Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap — Restaurant in Capitola

NEVER AGAIN!!!!! I’m a Santa Cruz native and have known this city since a little girl! This place had us in disbelief. Our first time here as well. I’m not sure about the other reviews but the experience me and my wife had, was nothing compared to anything before. I have an extreme allergic reaction to black pepper. When we enter restaurants we always make it clear and try to order simple things, trying not to impose. Owning a bakery/restaurant myself, I know how tedious it can be. My wife ordered the food per usual letting the waitress know of my food allergy. When we received the food, everything was covered in black pepper. The macaroni salad, chicken we ordered regular steamed rice so that was the only thing I could eat. We let the waitress know I couldn’t eat the food. She specifically said “You paid for it already, so you have to keep it. Would you like anything else” my wife of course said yes. She went along handing out orders there were other customers completely understand! But she had us waiting for 15 minutes just to take the order. My wife told me to pack up the food and we left. I felt like I was a problem to them and the owner was incredibly...

I've been a fan of Pono for a while, including the original spot downtown. Recently I went to the Capitola St. for the first time in a while and was disappointed. The food was still solid but the presentation has gone downhill. Instead of a regular plate I got a metal tray with some of the food in a paper bowl. The rice was put directly on the paper tray liner. I've never seen that before. Can't say I'm a fan. The liner gets soft and mushy from the rice and starts to fall apart. So you get some paper in your rice. It made the overall experience feel cheap but the food isn't cheap.

The baked tofu stir fry was good and mostly tasted as I remember. The kids burger and fries were only ok. The fries were kinda soggy like they'd been sitting around for a while and the burger was a little sad.

Please bring back actual plates. They're more pleasant and don't...

I’ve only ever done takeout here and have always had a bad experience. The food is good, but the staff is unpleasant. Today I went to pick up an order and was charged out by an impatient girl who seemed like she was in a bad mood. She did not welcome me in or anything along those lines. She didn’t even wait for me to be finished paying before leaving. A male worker (who was kind and polite) came by a few minutes later and I let him know that I thought the girl was going to go get my food. Turns out she did not. My food was behind the counter and she just left without finishing up. This isn’t the first time I’ve had the girls that work there be rude and unpleasant. It’s 50/50 in regards to the service which is why I stick to take out and do not come often. In a Hawaiian restaurant you would think they would hire more inviting...