Merriman's Kauai
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Exceptional from start to finish from the food to the service. Merriman's was our best meal/dinner on our trip! VISIT: end of April 2021 RESERVATIONS: highly recommended all throughout Kauai, to guarantee a seat and that you're not waiting too long (some of our dinners took up to 1 hour and 45 minutes with reservations - not at Merriman's though!) Reserve through Open Table WHAT WE ORDERED: Merriman's Mai Tais, Truffle Fries, Fresh Catch Special (Ono), Lamb Chop, Lilikoi Mousse WHAT WE WOULD ORDER AGAIN: all of it! STAFF: 5 stars SPECIALS: check their site for their daily specials (the couple next to us asked about the next day's specials and decided to come back the next day!) HAPPY HOUR: 4-5pm DAILY We were seated promptly for our reservation. We ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees and got a nice dessert as it was our anniversary celebration! This whole meal took about 60 minutes, which baffled us as our entire week on the island had lunches and dinners sometimes running up to 1 hour and 45 minutes, even with reservations. All the food was prompt and absolutely delicious (see my pics) AND my water always filled and I drink at least 30 oz each meal 😁 SUPER shout out to all the waitstaff, not just our waiter, Justin, as everyone else assisted in our 5 star experience - always making sure plates were cleaned (especially since it was very windy on the balcony - which the staff noted was rare) it helped to not have our menus and the bag from the Truffle Fries not flying around us. Extra kudos to the hostess stand as well as they were the only restaurant that even acknowledged our anniversary celebration (Open Table asks if you are celebrating something special). Thank you again, Merriman's, you will be HIGHLY recommended by us and in all my reviews!
The Bouj CrewThe Bouj Crew
20
The location is really a dream! Here you can eat or have a drink in an incredibly beautiful atmosphere with a great view. I give a 1 star deduction because I expect everything to fit in a high-priced restaurant of this kind! The happy hour menu has little choice. And I don't find it is service-oriented if you are only allowed to sit on the veranda at happy hour and not in the actual restaurant. Unfortunately we were too early and therefore still in the happy hour time. The reason for our visit was actually that we found the location in the restaurant so great and absolutely wanted to eat there. That was the reason why we came back to Poipu... Too bad that we were treated a bit like guests "second class" ... ——— Die Location ist wirklich ein Traum! Hier kann man in unfassbar schöner Antmosphäre mit einer ganz tollen Aussicht essen oder einen Drink zu sich nehmen. 1 Stern Abzug gibt es, weil ich bei einem hochpreisigen Restaurant dieser Art erwarte, dass alles passt! Die Happy Hour Speisekarte hat wenig Auswahl. Und ich finde es nicht serviceorientiert, wenn man zur Happy Hour Zeit nur auf der Veranda sitzen darf und nicht im eigentlichen Restaurant. Wir waren leider zu Früh und deshalb noch in der Happy Hour Zeit. Der Grund für unseren Besuch war aber eigentlich der, dass wir die Location im Restaurant so toll fanden und unbedingt dort essen wollten. Schade irgendwie dass wir dadurch ein wenig wie Gäste „zweiter Klasse“ behandelt wurden...
Laura H.Laura H.
00
We were so excited for this very big dinner splurge we booked after our helicopter tour of Kaua’i. Unfortunately very disappointed. Absolutely the lowest rating I’ve ever given any restaurant, not to mention one with the high price point. The two stars is for our waiter. The positives: nice location with open air atmosphere so hope you can catch a breeze. Also, the cute little salt container on the tables was delicious salt for your food. You’ll need it. The wine was good. Our favorites from this restaurant were the Cesar salad and Parmesan French fries. We got there at opening and before we could order the restaurant was out of a white fish option so replaced with ahi tuna instead. Those are not the same type of fish, nor should they be cooked the same way. Also, the island restaurants brag endlessly that their fish is fresh daily so how do you run out at opening? Hubby had a basic filet and I had the duo (filet and fish) as I can generally tolerate a more cooked ahi tuna. I didn’t even finish the tuna, because it was cooked like the white fish (seared in a Parmesan crust and then baked). The kitchen should have changed the cooking method for the seafood option when they ran out of white fish. The menu options were limited which should have been our first clue to leave. The filets were bland and small. The portions were small. The crab cakes appetizer at a whopping $24 was TWO very small crab cakes (two bites tops). Our tab with tip was ~$250 and the worst meal we’ve had on vacation, maybe ever. We left still hungry and picked up snacks at the Living Foods store in the area and quite frankly regretted we just didn’t eat at that restaurant in the first place. We also regretted not just paying the wine and appetizers bill when the waiter said they were out of white fish, which cut the limited menu even further, and left. Lesson learned. There are plenty of other good restaurants in the area, don’t choose this one.
Amber RobertsonAmber Robertson
10
So we knew going into dinner this would be a bit more spendy than our other meals. Let me say, you get what you pay for. Totally worth it! We started with the happy hour pulled pork quesadilla. Literally jaw dropping. Hard to describe, but the balance of flavor popped in your mouth. They had a lilikoi mustard sauce with it that was a perfect complement to it. So good. The Ceasar salad was excellent and slightly different than other ones I've had. Really fresh lettuce does make a big difference. The little things really matter. The only minor thing off - and I mean minor- were the biscuits had cooled off a little. They were still amazing and great- but would have dropped the mic if they were hot. Think of a high end version of your grandmother's homemade biscuits. So good! I had the mac nut crusted Mahi Mahi with with rice, leeks and a mushroom reduction sauce. One of the best meals of my life. Probably in my top 3 or 4 fish dinners ever. Perfect balance of flavor that had me food grunting with every bite. Words can't describe how good it was. My wife got the filet. I had a bite and it was equally as good as my dish. I know this not just because I tasted it- but she was making the same noises I was. Amazing! Unfortunately we were to full for dessert. One of the best restaurants in Kauai and one of the best meals I've ever had. The staff were friendly, informative and helpful. Very efficient and hard working. Amazing night overall!
darren osburndarren osburn
00
Merriman's is much better than the supposedly sister restaurant Beach House so if you can only try one, I'd recommend Merriman's. The crab cake is so-so (don't expect Maryland big lump) and the salad is decent albeit boring. The Deep Water Spot Prawns is actually pretty good and you peel it raw which is easy for me as an Asian but if you are not used to peeling raw prawns or seeing the innards of a shrimp then I'd recommend skipping them. They surprisingly did a great job of grilling swordfish which is hard to grill without overcooking. The shrimp and scallops are good but not worth the price considering they only give you two prawns, which is the same as the seafood special which also only gives you 2 shrimps. Overall I'd recommend Red Salt over this for more innovative dishes and more attention to detail on the sauce. I like the service although it's more like good restaurant service rather than fancy restaurant service. Mai Tai is better than many other places.
Ed YuEd Yu
00
Last night was a meal we will talk about the rest of our lives!! Go for dinner around 6:45 to experience a beautiful sunset dinner. Robby our server was an absolute professional - it’s rare to have such flawless service and his knowledge and understanding of the restaurant immediately relaxes you. Food wise - every dish was lick the plate good. The best Mai Tai on the island, stellar smoked fish dip appetizer, gorgeous Caesar with not a hint of wilt to the leaves, and of course the Mac Nut fish main. If you love Marsala - you need to have that signature dish, it will have you see stars it’s so good. The Ma Kai was also incredible and if we didn’t have the Mac Nut would’ve sung it’s praises - perfectly balanced sauce that matched the fish. We ended with two desserts and while we were full I don’t regret a single bite. A must eat in Kauai. This restaurant group knows how to put on a performance.
Amy BurchillAmy Burchill
00
Nearby Attractions Of Merriman's Kauai
The Shops at Kukui‘ula
Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection
Lawai Beach Resort
Baby Beach
Poipu Beach Surf School
Whalers Cove Resort
Kukuiula Market
Poipu Kapili Resort
Lawa'i Beach
Keiki Cove Beach

