was crowded. You can valet park at the entrance of the hotel and you walk through the grounds to the other end where the restaurant is located. There is a bar area downstairs and the restaurant area is upstairs. The bathrooms are shared by Café Portofino which is a more upscale restaurant. If it was still daylight, you would be able to see the beach below. The service was very good. If you like an appetizer and want to make into a meal, they can do that with a few which means you can go to the salad bar as most of the regular entrees come with the salad bar. The salad bar had a good selection of breads, muffins and salad items. They also make fresh Caesar salad too if you prefer. We were so full that it was nice to walk off some of the food back to the lobby area to get our car. There are also public bathrooms on the way back to the lobby should you need them.
(4)Monica V.
So, there are technically 2 different restaurants here, the upstairs and the downstairs. The downstairs is way more casual and the the upstairs you typically need reservations or your wait will be over an hour. We tend to eat downstairs, but occasionally, we like to get a little more upscale and eat upstairs. Upstairs the food is expensive and the last time we ate there we were very unimpressed. Our waiter made us feel rushed and unwelcome and our food was just OK. The salad bar was the highlight of the evening. This is a pretty expensive place compared to others on the island and likely a place we will skip next time. Downstairs is a different story. It's basically the same menu (minus the steak & lobster) with a more family friendly selection. If you are looking for something fast and easy with the kids, this is a great place
(3)Austin O.
We had lunch and drinks. The food and service was great. We had Mai Tais too. Needless to say, the Mai Tais were awesome. You can't beat the location right on the beach. Perfect for the view and people watching.
(5)Vince L.
The advantage of this restaurant is that it's REALLY close to the Marriott. The food is decent. I had the ahi burger and it was just okay. It gets so busy that the servers don't really come around often to freshen up drinks. You just kind of sit there and watch the hustle and bustle. Then you realize that it would be nicer to walk along the shore and admire the sunset from the beach itself.
(3)Beach Bum W.
Gentle Reader: I am on an annual pilgrimage to Kauai which I have made for 23 years. I have eaten at this restaurant many times. It is part of the T and S Chain which I have found to have good food. I took my family to this place tonight and the food was just awful except for my child's chicken. My Ahi which I love medium rare seared was not even seared. It was ice cold inside. My wife teryaki steak was sooooo tough as to be inedible. Our server was kind, considerate, friendly, but not attentive to drinks. He was not busy. He was always apologizing for not being around. Strange..... For this I spent 155 dollars. I will keep an eye on the reviews before going back. Funny but I had an excellent meal at Keoki's in Poipu just two nights before. Same Chain.
(1)Nancy B.
This is a happening place at the Marriot Resort at Kalapaki Beach. We enjoyed drinks at the bar and their wonderful salad bar and seafood dinner. The views are great and so is the people watching. We had fun here.
(5)Stella M.
No thank you. Service 1 star. Food 1 star. Ambiance 4 stars. Pros: Really fun decor and ambiance. Right on the beach. Fun for tourists. Coconut shrimp was good. Great hula pie, that shit was good. Cons: Horrible service. Disgusting food. My father has a garlic allergy so we asked which menu items do not have garlic and apparently everything has some amount of the ingredient. This was obviously a clear sign of a horrible chef/menu; garlic is an overpowering flavor and using it in everything you make shows laziness, lack of creativity and just lack of skill in general. Later we asked for a side of bread since this restaurant doesn't offer any for free like most restaurants do and they brought us garlic bread... I ordered a passion fruit iced tea and the waitress brought me something that tasted like syrup. Apparently passion fruit iced tea here is something like an arnold palmer but with passion fruit juice instead of lemonade. I thought it was going to be passion fruit tea that had been iced, which is what I've had numerous times at other restaurants. This was just way, way too sweet. My ahi wrap was just weird and the lettuce was wilted. Lastly my little sister's pizza was taking forever and finally our waitress came to let us know that the kitchen had burnt it! Finally it came out and I swear it tasted like something out of the frozen section of the supermarket. You would expect after something like that to happen that it would be comped. Well, it wasn't. Absolutely ridiculous. Get drinks or get the pie and get out of there.
(1)Sierra F.
Order the Sous Vide chicken and ribs
(4)Carly D.
Both the downstairs casual restaurant ("barefoot bar") and the upstairs more formal restaurant are delicious! Upstairs I had amazing ono and a pineapple mojioto with the tastiest salad bar ever (beets! kale! marinated garbanzos!) and downstairs I had a great mahi mahi salad. We went for taco Tuesday also and while I wasn't expecting deep fried fish the tacos were pretty good anyway. Definitely a great bargain! Make a reservation if going upstairs, it's always busy!
(4)Kahanalei M.
Eating at Duke's, you obviously are paying for the location right by the beach and the view, but I personally thought that the food was good and worth it. Of course $28.95, I have to admit, is very expensive (as in I'd go to a place like this once or twice a year, because sweetheart - I ain't Ms. Moneybags) for the entree that I ordered (Mahimahi sauteed w/mac nut and herb crusted w/lemon and caper butter w/side of garlic mashed potatoes), but other than the price, there was nothing to complain about; the dish was honestly good and the salad bar (that's included in the price of any entree) was great too - easily go for seconds on that. I liked the warm rolls and the Caesar salad that they offered. But try not to fill up too much on the stuff at the salad bar, otherwise you'll have trouble trying to finish your entree - and you don't want to waste that. Service here was good, the waitresses that we encountered were nice. I saw some folks ordering the Hula Pie, but there was no way we could have consumed that - it was seriously the most hugest pie I've seen!! Oh, and if you have some time, go check out the Marriott hotel that this place is located next to - the grounds and landscaping there are beautiful.
(4)Medina Z.
What's not to love about Duke's? It's a casual spot right on the Marriott premises, overlooking the beach and a short walk of maybe 3 minutes from the pool area. The burgers are sooooooooooooooooo goodddd and so is their delicious hula pie (PLEASE ORDER THE HULA PIE NO MATTER HOW FULL YOU ARE!). I ordered an asian-inspired dish one time too. I can't remember what it was called, but that too was delicious. They place orders to-go, which is great if you want to sit on a bench on the beach and look at the stars at night. Dukes is a great spot!
(5)Jess R.
Major attitude problem -- the hostesses act like TSA agents, like they are special because they perceive they have you over a barrell. Wrong!! Went Tuesday afternoon for Taco Tuesday (special $3 mahi tacos). I called in advance to ask when it started. I was told 4:00 p.m. We got there at 3:45 and found out they actually started at 3:30 and now they snootily informed us we had at least a 25 minute wait, longer for a sidewalk table. OK, we were wet from the pool, so we took their beeper (how Orange County CA), and went upstairs to our room to change. I got back down just as they were beeping me and I was taken to a table back in the place in the dark next to a family of toddlers. This may work some some, but not for me. Not on my Hawaiian vacation! So we waited some more, and after another 15 minutes we finally got what was an acceptable table for us. We ordered happy hour martinis and two fish tacos each, and for certain, they were very good. But was it worth the hassle? We returned today for a light lunch at 2:15 p.m. and were told we were looking at a 35 - 45 minute wait. Excuse me - the food isn't THAT good. We left and ate at the Kalapaki Grill. I highly suggest the Kalapaki Grill -- it is just a few hundred steps away at the Marriott pool. It is also much quicker (see review), more spacious, no attitude, great food, great view. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.
(2)Kate D.
The food is pretty tasty, but portions are small for what you pay and drinks are kind of expensive. I've eaten at the upstairs and downstairs. Downstairs is open for lunch and dinner, while upstairs is just for dinner and is much more expensive. The upstairs has small portions too, but if you get an entrée, the salad bar is included. Their salad bar is really good! You have to try the tofu salad! Good service and nice ambiance, but only 3 stars because it's expensive for such small portions. Sorry Duke's!
(3)Gspot H.
One of the few places to grab a drink after 9pm over in Kauai. Appetizers are as expected if you been to it on Oahu. Live Musician. Staff is friendly.
(3)Susie P.
Hed a very nice view but I would actually go somewhere else for food on this island. Not that it wasn't good but I felt as though I had a better experience at other places with service.
(4)Bill B.
We ate upstairs and the service was great. We had a large group (13) and there must have been at least 3 servers. I'm always a fan of their tropical drinks. I sampled the Wrong Island Ice Tea and the Mai Tai...both were great. Definitely not an every day place for the locals...too pricey...but the food is still excellent! It's at a resort...what do you expect? LOL My Fillet Mignon and Lobster Tails were to die for. The salad bar was fresh and well stocked. And the Hula Pie...well...what else can I say but...ONO!
(4)Danielle M.
As much as I wanted to love this place I just couldn't. The food was blah, nothing special. My husband ordered the surf and turf and I ordered the Ahi. For drinks I ordered a mojito, and that's not what I received. I drank it anyway but probably the worse one I ever tasted. We then ordered a pina coloda in a pineapple, that was probably the best thing I tasted at the restaurant. Views were spectacular. Restaurant was gorgeous. A great place to hang out for a few cocktails.
(3)Joe D.
Food was ok, service was ok, atmosphere was good and Hula Pie was awesome.
(4)Kristina D.
I dined at this restaurant twice on my vacation. My first visit I enjoyed the coconut shrimp with spicy lilikoi (passion fruit) sauce and a caeser salad. For dessert we orded the hula. The hula pie is a macadamia nut ice cream piled high on a chocolate cookie crust and topped with chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and more macadamia nuts. Warning It is sized for sharing. The second night I order an appetizer the mac nut brie crepe with honey comb. Not a fan of the dish. Although I love brie it was too soft and the crepe did not complement the brie or honey.
(4)Kristin D.
We were on Kauai a week and this was actually the best meal we had. For the money, we were really happy. We went to a few other fancier and more expensive restaurants on Kauai and here at Duke's we got larger portions (of fish) and more tasty, fresh food here than anywhere. My son even had teriyaki steak which was unbelievable good! Drinks were great and the view can't be beat - on the beach, overlooking a beautiful bay. The Hula Pie was the best end to a great dinner. This is a short walk from the Marriott Kauai resort - if you have time, walk through the hotel grounds, the place is beautiful.
(5)Jen B.
Great view and very relaxing environment. Service was great! Salad bar was yummy! Order the Mahi Mahi with pineapple chutney! so delicious! dont forget to save room for dessert! Hula Pie is amazingly delicious! Kind of pricey but its Hawaii! everything is pricey here! :)
(5)Alex M.
We ate here last night and the food was BOMB!! There service was excellent and our waiter was very attentive to us and helpful. He came by frequently to see if we needed anything and always had a smile on his face. I highly recommend this place. We're back again for a second night. And most importantly, the food was excellent. Everything tasted better than expected.
(5)debbie l.
We ate dinner upstairs at Dukes one of our last nights on Kauai. Remembering how good we remembered the fish was we were looking forward to our meal. We both ordered fish with the macadamia nut crust. The salad bar was good as always, but the fish was just not that good and we both had upset stomachs that night. Didn't make us sick, just didn't sit well. By far one of the most disappointing meals for the price during our entire stay. Close to $100 is way too much for mediocre food that kinda makes you sick. Sorry! Service was ok, he didn't bother to explain the entree options in detail, and appeared to be distracted the entire time. It was busy but really look us in the eye when talking to us. And when you notice uneaten food ask why. Eat at Roy's Josselyns, or any of the other highly rated restaurants instead, it will cost you close to the same price and you will get a much higher quality of food. If you are going to eat here and see a cruse ship in the harbor be sure to make a reservation or you may have to wait a long, long time. Drive to Poipu instead you will be glad you did!
(2)chavo d.
A view worthy of Hemingway prose, Duke's in Kauai blows our mainland brethren (Malibu location) clear off the decks... The entire experience from food to staff was soild as koa boards. Keeping it short and sweet, highly recommended and best right before sunset.
(4)Kyle M.
For the Hula Pie alone, this gets 5 stars. Delicious fish dishes don't hurt the score much, either. Great service, great salad bar, decent enough price. And I really can't get over that Hula Pie.
(5)Eric J.
I researched good places to eat before my recent trip to Kauai, and Duke's Canoe Club was the first place on my list for dinner. In fact although it was pretty late, we went straight from the airport to Duke's before checking in at the hotel, and got there just in time to order dinner before the kitchen closed down. There aren't a ton of choices on the menu, but there's enough variety to satisfy most. The food was pretty decent and the service was good (very fast), but what makes this place unique is the restaurant itself. There's essentially a jungle growing inside of the restaurant, from the 2nd level all the way down to the first floor. A waterfall and stream runs through the foliage down to a Koi pond at the bottom with several very large Koi fish. Duke's sits right on the water in the bay, and although both our visits to Duke's were at night on our recent stay, I'm sure the view is stunning during the day. Attire ranged from casual to dressy. We didn't have a reservation either of the two times we went and we didn't have to wait at all for a seat, but we also ate pretty late. Others have said that it gets very busy there and you should make a reservation. If you're going to Kauai and you're looking for a fun and interesting place to eat, definitely check out Duke's! Oh yeah, one important thing to mention for the tourists who are trying to find Duke's for the first time. If you're using a GPS and if it's after dark you'll probably have some trouble. Duke's is located about 100 yards from Rice St., hidden behind other buildings, and with no adjoining parking lot. There are a couple different places you can park and a few different paths you can take to get to Duke's, but I suggest you look for JJ's Broiler which is situated just off of the road, and park in that parking lot (which is also parking for Duke's). From there you should see a Duke's sign over a path leading away from the road. Just follow that for about 50 yards around the edge of the lagoon and it will take you to Duke's.
(4)Bob D.
Expected much more from this well known establishment. Service was fine, but meal arrived cold. I rarely send things back but did this time. Mashed potatoes were cold and prime rib was, too. Wife's meal was cold as well with fresh fish being only thing presented at table that was at temp. Second meal presented was a totally new plate (not reheated original plate) but cold as well. Mentioned it to waitress and she said she would inform manager. She did - but I would have expected the manager to come to our table and address us personally. The waitress said the manager comp'ed my meal - nice, but..... Two cold meals and no visit from the manager? With so many options, we will not be back.
(2)john h.
Came here a couple of times for happy hour. Sat outside with a great ocean view. The bar has the nice tiki ambience. The food and drinks are good, although a bit pricey. Great spot for people watching. My wife really liked this place. It should definitely be in your Kauai restaurant rotation.
(4)Alan C.
I first went to this place in year 2000 as a single guy, and I recently came back around New Year's Eve 2012 with my wife. The food and service here are really fantastic. At first glance the prices seem a bit high for dinner by Kauai standards, but when you factor in the great salad bar that comes with it, it justifies the higher prices. It's probably somewhere between $$ and $$$ in pricing, depending on if you get alcohol and dessert or not. It's in a great location, but due to the huge size of the Marriott Hotel that it's attached to, you can count on long waits (often over an hour long) for dinner. If you can plan a couple of days in advance and make a reservation, that's your best bet. The hula pie is huge and delicious as well. We weren't even staying at the Marriott but felt the food worth a second visit.
(4)Samantha P.
I really enjoyed my meal at Duke's! Typically, I HATE spending money on food. If given a hundred dollars to spend on anything I'd much rather stop at McDonald's and spend the rest of the money shopping than spend it all at a restaurant. However, I'm glad I chose Duke's to spend one of my four evenings in Kauai. The salad bar was fresh and the drinks were really good. My fish was excellent (seasoned "Duke's style"). I usually save room for dessert but my main course was so good that I ate it all and couldn't try the Hula pie. The view is very nice. It is very busy and loud, so definitely not as romantic as it could be given the fact that it is right on the beach. I would definitely return though.
(4)C1221 C.
We preferred the Duke's on Maui on Kaanapali Beach to this location. Though, we did enjoy the salad bar at the Duke's Kauai :)
(3)Kay A.
We wanted to eat dinner here right after we got off the plane because we went to Kimo's in Maui before and loved the muffins. I know, weird reason to go back to a place...Maybe because I didn't have high expectations, I was totally fine with the food. I didn't think the food was expensive. It was about $30+ per entree, which comes with the salad bar and muffins! The hubs ordered the ribs which were very tender, fall off the bone. I had the lobster tail which was juicy and filling. We both had the garlic mashed potatoes which had flavor and was a little bit chunky, too. We were too stuffed and didn't have room for dessert. The restaurant is nice and open and you can see a nice sunset. It wasn't loud or too busy on a Sunday night.
(3)Russ T. S.
Amazing! The salad bar is very good. Everything is perfect! It's kind of hard to get to if you aren't in the hotel by it. But the walk there is heavenly! A beautiful garden of plants. The view is perfect! You are on the beach and it's very relaxing. It's very expensive, but the food is great! You will leave there stuffed. Also, it might be a good idea to make a reservation for lunch or dinner.
(5)Rose K.
This place is not very veg-friendly - there is absolutely nothing on the menu (other than the salad bar) that you can order as is. I was disappointed because I had looked at the downstairs menu and thought that I'd be able to eat here. I was wrong, since I didn't realize that there were two separate Duke restaurants at the same location. The downstairs menu has a portobella sandwich - but you cannot order items from the downstairs menu upstairs. I really hate when restaurants do that. As someone else mentioned (how did I miss their review?), you have to order seafood without the seafood in order to eat here if you're a vegetarian. I ordered the macadamia nut pesto fettuccine without the seafood. Unfortunately, they still charge you the same price even though they take out the most expensive ingredients. I didn't find it to be very good, and I'm sure I was cheating on my vegan diet, but it was our first day in town, I was hunger, and there were no other options. I should have just stuck with the salad bar, which surprisingly was WAY more veg-friendly than anything else on the menu. I should have just stuck with the salad bar. They actually had tofu at the salad bar. I could have made a decent meal out of just that, and I was glad that it was included with my entree so that I could get my tofu fix. But it wasn't the world's best salad bar, just kind of a standard one. The best part about my meal was the La Pina - a pina colada served in a pineapple. If you're a vegetarian, avoid the pasta and stick with the salad bar. Or go downstairs and have the mushroom sandwich. Or avoid all together except for drinks. I really hope they become more veg-friendly in the future - how hard is it to have one item on the menu? Lots of the other restaurants, even those more upscale, have at least one vegetarian item.
