This new-ish restaurant was great! They're doing a great job of introducing new tastes to west Kauai. Service was excellent, food was delicious. The arancini balls brought back memories of Sicily with a Hawaiian twist. We had a table that allowed us to see the chef in action and she was keeping busy! Highly recommend this for lunch or dinner. Loved the added live entertainment in the evening. Nice touch. read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Live entertainment!! - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

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The restaurant is located in a plaza with plenty of parking. I was able to make reservations with no issues on a Saturday night. When we pulled up around 7pm, there was just 1 other party that was there and they were seated outside. There was live music and we asked to be seated right in front of him. Boy, that was a big mistake as the speaker was right there and it was very difficult for me and my wife to carry any kind of conversation. That was mostly my fault and I should have asked to be seated a few tables back. But it was fine as the musician was great the whole night with his soothing voice and relaxing tunes. There were only 2 servers at the time so getting my drink refilled was a little slow. We ordered the fried enoki mushrooms. Not sure where they were going with this dish as enoki mushrooms don't really have any taste to them. Plus it's a little stringy. I thought it was a little oily. Not sure if the oil was hot enough when they fried this, but it was a bit greasy and since it didn't have any taste to it, the tartar sauce pretty much carried the dish. My ribeye, however, was great. It was cooked medium-rare with a lot of mashed potatoes. The peppercorn cream sauce was a nice touch and didn't overshadow the meat. The one thing I would suggest is that the ribeye was on the thin side, so it didn't get that char crispiness that you would be able to get on a thicker steak. Since I asked for it to be medium rare, getting the desired texture would not be possible. I would have liked to be thicker as the bite would be more substantial. I normally associate a thin cut to a cheap or budget steak. Flavor-wise and temp, it was perfect. There was so much mashed potatoes that I ended up leaving half of it on the plate. It's a garlic mash and really tasty. The Osso Buco was tender, fall off the bone. I did, however, find it to be a little too salty though. You also get a lot of Risotto. They do not skimp on portions here. Great find. read more

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The waitress was sweet. It took awhile to get menus, first a drink menu, we said we want our dinner w drinks so awhile later we get dinner menu. The place looks nice but not fancy at all. So we have drinks which were great , and Fantastic Scampi starter! We order entrees 15 mins later they come over and say they are sorry out of what I ordered, then I said no prob ordered something else, 15 mins later Oh! Out of that too. So I just ordered a salad. Hubby ordered $75 Ribeye steak. It was beautiful He tried cutting it, only gave him a butter knife, the gristle was overwhelming. The meat was done beautifully but full of gristle. Everything took forever. Servers were nice, gave good info. So then comes the bill. Way high! We had to pay $25 "service" charge we asked? She said she didn't know asked then said it was to cover linens, etc. Another $5 charge for credit card processing. So $30 added to the $200.00 meal with 1alcohol drink and 1mocktail. While servers were sweet the service sucked not just an island time thing. They had two other tables to serve and three wait staff and were visiting and having a great time with someone at the bar. The sauces were fabulous. We wanted to like it but left feeling like we were ripped off. I was sad but it was the best shrimp scampi I ever had;( read more

Food was okay, filet steak was forgotten on my or, so they rushed to get one prepared while others in my group started eating their entrees. When the filet came out, it was raw (purple) even though they had sliced it up to check the meat temperature. Rookie move in my opinion! Service was extremely slow! We had a large party (8 people), but no way that the service should have taken 2-1/2 hours! read more

Friendly service and the food is consistently good (which is not easy to find on island). The portions are pretty large and are a great value. The cesar salad was enough for us to share as a starter. Osso Buco is flavorful and tender. The brisket was equally tasty and so soft that we didn't even need a knife to cut it. I recommend the cosmo made with fresh blackberries--very refreshing. They even had live music. