Tidepools — Restaurant in Kauai

Wow, I don't even know where to start- my party was left speechless at how bad this restaurant experience was. What's worse is we went into it expecting it to be one of the best on the island! This was not so.

Starting out it's a pretty long walk from the parking lot (normally $30 parking to self park, or $40 for Valet! This is insane!) to the restaurant. We finally made it down there, and it was outdoors so pretty hot and muggy even at night. This is normal on Kauai so not a huge deal, but you do notice people sweating etc. so not very comfortable.

First thing we noticed was the wait time for our reservation, again not a huge deal but had to sit for 10 or 15 minutes before being seated although we were on time.

Once seated, the next thing we noticed was a tense energy in the air and multiple visibly upset parties seated around us. People looking around as if forgotten about, or somehow offended in some way by the restaurant. I figured these were just folks with bad attitudes as you normally find at any restaurant! Paid it very little mind.

Service may have been spread too thin because it did take a while for someone to talk to us, and the gentleman (although kind and helpful) did look exhausted, sweaty, and in a hurry. He also seemed maybe a little bit nervous or out of place- not sure why. Side note, he also accidentally spat in my eye while he was first explaining the menu / specials to our table. It was an accident, but was honestly super gross. I did not make it an issue and waited until he walked away to wipe my eye! Others at the table noticed a lot of spitting lol, this was just weird.

Finally we got our food, and my god- it was the worst food I have ever had on the island of Kauai after eating at countless restaurants and food trucks. We spent a LOT per plate at this place, and I swear to you there was NO flavor whatsoever. In my dish, which was ~$40 for swordfish on mashed potatoes, literally lacked ANY discernable flavor, and the tiny hint of flavor it possessed was a gross like floury-gravy flavor (I would never want to taste this again). I got the same reviews from those in my party who got different dishes. One person even paid nearly $20 for a plate of French fries that were literally just pre-frozen home/steak fries you would get at like a cheap steakhouse. Absolutely uninspiring and truthfully a ripoff.

By the time we had finished eating, we were all downright flabbergasted by the low quality of the food we had just consumed, and found that we would have preferred not to have eaten it at all. This was a big surprise since this was SO expensive and was supposed to be critically acclaimed. I have a feeling that any critical acclaim of Tidepools is literally just fake.

I will say that the service was fine, and they did what they could. We left a big tip for him so that we could get some more good karma, but the food was truly awful. The best thing we had was a glass of wine from the bottle. Hard to mess that up.

I would NEVER recommend this restaurant to anyone else visiting Kauai- we felt like we had been severely ripped off from...

I had a very disappointing experience at Tide Pools Restaurant in Hawaii on April 2nd 2023. My group of 10 stayed at the Grand Hyatt where this restaurant is located.

We have had this trip planned for 12 months. We had people fly in from KY, the Philippines, DC… all over the world so we could be together for this vacation to celebrate my sister’s 40th birthday. We called 8 months ago to reserve a table at tide pools and were promised that we could all sit together. However, upon arrival, the restaurant refused to seat us near each other. This was despite the fact that they had confirmed the arrangement on the phone 8 months prior, and we counted 5 empty tables around us. We didn’t ask for tables to be moved, we didn’t ask to be seated together, we only asked that our parties be near each other. They refused, and insisted that 5 of our party had to sit in the next room over.

It was unprofessional and showed a complete lack of consideration for our group.

Although the food and ambience were spectacular, the poor customer service overshadowed our experience. The staff's refusal to accommodate us left a very bad taste in our mouth.

Our waiter Derrick was the only bright spot in the experience, as he went above and beyond to make our evening enjoyable. Firstly, he greeted us with a friendly and warm smile, we took the time to explain the situation, and within 5 minutes the rest of our party was moved to the empty table next to us.

He was very attentive throughout the meal, ensuring that our glasses were never empty and that we had everything we needed.

What impressed us most was how he went out of his way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. He struck up a conversation with us and made us feel like we were old friends. He also took the time to check on us throughout the evening to ensure that we were enjoying our meals.

When we mentioned our disappointment with the seating arrangements, Derrick did everything he could to make us feel better. He apologized for the restaurant's mistake and tried to make the best of the situation.

Overall, Derrick's exceptional service made a big difference in our overall experience at Tide Pools Restaurant. He was friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. We appreciate his efforts and would definitely recommend requesting him as a waiter if you decide to dine at the restaurant.

Overall, based on my experience, I would not recommend Tide Pools Restaurant. Throughout the dinner we noticed the restaurant putting tables together for other parties, and as we were leaving we noticed a large party of 10 at their own table. When we called 8 months ago, we were told that was not possible. We understand rules but feel they should be applied to everyone.

Their lack of follow-through on their promises and inflexibility regarding seating arrangements show a disregard for their customers'...

There are a number of bar and restaurants on the 50+ acre property (that’s still insanely huge for me). And Tidepool its crown jewel.

Sitting in the middle of the ‘front lawn’ of the property, Tidepools seemed half lowered into the pool that houses dozens of Koi. In the morning, around 9am, you have the opportunity to feed the Koi. In the evening its people time.

Some folks dressed up for the occasion/location, but given that it’s Hawaii, it’s not a requirement. The prices are understandably high — you are spending money in a prime real-estate in a resort. The only menu items that are under $30 are the vegetarian options (e.g. fried tofu for $26).

In line with the fine-dining leaning atmosphere, you do feel welcomed when you step through the door and is welcomed by a fully-stocked bar as part of the waiting area. Perhaps dependent on the bartender of the evening, we were greeted by one that is a perfect portrayal of a islander — cheerful and full or joy. Joy is contagious!

Our meal was pretty uneventful as we ordered a mix of meat (a stack of beef, and shrimp), salad, and… fried tofu. We also had a prosecco to share — what, we are already on holiday! So all in all, it’s probably an 8/10 for our meal.

Lack of sensitivity to diner with allergies: What was surprising to me was, at a table very close to us, a server brought out a dish that had the allergen that the diner had explicitly expressed she cannot have (in her words, please make sure they don’t have mushrooms in it, or I will break out in hives). That seems inexplicable given it does concern someone’s health. If she had not checked with the server when the dish was served, it would not have been a pleasant night for the couple. Perhaps the increasing needs of diners with allergies and gluten-free needs have to be caught up on an island that champions its carefreeness.

Tidepool is an unique restaurant in its settings and the atmosphere it creates. But at night, other than the Koi swimming in the lit up pool, its mostly darkness looking beyond the windows. So, choose your battles if you are looking for an experience without...