Brennecke's Beach Broiler — Restaurant in Kauai

4 stars for the view and the fish. 3 stars for the Mai Tai and the kid's meal, and the prices. We had fish and chips and the Wednesday fish fry and both were really great. Great coconut shrimp and battered ono. The ten year old ordered the kid's spaghetti with marinara but they were out of marinara, so she went with pasta with butter and parmesan. This was very overcooked spaghetti that tasted like it had been rinsed in cold water and was utterly flavourless. Might've been good enough to occupy a bored toddler but wasn't good food. Perhaps Italian is a stretch in Hawaii, but al dente spaghetti tossed in butter and a little parm can be really great when well executed, you know? The World-Famous Mai Tai (I was on an unofficial Mai-Tai tour of the island) was watery, overly sweet, and really not great. Everything in Kauai is bonkers expensive and this was no different. I think I'd give this place a much better review if we had the option for plates of fried Ono and Coconut shrimp with some fresh greens or fruit and not the fries, and had just ordered local beers. Kid's meal - dreadful Mai-Tai - not good Fried fish - pretty great View-amazing. Our waiter appeared to be about 14 years old (I'm sure he was 21 and I'm just old) and was trying so hard and we really liked him a lot. In fact the staff were all great. We waited for a table by the window to open up and it was worth it. As with everywhere we went, large groups had trouble getting seated. We were a party of three without a reservation and waited about an hour, which was fine. Again the view was great. Just order a local beer and some fried fish, and hold out for a table by the window. Or get a hot dog downstairs and go sit...

Is it because we went in with low expectations based on all the “meh” reviews? Is it because we got a pitcher of guava margaritas so we are feeling nice? Or is it because the bar is filled with people having a damn fine time that never think to read, much less write a review? Probably all 3, but the facts are that we showed up at 3 on a Monday for happy hour and EVERYONE helped us promptly, our drinks were properly strong, our food was out quickly, and it was delicious. Not only are the waitstaff friendly and nice, they tag team the tables so that you are never left un-helped. MNF was on all over the joint and servers and bussers were blowing and going. We got a seat away from the windows up near the bar, but you could still see the water and feel the breeze. We drank the aforementioned pitcher of mango margaritas, and had two happy hour appetizers, the coconut shrimp and the tempura snow crab/ahi roll. Both were tasty, well priced for Kauai (ha!) and just enough food to leave us satisfied. I did see the nachos walk by, and I’m a little sad we didn’t try those too bc I like to try EVERYTHING. We rode our FREE rental bikes (acquire near valet) down here from the Grand Hyatt, and I’m glad we did, bc it was both a fun beautiful ride and a much better meal than I expected (why is food on Kauai so crapola in general anyway? Have I been choosing the worst places or not drinking enough? Idk) If you bike here, do NOT bike along the ocean to get back to the Hyatt or you will go up a BFH. The map does not tell you about the hill. But trust. Go back out to the right of the restaurant and hit Poipu rd that way. Especially if you drank that pitcher of...

The good news is they take reservations, but they also have some tables for walk ins - our party of 5 walked in around 4:30 and got right in, but is was standing room only by the time we left. Another positive is it is right across the street from Poipu Beach - a really nice beach plus Hawaiian Green Turtles come upnin the evening to rest, so great spot to go see some Turtles up close. Finally piece of good news is they have a pretty large public parking lot, but it does fill up quickly. Now for the restaurant - not as good news. Although we got seated quickly and water arrived shortly and soon after our waiter took drink orders & appitizers. I started with the coconut martini - terrible. Zero coconut flavors and very watered down. My wife got thd Mango Madness and thought it was OK. My niece git the Lava Lava and it was probably the best drink we had. We also started with the tempura roll and didn't care for it. The tempura coating was so over burnt that you couldn't taste any sushi. For entrees we had Macadamia Nut mahi mahi and it was good. Fish tacos were bad, zero flavor. Seafood risotto was good. Short rib coconut loco was pretty disappointing for $34 and the coconut shrimp was so so. I also tried their "World Famous" Mai Tai and it was probably the worst Mai Tai I've ever had - maybe the bartender was just having an off night. Great location with good parking and a very inviting menu, just looks like (based my experience and others), they just can't execute their menu...