When only fine waterfront dining in South Shore Kauai will do, you cannot go wrong with a trip over to Tidepools. Operating as a part of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, this immaculate eatery features open-air, thatched bungalows set next to a beautiful waterfall. A fully-stocked koi lagoon sits alongside the bungalows along with tons of colorful tropical plants. With such a spectacular setting, this upscale eatery sets the stage for a truly romantic meal, especially if you arrive in time to see the sun go down.
In addition to their picture-perfect setting, the amazing service boasts big aloha spirit that’ll make you feel right at home. As soon as you walk through the doors, you can always count on getting a warm welcome and plenty of friendly chatter as you get seated at your table. Once they bring out the menus, however, all that drops away as you revel in their excellent selections.
While browsing their menu, you’ll find a wide array of thoughtfully curated dishes designed to impress. From Island Style Poke and Veal Meatballs to Seared Hawaiian Ahi and Prime Center Cut Filets, they have a little something for everyone. Better yet, they make every dish using fresh, local ingredients, including their hydroponic greens grown right in-house.
In addition to all their creative appetizers, entrees, and desserts, they have a great cocktail and wine menu built for your enjoyment. If nothing else, try their house Mai Tai, dubbed the Tai Chi, which has Malibu coconut rum, Captain Morgan’s spiced rum, and Bacardi 151 plus pineapples, oranges, and a dark rum float.
Swing by to try their:
Tidepools Chilled & Grilled Seafood
To whet your appetite with all the best ocean flavors, go with the Tidepool Chilled & Grilled Seafood. For this appetizer built for two, they perfectly prepare king crab, Kauai shrimp, mussels, scallops, and oysters on the half shell. Alongside all that, you get a big serving of charred salmon poke to share.
Hawaiian Catch
You can easily satisfy your cravings for seafood of all kinds by treating yourself to their Hawaiian Catch. When you order this entrée, you’ll get soy-ginger glazed ahi, scallops, and shrimp plus cold water lobster tail. On this side, they add Molokai sweet potato before drizzling on the lemongrass beurre blanc.
Prime New York Strip
If you’re looking for beefy deliciousness in every bite, the Prime New York Strip is the way to go. To create this entrée, they sprinkle the prime-cut of beef with fresh cracked black pepper and fleur de sel. After that, they expertly grill it to your desired level of doneness and then put whiskey compound butter on top. As for the sides, you get vinegar potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Right before serving, a tasty red wine demi-glace goes over it all to bring the flavors together beautifully.
If you arrive right when they open for dinner service, it’s possible to time your meal just right and enjoy dessert as you watch the sunset. On their dessert menu, you’ll find all the fan favorites, including Malasadas, Pine-Apple Upside Down Cake, and Cocoa Nib Crème Brulee. Their most popular dessert is their Molten Chocolate Lava Cake, however. When you order this delightful treat, you get chocolatey goodness, inside and out, plus toffee macadamia nuts and caramel ice cream. Need it gluten-free? Just ask.
Insider Tips:
-If you’d like a little extra entertainment with your meal, ask to sit right next to the edge of the water, so you can watch the koi fish while you eat.
-For a discount on appetizers and drinks, swing by between 5 pm and 6 pm for happy hour.
-Vegetarian dishes feature a V on the menu, while gluten-free offerings have a GF by their name.