(2)Amy L.
We ate here three times while we were staying at the Marriott. Once for a nice dinner upstairs and twice downstairs for lunch. The dinner was amazing! The menu is different upstairs and if you want fresh fish this is definitely the place to go! We were thrilled with our meals. They do have the all-you-can-eat salad bar which was a nice way to start. The hula pie for dessert was yummy! The service was excellent and we didn't feel rushed at all. We had called ahead for a reservation and they had a lovely table overlooking the ocean ready for us. For lunch we had sandwiches and some tropical drinks. We thought all of the food was fresh and fairly priced by Hawaiian standards. We enjoyed the live music that they had here at night. I loved the casual and island feel of this restaurant and would definitely go back again if we were in the area.
(5)Paul H.
Duke's at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club. Fancy but casual? I dunno how to categorize that. But the food I had was ono. The waitress was right about the kalua pig nachos. Tasty and massive. The ribs were juicy and tender. Would've liked more sauce, thicker sauce, spicier sauce. That's just me.
(4)Catherine F.
Happy Hour / Taco Tuesday! The Happy hour Fish tacos were awesome, and.... who doesn't like Hawaiian music while sitting near the beach? We had dinner here a few nights during our trip...great spot!
(5)Megan J.
So, my husband and I came here during our honeymoon and it was ok. I expected a little more since I heard so many great things about in Huntington Beach and Oahu. I had a steak which was ok. The salad bar was ok. The bread was ok. The service was blah. My lava flow was pretty good though. We had a pretty decent seat looking out onto the water. The downstairs bar had a guy playing guitar which we could hear upstairs and he was pretty good. Loved the ambiance the most and the drinks. Considering how expensive it is, the food and service should be WAY better!! Next time, I think we will just go to the bar downstairs and have some appetizers, listen to the band and have some drinks.
(3)Rachel S.
You're staying at the Marriott which limits your options to extremely expensive or Duke's. The atmosphere is great at Duke's. Cool little river thing and it's packed for dinner (due to limited options). Really cool inside but this place is a rip off and a half. We went here for Happy Hour. Go to Kalapaki Joe's around the corner for happy hour and you'll walk out 10 times for satisfied. We paid aover $10 for limited wings. Joe's has them for a mere $0.25 each. Beer selection is also much better at Joe's.
(3)Tom C.
Great food and great setting! Try the "La Piña" for a piña colada inside a hollowed out coconut! The Ahi is amazing, and the ONI was fantastic. Salad bar included with every dinner, with homemade dressings. For lunch, try the Kailua pork sandwich and the coconut shrimp.
(4)Thomas C.
Food was less than appetizing. Overdressed pasta and over seasoned fish. Price is far out of line with the food and the location is nice being on the beach and right next to the Marriott. Would rather spend a little more effort with a longer walk to a better priced eatery.
(2)Lennie C.
Great food, beautiful view and excellent service!
(5)Tina P.
Great location right on the beach and delicious mai tais and pina coladas for $6.50 during happy hour. Also, try their pie if you have a big appetite and a sweet tooth. It's a massive piece of ice cream pie with all the fixings.
(3)Kristan B.
Great service, hula pie was amazing and their salad bar was huge! If you are looking for good, reliable food and service I recommend Dukes.
(4)Matthew A.
Pretty nice place. They accomodated our request for a table along the rail. My wife's Opakapaka was dry but my Ahi was delicious, juicy and tender. Nice bottle of wine, good service. Could have gone 4 stars but more like 3.5. We'll be back when in Kaui. Besides it's on the property of our resort.
(4)K K.
On vacation here in Kauai and went to yelp for help. Yes this was a great pick. Ate upstairs at the restaurant right a opening. Seated on the lanai. So nice to sit and watch the ocean. A little early for sunset but nice anyway. Had the seared Ahi and Steak and Lobster. all excellent. will definately go back.
(4)Rhonda D.
This is a review of the restaurant (or upstairs as they refer to it). There were four of us in our group (husband, sister, nephew, myself - ranging in age from 21 to 61). We originally had planned to eat at the Barefoot Bar (downstairs), but there was a wait; the hostess told us we could go upstairs with no wait. We asked if the menu was the same, she said yes. WRONG!! The menu was totally different - it was an upscale dinner menu. We decided that perhaps it would be nice to have a nice dinner in a more upscale place. The prices on the menu started at $26 for an entree; which we figured was reasonable. Our server, Sam, was "johnny-on-the-spot" to greet us, get our initial drink order, give us the specials list, and inquire about appetizers. All of the fish entrees were listed as "market price, inquire with your server." (My fish was $32.) My nephew really wanted the french fries that we had had earlier in the downstairs bar; Sam said he would see if he could get them; which he did. (We were thinking...Wow, what great service!) Unfortunately afterwards, the attentiveness went downhill. It tooks us multiple requests and long waits to get refills on water. He rarely checked back on us and when he did, we would request a refill on water or tea; the next time we would see him he was greeting people just seated; we'd catch him and make the request again. It usually took at least 15 minutes to get a drink refill (this is not an exaggeration). When we asked for our check, we timed it - 20 minutes! After he took our credit cards, another 20 minutes. I am so disappointed at the lack of attentiveness that is a Marriott hallmark.
(1)Doug M.
Best of the limited selection around the Marriott. Big claim is the "all you can eat" salad bar - that really tells you alot about the quality of the dining experience. The seaside views are very nice and Duke's is not a bad choice for an informal meet-up. The interior is stunning and there are a few highly select tables that could turn this into a good place for drinks, albeit expensive. No need to go out of your way to get here. If you need to drive here, skip it and go to Poipu for a better food selection. Definately do not order the steak - mine tasted very much like it was boiled.
(2)Nicole G.
After a long day of carting my boy around the golf course I was ready to get some no nonsense food and a mai tai. Sounds simple, right? We ended up at dukes and I ordered some simple fish tacos and an adult beverage. Now I always try and be nice to my server. I know how hard it is to juggle tables, take orders and give hungry diners their food in a timely manner. I've been there, I understand. But when I have to watch my tacos sit at the service window for a good 20 minutes, while you stand at the host station chatting with your bff's, i'm going to be a little pissed. Even more so when said mediocre fish tacos arrive at my table barely over room temperature. sick. I don't care if you're on hawaii time, I would have had better service from the taco truck back home.
(2)Alicia M.
First stop right after the airport. Beautiful location, even used valet to park and watch the car with all our luggage. Nice way to start your vacation with a beautiful beach in front. Nice staff and food was good. Could of used a refill on our drinks, but the waitress was busting her ass, so ill cut her a break.
(4)Sheri Y.
Amazing dinner here! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the service was amazing! We were dining with our toddler son, who can't seem to eat a meal sitting down ever, and our server Claudia made sure he got his food before the appetizers even got to our table! She was friendly, funny, and attentive. Her recommendations were spot on. She was fantastic! Really enhanced our dining experience. I was worried we wouldn't get a table at 6:00 on a Saturday night with no reservation. (Our original dinner plans fell through, so we came here as a last minute choice. ) But we didn't even wait 5 minutes for a table! And the seating was good, with a nice view overlooking the water. This was great, as our son was pretty hungry and could have melted down at any moment! Food came out quickly, and the quality was fantastic. Good portions for the price, and salad bar included. Just awesome! Oh, and hula pie for dessert? Ummm..... YES PLEASE!!!
(5)Christine B.
Good seafood, unbeatable view if you're overlooking the water, good value since entrees include their salad bar. The Hula Pie is huge but delicious. Our waiter was really not very knowledgeable, but he was nice. The drinks were standard for Hawaii touristy venues. The view is what keeps people coming back.
(4)Cheri H.
It's our first time in Kauai, and Duke's was our first meal here. We loved the catch of the day, Caesar salad, and Nadine's maitai's. Beautiful atmosphere and decent service.
(4)Chi N.
This was the first place we went to when we got to the island. It was better in Oahu. The drinks were ok, the fish tacos were a little dry and their crab wonton was all right. The Hula Pie is still delish as ever.
(3)M B.
We went for xmas eve dinner...I had the Prime Rib/Lobster combo that came with garlic mashed potatoes. Very good! Husband had the Ono...he loved it; I thought it was decent. They have a salad bar as well which wasn't bad. I tried the Ceasar saladand Potato salad which were both good but I'm not a big fan of salad bars, especially at nice restaurants. We would go back but my fav at Dukes is breakfast.
(4)J J.
Great food and beautiful restaurant. Food is reasonably priced and the drinks are to die for. Best place close to the Marriott
(4)Shanna O.
Great food and very attentive service! Hula pie delish! We ate here a couples times during our stay and was satisfied every time. They do have a late night menu of you want to eat after 9. I had fish tacos and another night salad bar and opah fish. Everything was cooked to perfection!!!
(5)Dave L.
It's part of the Marriott but in kind of a separate building, a nice setting overlooking the beach and the ocean beyond. Overall I can't say I was impressed. It started with the wait for the table: from our Marriott hotel room we called down to see if we could get a table without a reservation. Answer: come on down and we'll either seat you right away or there will be short wait. We get down there and now it's a 20 minute wait, maybe 30 minutes. 45 minutes later, we're seated, no apology. You can do better than that--it may be hard to estimate timing but it's not hard to show some contrition over a longer-than expected wait. That's part of the job. Other than that the waiters were fine and they had an all-you-can-eat salad bar that while not extensive had a decent selection, including fruit that we had for desert. The main courses were just okay and I can't even remember what I had. Nice view, good service (aside from reception), okay food, kind of expensive: pretty much sums up the typical resort hotel restaurant. Downstairs is a casual bar and restaurant, I don't think they take reservations.
(3)Greg F.
A lot of hype and not very good food. The prices on the menu are very high. I personally thought that the service was weak and the food was bland. This seems to be a place for the hotel sitting right next to it. The Duke's mai tai was mediocre at best. The ribs were OK but not even close to make me go back. Overall, I don't recommend Duke's for your island dining. Try Keoki's Paradise in Poipu and order the opa.
(2)Ingrid C.
So we came here after a night at Kukui's, after the bride (a day post-wedding) said we should come here for some after-hours drinks. This was her high school hangout spot. And rightly so. The Hula Pie (which she ordered several slices for the table) were simply delicious, in a comfort-food sort of way. No wonder teenage girls would flock here. Since I was in a tropical paradise, I wanted a tropical drink, so I ordered the "Deep Blue," which consisted of Maui's Organic Ocean Vodka, Malibu rum, blue curacao and pineapple juice. Super girly and tropical, and surprisingly potent. I needed to pace myself (and eat more of that Hula Pie than my diet would allow) in order to keep my bearings. All and all, a fun place.
(3)Tammy M.
Never disappointed, friendly staff. Fun to grab it Togo and enjoy the beach. Softess sand in Kauai
(5)Colin B.
Meh. Great view, even better location, but the food is mediocre compared to some of the other places we ate. Service was great, good for a group, but it is a chain and you can't expect much more. It has a salad bar if that tells you anything... If I could do it again I'd eat downstairs at the beach side bar. Same view, similar food, cheaper prices, same drinks, don't need reservations.
(2)Jill S.
Best chain restaurant in Kauai. Bad service at times but great food! Ono was great and the pork wontons! The pineapple monitor also was great!
(4)C M.
Go upstairs to get seated much quicker than at the bar downstairs, we learned that the hard way. We were greeted fairly quickly with drink orders taken and told about the different variations of sauces/toppings for the fish. I opted for the Opah (Moonfish) which also came with rice pilaf and the salad bar. The salad bar had the plates located in a freezer which kept the food nice and cold. The banana bread muffin and papaya dressing were really good. The cole slaw was also crisp and not soaked in mayonnaise. I think the Caesar at the end should be moved in between the two romaine plates so people know it's an offering. I didn't realize it was there until my plate was already full. The timing between the salad bar, appetizer and main meal was great. We didn't feel rush, yet never felt like we were sitting forever. The Opah could have used another minute on the grill but the sauce/topping combination did not over power the lightness of the fish. If I wasn't so full from all of the food, I would have wanted to try their famous Hula Pie.
(4)Kevin R.
We ate at Duke's for our last meal in Kauai before leaving. The food there was excellent and our waiter was very attentive. My only complaint about the place is that it seems the upstairs and downstairs appear to be operating separately. My wife and I asked about the wait for a table downstairs. We were told 40 minutes so we almost left as we had a limited amount of time until we needed to be at the airport. We saw what looked like seating upstairs and my wife suggested that we go up there and ask about a table. I assumed that we'd probably get the same answer. Much to my surprise we were seated right away. I would have thought the hostess downstairs would have suggested that we try upstairs but that wasn't the case. I am glad we checked though because as I mentioned the food was great. We both got fish and each entree was very good. The salad bar had a good selection as well. I'd go back here again.
(4)James W.
Great food and great service.
(4)Michael R.
Not too bad. The salad bar is great and the hula pie is amazing. Nice atmosphere too, but nothing unique to the region.
(3)Elaine D.
The downstairs barefoot bar is a convenient place to grab a bite if you are wading the waters at Nawiliwili or kicking it at the public beach behind the Marriott hotel in Lihue. The atmosphere is kick back and the best part -- the "barefoot bar" statement is true. You can literally sit in your wet board shorts and have some good pupus. The calamari was good and if you want a drink in a pineapple, they have a pretty good one. Service was friendly and recommendations on the menu were well appreciated.
(3)Tom L.
Outstanding location and views. Food is just OK and the service is OK, drinks are average. The food is good but not great. Valet parking - no charge.
(3)Mr C.
Great service and the pokè is killer! It's definitely better than our Dukes in Malibu. A must go to while in Kauai.
(5)Colleen Q.
I went to the first floor bar twice in the last few days and enjoyed the place on both occasions. The coconut shrimp appetizer as well as the Korean tacos were delicious, and I couldn't stop myself from having multiple lava flow drinks. Service on both days were excellent.
(4)Dave C.
Good location, but they use insanely cheap alcohol for their drinks. Where on the hell do you buy 'Hana Bay' rum??? Can't you spring for the $8 bottle of Bacardi to make your $9 drinks???
(3)Kathy J.
LOVE Duke's!! We arrived without a reservation on a Friday night. We waited about 35 mins for a table and went downstairs to the Barefoot Bar for happy hour. We enjoyed a couple of drinks while we waited and chatted with another couple. We were seated upstairs and had a beautiful view of the beach and ocean. I ordered the opah line and chili roasted and the flavor was excellent and a bit spicy. My mom ordered the opah mac nut and herb crusted and she loved it. The salad bar was okay.. nothing very exciting.
(4)Kc S.
Ahi tuna wrap was really good, lots of ahi! Consistently good food.
(4)SteffAnie O.
Dukes Upstairs: Dinner upstairs is alright, seems as if the prices go up periodically. For us Locals, its barely affordable anymore. :/ Service wise, depending on how busy it is and the mood of the server, I wouldnt expect more than just your food. Downstairs: Its more of a Laid Back scenery, on some nights, theres live entertainment (which is majority of the reasonwhy we go). its always nice to sit back, have a couple drinks while listening to music. And of course, the hula pie....this is where the HULA PIE is at. always fills that craving. macadamia nut ice cream, oreo crust, hot fudge...whats there not to like about it.
(4)Don K.
It's Dukes. Made for tourists. If you want the stereotypical beachfront bar with palm trees and a maitai then this is the place to go. You'll pay for it but sometimes it's nice. Live music on fri and sat is awesome. No room to get your groove on but its still mean.
(4)Jen P.
I'm a huge fan of Dukes so I was excited to try this one especially since we were staying at the Marriott. The ambiance is beautiful, right off of Kalapaki Beach. The Barefoot bar is good and that is probably all I would go there for. We had dinner in the main area one night during graduation time. It was busy and service was terrible. We both ordered the Ahi Tuna and they informed us they only had one left. The waiter apologized and ended up substituting my fiance's order with some raw sliced tuna which is exactly what it was. A few Raw tuna pieces with no flavor and charged us the same price for the dish. We weren't happy about that or the service. The Ahi wasn't that great anyways... way over seasoned. Really wish I could rate this better, but I can't.
(3)Karen T.
We were at this hotel from Sunday morning til Wednesday evening. We had breakfast one morning, dinner one night and I think the food at the pool came from here. For breakfast we had the buffet which of course is a little pricey for what you get. What we did have we enjoyed, I especially liked the Egg White omelette I got at the Omelette station and Eggs Florentine. For meats they had some dried out corned beef with onions and bacon. There was a muffin selection as well as bread & bagels for you to toast with some preserves. They charge $24 for the buffet and we paid $12 for my 6 year old grandson. He had a scoop of rice and about 3 slices of bacon. So not worth it for kids. :) Dinner was good, My husband shared some of his prime rib that was perfectly done and so soft. I had a japanese plate-can't recall what it was called but there was some shrimp and vegetable tempura and I think some teriyaki meat. Very large portions. My son ordered the Ahi Salad and finished off my plate. The drinks we had with dinner were large and pretty potent & tasty. At the end of the meal our waiter asked where we were from. When he found out we lived on Oahu, he took back the bill and said he was getting us the Kama' aina discount! I think it was 10% off. We just signed it and let him keep it as part of his tip. He was really a great waiter, I wish I could remember his name. Yay for him cause that ended up like at 25% tip for him. I'm not sure if the food we ordered at the pool came from here but I'm adding it in anyway. We got an order of fries and the Kalua Pork Sandwich. The sandwich was good with a decent bbq sauce and the fries were just plain fries, nothing special although there were a LOT of them! The food came in bamboo steamer baskets and the one with the fries was so full!
