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    Isola Cucina Poipu

    3.9 (105 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Isola Cucina Poipu Photos

    Business Info

    ISOLA CUCINA POIPU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Isola Cucina Poipu

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    Reviews With Photos

    Angel C.

    This is my second time eating here and I can confirm that its new menu and chef finally match the ambiance of this beautiful space. We came in for dinner, was served and seated quickly. They seem to be short on servers but they brought drinks and food out quickly. The "Ciao Bella" is a great drink as well as their Italian sodas. For starters, the focaccia bread was warm and soft with pesto butter. For mains, I had the egg plant Parmesan with spaghetti. The portions are large and hearty! The eggplant was perfectly cooked along with the pasta. For dessert the ube cheesecake with passion fruit paired nicely with an espresso martini. Overall, the food was amazing! The ambiance with live music and the warm interior make Isola Cucina definitely worth trying. Will be back forsure!

    My husband enjoyed the lamb chops! Service is fair, flavor is good and texture is amazing!
    Wey M.

    Food is great and fresh, flavors are on point! Service is a little slow d/t being hectic, it was Valentine's Day so I understand! Ambiance is good, they have somebody playing romantic violin on that day. 10/10!

    Ahmad F.

    We tried their pizza and salad. Both were fresh, beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. Nice ambiance that transported us to Italy. Reasonable pricing. Splendid service. Nice location. We talked at length with one of the waiters about what brought him here from Long Beach. And with the owner about his decision to open this restaurant and others and about the cost of living in the Garden Isle.

    Daisi E.

    10/10!!! Service, Food, Drinks, Live Music, and Atmosphere was AMAZING. I can't say enough great things. We had the best time and TRULY enjoyed a romantic dinner here. Highly recommend.

    Chicken Marsala with pasta and sweet asparagus and grapes
    Hal D.

    We always make reservations here ! Their chefs show how much they care about food in a touristy location! Again they wowed us!

    Butternut squash special. This one was good.
    Melody T.

    The ambiance is cute and trendy. The hostess was nice and friendly. Server took a while to greet us, no problem. He must have been busy, understandable. We ordered drinks and apps. The good= calamari, hamachi crudo, espresso martini. Then it went downhill from there. $17 Caesar salad came with five pieces of lettuce, no croutons. Wow. Just wow. $3 for each piece of lettuce. I can get an oyster for that price. Server took forever to come back and take our dinner order after we finished our apps. Waited and waited and waited. He passed by probably 10 times without once even looking at our table to see if we needed anything while we sat there with empty dishes and empty drinks. Finally ordered dinner. $48 rack of lamb came with two pieces. TWO PIECES. that can't be real. This place is about two weeks old as I write this review, so I understand they're probably still figuring things out. But it's a hard pass in my book. If you want delicious Italian at reasonable prices, go to La Spezia. If you want a REAL rack of lamb, go to Break+Feast.

    Mango crème brûlée

    We came here on our honeymoon expecting a nice Italian dinner to celebrate something special. It ended up being the most uncomfortable and disappointing meal of our trip. The restaurant is actually split into three connected spaces: Isola Cucina, Poipu Pizza, and Isola Lounge. Everything is open and blended together, but they act like they are separate. You can only order pizza if you sit outside or in the lounge. If you want the Italian menu, you have to sit inside. The rules don't make sense when everything is in one open space. Even though the restaurant wasn't busy, we were offered two tables. One was right next to the bathrooms and the other was by the open doors facing the walkway. We picked the one by the doors. It was hot and humid, with no air conditioning, just ceiling fans. It was uncomfortable the entire time. The bathrooms appear to be shared between all three spaces. People from the restaurant, the pizza place, and the lounge walked right past our table all night. Some people didn't even look like customers. It felt like random people were wandering in from the walkway to use the restroom. It completely took away any sense of atmosphere or privacy. They had a violinist playing with a speaker track. She was talented, but the songs were strange. Thriller, Doja Cat, old hits from the 70s and 80s. It didn't fit the setting and made everything feel off. Service was slow, even though the restaurant was nearly empty. Our server was pleasant and tried her best, but she was stretched too thin and kept running back and forth to get drinks and take care of customers at the lounge area. The drinks were weak and watered down. My wife's strawberry margarita wasn't good. They replaced it with a mojito, which I appreciated, but the second one wasn't any better. The calamari was lukewarm with not enough sauce. My lasagna had no flavor. My wife's spaghetti with chicken wasn't good either. I will say that the young man who bussed our dishes and refilled our waters was awesome and really on top of things. He never let an empty plate sit for long and was quick with the water refills. We noted in our reservation that we were celebrating our honeymoon. Nobody said congratulations when we arrived. Nobody mentioned it at any point. We mentioned it to our server and she said, "Oh, congratulations," and quickly moved on. When it came time for dessert, I asked if they did anything for special occasions. The server said the dessert would be comped. When the bill came, it was still on there. She said, "Oh, they didn't comp it," and then disappeared for about 10 minutes trying to fix it while also helping other tables. She wasn't rude. She just didn't have the support she needed. Our total was about $150 with tax and tip. For that price, the food should be good, the service should be smooth, and the atmosphere should feel special. None of that happened. The layout doesn't work. The bathroom situation is strange. The food is marginal. The whole operation feels unorganized and poorly run. Our server was nice, but this is not a place I would go back to. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a special night out.

