At Red Water Café, they aim to take you on a journey around the globe with their multi-cultural cuisine. Hawaiian classics, Asian fusion fare, and even American comfort food dance across their menu, awaiting the chance to tantalize your tastebuds. To help make that happen, this upscale Waimea restaurant gets all its ingredients from local farmers, fishermen, and ranchers all over the island.
Then, they let their expert chef get to work. All their dishes come from the inspiration of Executive Chef David Abrahams who got his start at five-star restaurants all over the US. He uses his culinary prowess to build bold flavor in every dish, allowing all of the fresh, local ingredients to stand out. His efforts have earned him and the restaurant awards of all kinds, including recognition from the Blue Zones Project.
So, it’s no surprise then that they’re often quite busy, especially during the dinner hour. Although reservations could help you avoid the wait, they do not always answer their phones. The online reservation system on their website is equally hit or miss, only seeming to send the requests through on occasion. Fortunately, even if you just walk in, they’ll do their best to get you seated at a table and served right away.
While you wait, the chill atmosphere will undoubtedly win you over, as will the rustic décor all throughout the restaurant. The interior design may even make you feel like you’re at a home away from home, setting the stage for a wonderful meal. Their quality service is second to none as well. Their servers always greet every last patron with plenty of aloha, and then keep their support going through the entire meal.
Since they’re often super busy, the service can feel a bit slow, however. You can get past that by taking a leisurely approach to enjoying your meal. Start with an appetizer of your choice, and then add drinks to the mix. They have a full wine, beer, and sake list available for your consideration, featuring fan favorites like Maui Brewing Co. Pineapple Mana.
Once your selections land on the table, put in your entrée order, and munch away until they get your main course out to you. Just don’t forget to leave room for dessert. Cheesecake, crème brulee, and housemade ice cream and sorbet all await, after all.
Treat yourself to the:
Meatballs and Garlic Toast Points
With its wonderfully garlicky beefiness in every bite, the Meatballs and Garlic Toast Points is a great way to start your meal. This appetizer begins with meatballs made from scratch using pork, beef, garlic, and herbs. Once the meatballs come out of the broiler, the chef creates the parmesan garlic toast points and then serves it all up with their house marinara on the side.
Guava BBQ Baby Back Ribs
For a tropical flavor explosion unlike anything you’ve ever tried, go with the Guava BBQ Baby Back Ribs. Available in a half and full rack, the ribs get rubbed down in chili spices and then cooked low and slow over kiawe. A guava BBQ sauce glaze is slathered on the ribs as they get close to done. Once they’re beautifully caramelized, the ribs go on the plate alongside Asian coleslaw and mashed potatoes.
Shrimp Pasta
Fresh ocean flavors abound whenever you order the Shrimp Pasta. The chef creates this dish by sauteing fresh local shrimp, and then deglazing the pan with pinot grigio. Then, cherry tomatoes, sweet onions, shallots, basil, zucchini, kale, and garlic join the party. The whole lot goes over al dente pasta and gets a sprinkle of parmesan right before serving.
Chef Abrahams is forever tinkering with the menu. So, you’re likely to find a whole new mix of items in front of you each time you arrive. To make the most of your meal, go into each visit with an open mind. Then, get ready to sample their newest creations.
Insider Tips:
-If you want to make substitutions, it’ll cost extra.
-Ask about their specials before ordering. Otherwise, you risk missing out on pure decadence, like their special liquor-based hot chocolate that changes on the daily.