(4)Leia K.
This review is for the LAVA FLOW. To this day, the BEST LAVA FLOW I have had.
(5)Brian H.
Four stars for Duke's from Yelpers is VERY generous. No matter what anyone says, Duke's is a glorified hotel restaurant with a great view. Unless you are staying at the Marriott, there is no reason to dine here. And if you ARE staying at the Marriott, get a Mai Tai and a order of calamari strips at the bar and leave happy. They only get the third star from me because of their ridiculously delicious calamari strips. Big, thick, tender strips of calamari fried crispy with a panko crust. We went back again just for those. Tip: The crowd is very geriatric, so dine late to avoid the wait for a table. By 8pm the place is already half-empty.
(3)Allison R.
Both the upstairs restaurant and downstairs restaurant at this place are awesome - and don't forget the Hula Pie!! First off the upstairs - it is really nice with a GREAT salad bar. The Menus are different so choose wisely. Both have hula pie :) We had a great chicken entree up there, pretty basic but delicious and the salad bar really was excellent. The downstairs is excellent at lunch with some lighter fare - we went for a salad and fish and chips and then at dinner I went with their NE Clam Chowder and the cocnut shrimp app. I will warn you - the chowder is not the same as in NE, this is Hawaii after all, but it was still delicious, the seasonings are a bit different so don't go in expecting the best NE chowder of your life. The shrimp were great. Overall the food here was above average good but we really went for the hula pie. That's the money spot here, food will be good the hula pie will be amazing!
(5)Don K.
Ate dinner at Duke's again. One of my favorite restaurants on Kauai. The mahi mahi was great along with the salad bar. Hula pie omg. Got a table on the rail. Beautiful view of Kalapaki bay.
(4)Andrew E.
First stop after arriving at Lihue airport on the way to Poipu Bay, this restaurant is in the Marriot resort. It was just after 11am so lunch was just getting started and plenty of tables were available, we had a good view right outside. I had fish tacos, they were excellent with very fresh local fish, and good toppings/condiments. Probably coulda used a few tortilla chips but all in all a good lunch. My wife enjoyed her chicken sandwich. Prices are standard for Kauai meaning not cheap but they weren't outrageous given how good the food was. The hula pie was pretty decadent.
(4)Rebecca P.
Dukes is a hotel restaurant and that about says it. The food is alright and expensive - as expected. The location, view and decor is outstanding!! You really can't find a nicer hawaiian spot to eat. It is right on the cove and the patio looks out over it. The drinks were delicious as well. I had the Duke's famous salad bar and the only thing I can think of that makes it famous is how unimpressive it is for all the hype. It has a very limited selection on just about everything. It does have kimchi which was a nice Hawaiian dish but everything else is fairly typical and boring. I have had better salads with more interesting options for a lot less than $15. I was very disappointed to see that their fish options for the evening were all on the 'Critical' fish list guide by Monterey Bay Aquarium. Where is Duke's environmental and health concern? They really should offer fish that isn't being overfished... One excellent food item at Duke's is the Hula Pie - WOW! Ice cream, macadamia nuts, fudge, cream - yum. If you go to Dukes - go for the location, the drinks and the dessert!
(2)Marie B.
I love Duke's! It's the Hawaiian version of the Elephant Bar in California, but because you're in Hawaii and especially in Kauai where bars and lounges aren't a plenty, Duke's is awesome. Very casual, right there at the beach. Service is attentive and drinks and pupus are delish! I particularly like the criss-cut fries and the nachos. Full dinner and dessert is good too. Pay at specials as i do believe they have special offerings. The think the drinks are so good, they deserve a paragraph on their own. So pretty and tasty with their little fruit and umbrella...so very Hawaiian. During my last trip there I ordered the "Tropical Itch". Its so cute it came out with a wooden back scratcher to act as the drink mixer. Lovely tasting too...not too sweet and though the flavors now escape me, one was plenty and went perfect with the ambiance and food. I also went during Duke's 118th birthday and loved the two guys playing live were awesome. I actually still have one of the songs they played in my head...and it's been over a week now.... Duke's seems to be our standby cocktails and pupus joint, and again, good for dinner too.
(5)Phil K.
Great fish tacos. Grilled Cajun style.
(4)Erin K.
We ate here twice while staying at the Marriott. Once downstairs for lunch and then upstairs for dinner. Lunch was decent, nothing really exciting but hit the spot...chowder was good. For dinner we didn't have reservations (which I would recommend) but we only ended up waiting about 20 minutes so we grabbed a drink at the bar while waiting. Salad bar was good just be careful not to fill up too much so you have room for dessert! :) DH ordered the prime rib which was just okay. The rest of us ordered the fish specials which were delicious and cooked perfectly. Of course we had to have the famous hula pie for dessert, one was plenty big for the four of us. Everything was wonderful and we will definitely return.
(3)Mike B.
We have eaten here more than 15 times or so, it's pretty consistent and the salad bar continues to be the best choice and value on the menu. The opah this time was pretty good, fish plates run roughly $30 and are good but not fantastic. View is amazing if you get a downstairs table by the ledge. The hula pie is still why we come back every year
(3)Sanaz A.
Gorgeous outdoor sitting by the water and decent food! They messed up my friend's simple food twice though and that was annoying. The venue gets an A, the food gets a B!
(2)Travis W.
This review pertains to the barefoot bar. Sure the scenery is nice and it's right near our room, but the food lacked magic. I must have been on a burger craze, because I ordered one here and from the Beach Hut the day before and it was forgettable. What stuck in my mind was the little rock path that winded its way to the upstairs restaurant. You can find places like this Los Angeles, no problem.
(3)Kimberly M.
Worst meal I've had in a very long time & it saddens me to have bragged about Dukes to my parents we landed in Lihue after our 10 days in Maui. I raved to them how, 'we must do Dukes!'.... My dad's burger was practically raw & we waited for what seemed an eternity for our waitress to return and fix it. Our diet cokes, (we still had a drive to Princeville.. So no Mai Tais! ) ran empty, OR the waitress would fill one of ours and leave the rest of us on empty! No apology for bad raw burger... Just a rude 'local hates tourist' , 'so do you want it redone?' ... No! Really? Yeah! Your $15 burger was disgusting & my Mac-nut wontons & burned coconut shrimp make me never wanting to come back to one of my fav places in Hawaii. The only thing that gives this particular Duke's a star at all, is the awesome Hawaii view.
(1)Jason B.
Awesome! Great service and great food. The downstairs is more pub style food and the upstairs is a more formal menu. If you go, get the Hula pie, probably not low in calories but very yummy.
(5)Amanda G.
This is a somewhat difficult place to rate, since we re in the bar, and then later the restaurant. We had drastically different experiences in both. Our first and intended destination was the bar. We had heard they had fish taco specials and discounted beer for happy hour. The place also has a great view, so we were looking forward to it. We were seated right away, and began looking at the specials. It turned out the discounted beer was a cheapo brand that my husband wouldn't touch, and the fish tacos were fried, so I wouldn't touch them either. Nonetheless, we were there, and decided we'd have a drink and enjoy the view. We proceeded to wait for a server to come take our order. and waited, and waited...and then we waited some more.... Several servers passed us, and I even caught their eye, stil no one came over. We were actually getting ready to walk out when someone FINALLY noticed no one had taken our order. I think the only reason we were even spoken too,was because someone asked if we wanted anything else. There was actually a server, (she also seemed to be hostess) who looked me in the eye several times, and went on dancing at the hostess stand.Seriously? WTF??? Anyway...We ordered some drinks, they were good, but overpriced, and the same woman gave me the stink eye more than once. We were getting hungry, were a little buzzed, and couldn't decide what to do for dinner.Atter walking around the shopping center, we decided we'd try our luck at the restaurant, (which seemed to be staffed by different people.) The hostess there was very friendly and really pleasant, and we were seated immediately, and waited on immediately. Service proved to be MUCH better upstairs, and the food was pretty good.Nothing amazing, but not horribly overpriced, and did I mention the view??? I'd like to spend some time at the beach this looks onto, and if I did I would return if I was hungry enough.
(3)Michael S.
Parking was a pain, but the Hula Pie was amazing and too much even for two people. I recommend starting with that and then seeing if you have room for "real food" after the Hula Pie.
(4)Jeff S.
Our experience at Duke's was much worse then previous ones (we have been to Duke's in Oahu and Huntington Beach). We first attempted dinner at dukes on Monday December 10th, just to drive from Poipu and learn they were closed. We even called there phone number before hand, we left a message for a reservation. it would have been nice if they said "were closed" on the message. We then went to Duke's the next day and ate in the Barefoot Bar. The ribs were really good, but the burger was only OK. Each of our 4 alcohol drinks were watered down and had almost no alcohol. Even though its a beautiful restaurant, I would never go back to the one on Kauai.
(2)Rod K.
You have to go here for the atmosphere alone! We get to Kauai at least once a year and this is the one place we stop every time. You can sit in the bar area with an incredible ocean view, sit inside by the waterfall and pond or sit upstairs for panoramic views. The food is good, the view is better, the staff is friendly and the service is on point. My best advice is to save room for the Hula Pie!
(4)John P.
Duke's is a solid choice. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal in the dozens of times I've eaten there. I prefer downstairs so my kids can run around on the lawn after dinner and I can keep and eye on them. Also downstairs they have the cheap fish tacos on Tues and a la carte fish entrees (cheaper, but with no salad bar). Upstairs is chill too. Since Kauai is not really the world's best place to sample gourmet cuisine, I think Duke's is a really good choice for most folks visiting and who want a nice dinner with no drama. Now I see a lot of disappointed tourists saying the place is mediocre - in a way it IS. But mostly that's because you need to eat the right stuff there. Don't get prime rib in Hawaii folks! Especially when you live in Iowa or something. Get fish at Dukes for sure..pick one of the 5 ways they make it. I'd suggest mahi mahi with mac nut crust or the 5-spice opah if I was the suggesting-type. The salad bar, again, pretty mediocre compared to the over-the-top stuff on the Mainland, but we are very far from where lettuce grows so you've gotta keep that in mind. I mean the size of the portions I get on the Mainland are kinda scary! The salad bars with 12 kinds of soup, olive bar, cheese bar, bakery on site, etc etc..we just don't have that kind of thing here. So maybe lower your sights a bit and have a couple more drinks! ;-)
(4)Charmie P.
Great atmosphere! We went at night, I wish we would have returned during the date because the Restaurant overlooks the ocean. The food was pretty good and I also liked that they had a salad bar. definitely a fun place.
(4)Ashley J.
If you're looking for great food, local flare, fast and friendly service - then Dukes is NOT for you! I've been a frequent visiter to the island of Kaui.. we normally stay in the South Shore area, but on our way to/from Lihue we've stopped at Dukes. The food is typical hotel restaurant food. There isn't anything special about it! When you're paying $13 for a cheese burger, you expect something better than a cold patty and a crabby waitress. In fact, I wish I remembered her name, but our waitress was SO unfriendly that I had to approach the manager and actually make a formal complaint (this is coming from the girl who hates confrontation!) You'd think that being in such a beautiful place some sunshine would rub off on her.. AND last Christmas my brother went to Kaui, visited Dukes, and called me with the same complaint saying that the girl was STILL employed- shocker! Instead of going to Dukes- I'd spend the extra cash and go to the EXCELLENT italian restaurant upstairs!
(2)Tiffaney L.
Service was great. Salad bar was large and had a lot to offer. Went with every entree at dinner. Calamari appetizer was tender. Came out in strips. My boyfriend and I both had opa. Me mac nut crusted and his firecracker. Both were good but mine I could taste the natural flavor of the fish better. Hula pie for dessert topped off our delicious dinner.
(4)Jon T.
Food good, but selection not as good as Oahu.
(3)Derek R.
Don't go out of your way to come here. It was serviceable for us since it was close to the Marriott, where we stayed. We also only came for happy hour from 4-6 in the barefoot bar. Good prices for good food and decent service. Having an ocean view and eating an $8 burger isn't too bad. Good fries. Weak drinks.
(3)Dorcee S.
Very nice, scenic lunch at Duke's Barefoot Bar We valet parked - makes it so much easier. Seated by the Koi Pond looking out on Kalapaki Bay. Perfect people watching spot too. Hubby had the Kalua Pork Sandwich which he really enjoyed and our friend and I split a Caesar Salad and Fish Tacos. I had a Duke's Mai Tai, pretty darn good! $40.85 4.5 stars (only because I prefer batter fried fish tacos - this was healthier grilled Ahi).
(4)Jami F.
So, the ambiance of the restaurant was quite nice, as it's situated in the Marriott (which is beautiful itself). The restaurant has a very nice "open-air" patio area, while the interior is filled with tropical plants and greenery. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating and explained the specials in detail. As much as I'd like to give this restaurant a higher rating, the quality of the food was inconsistent. My husband and I split the Crab and Mac Nut Wonton appetizer, which was outstanding. My husband isn't much of a seafood person and he was especially unsure about the plum mustard dipping sauce. We both loved the app; the dipping sauce turned out to be the star of the dish. The entrée portions were quite small, probably b/c each entrée is accompanied with the salad bar. The salad bar was rather large and filled with different green salads, pasta salads and sides; however it lacked in toppings for a regular salad. I ordered a white fish prepared "Duke Style" (baked in garlic, lemon and a sweet basil glaze). The "Duke Style" preparation was delicious. However, my rice was way overcooked - mushy actually. I ended up re-ordering the rice pilaf, which was average. My husband ordered the Prime Teriyaki Sirloin, which was a bit overcooked and not as flavorful as he'd hoped. Though the quality of the food was a bit inconsistent; the restaurant did have a nice vibe and the wait staff was super friendly and helpful.
(3)Chelle B.
I loved the food! I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich and it was so good. Although it was a little slow on service, the wait was worth it! Along with my food, I had the kids volcano drink. The strawberries are optional but I would definitely recommend them! My family was very happy with their order and we ordered dessert. We got the hula pie and it was huge! My sister and I shared it and still didn't eat everything. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Aaron L.
Im mixed on this place, some things are a total hit, others are a total miss. Perfect if you are staying or meeting at the Marriott. No need to go outta ur way to get here.
(3)Jeannie R.
We've had dinner here twice - once in the bar & grill downstairs, and once at the restaurant upstairs. The staff has been super friendly on both visits (and I love that the hostess keeps telling us it'll be a 15-minute wait, and ends up being a 2-minute wait), though if you get out of your chair watch out for wait staff whizzing around you at 100mph! They're moving FAST! Food has been good... closer to average than great. We heard several great reviews about the salad bar... but can't figure out why. It was a very small one.... delicious banana muffins though! Mmm! Drinks are on the weaker side. I suggest shots if you're trying to get a buzz going. Hula pie was delish! Definitely meant for sharing - it's a HUGE dessert! If you've got a car I'd suggest trying someplace else, but if not you'll be fine eating here.
(3)Heather D.
Duke's was a wonderful experience for my husband and me! We both had fish entrees. We also both loaded up at the salad bar, which was so vast it even offered tofu! I may have over-done it at the salad station actually. The spicy sauce that my fish was prepared in was absolutely amazing. Our waitress had sold me on it during the description! I like that you can put whatever sauce on the fish of your choice. The ambience was great, complete with ocean breezes and gentle music. Cocktails were also stellar, strong and flavorful. Wish I had known about the fish tacos. :o/ But I am happy with what I ate, and I would recommend it to anyone staying at or near the Marriott!
(4)Nan N.
I met some friends for dinner at Dukes my fist evening in Kauai. The setting is beautiful & the restaurant is lovely & just perfect for HI. Service was efficient and pleasant. The fish was unfortunately overdone. I was so disappointed. I chose the special and was looking forward to a perfect preparation. At Dukes prices, I would expect the kitchen to be able to cook the fish properly. From now on I will go for happy hour & not for dinner.
(3)Clare C.
Fabulous location, right on Kalapaki beach, you cant go wrong with the view. The food is quite good as well - I was here twice and had the fish tacos both times (they're REALLY good). Good selection of pupu's to choose from. Decent wine and beer selections. I would highly recommend it.
(4)William B.
Started our Kauai vacation off right by coming to Duke's (upstairs) as soon as we got settled in. My firecracker Ono was excellent and my wife's macadamia crusted opah was just as good. Service was spit on. Nice views too!
(5)Mark T.
The layout and view from this restaurant are first rate. I found myself looking out at the surf and not really watching what I was eating... That being said the Fish tacos were very good. The meal itself was better than I expected however the view of the beach and ocean are the real selling point here. It is not a culinary experience by any means.
(3)Jim M.
Beautiful location, decent food and prices. As a local we come here once a year for special occasions.
(4)Steve M.
Went to the Barefoot Bar twice, once for cocktails and dinner the other time for the taco Tuesday special. I had a Lava Flow cocktail, it was alright, not the best I've had, rating 4 stars. The mango glazed BBQ ribs were good, rating 4 stars. The best were the fish tacos. The type of fish can vary for any given day, depending on what was freshly caught. For us the fish was opah, the tacos were excellent, a 5 star. Normally comes with sides of tartare sauce and a mild pico de gallo. During Aloha Hour (4 to 6pm) the tacos are $3 each, well worth it.
(4)Todd H.