The Shops at Kukui‘ula
4.5
(1.2K)Click for details

Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection
4.6
(821)Click for details

Lawai Beach Resort
4.7
(382)Click for details

Baby Beach
4.5
(164)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Merriman's Kauai
Beach House Restaurant - Kauai
Da Crack Mexican Grinds
Eating House 1849 Koloa
Living Foods
Holoholo Grill
Bubba Burgers Poipu
'Anakē's Juice Bar
Savage Shrimp
Uncle's Shave Ice
Riptides Shave Ice & Snacks Kauai

Beach House Restaurant - Kauai
4.4
(1.6K)Click for details

Da Crack Mexican Grinds
4.5
(1.1K)$
Click for details

Eating House 1849 Koloa
4.5
(568)Click for details

Living Foods
4.0
(481)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St, Koloa, HI 96756
Map
Phone
(808) 742-8385
Call
Website
merrimanshawaii.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.4
(568 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Sophisticated, multi-level restaurant preparing locally sourced, regional Hawaiian dinners.
attractions: The Shops at Kukui‘ula, Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection, Lawai Beach Resort, Baby Beach, Poipu Beach Surf School, Whalers Cove Resort, Kukuiula Market, Poipu Kapili Resort, Lawa'i Beach, Keiki Cove Beach, restaurants: Beach House Restaurant - Kauai, Da Crack Mexican Grinds, Eating House 1849 Koloa, Living Foods, Holoholo Grill, Bubba Burgers Poipu, 'Anakē's Juice Bar, Savage Shrimp, Uncle's Shave Ice, Riptides Shave Ice & Snacks Kauai

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