    Linguine with Clams

    Decided to try them in celebration for a birthday. The focaccia starter was great and the Caesar salad as a salad should be. Entrees chosen were lasagna and it was okay. The short rib was tender but mild in flavor and a little dry. The most disappointing was the linguine with clams. Though, the flavoring was good and the amount of clams was great...16 in total but only 8 of them were open yo be eaten.. The waitress was good and checked on us but did not say a word about the unopened ones left on the plate. Our practice is always to give a business a chance so we'll go another time and give it a taste.

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    24 days ago

    Amazing food and excellent service! Every dish we've tried never disappoints. Plus they have live music. Highly recommended!

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    1 month ago

    Best meal so far in Kauai. Eggplant parm delicious, desserts are fantastic. Service is great.

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    5 months ago

    Had their fettuccine Alfredo, great flavor! Just wish it came with garlic bread, or just bread.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Isola Cucina Poipu

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    La Spezia Restaurant and Wine Bar

    La Spezia Restaurant and Wine Bar

    4.4
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Sensational food and service to match. You almost feel like you're eating in someone's home. We…read moretend to dine later in the evening which was good in that it wasn't crowded in the restaurant but bad in that they'd already sold out in a couple items. I ended up choosing the vongole e gamberetti which was a nice blend of fresh seafood and spaghetti in a zesty broth. However, m'lady got the spaghetti bolognese and I'm telling you: this is the best, most flavorful, freshest bolognese I've ever tasted. I only got 2 bites and had to play it cool because, well, I made the choice I did. I was effusive in my praise afterwards and everyone who worked there concurred and said I was just the latest to discover this incredible dish! If you enjoy this dish, trust me: it's better than any other kind you've had in the past. After the meal, we met another waiter and chatted with him about the restaurant, recipes, and this neighborhood. Just as friendly as everyone else. Make it a point to stop here and get that bolognese!

    OMG! This restaurant is amazing!! My husband and I went out to dinner here for our honeymoon and we…read morewere so impressed with the hospitality, food and family-style ambience. We started with two glasses of wine and split a Caesar salad which had a hint of lemon - it was so refreshing and we finished the whole thing. My husband got the lasagna with bolognese sauce and I got the ox tail bolognese - both were insanely flavorful. To finish our wonderful meal, we split the tiramisu which was to die for! I can't say enough good things about our server Cathy. Cathy if you see this - we love you! She made our experience so wonderful. If you are in Kauai, please make this a stop - you won't regret it!

    Photos
    La Spezia Restaurant and Wine Bar
    Mozzarella Fresca ($16)
    Mozzarella Fresca ($16)
    Oxtail Papardelle! IG - @bilalandjesseatfood

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    Oxtail Papardelle! IG - @bilalandjesseatfood
    Merrimans - Kauai

    Merrimans - Kauai

    4.0
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    We've been coming to Kauai for years and have dined at many of the island's best restaurants, but…read moreMerriman's is still our absolute favorite. In our opinion, it has the best food on the island. Every meal is beautifully prepared, incredibly fresh, and consistently outstanding, which is why it's a must-visit every time we're here...actually we come multiple times.  One of the biggest reasons we return is Mandy. She is, without question, the best bartender on Kauai. Her cocktails are exceptional and, more importantly, remarkably consistent. Whether it's our first visit of the trip or our last, every drink is perfectly crafted and tastes exactly the way it should. That level of consistency is rare and speaks to the pride she takes in her work. Beyond making amazing drinks, Mandy has a genuine warmth and aloha spirit that makes every guest feel welcome. She's friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and somehow always seems to know exactly what you need before you have to ask. She remembers her guests, offers wonderful recommendations, and makes every visit feel special. Outstanding food is what first brought us to Merriman's, but Mandy is one of the biggest reasons we come back year after year. She is an incredible ambassador for Merriman's and a true asset to the team. Mahalo, Mandy! We can't wait to see you again on our next trip to Kauai. Simon and Heather