Four stars for the fish tacos and calamari strips in the bar, the view, and the kitschy ambiance. Minus one star for the high priced and often mediocre dining room experience. My wife and I have stayed at the nearby Marriott three times and the vacation rentals up on the cliffs adjacent to the Marriott three more times. Our first day ritual after a long day of traveling has always been to head to Duke's and get fish tacos and drinks in the bar, and the bar is definitely where it's at at Duke's. One thing to be aware of is that the fish taco happy hour special has *fried* fish - the regular menu fish tacos are grilled. I personally prefer the grilled but the fried are decent too (and cheaper). If you do decide to dine upstairs, stay away from the overly sauced fish preparations and go for the simply grilled fish and you should be OK. As for the steaks and prime rib - WTF are you doing ordering red meat in Hawaii when there is fresh local fish to be had EVERYWHERE?
(3)Jenny D.
Usually I am turned off by places that have multiple locations, but I was pleasantly surprised by this Duke's. Salad bar was perfect, not too much food but just right. Main courses were the same, adequately sized and just delicious. Even the rice was some of the best I've had. Service was very friendly and fast. Views could not be beat.
(5)Elaine L.
I enjoyed evening dining on the lanai. The daily fresh fish selections are offered with a variety of seasonings and preparation styles. We went with our server recommendations for the fish selection and preparation, and were very happy with our meals. The salad bar buffet, with fresh fruit and fresh baked muffins, is a nice feature as well. Don't miss the Hula Pie for dessert - it's enough to share!
(4)Dallas N.
Good burger shack (in the bar for lunch) to help avoid bad hotel food at the Marriott pool. I had the Teriyaki burger and it's solid. Dinner is where they shine though. You would be crazy to order anything but fish here. Fish is local, fresh and decently prepared. Why only 3 stars you ask? Service was generally poor. Slow and unorganized in both the bar and restaurant. Great views though, and it puts things in perspective. It's Hawaii man... chill...
(3)Michael S.
Had the Mahi Mahi sandwich, it was moist and the sauce was good. I didn't care for the bun, but good overall. The Duke's golden ale was cold and had good flavor. The hula pie was amazing as always. It might be the greatest dessert of all time. Can't beat the view. My wife had the teriyaki chicken sandwich, she found the chicken a little dry and the same crappy bun. The sauce was bland too. On a positive note, my kids' quesadilla was great. Overall a pleasant experience, just steps from the sand. We will be back.
(4)julie b.
food is mediocre. waiter was nice but was aggresively trying to upsell our orders-that was a total turn off. band in bar was okay on their instruments but their singing was horrible--to the point where it might have been a comedy routine they were so off-key. kinda nice view. nice old photos of Duke in old Hawaii-he was quite the hunk in his day. cocktail waitresses looked like they weren't old enough to sell booze. drinks were totally watered down-especially the "special hawaii drinks" -overall a tourist trap-salad bar was mediocre-lots of sloppy and fattening items with no real taste. best thing was the hula pie at $7 bucks
(2)scott c.
Dukes is one of the best places to eat on the island. It has a bit of a tourist feel, but the view of the bay is awesome (go at sunset) and the food is very good. We went twice, had the prime rib, butter fish, and snapper. All of these were good meals and the salad bar is a great starter. If you decide on the Hula Pie -split it. The service is friendly and attentive.
(4)Emily G.
Average food. Delicious drinks. Super over priced. Convenient to Marriot Resort.
(3)Danielle S.
Best Mai Tai on the island! The views of the ocean are spectacular and the food is tasty. Will definitely come back next time I'm on the island.
(4)Shelby D.
I live on Kaua'i and I have frequented Duke's since I was really young. I recently came home for a visit from college and I was saddened by the limited menu that is now featured. Our waiter, Curtis (who was really awesome), explained to me that the menu is in rotation every 3 months. As a local who frequents Duke's, I really miss some of the old local favorites. Their salad bar is still as yummy as ever and the Hulihuli Chicken (though not officially on the menu) that I ordered was beyond amazing! I also miss the former bread that was featured at the salad bar. Although the new bread is okay, the previous bread was bigger and much tastier. But no worries Duke's, I'll still be a dedicated customer...just don't forget your local fans!
(4)Sasha R.
we stopped in for lunch at the bar. I had been hoping for a peek at the famous salad bar, but apparently that's only for dinner. the place is right on the beach walk, with lots of good people watching. beers are cheap and local. husband had the nachos -- crisp with plenty o' toppings. I had the ahi sashimi, little dry as it had clearly been sitting in the fridge for a while. just go for the setting. it's a fun place to hang out and have a drink.
(4)Jaime A.
Way over priced, the place is nice but that's about it. The food was good but not reflective of the prices, better place for oldsters who like scenery rather than taste. I've had just as good of fish from road side stands in kapaà . The service was not the best, "salad bar" was lame sizzler has a better salad bar, yeah sizzler!
(2)Grace L.
good food ! Good service! Beautiful atmosphere.
(5)Thia T.
It is hard to eat fish when you are watching coi swimming around near the bottom of your feet...not really! Especially when the fish tacos and the calamari are so yummy! And to help tip it off, hot girls serving you! Of course my boyfriend did not notice (right) but it was a nice touch on a Tuesday. We went for Happy Hour literally right after snorkeling on the beach. There was plenty of seating so we did not have to wait and with the weather being so warm and the cool breeze providing the ac...paradise. We did not stay for dinner so I cannot vouch for how great everything else is but the pretty drinks sure made it easy to think positively about this place.
(4)Chad R.
Great food and service without the tourist vibe....
(5)Chris B.
Yes, it's in a hotel and it is overpriced. Fine, get past it, because the food is good and the view is excellent. Don't get me wrong, I've had better meals for less money, but there's something to be said for dining at sunset and watching surfers catch waves while drinking mai tais. I had the Poke rolls (basically raw ahi in a fried wrapper) which were ok. Their salad bar is decent, though not amazing like some make it out to be. My main course was the ono done firecracker style. The cut was a good size and it was cooked well, the sauce was rich and spicy and accompanied with a scoop of avocado/black beans. Yum. When you go, make sure to specify that you would like a table with a view of the water. Not getting a table with a view would make this place simply decent, but still overpriced.
(4)Bobo Y.
Food: fresh fish Service: good, but there was some miscommunication at the reception. It was my birthday dinner, my husband had ask for a piece of cake for me as a surprise when he made a reservation. But nothing came out after we finished our food. So, my husband asked our waitress. She had no idea. Location: in the Marriot hotel, on a beach.
(3)Mel G.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner one night, and really enjoyed the ambiance. It's almost like dining inside a treehouse, and the lighting makes it really cozy. I ordered the New York Steak which was really tasty, and Joe also liked his ahi dish. Would recommend to those looking for good eats -- also a tip: if you want to sit in the restaurant/treehouse portion on the 2nd floor, you're good making reservations beforehand.
(5)Stan W.
Fantastic view and a solid salad bar. That's about it. A lot of the fish around our table was overcooked, except for the ahi which was quite good. Hard to overcook a rare seared fish. I liked their take on kimchi in the salad bar. I hated my dried up overcooked fish so I filled up on this. Beware - this restaurant is EXACTLY THE SAME as KEOKI'S PARADISE in Poipu. The menu is IDENTICAL, except they call the baked lemon/garlic/caper fish preparation "Duke's Style" instead of "Keoki's Style". I swear the font was even the same. I saw that the same company owned both restaurants but come on, mix it up a bit. We didn't know this and unfortunately followed up dinner at Duke's with dinner at Keoki's the very next night.
(2)Baron V.
We've been coming to Duke's Kauai for dinner for a dozen years. Have to say the service this year (5/31/2011) is down from previous experiences. The valet was downright rude, "allowing" me to drop off three mobility-impaired passengers (aged 50 to 88), and then telling me that I had to park off site - with no suggestions as to where I might be able to park, other than "at the Marriott." Once inside, the staff was competent, the food was good, but the manager was "too busy" to speak with me. [Funny, he seemed to have time to pay attention to every pretty female staff member and client, but ...] As a manager of a service organization, I prefer to let management know if there are issues that impact the experience a client/customer has I checked their Facebook page and Website, but there is no contact information listed.
(4)David F.
Still not that great. At least they had tristan lobster. Service not so great....will jus go downstairs bar instead....steak over done and kept forgeting to refill my water.
(3)Stan A.
Dined at Duke's (upstairs). It was quite well done. Had the Fish of the Day with a Macadamia Nut Crust with a Lemon/Caper Butter Sauce. The fish, I think it's called Monchong, a species of Pomfret, (thanks Google!) was soft and light. It's flavor was brought out nicely with the herbs and lemon, but too many capers. These were easily brushed aside. I'm really not a big caper fan anyway. The texture is much softer than mahi or opa, and it is a bit dry (the butter sauce fixed that!). The salad bar is awesome! Careful not to eat too much salad, even though it's all fresh and delicious. The entrée portions are rather large. My dinner partner had the Opa and didn't finish it. I admit I didn't get through all the rice, but couldn't leave any of that wonderful fish. We passed on desert. The Hula Pie looked wonderful and rich and LARGE. MUST share this or bring insulin with you for all that sugar. Might have to come back and try some of the other items, but time is short. Mahalo Duke's!
(3)Ken M.
Dukes is highly recommended my brother-in-law for the fish tacos at happy hour we started with the couple appetizer drinks before the happy hour started we were allowed us to order the happy hour 15 minutes in advance we order six plates of the fish tacos which turns out to be three dollars a plate fish tacos were to die for atmosphere was really good. I even left a T-shirt that I bought there in a bag.The next next morning the bag was the front, get there early for happy hour, great access to water .
(5)Drew M.
The food is always good. The view is wonderful! And the wait staff is the friendliest! Never disappointed at Duke's
(4)Jasmyn M.
Came here for the breakfast buffet... Shame on you, Duke's. Shame on you for not giving me change and assuming all the cash was for your pocket. And shame on you for copping attitude when I asked for my cash back. Food was mediocre. Only thing fresh that was fresh was the made-to-order omelettes, which weren't OK. Service, as stated above, was terrible. The server refilled everyone's coffee except for mine because she ran out, but never returned to refill for the rest of our meal (another 30 min). "Seasonal fruit" consisted of honeydew and cantaloupe. Am I not in Hawaii? Apparently those fruits are seasonal all year long across the entire country...even Hawaii.
(1)John G.
Duke's is from the TS chain that runs Kimo's and Leilani's on Maui. Well run in a great location overlooking the bay in front of the Kauai Marriott. Stopped by for lunch. Great view and very attentive servers. Had the fish taco special which was just so very tasty. Menu had lots of Hawaiian fish along with grille type foods. Nice appetizer choices. Recommended for a lunch or dinner out on Kauai. Very nice!
(4)Michelle Z.
The ribs are great!! Excellent service. Plus unlimited salad bar with every entre. Great views. Best restaurant at the Marriott.
(4)Albie F.
Unfortunately I couldn't relax and dine at Duke's Canoe Club Bar & Restaurant because it was a beautiful setup and filled with people. I had to settle to takeout a mango BBQ bacon burger as my last meal on Kauai while waiting at security checkout at the Lihue Airport. It sure did beat grabbing anything to eat at the airport and I feel sorry for everybody in line watching me down this succulent combination of applewood smoked bacon, glazed mango BBQ sauce, and grilled onions.
(4)Jay O.
Yes, this is another touristy destination with delicious food & drinks and great ambiance. The downstairs bar is great for gettin' your drink on and snacking on various delicious appetizers. The upstairs restaurant is great for getting so full that you forgot you drank anything. They have an excellent all-you-can-eat salad bar with freshly tossed, extra-fishy caesar salad, and lots else. For your entree, get the opah (which they usually have), but avoid the heavy, rich crusts or sauces they offer, which tend to overhaul the delicate flavor of this fish.
(4)Jana M.
Dukes Kauai: good food, nice views, awesome location, stocked salad bar, yummy tropical drinks and a downstairs location for a more casual menu. The menus aren't extensive but the food is always consistently well prepared and we appreciate that. I love getting the fish (usually opah or Ono) herb and mac nut crusted, so wonderful. We like celebrating special occasions here and we make sure to tell our waiter that for a free hula pie. We like to go downstairs for happy hour Tuesdays 4-6, good deals like $3 fish tacos but usually packed. I love that they often have live music downstairs, so you can just cruise and unwind with some panko crusted calamari, Mac nut wonton, and a basket of waffle fries.
(5)C T.
Went here thinking I was going to have some really nice food, was I wrong in thinking that. Our waiter was not nice, not helpful, never there when we needed him, never checked on us to see if we needed anything. When he brought our food the potatoes we luke warm at best and they were hard and lumpy. The prime rib tasted good but it was small; it was about 5" in diameter and it was only about 1/2 inch thick. We also get a salad bar with the prime rib. I went to the salad bar and there was hardly anything to chose from, it was REALLY poorly put together. I would never go back here again. It's over priced and the food wasn't good. I would however go to The Bull Shed. There prime Rib was HUGE, my wife and I ordered one plate to share and we couldn't finish it. Staff was friendly and out waitress was always checking on us. go to The Bull Shed for prime rib and other select cuts of beef and also seafood. They are right on the beach. Ask for a window seat in the back, the windows are right on the water. LOVELY!
(1)Holly H.
Dukes used to be one of my favorite restaurants but not anymore. Sadly it isn't the same as it used to be a few years ago. Service upstairs wasn't great. We sat there for 10 minutes or so before we even got water! And I had to ask another server for it. Our waitress didn't return for a long time. Not sure what she was doing?? As we sat and watched a group that was seated after us already eating appetizers! Since they took the filet off the menu I had to order whatever they replaced it with. I ordered it medium rare and it came back WELL DONE. Same for my boyfriends prime rib. If I wasn't on a time limit having to eat and drop my friend off to the airport I would have sent it back. Everything was too salty. Overall a big disappointment. The only thing you can't go wrong with is the view and the salad bar!
(2)Lil M.
Solid food. Amazing bbq, fish and chips and hula pie. Service was bad. Food is worth it though- delicious. Pretty expensive but beautiful setting on the beach and chill vibe.
(4)Marc P.
Duke's has two separate and distinct onsite dining options: a) the Barefoot Bar (the downstairs area of Duke's). The bartender downstairs was extremely friendly, and the Fire Rock ale tasty. They offered appetizers, burgers, and other fare to dine on, but we opted instead to eat upstairs at their restaurant (see below) b) the restaurant (upstairs). All meals include a complimentary salad bar, which was really good (lots of fixing, and all was fresh, of which the pineapple was notably delicious). This restaurant was consistently good. So much so, that although we had a rent-a-car, we opted to eat dinner at Dukes (adjacent to the Marriott Kauai Beach Club resort -- the hotel where we stayed) three of the six nights that we were in Kauai. Over the course of three meals we tried their fish, their luau fish dish, their ribs & chicken, and their filet mignon. Everything was good. The pasta & fish luau dish tasted really fresh, but it could have used some more zip/zing to it. CALL AHEAD TO MAKE RESERVATIONS; you can get in without them, but you will probably be waiting a while if you don't have any.
(4)Shirley M. J.
Duke's Fax.(808) 246-1047 Ahhh . . . I was just stating that Carol and I began our Tropical Itch Escapade at Duke's in Kauai. The restaurant is located at Nawiliwili District, Kalapaki Bay by the humungous boat docks and small beach area just down the street from Motel Lani on Rice Street . . . from Motel Lani and downtown Lihue on Rice Street curves down hill to the right and on your left side past that corporate hotel immediately is a funky driveway on your left side of the street where you make a sharp left hand turn into the driveway. Please drive into the driveway and not up that steep street, ok? Do try to find parking by the beach because parking in front of the shops has a limited parking time. You must walk across this covered bridge and meandering pathway to get to Duke's. Keep in mind that this Duke's property is not as nice as the Duke's in Waikiki, but the food cooked by the Duke's Chefs and the drinks made by top-notch bartenders makes up for the lack of majestic scenery. Although, Duke's does have a beach in front of the restaurant, you cannot bring your drinks to the beach . . . Sorry-rules are rules and these liquor rules are directly part of Hawaiian State Laws for Kauai. It seems to both Carol and me that the food and drinks served here surpass the food and drinks served at the Waikiki Beach location. We cannot seem to gather a substantial reason, but I have a distinct feeling that the best Chefs and Top-Notch Bartenders prefer to work at this secluded, off the beaten path location. Needless to say, but I will-this Duke's location is secluded, but romantically cozy while the food and libations served here ironically surpasses these other Duke's locations I have frequented past, present and future: Waikiki, Malibu, Maui (Kimo's), and Huntington Beach.
(5)jen r.
great breakfast deal. 14 buffet (vs ala carte menu at marriott next door which adds up to more money and less food) there were plenty of food options, eggs, omelette station, french toast, rice, potatoes, fruits, cereals, etc.. the service was top notch considering it was a buffet. the decor is outdated but the view more than makes up for it!!
(4)Tara S.
Great "hawaii-esque' atmosphere that is typical of your tourist spot complete with indoor water features and island decor. Was there on a Saturday at lunch and the place was PACKED. Service did their best to keep food and drinks moving, but still took forever for our food (maybe 30 min for two burgers?). Best part was the open air seating with our table being closest to the beach. Eh... I don't need to come back, but it would work in a pinch.
(3)O O.
This review is just for the restaurant downstairs, not the part upstairs which I think has a different menu. I gave it two stars instead of one because it is a nice beachfront location and it's great to sit out there looking out. Other than that, the food is very, very lacking. I should've known better, but when it's running late and you want to grab food, you just walk downstairs to the hotel restaurant - big mistake. their clam chowder tastes worse than the stuff you get from cans. My husband said his criss-cut fries were worse than carl's jr's. that's just sad. the fish and chips are not that great either. the shrimp and crab louie was a bunch of lettuce and thousand island dressing. sort of cafeteria style. go if you're desperate for food. at least you'll get a good view.
