When you first enter you're automatically greeted by a loud but upbeat style hangout location. There's lots of beautiful decoratives and interior designing that gives it a cozy and well-lit tone where you'd want to celebrate or enjoy time with family and friends. Although it doesn't necessarily scream "family oriented" it is kid-friendly and they are just as welcome so please feel free to bring all ages with you!
Mind that all of these events took place during Mother's Day so it was very busy and crowded during this time and the staff were in a rush.
• Inside was very crowded upon arrival as everyone, like ourselves, were there to celebrate Mother's Day. The wait time was short, but it's highly advised to book a reservation so that you get priority placing
• The inside was fairly clean although we did have some utensils that were dirty and the bathroom floor was messy (the toilets were spotless from what I found though).
• a lot of the dishes come in big portions and will be filling even if you are sharing the meals. They offer to-go trays so you can take leftovers with you!
In terms of the food, everything tasted amazing and came out while still hot so we enjoyed the meal. I'd say out of all the foods the rolls and penne were among my favorites!
• The Las Vegas Roll was savory with a slight sweetness and had a nice, light crunchy texture from the fried exterior. The sauce and noodles paired well together and offered an interesting new taste.
• The rainbow roll had a fresh and cooling umami flavor that wasn't fishy at all and featured beautiful presentation. It's the perfect size to share if you're trying sushi for the first time or ordering multiple entrees.
• For the Ribeye Meatballs I didn't eat the macadamia nuts (I'm not a fan of raw nuts) but the meatballs themselves were well seasoned and the mashed potatoes were soft with a sweet sauce. The savoury aroma and the firm but tender nature of the dish was a nice pairing.
• The Lemon Garlic Penne had a fresh citrus smell that felt perfect as a summer dish. The flavor felt open with the earthy feel of the tomato and arugula and the small spice of the chili flakes that would dance in the back of the throat. The garlic bread was pleasantly crunchy, seasoned, and also included cheese (it makes for a great dipping into the remaining sauce). It was a very vibrant experience in looks and taste.
• The NY Strip Steak was probably one our least favorites, but it wasn't bad. It was a bit difficult to cut through as it was partially dry and tough and slightly unserseasoned, but it was still a nice taste with a lovely grilled aroma and a small kick of spice. The potatoes paired with it were crispy and soft and well seasoned (a great compliment to the steak) and the offered sauce was decent (but we preferred the food without the sauce so we didnt use it much).
My favorite experience besides the food was the friendliness of the staff and how attentive they were despite being overwhelmed by so many customers. They greeted everyone at the door, made effort to check-in with tables, were kind when we had requests for services (asking for new utensils, extra plates, etc.) and even handed out flowers to the mothers as a gift. I appreciated this little detail the most as it wasn't something the restaurant had to do, but chose to include just to make the experience all the better. Kona Grill pairs great service with an energetic atmosphere and flavorful food that I'm sure anyone would love to experience and is why I highly recommend for anyone especially for hosting...
Read moreEDIT!!! For example; Just tonight, in the past 4/5 hours, apparently some alleged server named Judy magically received FOUR 5 Star reviews, just for tonight, by name!!!! WOW! Quite unbelievable, huh?
What in the world happened to the potstickers? We ordered delivery, so I can't rate the service or atmosphere. Pene pasta with shrimp and shrimp fried rice were okay. Poke Bowl with Salmon was meh, (warm, questionable salmon) and so was vegetarian roll, but HUGELY disappointed in the dumplings. Had not been there in several years, but they used to be consistently outstanding. They used to be fairly thin, cooked to perfection, and stuffed full with an outstanding pork filling. We ordered two orders, (6 to an order at $20 each) yet received the standard potstickers that any chain restaurant offers: The kind you can purchase yourself in the grocery store in the frozen food aisle and take home and cook. I'd expect this from a Fridays or an Applebee's, but never from Kona Grill. I would have bet anything that they used to be made in house. These were not. They were tiny, chewy, and ridiculously disappointing for over $3.33 a piece! Was this a corporate change? Now, after going through reviews carefully, I just realized how horribly run this restaurant truly is. Why? PAY ATTENTION TO REVIEWS! Look at all the poor reviews and the consistency of complaints, particularly the attitude of management and the sarcasm of the owner in his responses. But most importantly: look at the great reviews. See how few reviews some of these reviewers have? These are junk reviews put there for the owner to raise his rating. Notice how they are overly complimentary about a named person or certain items which were complained about in other reviews. Seriously, look at reviews beginning with lowest, check the dates and the validity of the reviewer. You will see that those people were real people with real experiences, where many of the 5 Star reviews come from people with one or two reviews. I'd be willing to bet that these reviews were "created" for the benefit of this restaurant. When you look at reviews on Google, look and see how many reviews the person has under their belt. Look and see if they habitually rate a place poorly, (general haters), look at the details of reviews. The 4.4 rating this place has appears to be an obviously stacked, not legitimate rating. This place charges obscene amounts of money for poor to mediocre food, clearly has pretty great servers who seem to be embarrassed to work there, and unprofessional management and an uncaring,...
Read moreI recently had the pleasure of dining at Kona Grill, and I must say, the service provided by one particular waitress was absolutely outstanding. Her dedication, attentiveness, and willingness to go above and beyond truly made my dining experience unforgettable.
From the moment I was seated, the waitress greeted me with a warm smile and a genuine enthusiasm that immediately made me feel welcome. She took the time to explain the menu in detail, offering insightful recommendations based on my preferences. Her knowledge of the dishes and her ability to answer all my questions demonstrated a true passion for her work.
Throughout the meal, she maintained an impeccable level of attentiveness without ever being intrusive. She anticipated my needs, ensuring that my water glass was always filled and promptly attending to any requests I had. What impressed me the most was her ability to remember my preferences, such as the perfect level of spice in my dish, without me having to remind her.
But what truly set her apart was the way she went above and beyond to make my dining experience exceptional. She surprised me with a complimentary appetizer, which was not only delicious but also showcased her thoughtfulness and attention to detail. She took the time to engage in friendly conversation, making me feel like a valued guest rather than just another customer.
Furthermore, when I mentioned a dietary restriction, she proactively consulted with the kitchen staff to ensure that my meal was prepared accordingly. Her willingness to accommodate my needs without hesitation was truly remarkable and greatly appreciated.
The waitress's genuine warmth and dedication shone through her service, making me feel like a VIP throughout my entire visit. Her professionalism, combined with her friendly demeanor, created a welcoming atmosphere that enhanced the overall dining experience.
In conclusion, the exceptional service provided by this waitress at Kona Grill was truly outstanding. Her attention to detail, personalized recommendations, and willingness to go the extra mile made my visit memorable. I highly commend her for her exceptional service and recommend Kona Grill to anyone seeking an extraordinary dining...
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