    Best meal of the trip. That seared ahi with jasmine garlic rice is something I'll go back home…read moredreaming about. It was a perfect sear (didn't taste wasabi but the shoyu flavor sear is to die for), complementary flavors of the rice and perfectly seasoned wok bok slaw. The wagyu tenderloin and Mac nut crusted fish were also so, so delicious. Honestly, I'd be happy to eat any of these three entrees. The tako escargot was beyond over cooked, however the flavors were exceptional. I'd order it again and give it another try. Tastes just like authentic French escargot, and make sure to dip the provided bread into all that delicious butter. We ended the night with the chocolate purse and it was so light, but still so fulfilling. This location kicks mauis locations butt in food! Server was great and knew lots of fun facts about the Merriman restaurants. They were very accommodating with my baby. Thanks for the best meal of our trip, Merrimans!

    Photos
    Dining Room
    Dining Room
    Tako escargot
    Tako escargot
    Shot this from next door a couple nights later...

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    Shot this from next door a couple nights later...
    RumFire Poipu Beach

    RumFire Poipu Beach

    4.2
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$$

    We are staying on the resort and ate here couple of times. Beautiful floor to ceiling windows of…read morethe breaking waves. Epic backdrop to a really good meal. Service is so prompt, friendly and attentive. He was great 10/10. Thanks, Greg! Everyone in my party loved their dinners. Short rib, miso cacio e pepe and crab crusted fresh catch. Must order the fried brussel sprouts and ahi panzanella (unique flavors but so cohesive and surprisingly delicious)..... ONOLICIOUS. Side of fried rice was sad. I don't recommend.

    I was hesitant to try an "hotel" restaurant, but the ocean views from the dining room online looked…read moreawesome. So, we gave it a try, and I am glad we did. Valet parking is free at the hotel. Our server was Jonny; he was welcoming and friendly. Our first round of cocktails was not to our liking. We told Jonny and took care of it and brought back perfectly made Manhattans. He made the evening even more enjoyable. The food was Excellent. There is a section of the menu where you can pick two entrées and are then served a half portion of each. Three of the guests at our table had the duo. They all enjoyed them and the lamp rack was the clear stand out. I had the filet. It was perfectly cooked. The potatoes, mushrooms and asparagus served with it were delicious. I would highly recommend dinner at Rum Fire ask for Jonny to serve you.

    Photos
    Various table sizes
    Various table sizes
    Ahi Crudo
    Ahi Crudo
    Blue Hawaiian was delish

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    Blue Hawaiian was delish
    Drift

    Drift

    4.8
    (50 reviews)
    4.3 mi

    The hidden gem of Kauai!…read more We thought the warehouse looked cool from the front with no expectations of whet may be hidden behind the facade. Drift is now our mandatory revisit when in Kauai. Star 1- clean. Every visible surface, glass, seat and table were clean Star 2- the food was spectacular. I had the Cali Reuben sandwich. It was fantastic. My wife had the Cobb Salad. It was perfect! Star 3- we are not typically "specialty drink" drinkers. The list was introduced to us by the owner who explained every drink was made with top shelf spirits, fresh juices and fruit, and was something they had found, enjoyed, and recreated to serve. Their love for balance and presentation shown through. We tried 4 of their creations and LOVED all of them. Star 4- Environment, the back area is relaxing, beautiful, is on island time. Very enjoyable. Don't rush, just enjoy. Star 5- Owners, kind, warm, and they care about the items brought to the table. Star 6- the whole package. Great value, this is now added as a top stop when in Kauai for us

    Disappointed! I had spent a chunk of time researching our dinner options after visiting and hiking…read moreWaimea Canyon. Drove out of our way and arrived with anticipation and sandwiches and cocktail selections predefined from their web/Yelp pages. We started our food order with the friendly guy in the food truck. He advised us to go around back and finish the order since we were staying. Then upon entry were told they were closing right then (4+ hours earlier than published schedule) and were turned away. I wish I had the chance for a proper review.

    Photos
    Clean and Tidy!
    Clean and Tidy!
    Drift
    Mint nojito mocktail

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    Mint nojito mocktail

    Isola Cucina Poipu - italian - Updated July 2026

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