(2)Bobbie C.
We sat at the downstairs "barefoot bar" for dinner and drinks earlier this week. The bartenders were fantastic, the food was good, and the drinks were exactly what you want from a beachfront bar in Kauai. Overall great time!
(4)michael m.
I wound up trying quite a few of the fanciest restaurants on Kauai but have to say Duke's was by far my favorite place =) While being incredibly affordable, it's got the ambiance that I'd love to have in restaurants. The quality of the food was incredible (truly fresh fish served in "Duke Style"), but I had heard their salad bar, of all things, was one of the things the locals love the most. I had never really gone to a place for a salad bar, but I sure would here! It was perfect =) The nice ladies wandering the place singing various Hawaiian style songs really finished it off though. I had heard from someone who'd been there a lot that one of the ladies that sings owns the place, and that would be an incredibly nice touch if that were true =) Loved it, and have no way it can be improved. =)
(5)Catherine W.
When I sat down, I realized that this is part of the same Duke's that I've been to in Malibu, so I was a little disappointed that I wasn't trying something "different." Still the setting right on the beach is lovely, service is friendly and it has a pleasant Hawaiian feel. Overall, the food is subpar for the price point. The calamari sticks are pretty weird. Kind of a breaded squid stick. I wish they left it in the proper rings and tentacles form (that nature intended), with a natural chewy texture that yields just a bit more crispy breading. The way they prepared them was more like a fish stick, strangely textured and very odd to eat. We tried a fish special in a lemon cream sauce. The fish was somewhat overcooked and dry. Since seafood is more expensive, I expected more. I had the shrimp scampi which was pretty tasty, creamy and garlicky. The view is what you are paying for here and for that, it wouldn't be bad for drinks and ambiance.
(3)Koko L.
The view and ambiance at Duke's was great. We got a fabulous table next to the walkway and were able to watch the beach and people walking by. They have shades on top and they protected us from occational showers. The food was great and drinks were also fabulous. We ordered Ahi Wrap, Coconut Shrimps, some salad, and Fish and Waffle Fries. All good for two adults and one child. The size of their portions are just ok. However, I have to say the location and ambiance is better than the food. It's also kind of pricy!
(4)rusty r.
Head to the bar, 5 STARS! 1. Go to the bar. 2. Drink Mai Tai's. The best, GARENZ BALL BARENZ! 3. Meet the Manager and his brother... and experience some of the coolest brothers on the island. 4. Drink the Kalapaki Leg Spreader. 5. See how that treats you. 6. Attempt to find your way home, enthralled in the Aloha spirit. I would repeat this every day of the week in 2009 if I could!
(4)Chris B.
3 stars for the upstairs dinner portion, 4 starts for the Barefoot Bar. We liked the appetizers more than the dinner entrees. The crab & macadamia nut wontons are AWESOME. Calamari was good too. For dinner we both had two different fishes - they were ok, but not worth what we paid. Drinks were good, so at least they know how to make drinks! Thats always a good thing. You definitely feel at home in this place, just too bad my home isn't Hawai'i !
(4)Forrest S.
Duke's is an institution, but being an institution is not necessarily synonymous with being good. There are local institutions and then then are tourist institutions. Duke's falls into to the latter of the two categories, and while not necessarily a bad place, I wouldn't say it is a great place either. It is made for tourists who want a lively Hollywood style Hawaiian ambiance and mai tai's. I reluctantly came here with my family while they were on vacation and atmosphere wise, it was very nice. Clean, friendly and very lively, which is nice if you are into being surrounded by a large group of people and having to weave through a crawling mass of humanity on the way to the salad bar. Our server was polite, and kept the water glasses full, which was no easy task considering there were enough people here to fill a cruise ship. The salad bar was, well, your typical salad bar with nothing that really made it stand out from any other salad bars you can go to. The coconut shrimp appetizer with spicy lilikoi was my favorite dish. The shrimp were fresh and not overly done, and the sauce was tasty, but again, I have had better coconut shrimp at local food stands that were better and cost less. My main entree was unmemorable. So much so that I really cannot remember the name and it is no longer on the menu. It was angel hair pasta with Ahi tuna and a sauce that is best described as bland. The fish was decent, and the pasta wasn't over cooked, but the sauce that should have really helped made the dish didn't really do it any favors. Last was the hula pie (chocolate cookie crust, vanilla ice cream, macadamia nuts and fudge topping), which was not only huge, but delicious. Do not try to eat this dessert alone, because you will fail. In the end we the meal for four was about $100, and if it weren't for the hula pie, it would have left me wanting more. Duke's has a great view, good service and is a good place if you like touristy places. They do a good job at what they do, but what they do just doesn't do it for me.
(2)Jessica F.
One of my favorite chill out places on the beach. I have been to the one in Waikiki and it was just too crowded and chaotic. Dukes Kauai has a very mellow chill vibe and you cannot beat the setting. Love the drinks and the poke! Yum!
(4)Katelyn R.
Three stars for food and atmosphere. The staff was so not with it. First out hostesses who both appeared to be 14 were about to start a wait line... More than 1/2 the restaurant was open tables. Then it took about 15 mins for our waitress to come over. She circled several times, but never landed. Eventually the ball got rolling. Food was great, atmosphere fun. Maybe the service is better on different nights?
(3)Chris G.
Like it's cousin, the Hula Grill on Maui, this is a great place to be: good food, great Hawaiian craft beer and it overlooks a beautiful beach with white sand and blue water. What's not to like?
(4)Craig V.
Overpriced and underwhelming. Duke's is a big chain in Hawaii and the quality of food and service can vary a lot between locations. This particular location is not one of the better ones (and they're all merely fair). Not much to say except that you'll probably get a better meal at an Applebee's back home than you will here and the cost will be significantly less. If you're just stopping here for a drink and a view, it's not too bad.
(2)Rob H.
Yeah funny after reading some of the reviews. We went as family of four to Barefoot bar for lunch. I had the Mahi-Mahi sandwich and wife had Dukes cheddar burger. The buns were straight out of Safeway bag and burger not that great. Think we could of made our own burger better at hotel BBQ. Mahi-Mahi was ok, seems small portions for burger and fish sandwich and overpriced. Only good things were the waffle fries.
(2)Michael L.
Ate here about 3 times for dinner, and twice for lunch. Never knew you could get really fresh prime rib in Hawaii. (Ordering it extremely rare, you can see the red freshness and non-reduced fat lines/marbling.) The ribs were tender, juicy and fall off the bone. It also has a great fish selection. Fish tacos for lunch were very fresh. The lunch calamari was totally unexpected. They were not the round ringed calamari that is the usual fare at most establishment, but long lightly battered strips. The squid was fresh and juicy. Lots of beer choices. The deserts are also humongous. Open air dining right on the beach is an extra special plus since it's rare where I am. The prices were fair. The waiter was very attentive and well mannered. The tables and chairs are spaced wide apart giving you privacy and room to stretch. The decor give tourists some insight into the history of surfing and to the man that made surfing into a cultural sport. Definitely the best restaurant on those Marriott grounds, and the best bar grill (Not counting Pit Master or BBQ joints) I've been to in the country.
(5)Bob W.
After a few days of experimenting with different restaurants at the Marriott, we leaned that Duke's is definitely the best. Whether you stay at the Marriott or not, Duke's should be one of the places you go for a good meal. We had several meals there (lunch and dinner) and each time we had fast, friendly service, and a excellent and reasonably priced meal. We tried many of the different appetizers and entrees, and were never disappointed. The view of the bay is excellent, and at night the tiki lamps are lit and there is live music. This is one place we can definitely recommend, and don't forget to have the Hulu Pie!
(5)Jodie P.
Have visited Duke's several times.. both the inside finer dining area and the downstairs patio/beach area. The mahi mahi sandwhich, and the calamari are pretty tasty downstairs. The food is not so tasty that it is anything to write home about, but it's very good bar food. It's a nice setting with a great view of Kalapaki Bay. The upstairs has a much better menu and the dinner entrees are very good. My husband had "firecracker ono" and it was spicy but very good. I had a macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi which was very good as well. The salad bar is HUGE and very good. The dessert.. of course you have to get the hula pie.. atleast once. The service was slow each time we were upstairs. I love how it is so casual...and you can still have a good meal.
(4)Margaret B.
This was a nice place to eat, especially for the kids, after a long day. We try to avoid chains - and this is a chain restaurant - however, the service was excellent, food good, and relatively reasonably priced. Kids were exhausted from the beach, we were not dressed too well, it was a bit on the late side, and this place worked out great. Good ambiance. $12 for turkey sandwich, $12 pina colada, $6 kids meal.
(4)Amy B.
Delicious BBQ burger, fast service, friendly waitress. Also, this is a perfect setting on the beach, a typically Kimo's ambience, and the best part: Hula Pie. We were seated right away for lunch at an indoor table near the koi pond. My only complaint: I asked for my burger to be medium-well and it was pretty pink inside. I didn't want to wait for her to send it back, so I just ate it. Otherwise, good food, fun surroundings.
(4)T M B.
Great setting! Even the locals come here! The view (and the walk through Marriot) is just gorgeous. The food was very good and it was pretty cheap (at lunch) for Kauai. Over all, I would totally come here again. Beautiful setting, lovely koi pond. This is the only place we visited twice and had we gone there earlier in the trip, I would have eaten there more often. For the island, the prices were reasonable and the quality was absolutely great.
(5)greg n.
If you are a snob or a hard core foodie, you may not enjoy it at Duke's but if you want a fairly solid meal that doesn't try to swing for the fences, then you will leave satisfied. They have a great salad bar, which is really the only one on the island. The steaks were better than the fish. Filet was very good. And come on, there's Hula pie! The prices were very fair considering location.
(4)Rachael G.
We came here for dinner (not appetizers/pupus) and I think that's what is mostly throwing off the reviews for this place. It really isn't fair if you sat at the Barefoot Bar and ordered so-so appetizers and left a review for a RESTAURANT. We had the crab & mac nut wontons which were yummy & the presentation was good but like someone else said - they were unduly fish-y tasting. The entrees we ordered were the steak & shrimp scampi and the teriyaki chicken & beef. I thought the chicken and beef were overdone (blackened around the outside, dry-ish in the middle) however the steak with a herb butter topping were incredible. Usually I think a place is trying to hide cheap meat when they do a butter or butter sauce on beef but in this case it complemented the scampi and tied the whole thing together perfectly. The salad bar was very fresh, coleslaw and potato salad were unique and very very tasty. The fruit on the salad bar was also exceptional although they need to learn how to cut a pineapple so they aren't serving the core. All the breads were very good as were the dressings for the lettuce salads. All the vegetables were nice and crisp and fresh. All the salads were tasty and well-prepared. Service was amazing. The waitress went out of her way to accommodate our children (without us asking) and told them to go ahead and hit the salad bar (even though they were splitting an entree). Overall this place gets a solid 4.5 stars from us but yelp will only let us do 4. :P
(4)George S.
We ate upstairs for dinner one night, downstairs the next night. The upstairs is more expensive but found the service better downstairs. The ambience is great in both places, even if you are not seeing the bay. The lighting, waterfall, plants, lighting is a five star. Just loved it. The salad bar is very good upstairs, food was good, service was just so so. Downstairs the service was much better, both at the bar (unbelievable fast, crowed and the drinks were there within 2 minutes ) Good place, will go back, good food.
(4)Aimee R.
First of all, it took us forever just to find the entrance to this place. If you're not staying at the Marriot, you might want to allow yourselves a few extra minutes to get lost before finding this restaurant. We had reservations and showed up 15 minutes late due to confusion of how and where to find it. Restaurant itself is very bustling and super busy...Location right on the water is fabulous, which is what i was looking for, however we were seated inside unfortunately, despite an advanced reservation. Still, we were able to enjoy the breezes and views as the entire restaurant is "open" to the outdoors more or less. Felt bad for the people who got seated further inside though, near the main entrance. Entrees were surprisingly good, but i would have appreciated a discount in price on the fettucine noodles i ordered without shrimp, fish or scallops! I don't eat fish, and the only real way to eat here as a vegan/vegetarian is to ask them to hold the fish in certain entrees. Obviously the prices are set with the fish in mind, so i was a little put off that i didn't get a discount for omitting all fish entirely from this meal. It was afterall, just a plate of fettucine and nothing more. Salad bar was ok, but nothing to write home about. I don't get why this place is famous for it's salad bar. It's a typical salad bar. The throngs of people at it, kind of turned my stomach a little. I don't know, i don't like seeing massive amounts of the general public swarming around and handling the food i'm about to eat, but that's just me. Service was kind of weird. Our waiter was so busy that he was blindly rattling off specials while looking at other tables around us and paying attention to other goings on. He flew by to refresh drinks and was always in a rush. This place is very super casual and the surrounding neighborhood leaves something to be desired. We took a quick little walk around the beach after, and it was kind of dirty looking and smelly. The food was surprisingly good here, and suited our purpose for a quick bite to eat before heading to the airport, but i would not return again, nor recommend it as anything special.
(2)Matt P.
We ate at Duke's for our last dinner on the island, as it was close to the airport. Although we thought it would be a bit played out, we were pleasantly surprised. Before we were ready for a dinner table, we had a couple of drinks in the downstairs "Barefoot Bar". They had some pretty good live Hawaiian music going on, and though the drinks (Mai Tais and Pina Coladas) were not strong, they were tasty. Good people watching and view into the bay. We moved upstairs for dinner where the main dining room was pretty busy. Our meals - both fresh fish cooked in one of Duke's signature styles - were fantastic. Exactly the food we wanted to finish our trip on. I am not sure why folks come here and get a burger; go figure. Service here was above average in Kauai, which was also nice. Price was on par for the quality, again relative to Kauai.
(4)Ginny C.
Drinks are cold, food is hot and view is spectacular!
(5)Lee R.
Duke was born 118 years ago today ... Happy Birthday Duke. A lot of people were celebrating your birthday today at your old surfing spot. Man, you sure had the life! I was glad I was there tonight to sing along with the talented John while he remembered Duke and his contribution to this community. And dinner was great! I learned that the best time to get get a reservation at Duke's upstairs is 5 pm so you can get a table with a view and you do not have to wait for at the salad bar. Excellent advice. We had a seat at the rail and the view was amazing. We could even see John downstairs belting out familiar songs like Brown Eyed Girl. My brown eyed little girl loves singing that song to me ... and I sing it back to her ... and the people around us chimed in too. It was festive and fun. Our server was a joy and very good at her job. (On the receipt it says her name is Kapua). She managed several large parties along with us and never missed a beat. She recommended the Opah with a light macadamia nut and panko crust and served in a white wine and caper sauce. She suggested the garlic mashed potatoes along with my choice since the sauce is so good mixed in. She was right ... it was fantastic. I would give Duke 5-stars for this dish alone. Yummy! I agree with fellow Yelp reviewers that highlight Duke's upstairs for the salad bar ... you will find a lot of good and healthy choices. They even have some fruit salad and pineapple which made a refreshing ending to our meal. We saw several people getting a huge (really HUGE) piece of pie and it looked inviting, but we passed. I think they enjoyed theirs very much since they devoured it and it did not seem possible. We enjoyed our meal and the entertainment, and we will definitely be back again and again.
(4)mamminger z.
I like this place. Sure, it's fairly touristy, but it's a lot of fun. The people who work there are very, very nice. It was hard to find the valet parking, but I think even the valet guys are used to it, and they happily waved us over and helped us find our way to the restaurant. We made reservations and had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated at our table, and we spent our wait time walking around the restaurant, which had a lot to see. There's a small waterfall inside with a koi pond, and the bar area in the bottom floor is open air and is right by the beach. The restaurants had super yummy appetizers. My husband and I have a hard time finishing portions at almost any restaurant, so we decided to share the entree, and the waitress proactively had the chef split the appetizer into two and brought it to us on separate plates. We went on a Friday night, and they had a lot of live entertainment. A small group of locals (mostly older ladies) were going to certain tables and singing Happy Birthday (and other songs) while strumming on Ukelele's... and two guys were singing downstairs. I'll take that over a mariachi band any day. =) Overall, 5 stars. Hopefully, I'll be able to go to this Duke's again.
(5)Cyndi W.
You have to go once... this place is an institution! Get a drink at the barefoot bar and move on to the next place. The drinks are EXCELLENT though pricey. The food was only so so... the view was AWESOME.
(3)Russell M.
Good food, excellent service and great view.
(4)Dan A.
Fish taco and Frozen Mia Tia, that is all I need to say. Go there for Happy Hour and get one of each and you will be glad that you did!!!
(4)Jennifer L.
Great fish entrees, huge salad bar, prolific muffins, a strolling pair of Hawaiian singers (sometimes that can be charming, sometimes it can be a bit much and you want to eat in peace!), and nice view of the ocean (if you are seated well). Good solid restaurant.
(4)Maria A.
Food was so hood here we ate 3x's w/in a week!! Downstaires the food is the best! Mango burger, mango ribs, and stir fry are the best foods! Volcano drink is to die for! Everything made perfect! Upstaires sucks. Over priced, sml portion bland tasting meals. Dine dwnstaires only, top isnt worth it! I give it 4 stars cus of that
(4)Ellen O.
Would be a nice place for a cocktail but our meal was terrible. The clam chowder was less than mediocre. The crab wontons were just alright. My calamari strips were served cold and uncooked, not good for a pregnant gal. My husband's bun was served cold on his mahi mahi sandwich.
(2)M L.
