When I first walked in I was super stoked about the vibe and decor. What an awesome spot to hangout and eat lunch. I'd heard the food was good so we were excited, but then before we could order at the kiosk we had to listen to 10 minutes of a seemingly rehearsed spiel from the owner about how this is the best food in California, he watched over our shoulders and kept talking about himself while we tries to review the digital menu. Everything that came out of his mouth was a HARD sales pitch and a lot of marketing mumbo jumbo and how they're number one in California. He wouldn't leave us alone long enough to even think about and review the order. His whole demeanor was aggressively fake friendly, and it got worse when he gathered that one of our friends was a bit wary about the food cause they're not big on fish or Hawaiian-style food. But they were down to try anyways and we're there for the rest of the group. No big deal, they were already going to order and try something, but the guy would not leave them alone about how they shouldn't be worried they're the best in the state and then made a sample for them to try. It was a kind gesture but you could see it was all about ego and not about service or kindness. The friend tried it and politely said it wasn't for her and that she would just keep looking at the menu and find something and he still wouldn't stop. I can't even begin to list the weird microaggressive comments he made. He talks AT US going a mile a minute. Fast forward 20minutes, we have our food and it's good, some of it's really great. The best in the state? The best poke ever? Not really, but Im not going to say that to the guy the food was darn good. But then he came by to check on us and we said it was good and smiled (hoped he would talk to us anymore), but apparently he wasn't happy with our answer and kept pushing us to say it was the best ever and how his family has a place in Kauai and San Diego so he "knows" poke and seafood and it is the best. I was starting to wonder if the guy is on drugs or shorted circuited from previous drug use, cause his mannerisms and aggressive desire for approval and notoriety was soooo uncomfortable and insistent. He wasn't like this with everyone, if your lucky enough to have a short interaction with him it's seemingly pleasant, but when he turned on his spiel or decided you were a target of interest...oh my, God help you. It's important to have pride in your work and business, but I cannot effectively communicate how bizarre of an interaction this was. It had all the trappings of being a chill place and his demeanor had the trappings for great service, but he was so weirdly judgemental and egotistical and just wouldn't quit his bit. I wouldn't go back, but if for some reason you decided you had to have poke in this little mountain town, then go for it and just try not to draw attention to yourself and maybe just say, "oh yes, it's the best in the world!" in hopes he'll leave you be.

Best of all I heard him talking shit on us afterwards saying something like, " some people don't know good food and are just difficult." I just had to laugh it off in the car because we really did enjoy the food and decor and we're always polite, but this guy's personality was so oppressive and disingenuous we couldn't relax.