Food: I enjoyed a nice Crab Louie salad. Food was decent, but nothing to write home about. Ambience: Open-air seating is right on the beach. There is also a lovely koi pond and waterfall built into the structure and is a prominent feature of the dining room.
(3)Natalie D.
Came here 3 times since we were staying at the Marriott. The appetizers are good (hard to mess up fried stuff), and the drinks are fine (nothing fancy or special- standard hotel bar Mai Tais and piña coladas). The fish entrees were fine; the fish tasted good and fresh, but not quite special enough for the $30 price. The steak and chicken entrees ($20) may have been more appropriately priced. The salad bar that comes with the entrees is nothing special. The hula pie is good and huge. The service was good and the location is great. Really, the only reason to come here is if you are staying at the Marriott and don't want to drive home after dinner, or if coming for the location.
(4)Bryce R.
Nice restaurant right next door to the Marriott in Lihue. The food is pretty good, we had good service, and they have a nice happy hour special up to 6pm. Otherwise, everything is a tad overpriced, which is normal for the area. Nicely located right on the beach, and my daughter loved the koi pond and waterfall located inside.
(3)Darlene L.
Fantastic fish makes this a winner. Nice ocean views and friendly service are so welcoming. A trip to the salad bar is fun and inviting. However, it is a typical salad bar with lots of deli type items. Could kick it up a notch with some homemade bread and better salads. On to the entrees. Both the mahi and ahi were fantastic. Pacing was excellent; the waiter was sensitive to our salad bar visits as he proceeded with the entrees. In summary, Duke's has lovely views, excellent food, and attentive service.
(4)B G.
So I was taken to Duke's for my birthday. My family made a reservation 4 days in advance for a table on the rail. They said, "Yer all set, we will have your table on the rail..." When we arrived, the rail was full and they said that they couldn't garuntee where we sat, just that we would have a table. No apology for the confusion or mismanaged expectations. STRIKE 1 We sit down and our waiter is very cool and very helpful. I am a bit upset because my family went through effort to make my birthday cool and these idiots screwed it up. The places is hotter than hell so we ask if they can turn on the ceiling fans. So the helpful waiter goes to the back and asks the manager to turn on the fans. They do...all except the one over us and the next table over. We had to call him over again to point this out and finally it gets turned on. STRIKE 2 The food comes and my fillet was outstanding. 5 people order the seared ahi. After two weeks I am a little seared ahied out. Three of them get nice choice 4 inch tall pieces seared perfectly....my sister and her husband get these pinner pieces about 2 inches tall with not a lick of pink to be found. They sent them back. STRIKE 3. My meal was great, the wine was great, coctails were great, the salad bar is amazing. It's just too bad the supporting cast can't help out the waiters who are busting their asses. I am sure their tips suffer because management is so poor....
(2)Emilie R.
I love eating here not simply because of the gorgeous ocean view, but the service and food are amazing! We came here 3 times on our vacation and we always last satisfied. The best was when we went in the evening. We ate upstairs, which apparently is a different menu than eating downstairs. We had a great view of the ocean and they lit tiki torches as the sun began to set. It was such a wonderful ambience. My favorite drink was the Virgin Beach Boy drink. I can't remember exactly what it was called. But it was delicious, made with strawberries, passionfruit and lime! YUM! I love this place :)
(5)John O.
Well, it is not the same as the one in Waikiki, but this one is okay. The prices are a little more and the service is a little slow. There are two levels, the top level is the main restaurant and the bottom is the bar area with plenty of tables. The food is okay. I ordered the fish tacos and it seemed much smaller than the one from Dukes Waikiki. I will have to try this place another time as I think it deserves another try. I will also stay at the Marriott as it seems to be in a good location with shops and restaurants.
(3)Ed M.
Fun place to go, great for watching people and good food. Tuesdays they have the fish taco's for about 3 bucks each. They do a good job with them and for the location, a really good deal . We almost always get the table that's up by the little fish pond. For dessert we share the Hula Pie. My wife loves it, and I have to admit, I like it as well. Nice location to stroll around after dinner and see the lights etc.
(4)Andrew A.
My wife and I hated this place. It was by far the worst meal I had on Hawaii. After seeing other reviews for 4 stars, I was like WTF. I got the prime rib, my wife local fish. The fish my wife did not like and she threw most it away. The steak was highly mediocre, but very thick cut. That would have been fine but service was terrible and I was never able to get a steak knife. It was also a bit on the cold side. Our waiter showed complete disinterest in us the entire meal. This is supposedly part of the Marriott but is separately owned. We were staying at the Marriott so maybe other reviewers are distracted by the view which is good, but it was the same view as from my hotel room so they got no points from me there. There salad bar is nice, in that it has wide selection but nothing special. It has nothing over Ruby Tuesdays. Nothing great for this price range. This place is certainly not comparable to any high end steak house in the states. I'd rather eat at Outback. I'd only come here if you don't care about food and are looking for a view.
(1)Lawrence S.
Food very good. Prices are better during lunch. Fish and.chips are.great!!! Hula pie is big and soooo good!
(5)Amy g.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz. So disappointed. I have been here before with my family a while ago and have beautiful memories of a salad bar, steak and fresh fish paradise. Not to mention the Hula Pie which just about every local on the island raved about. Total bummer. The atmosphere was super fun and drinks were great. Food was completely dull. Salad bad, while it looked wonderful with the fresh made Caesar tossed right in front of me, was a total bust! Seriously how do you make a salad so bland? Literally had no taste. Steak was awful and the fish was OK but not great. Hula pie? Alright, but they have nothing on my mother's ice cream pie. Stick to this place for the novelty of what it is - a cheesy beach front tourist bar. Great drinking atmosphere!
(2)Michelle M.
Excellent service, excellent ambiance, excellent food. We had the opah prepared 2 different ways. Both were awesome but the macadamia nut crusted is wonderful. Great salad bar. The hula pie is incredible. The sashimi appetizer is also an A+.
(5)Big Room Nine X.
Nice place. I'm not picky but hard to please (I guess...). As long as my basics are met I get pretty satisfied. Easily said but not seldom done. anywayz... Food is decent, view is awesome, service good, great dinner salad bar, and walking distance from my hotel. I ordered the prime rib - it was okay, can't touch Lawry's in LA. Wife ordered the Ahi Salad - this was pretty money...very fresh & yum. Would definitely go back. Everything put together this place gets 5 stars.
(5)Stacy S.
Its your average Hawaii hotely-type restaurant. It's not a local's restaurant, its fit for tourists. However, I felt like we had a nice dinner and got our money's worth. I had the fish of the day (I think it was called Opa?) and it was cooked Duke's style, which was delicious. My friend had the ribs and huli chicken, which I had a few bites of, which were tasty. Entrees come with a salad bar, which was very filling. It wasn't anything spectacular to write home about, but it was a nice dinner. Make sure you ask for a table with a view or near the waterfall, as we had a table in a not so great location. Had I known to ask for that, maybe this restaurant would of gotten 4 stars.
(3)Ashley N.
im a big fan for their CHICKEN CAESER SALAD :) basket of fries and their wonderul HULA PIE :) yummmm! good prices , and if your dining upstairs , try to make reservations because they get pretty busy! their salad bar , all you can eat and is totally worth it :)
(4)Tisha B.
Food in the restaurant (upstairs) was very good. Huge portions. Very friendly and very attentive service in the restaurant also. Good all the way around. Would return. Fair price for amount of food. Only dislike was it was very big restaurant, no atmosphere. Chain-like, lots of big groups. Noisy. Downstairs, at bar. Nice atmosphere, but hostess was surly and waitress was snotty too. WTH? Charging $10 for a pina colada and you are going to give me attitude? I don't think so! I'll go buy my cocktail elsewhere! 4 stars restaurant 2 stars (barely) for the bar
(4)Frank P.
Technically I would have given this place a 4-1/2 star for not having a free refill but its ok their food and ambiance made up for the lack of refills. Awesome place, view and food! My wife had the Steak and Lobster, and I had the Steak and shrimp scampi. Highly suggest these two dishes. Seafood was so fresh and delectable. Did I mention the salad bar? SO GOOD! To top it off, we were lucky enough to be seated by the far end of the room over looking the beach. Highly recommend this restaurant. Would go back again.
(5)Steve H.
I ended up at Dukes downstairs at the bar. When I was seated by the hostess, she mentioned the "fish of the day", I inquired "what was the fish?" She responded, "i don't know". When I asked her if she could find out she told me to "Ask my server". The net,; the servicer provided good service, knew the menu, and the fish sandwich was very good, salad bar was o.k., the 6 oz beer was good, but the bill with a 15% tip was $35.
(2)kris k.
Duke's is one of our favorite places to go for dinner. For a while we went once every few weeks. Downstairs is okay...basic burgers, drinks, pupus, etc, and a nice view of the bay...but upstairs is GREAT. The prime rib is TO DIE FOR...try it grilled cajun style. All dinners come with the best salad bar on the island (tons of salad stuff plus bread, mac/potato/pasta salad, fruit and muffins. My favorite is the opah done firecracker style. Probably one of the best places on the island. There are other restaurants that are far more expensive that we've been to and most of the time, the food at Duke's is just as good or better, and more affordable.
(5)Jaynie K.
New Year's Eve, late night... STARVING, but since we woke up late from a late evening nap, every place we called was closed... except Duke's. Took a while to find it, which was unfortunate, since we were so hungry and cranky. But once we did, things looked better! Super tasty BBQ Kalua Pork sammich for me, and a burger for the boy... perfect NYE meals! Our server was friendly and helpful. The view was quite nice, and provided a nice atmosphere for our pig-out session.
(4)Gold S.
Dined here three times last week while staying at the Marriott. Each time the food and drinks were very good. Not five star, but good food and good service. Nice and close to the hotel, it was easy to walk over to Duke's and flop on back to our room! If you're staying at the Marriott, I would recommend this as a good dinner spot when you're too tired to drive somewhere down the road and not have to worry about driving back. Mahalo!
(4)Carey M.
Eating good food on the beach with a great view is our idea of a good time. Duke delivers just that.
(4)Toni M.
This is where we stop for lunch after arriving in Kauai, now that the Fisherman's Galley has turned into a Harley-Davidson shop. We ordered a shrimp and crab Louie for each of us, plus mai tais and their waffle-cut fries. The mai tais were good. My salad lacked the promised avocado, so husband shared his, and the amount of seafood was fairly skimpy. The Louies at the Sardine Can, The Front Room and the Brass Door are all much better but the view from Duke's and the weather beat them all to hell! And the fries were great.
(3)Jerry W.
One of our traditions on a beach vacation is to have a burger on the beach. For whatever reason, there aren't that many of those type of places in Kauai so we settled on Duke's. Duke's is two stories, the lower floor is the bar area while the upper floor is the formal restaurant. We came for lunch so the formal restuarant was closed. The bar area was pretty happening with a lot of people milling about drinking and eating. We found a table that was shaded (luckily since it drizzled a couple of times). Got a burger...and was a bit disappointed. It was only ok, which we were kinda warned about earlier in the week by one of the locals (the way he talked it sounded like there weren't any good burger joints on the beach). What made it worse was that we found mold on the bun. We were comped for it, but I can't ever remember a time when I found mold on a burger bun. Overall, Duke's has a great view but so-so food.
(3)Lou G.
It has been a couple of years since we ate at Duke's and we made reservations for dinner at sunset. We were seated at the Lanai, what a great view right over the beach overlooking Kalapaki Bay. The waitress was slow getting to us, the table next to us was a large party and got more attention. Once she arrived we were told of the fresh fish for the day. They had 5 different fish and about the same methods to prepare the fish. These included grilled, baked, firecracker. My wife had mahi mahi and I had the ahi. The meal included a trip to the all you can eat salad bar. In my opinion, the salad bar was average and a bit tired. In fact the restaurant like many in the TS chain looked dated, nice but getting a little long in the tooth. No complaints about the fish but it wasn't standout or exceptional. Just A-OK
(3)Steve V.
Duke's.... ah yes where my wife and I, (actually she was my girlfriend at the time) had our first ever Mahi Mahi Taco. We have been in love with this place ever since. We flipped the menu over and discovered there is one right in Malibu, CA. The rest is history!
(5)Patrick L.
Slow un-caring wait staff plus pricey food and weak pours, BUT amazing location and great views. One star for food and service and two stars for awesome location.
(3)Tiffany B.
This goes out for all TS (dukes, keoki's, etc) restaurants all over Hawaii. great food, not a lot of variety, as in they have the same menu for years, salas bars kick ass, drinks are good. cool chill place to hang out to have a pau hana dirnk
(4)Ruby L.
Always love Duke's! You have a choice here, eat upstairs at the restaurant or downstairs at the beach bar. Both are great. Live music sometimes at the bar. Drinks are fine and they have yummy fish and chips. Upstairs is very good. Fish is always good. My husband loves their prime and the salad bar is fantastic. And yes! The hula pie is to die for - even if you are stuffed. Beautiful views, good service. Pretty much has it all.
(5)Armen S.
The downstairs Barefoot Bar is in a beautiful location on the beach. Friendly service. Tiki torches (everything is better with tiki torches.) Close to the airport if you skipped that $6 inflight meal. Food is just okay for the the price.
(3)Amanda V.
The lava flow drink was yummy.Pot stickers,chicken wings,and the calamari was a nice light dinner.
(5)Craig I.
great atmosphere...the restaurant has a great feel to it., situated right on the beach with open air views. I had the Opah (hawaiian moon fish) baked Duke's style in garlic, lemon and sweet basil glaze (excellent), Salad bar and we shared the Hula pie (huge..gotta share after the large portions, salad bar and breads). dukeskauai.com
(4)Krissy H.
For the price, atmosphere and service you can't beat Dukes! It's located on the Marriott resort with a killer ocean view from just about every table. My husband and I have eaten here 3 times in the last week and every time the food and service were fantastic. Try taco Tuesdays. Between 4 and 6(I think) they have $2.50 fish tacos, which are huge and extra yummy with their chili sauce if you are into spicy. The ambiance is incredible with a waterfall and koi pond inside. Go try them, you won't be dissatisfied.
(5)Theresa B.
Screw the food...come for the hula pie!! Came here a couple of hours before we had to leave for the airport..and it was such a perfect dessert to cap our vacation in Kauai!
(4)Mimi L.
Shockingly, this tourist trap left a great impression. Live music, great drinks and one of the best ahi dishes I've had. Service was good. Would go again, but be sure to order off the upstairs menu. Most of the negative reviews seem to be from the bar menu.
(4)Ryo S.
No complaints, and that's a good news! We had a dinner there. I had a grilled Seven Spices Ahi plate. My wife had a plate called Fish Luau. Both great dishes. Dinner comes with a complementary salad bar access. Just don't go crazy if you plan on getting around to eating your dessert too! I had Duke's Mai Tai. That was great too. There servers seem friendly and prompt too! Definitely recommended for a special outing occasion.
(4)Julie U.
Five stars doesn't cut it. Duke's is utterly fantastic. Fantastic food, fantastic drinks, fantastic service, fantastic atmosphere, fantastic location. It is one of my favorite restaurants on the face of this planet. And let me again stress this... the location. It sits upon Kalapaki Beach, which means you can rent yourself a paddle board or surfboard and enjoy the tiny little waves on the perfectly calm harbor. Almost all of it is sandy-bottomed here, so you won't hurt yourself. Oh, the paradise! Then, when you're good and tired, stumble swimsuit-clad up to the barefoot bar for your drinks and dinner. Or, for those who prefer to make this a dressier occasion, there's a lovely full restaurant upstairs with amazing balcony seating. You can have yourself a five-star dinner there! Pause to note this... I just read that someone else gave Duke's a 2-star review and noted this comment: "The burgers were served unappealingly with a burger and bun, nothing else." I have to ask, why in the name of God would you go to a place like Duke's on an island like Kauai AND ORDER A BURGER?!? If you want a good burger, go to Chicago. When in Rome. Seriously. Duke's has some of the best fish I've ever eaten in my life... and I've eaten A LOT of fish. The sashimi was flawless... the kind you'll pay fifty bucks for on the mainland, and we paid only $14.95 (nearly every day because it was so good). The salads were also great, as were the other appetizers we sampled on one of our many visits there. As far as drinks go, as with all restaurants owned by their parent company, I highly recommend the Plantation Lemonade, the Tropical Itch (complete with back scratcher), and the Lava Flow. Yum yum!!! Duke's will definitely be seeing more of me.
(5)Jake A.
Delicious food. Delicious Mai tais. AWESOME atmosphere! Live music to set the island mood and an ocean front view. Great setup, can't wait to go back!
(5)Kimber C.
haven't tried too much of their menu, but everything I've had has been good enough to keep me coming back for years. one can't go wrong with an order of beach boy fries- big enough for 2 or 3 people (or at least people with my size appetite). cashew chicken stir fry is so ono, as are the nachos. service is consistant and friendly...best is always from Kim at the bar. And while you're at the bar...have a pau hana punch or wrong island ice tea. a couple of those make aloha friday that much mo' bettah. another perk...great view and close to the airport. usually the last stop we make before dropping any friends and family off for their trip back to the mainland. definitely a place to stop in and enjoy!
(4)Chris H.
Casual atmosphere. Decent prices (8 to 20) for entrees. Right on the water. I say this place is a win. Downstairs is dukes and is more casual. Upstairs seemed more formal and less bar oriented.
(4)t. w.
I love this place. We ate at the upstairs restaurant on a Monday evening. The 2 open sides of the restaurant, decorated in "tiki nouvelle" contained a small stream which fell from the upper level to the lower (if you go, ask for the table at the base of the falls - I bet it's a reservation-only table). We were there just at sunset. While on the eastern side of the island, the skies still put on a nice show, playing nice light off of the approaching clouds. Our waitperson (Kristen) instantly made us feel at home. She was amusing, informative, and attentive (not too much so). I told her I wanted a typical Hawaiian tourist experience. Out came a Pina Colada in fresh pineapple to which she added an orchid and umbrella - served with a grin. The wine list is very limited, but was not horrible. Grocery-store fume blanc ($32) to Silver Oak (Alexander Valley) cab ($104). OK, we had a bottle, but it seemed out of place here. They have a few draft beers on tap, and other silly "Hawaiian" drinks, which seems to be the way to go. Though the place was packed, and all of the people working on the floor were very busy running food to tables, returning empty plates and taking orders, they all seemed to smile and engage with the customers. Kristen helped to steer our orders to the fresh fish selections, though the beef looked really good as it went past on plates. She was spot on. Wow. Opah with their "Dukes Firecracker" preparation (~$30) was very seasoned, and not the dish for the nuance-seeking pescophile, but I finished what my partner could not. I had the "sushi grade" Ahi pan-seared with the recommended honey ginger (wasabi?) sauce (~$30), which was, appropriately, not drowning this beautiful fish. It was encrusted with salt, pepper, and ginger (I think), on one side, and was amazing. I ordered it rare, and it was delivered as promised. The portion was generous, and I savored it with only very small bits of the sauce. The salad bar, however, seemed a relic from simpler restaurant times, both in contents and flavor (my Cesar salad was soggy) but it did help us to imagine this place as a fixture Hawaii of the 50s and 60s, though we needed little reminder of that. Mid-century surfing photos and memorabilia spot the dark wood walls and help in the transformation. The views were spectacular. As often happens here, a short rainstorm blew in just after sunset. As if choreographed, all of the staff headed for the exposed side of the restaurant and lowered the many awnings to prevent the rain from blowing in. Once the storm passed, they were all reopened and the soft windward breezes over the bay created magic. Many of the tables had children, and Dukes seems prepared to deal with them acceptably (high chairs, crayons, paper). We heard many languages spoken by the customers, and the staff seem prepared as well for the difficulty of communicating with them. The tables are well-spaced on the top floor, so we felt very comfortable amongst our neighbors. The dinner (and pineapple colada) was filling, and we were done, but several tables around us had the Huli Pie ($13), their special dessert. A Pint of ice cream mandates this be shared - it was visually striking. This is the first restaurant on Kauai that we've felt we must return to, and we will before the trip is over. A real treat for all the senses. Make a reservation and ask for a table bordering an open window.
(4)drew n.
The upstairs is nice, but the service was bad. Downstairs, we waited an hour for fried food which arrived cold - we left and didn't pay. People have a nice attitude but it doesn't make up for late, cold food. Give it a miss and go somewhere else instead.
(1)Michael W.
My wife and I went here for dinner one night on our honeymoon after reading The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook (that is a great book to buy if you're going to Kauai btw). We went around 7 pm so it was packed. But we were able to find 2 seats at the bar downstairs. Man this place is jumping! It's right off the beach so you get a nice view of the cove. We started off with an order of the coconut shrimp, crab and mac nut wontons and a salad. The coconut shrimp had a nice crunch but not overcooked. The wontons were good, but similar to other crab wontons at other restaurants. I ordered the prime rib and my wife ordered ahi. Man the ahi was so fresh and the prime rib... man oh man was it so juicy and tender. I like my prime rib medium rare so you get the full flavor of the steak. I've been to a lot of prime rib places, but I think this has to be in the top 3. The prime rib had a nice marbling throughout and was cooked to perfection. It's a good size cut of meat too, not some skimpy piece. I was too stuffed to order any dessert so we just walked around the beach for a while before leaving. Even though this restaurant was packed, the service was excellent. It is a bit pricey, but if you want a nicer restaurant, skip Roy's and come over here. Parking can be tricky though. Make sure you look at the signs because they will tow you.
(4)kimberly c.
Having already posted a review stating I'm a fan of Duke's Waikiki, it should come as little surprise that the Lihue location is also a fantastic destination for me. If you haven't been to Kauai, know this - it's an island that's absolutely tranquil, and many places just don't cater or want to cater to the same crowds that hang out in Honolulu/Waikiki. That said, there's a small area in Lihue that's sort of the 'hot spot' on the island (besides Hanelei area). Duke's is there, along with a number of similar island bar/restaurants perfect for coronas with friends. This Duke's has an AWESOME view of the beach and bay. Man, at night, it is ABSOLUTELY beautiful. And they sort of themed it out, with a little bit of the Rainforest Cafe vibe (there's a running waterfall in the middle of the restaurant), but Duke's pulls it off much better than Rainforest Cafe. Doesn't seem that cheesy at all. Seems perfect - especially if you're on the island to be in the middle of this tropical paradise - don't want to take a departure - even for dinner! :) Food is good - basically the same menu as all the other Duke's. But I think the draw is sitting on the lanai, looking at the beach at night - no city glow, just stars. Very quiet (that's how the island is anyway). If you go to Kauai, go to Duke's.
(4)Randall J.
This is the original Duke's. Good food great atmosphere, if you want solid food at a decent price go here. If you are staying at the Mariott, definitely go here for at least one night. Dukes on the sand for walk in is very good as well.
(4)Ryan D.
Great restaurant with great view! the food was good.
(5)DANIEL R.
The view is great but besides that it's unimpressive. The food is goodish and in portions we should all normally eat but the salad bar is lame and the service was alright. I guess you're really paying for the view, so enjoy what you can!
(3)Frank H.
We always stop at least once at Dukes and we were once again pleased that it was still a great place for food and service. Meals are fairly reasonable considering that all good food is high priced in Hawaii. Salad bar included with all entrees and pretty good. Never have had a bad meal or bad experience here.
(5)Kevin A.
Very over priced food... The mango bacon burger is horrible...
(2)Janet D.
I came here for lunch with low, low, low expectations (I suffer from a serious case of "chain-itis"). Did they know I was a Yelper when they gave us the best seat in the house...on the front patio on a perfect day overlooking the beach and bay??? (OK, so there were way too many pudgy pale tourists...just focus on the water.) I ordered the fish tacos and...wow, they were surprisingly great! Service was excellent. So far, so good. Then, my lunch date ordered the mud pie for dessert...I managed to take 3 bites before my illness flared up. I prefer searching for the more off-the-beaten path local joints, but this place will definitely do in a pinch...or if you just don't feel like expending the energy to treasure hunt.
(3)David B.
Went for drinks and pupus, but stayed for a wonderful dinner. Mai Tais were excellent and served in cute glasses with happy tiki one side and angry tiki on the other. We decided that it may represent the before and after Mai Tai experience. Chose nachos for pupus. Well-prepared with ample real cheese, beans, jalapeños, sour cream and guacamole, but a bit smaller than we expected. Decided to share the Huli Huli chicken. Came with salad bar, which was a definite highlight! Three kinds of breads and more salad choices than you can imagine, plus freshly made caesar salad. Huli Huli chicken was so good, we ran out of room for the famed Hula Pie. No worries, brudda, we'll be back.
(4)Roxie B.
Amazing! Incredible service. The waitress (Mel) was extremely knowledgable of the menu items and very attentive. The Monchong with pineapple chutney and buerre blanc sauce was probably the best fish I have ever had. Daughter did not care for mac n cheese. The Hula Pie was also good.
(5)Jim S.
Good service. Yummy salad bar if not very diverse. Ribs and chicken were very good. Mac nut Brie crepes were to die for. Half the rack of ribs was grissely but the sauce was good.
(3)Erin K.
The ambience is fantastic in this place! It's exactly what I pictured when thinking of my Hawaii experience (before I went). We sat in the bar downstairs right at sunset, so it was gorgeous. The drinks were good and the staff friendly. I tried the poke appetizer and it was delicious! I plan to duplicate it here at home immediately :)
(4)Scott M.
Probably not the best meal on this islands and certainly not fine dining, but it's a great family restaurant that served us a perfect Thanksgiving dinner at a reasonable price.
(3)Tawny A.
the fish tacos are to die for. seriously.......kick the tourists out of the way to get to them.
(5)Mari J.
So Duke's isn't exactly a local hangout, but for being part of a (fairly small) chain, I thought it was great. The ahi was very very good. I wasn't a huge fan of the mashed potatoes, but they were ok. Also their salad bar wasn't the best (beware of anchovies) and it was hard to figure out what some of the things were. Now despite this I have to give Duke's 5 stars because the food was a good value, the decor is very nice, and the service was great. Had a fish sandwich in the bar a few days later and it was basic, but good. The waffle cut fries are delicious as was the virgin strawberry margarita. Duke's is worth a stop, go for the free valet parking because the parking lot otherwise is a bit difficult to navigate.
(5)Dane H.
For a bit of a splurge, it's hard to beat Duke's in Lihue. I've eaten at the Dukes in Waikiki, and the Dukes on Kauai is a little smaller and mellower, but the same quality experience. I took my sister there for he birthday (Nov. 2007) and we both had eaten at the bar downstairs before a couple of times with my folks, but never upstairs at the Canoe Club. The view is nice for this end of the island, but of course can't match Waikiki. The service we got from Laulima, a native of the Big Island was excellent. My sister lives on the Big Island, and It was towards the end of the evening, so we got to talk to her for a while about life on Hawai'i. The food is very good, not amazing, but definitely better that what I usually expect from chain places. The fresh ingredients are the difference. I had grilled Opa with a Buerre blanc sauce and pineapple chutney. It was cooked perectly--not overdone. My sister just did the salad bar, which was also included with my fish. The salad bar is a steal at $12.95--fresh tossed Caesar, plus a complete regular salad bar with fruit, extras like kim chee and tofu, and a pasta bar! If you're not into a big meal or a "veg head" that's the way to go. We each had a glass of Kendell Jackson Chardonnay-not my favorite, but good with the fish. The tab was $62--with tip $77--a pretty good deal! Laulima even offered us a free mud pie because it was my sister's birthday, but we were both too full and we saw a couple of the mud pies when we were being seated, and they were huge!
(4)D N.
The only good thing about this place is that its on the beach. I made sure to go to the barefoot bar b/c they serve the same food as the restaurant but with cheaper options. I could tell by the looks of it, that it wasn't worth paying $$$$ for a chain restaurant that didnt serve authentic hawaiian food. My b/f and I both got a burger with bbq sauce and pineapple. I ordered my medium rare but it came out more well done unfortunately. They were kind enough to offer a diff. burger but it was too much trouble, our original waiter left and i was hungry but I really would have thought it would have made a difference. Otherwise, their pesto pizza was yummy, their mixed strawberry drink was super good...just that unfortunate burger. poo.
(3)Kim K.
Most of the food at Duke's is mediocre, but they do a few things well: 1. Caesar salad (I started making my own dressing because I no one else makes dressing as good as this place). 2. Seven spice ahi (Can be hit or miss depending on who's cooking; this is the only TS restaurant that I've seen this on the menu) 3. Fish tacos (Haven't had any better than these in Hawaii; make sure to go on Taco Tuesdays) 4. Hula pie (Not to die for, but a popular dish nonetheless, more of a novelty experience than a foodie's passport to heaven) 5. Salad bar (You'll be hard pressed to find a better selection elsewhere) I've been to TS (parent company) restaurants in California (do not recommend) and all over Hawaii. I think the waterfall inside as well as the location on Kalapaki beach make this restaurant their best. The service is consistently friendly and good, and they try hard to maintain that tropical Hawaii theme of tiki torches, hula girls, and umbrella topped mai tais. It's rare that a place is able to be a hot spot for tourists and locals alike, and somehow this particular restaurant accomplishes this.
(4)Hel L.
Great ahi tacos ($12.95 for 2). This place is in the Marriott, right on the beach therefore the view is fantastic.
(4)Paul F.
I've eaten at the bar for lunch and the restaurant upstairs for dinner. The bar has great drinks and a nice selection of beers. My wife and I both had burgers and neither of us were very impressed, just OK. Dinner was a much better experience. For dinner we got there right at 5:00 when they opened. We got an awesome table in the corner next to the railing with a great view of the lagoon. I recommend reservations if you come any later as it fills up fast. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very nice, it's not as crowded and noisy as the Duke's Waikiki. My wife and I both love the salad bar. We both ordered fresh fish, and for both of us it was something we had not tried before. It was well prepared and very tasty. We both really enjoyed our dinner here.
(4)Shawna S.
Ended up here because I wanted a decently priced salad bar and found out about Duke's here on Yelp. I ended up getting the Macadamia Nut Pesto Linguine as it came with the salad bar. It was good but a bit heavy on the sauce. Salad bar by itself is $12.95. Decent salad bar at a decent price. The papaya seed dressing is really good. can't beat the views from this restaurant. It's part of the Marriott and parking for Duke's is kind of a pain to find at night. Nothing really special about Dukes except for the view.
(3)Jimmy D.
Sure it's corny and expensive, but places like this are why I love Hawaii. Good food with a stunning view, sipping rum drinks in the tropical breeze, taking a break from the bar to walk 30 feet to the beach and dip your toes on the warm water, and don't forget the tiki torches. I love fish, I love sauce, and I love drinks. How can you lose?
(4)Paul Z.
Nice atmosphere. Fish was tasty as was the salad bar. Got the chili lime Mahi and the wife got the seared ahi, hers was the better of the two. Hula pie was huge - I would have gladly traded some of the quantity for quality. Great service!
(3)Jennifer W.
I was really torn for awhile on whether to give Duke's a 3 or 4 star rating. What pushed it to the extra star was ultimately the quality of the main dish I had. But let me start fro the beginning. We had reservations for 6:30pm, and when we arrived right on time, the table was not ready. No big deal, as we just went downstairs to the bar area for a drink. So, of course, as soon as we sit down and order a drink, our little buzzer goes off indicating that we are ready to be seated in the main dining room. So, I get up to look for our cocktail waitress, and when I find her, i ask if we can transfer the bar tab to our dining room tab. She replied with a no, that all tabs must be settled at the bar. Okay, again no big deal, and I settle the bill while my mom goes upstairs to let the hostess know. So, bar bill is paid, and when I go to grab my drink and my mother's, I am told that I can only carry one drink at a time upstairs. Whaaaaat? So now I am getting a bit annoyed and our waitress then offers to carry the "extra" drink for me. Finally, we are seated at the table and the three of us all order fish, with different coatings. Each meal comes with a complimentary salad bar trip so my mom and I get up to go first and proceed to stand in line for the salad bar for 10 minutes! So now I am annoyed that this restaurant offers a salad bar to anyone who orders a main entree, yet cannot get two lines going or better situate the salad bar to accomodate a huge amount of hungry customers. And low and behold, when I finally get up to the ceasar salad station, the guy has to start making a brand new one, from scratch, which takes another 5 minutes. Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of fresh salads, but this is going a bit too far. So the redeeming factor in all of this? The FISH!!! The fish here is absolutely wonderful and I had mine coated with a crunchy macadamia nut breading that was just out of this world. It made me want to suffer in the salad line all over again for another chance at eating that fish. So in the end I give this place four stars, for the fact that the main dish can make me forgive and almost forget the frustration of the rest of the restaurant.
(4)Philip K.
It's a chain place, don't be scared. The food was excellent, nothing insanely great, but very very good. It's really close to the Marriot so most likely you'll eat here. It does have very nice decor, right along the beach and the staff is very nice. Most of them are not from the island as you would suspect. I went with a burger, and of course it was very juicy and large. That's how I like my burgers.
(4)Kalae P.
Great service! I am a local resident and this was my first to the famous Dukes. If they have the monchong for fish, choose it! Very soft and delicious! Atmosphere is great and salad bar is fresh!
(4)Ken N.
Hard to beat Duke's! Great food, music, and service...!!
(4)Jan C.
You read reviews because you really want to find out whether to try a place or not... We had Five nights on Kauai, two of which were spent here. If you have a limited time on an island, and you choose to go back to a restaurant, Score big points for that place! What's special about it? The wait staff are a big plus, you want to be generous just because of their unbridled friendliness, and attentiveness. This is a fave with the locals for their big night out, you see native Hawaiians here with families all decked out. The food is superb, fresh fish like monchong, opah, and ahi, as well as generous steaks cooked to perfection. Gentle breezes float into the open dining room, the beach cove just below with waves lapping and crashing oh take me back! Take me BACK!!! If you are in Kauai, TRY THIS Great restaurant, try their maitai's, All you can eat salad bar filled with the freshest locally grown produce! GO! NOW!
(5)Keith B.
Was great, awesome service, the food was very tasty, and just a great atmosphere!
(4)J S.
The food is incredible try the firecracker style of fish and ask for Emily she is incredible!
(5)Diana D.
Definitely only eat at the barefoot bar so you won't feel ripped off. Food is decent here but minus 2 stars for the ants and charging .50 for a refill. When you are already charging 2.50 for a fountain soda, you do not charge for a refill you nimrods! I had the mahi mahi sandwich and ordered a basket of fries since it didn't come with my order. The waffle fries were good, but the mahi sandwich is what I would come back for.
(3)Jen S.
A must in Hawaii, the one on Waikiki beach is the best. Home of the mai tai. Great service, get the crab wontons. Salad bar is extensive and good. Fresh fish is always fabulous and my husband is loyal to their burgers. The lower restaurant (no reservation) is much more informal. For some reason cats and chickens are all over Kauai and outside of Duke's patio seating is no exception.
(4)Marcolm A.
I came here during my second trip to Kauai about six years ago and remember it being a great place. I wish that held true during my last visit this past week. The food was surprisingly very poor and the drinks were just ok. Amazing backdrop helped make up for it slightly, but overall it wasn't a great experience.
(3)Adrian F.
Good to sit in the bar area, eat apps, drink booze and watch the sunset if you're at the beach. You can walk up from the beach and go in there in your beach clothes.
(3)Russ C.
Go here every time we visit Kauai. The location is perfect, with excellent views of the sunset if you make a reservation. The salad bar, which comes with your meal is simply amazing. Normally bland salad bar items like potato salad, pasta salad, and cole slaw are all phenomenal, as is the salad and hand tossed ceasar salad. Fish is the only thing you should be ordering if you are at Dukes since it is phenomenal. Service is a bit sub-par compared to the other fine dining options in this price range (more of a fast paced touristy feel than more personal resort service), which is the only reason they drop a star, but still well worth it. Hula pie desert is good.
(4)Mike F.
The best burger I have ever had. True story. I had the mango bacon cheese burger on the advice of a stranger. Soooooooo good. Great service. Highly recommend.
(5)Lolly L.
On the recommendation of a couple we met on the beach we decided to give it a try.....SO GOOD! Definitely try the BBQ mango burger! The atmosphere was great and so was the service.
(5)Cole R.
My husband and I went here looking for a nice dinner on our honeymoon. The atmosphere is definitely touristy, but we couldn't pass up the view. First off, the service was horrible. The hostess scoffed at us when we asked if there was a bar upstairs. It seemed as though everyone just wanted you in and out and no one seemed to be enjoying their jobs. The salad bar was Sizzler status. I just think that a less than average salad bar is hokey for their prices and the caliber of food they were supposedly offering. Overall, it wasn't the worst dining experience, but it was definitely sub-par. There are better restaurants with a cool view that won't treat you like a dumb tourist.
(2)avery o.
Dukes was good, but not the most phenomenal food ever. The hubs and I loved that it was within walking distance from our hotel, so we went for the breakfast buffet, as well as dinner during our stay in Kauai. First- since I'm a so cal native, dukes is a staple from the mainland (la & hb). That meant that we knew we weren't getting ourselves into authentic Hawaiian cuisine, but at the same time we knew we could rely on dukes for good drinks and steaks. For dinner, the steaks were great. The salad bar us decent, but nothing to write home about. For breakfast they have an all you can eat sitch for about $14-15 per person, including coffee. There is an omelet bar & some super tasty fruit!! We couldn't stop eating the pineapple & oranges. Other than the omelets, it's pretty much standard potatoes, toast, bacon, etc. All in all, dukes is pricey, but the food is reliable. Plus, the location is great. The whole restaurant is opened up to the beach.
(4)Allison S.
Great location and great food! The prices are not too expensive. I mean when you are in Kauai and going to a restaurant like dukes I think you can expect to pay atleast $20.00 a person ( every entree includes a great salad bar). I got the shrimp scampi and it was excellent. You have to save room for the hula pie... Amazing! Have fun and watch the sunset over the ocean as you dine!
(5)Joel S.
A bit expensive, but you get a lot for the price: large portions, beautiful setting, great service. Good range of food items, and everything is delicious.
(4)L U.
Yes, it's a tourist destination, but a great place to have drinks and appetizers downstairs in the Barefoot Bar with friends and a view of the bay.
(4)Mitsuyo F.
My husband and I recently visited Dukes and it was our favorite restaurant in Kauai! The staff is very friendly, food in incredible and the ambiance is romantic. We had dinner here our first night of our honeymoon (by recommendation) and our last night. We ordered seafood and champagne. All entrees come with the yummy salad bar. Both visits were around $50/person and equally amazing.
(5)kahau m.
cmon! its dukes! always busy. always good. always a great view! always sit at thew bar. met a couple who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. IN A ROW! amazing. beautiful views. beautiful women. great end to a day off. cough. cough.
(4)kevin o.
Even though it is part of a big chain operation the food was fresh and well prepared. The upstairs salad bar is a nice addition on an island where a fully dressed entree is considered to be a chunk of grilled or fried fish plopped onto a few slivers of cabbage (kim chee, sardines, garlicky Italian style white beans and other surprising elements make it more interesting than your average steak house salad bar). Plus a great view. Not cheap but a better value than many other higher priced restaurants on the island, because they actually seem to know what they are doing.
(4)Melanie C.
Nice atmosphere with a koi pond right in the middle. Food is overpriced ($6 for a few carrot sticks and dip and up from there). Limited vegetarian menu, but the staff was at least knowledgeable about the lard in the beans and didn't include them. You can feel your arteries slam shut...everything's pretty greasy. The cheese on the nachos was congealed and had to be cut with a knife. The papaya seed dressing on the salad was nice, but you can buy that at Hilo Hattie's and make your own salad when you get home. Come here and share a Hula Pie with someone, but that's about all I can recommend.
(3)Denise N.
Food was good, they play reggae music!!!! YAY!! They also have live music on certain nights. We ate downstairs - definitely had that island vibe....
(5)ben A.
Tried the bbq ribs with salad bar and the blended mai tai it was good nothing to get excited over paying for the name.
(3)Herbert W.
I'd come here again. The price is decent, the view is good - all you can eat salad made my night! Too bad the steak was pretty lame. 3.5 stars really in my book.
(4)M J.
Duke's is a Hawaiian Island chain restaurant. Nice location. The food is constantly good. Tues. night has cheap tacos. I like to sit beach-side down stairs for the atmosphere. Dukes, serves local beers, which you should try. When in Rome... Decor is Hawaiian.
(4)Kevin R.
Well positioned and executed chain location.
(3)Tracy D.
Duke's has great drinks, a huge koi pond with enormous koi, and a great view of the harbor. It's very popular among tourists, with good reason. Service is friendly and competent, and probably a little closer to mainland speed than other local venues. The hula pie should come with a disclaimer that it takes at least 3 people to eat it, though. Order it, but bring plenty of friends to share in all that goodness!
(4)bebe c.
too commercialized version of hawaii, kind of like a glorified Islands (the restaurant on the mainland for those of you who don't know what it is). the ambiance is nice, the koi pond is cool and the marriott hotel itself is pretty.
(3)Leang E.
It took us a bit to find this place. It's sort of connected to the Marriott Hotel. It's so nice to sit outside and see the ocean from where you are eating. There are roosters and other birds that just waddle around. I had a virgin pina colada here, and it was pretty good. I also had a fish sandwich, which was good. I wished I tried the fish tacos that also looked good. I was disappointed that there wasn't a wider variety of menu items. Our waitress was ok, a little difficult to get her at times, but worth the wait. It seems like one of the few places that people in the town talk about.
(4)Rob K.
This place takes Hawaii kitsch to the max. Hawaiian singers going table to table and over-the-top decorations really give you what you want if you want Hawaii all in your face. The salad bar was straight out of the Sizzler too. That said, the entrees were really awesome. The fish was fantastic - I had a huge, high-quality Ahi steak with excellent simple seasoning. If you can handle the atmosphere, the food makes it all worthwhile.
(4)rhythmMAN I.
Duke's has delicious dinners, great atmosphere, fresh salad bar, and friendly, agreeable service. We ordered the Prime Teriyaki Sirloin and the Sautéed Macadamia Nut & Herb Monchong. Both were very excellent, but I would highly recommend the Monchong fish to anyone.....it was one of the best fish preparations I've ever had. Prepare to spend some serious dollars, even though that should expected in Kauai....especially at these types of restaurants.
(4)Destry T.
First stop once we all landed on kauai. The food was very good as were the drinks. The service was a little slow thus only four stars. Not a bad place for lunch. I do recommend any of the special fish choices as we had all of them at our table and ate every bite.
(4)Richard A.
With a visit to the salad bar thrown in with your main meal, we were too full to try the hula pie. We enjoyed the food and atmosphere with the ocean view, but nothing leapt out at us to warrant a return visit - outside of trying the hula pie.
(3)Alex B.
This place is awful! we went there twice upstairs and downstairs. Downstairs I had the roast turkey and avocado sandwich and all it tasted like was mayo and bread. It had more bread than anything else! Upstairs the pesto pasta tasted absolutely terrible. If it wasn't for the hula pie and the virgin beach boy daiquiri( which was amazing by the way) I would have given this place 1 star. This place is way overpriced for the quality of the food.
(2)Nate M.
Waikiki restaurant is WAY better, but this is okay. It's part of the Marriott and overlooks the harbor in Lihue. The food was decent. My fiance and her aunt raved about the ribs. My burger was just okay. I must say though that the service is absolutely wonderful. It's a good place to eat in front of an amazing view and it's bar is lively. Four stars for the service, two for the food. Three Stars!
(3)Gary S.
Simply put the best Dinner Option or Afternoon Drinks within miles. Do yourself a huge favor and try the Hula Pie !!!!
(5)Tamara N.
A so-so beachfront hotel restaurant in a so-so hotel. Nothing to write home about. The view and the decor of the restaurant are the best things about Duke's. The servers were nice, but overworked. There were lapses in food and drink delivery. The burgers were served unappealingly with a burger and bun, nothing else. We had to flag down our server just to get condiments. The fish and chips I had were about Denny's quality. If you find yourself in the area and want a great ocean view and don't care about the food, then give Duke's a try. If you're a little more exacting about the quality of the meal, go someplace else.
(2)T D.
We stopped by Dukes on recommendation of a friend back home. We showed up after a daytime excursion on the Lihue side of the island. It was 4 ish and happy hour was going on. Along with happy hour and drink specials, being Tuesday thy also had 3$ Mahi Mahi tacos. Over all the food and happy hour timing of our meals was great. We both enjoyed our tacos, also enjoyed a Caesar salad along with it. And afterwards we split their hula pie for dessert. We also ejnoyed that as much as everyone else on here did. The view of the beach was among the nicest as far as restaurants go. We however took first seating which was inside, still not bad. The inside is decorated nicely and you still had views of the ocean. The only complaint I had was on our server once we got seated. It took about 5 minutes just to get greeted. But thanks to runners we got our drinks rather quickly thereafter. And then trying to pay to leave took sometime once again just for the server to show back up. Looking around it didn't seem that this was the case at other tables and other servers prob just ours.
(4)Kristin C.
Had a quick lunch at the downstairs bar while hanging out at Kalapaki Beach -- good food, good drinks, good location. Price is comparable to most other restaurants for lunch -- not cheap, but about the same as other places. The fish tacos were good, as was the ono. Waffle fries were much appreciated, too.
(4)Mimil H.
Nice place to hang out for a "beach vacation style". Friendly staff.
(4)John W.
Bar food here is absolute rubbish. Fish tacos seemed to be stuffed with leftovers and everything is served lukewarm to cold. Too bad since it is such a beautiful setting, and the service is fine. We've been coming here since it opened and have eaten well at their other restaurants, but we'll do the local BK before we return here.
(1)Rajiv B.
The fact that I have almost nothing to say attests to the abject mediocrity that embodies Duke's Canoe Club. Dining here was truly an overpriced and underwhelming experience, much like the evening I spent with that one-legged Mongolian hooker during a stopover in Ulaanbaatar. For whatever reason, both just seemed like really great ideas at the time. Now all I have to show for it is a hefty credit card bill and an obnoxiously persistent case of the clap. It's unfortunate, really. Duke's affords a tremendous view of Kalapaki Bay on the eastern side of Kauai. With such resplendent surroundings, you feel almost obligated to put something equally beautiful inside your mouth. Visitors are advised to fulfill this obligation elsewhere (perhaps at the superior Cafe Portofino next door). To be honest, the view is just about enough to warrant a snack here, so don't let me dissuade you too much, dear reader, from getting a table at this overcrowded restaurant. This restaurant caters to tourists and works hard to remind them that they are still within boundaries of the United States of America, while subtly reminding them of Hawaii's tropicality. Duke's has a plethora of tasty rum-based cocktails adorned with the paper umbrellas that middle-aged Midwesterners desperately need to feel exotic. However, the food is nothing special and epitomizes the concept of the chain restaurant (yes, Duke's is, in fact, a chain). While the dishes are interesting in theory, they taste a little too bland in practice. Of course, in theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice they are usually different. For the sake of posterity, I'll mention that I had the pork ribs with mango barbeque sauce, which were cooked well, but somewhat flavorless. My inestimable wife had a pasta dish that had no business being prepared in Hawaii, its only connection to that paradisiacal island group the lone slice of pineapple on the side. Again, the pasta was lacking in the Tastiness Department, though it seemed as if the burgeoning Bland Department was showing record profits. Clearly, I have told a falsehood. I had a lot more to say about Duke's than I anticipated. But I don't want to sound like I hated it. It's a great place to get a drink, or even some appetizers, and relax near a scenic beach. If chain restaurants are your thing, then this will be your Seventh Heaven. Else, be chary.
(3)Adrian P.
This place is fine! Good food, and it seems the main complaint is that it's trendy or pricey! Of course, I don't know what else you'd expect afterall this is Kauai and there isn't a lot of choices unless ofcourse you get a plate lunch and save $$! And if you're a "local" then of course you think you deserve the royal treatment. With that attitude don't expect any help from tourist money coming your way to your state. As a native Californian, I rarely complain about people coming to visit, CA tourism is always helpful to our economy. With most restaurants it's hit or miss. We had a good experience, but I guess it all depends. Don't expect a true hawaiian experience by any means, but a restaurant-chain like experience is what you'll get. And perhaps that's all you want at the moment. If you wanna save on dinner, drive o Kapa'a and walk into a hole in the wall type place. The best dinning for me was always the unplanned!
(4)Erica F.
I didn't think it was possible to fuck up a chicken quesadilla till I ate here. The mai tai's are good though.
(2)Doug W.
We ate lunch here yesterday and waited at least half an hour for our food. The server was OK and the food was decent however, my coke tasted watered down so we won't return anytime soon. Setting and views are great so if you just want drinks it would be fine.
(3)Amanda W.
Duke's is a beautiful spot - but not a place to eat. The view is gorgeous, the food is dismal. Based on the reviews of my fellow Yelpers I ordered fish tacos. Enter 2 flour tortillas, with 2 large white fish chunks. Nothing else to speak of on the plate - including flavor. Just white blandness. Boo. When I ordered a Pina Colada the waitress offered to bring it in a coconut. She did this in an off-hand, we-have-one-lying-around kind of way and , yeah, that sounded good. But the drink was twice as expensive (it wasn't offered on the menu) and was smaller than if it had come in a glass. Boo again.
(2)Mike W.
Mrs. and I walked over last night for 2 drinks. $9 each, couldn't have been an ounce of alcohol between them. Acknowledged by the server, who implied that everybody gets the once-over before learning not to order booze at Duke's. The wise ones, she said, monitor (and/or befriend) the bartender. $9 Kool-aid, plain and simple. Canceled dinner plans. Fool me once...
(1)Scott M.
I like Duke's Canoe Club and I love Duke's Barefoot Bar (downstairs). The Canoe Club has a good menu, well prepared and well seasoned. I either go with the fresh fish of the day grilled as simply as possible or the teriyaki steak and they have been great. Hula pie for desert of course. As to the price, given the setting, the food and the service, I think it is pretty reasonable. The Barefoot Bar I like even better. I could eat there every day and did my last business trip to Kauai. The Cheddar Burger, Teri Burger, Teri Chicken Sandwich, Fish & Chips, Fish Tacos and Turkey Sandwich, I never got bored and sitting right there on Kalapaki Beach in front of the volleyball court was great. We could play a game, grab some beers in the shade, go back to playing and grab a burger to end the day. This isn't the best restaurant on Kauai, it does have one of the prettiest views and if I ever came into Nawilili on a cruise, theis is where I would eat.
(4)Linda B.
Great location for the Hawaiian experience that you thought it should be. Happy hour is one of the better ones and I've tried a few here in Kuaui. The restaurant has beach views but the interior is also quite the view. If you are looking for a resort type location Dukes will fit the bill. Music is played for happy hour 4-6 pm.
(4)Candace L.
Beautiful decor, cool atmosphere, I'm sure it would have been a great ocean view but it was nighttime and very dark so it didn't make a difference that we were by water. Fish n chips were good, coconut shrimp was ok (too much batter imo), the Cajun Mahi Mahi Caesar salad was to die for! Over all a chill place to have a fun meal with your friends or loved one.
(4)Jason F.
Right next to the Marriott hotel. (You can charge to your room). There are two parts to this restaurant. The upstairs and the downstairs. Upstairs in only open for dinner. Downstairs has a bar. They are not the same menu. Many people have made this mistake. You can order off the upstairs menu when you are seated downstairs, you just have to ask for the menu. The downstairs is open seating. The view is amazing. It is right on the beach. The bar is downstairs as well. They have large TVs, so you can catch a game (remember the time difference) if you want. Upstairs is more formal with full waiter service. There is a salad bar that comes with every entree. So you might consider skipping an appetizer. The hula pie is huge and oh so tasty. You're diet will get blown away by it. The view is really amazing and worthwhile, it is 50 feet from the ocean on the Kalapaki beach. The food is good. They often have specials, depending upon what they can buy that day from the fresh catch. There is zero parking here. You can park either by the main road and walk across the street or park at the Marriott and walk down through the hotel to get to Duke's. If you are staying at the hotel, it is a two minute walk from the pool.
(4)Evan S.
Great service, good solid food and not over priced for the view. Go to this place if your near by!
(4)Sarah R.
We ate here 3 times while on our honeymoon in Kauai. I think the food was great and the atmosphere was fantastic. We also had great service all three times. Other than great breakfasts at another place, this was the best food we had in Kauai.
(4)Gabriel T.
Great food and a live band!!! Awesome steak and lobster! You have to try the Hula Pie!
(5)Brian R.
Great little place to grab a drink or dinner if you are staying in the Marriott. Stopped by for dinner one night than two other times for drinks at te barefoot bar. Staff was great and the Mai Tai's were excellent!
(5)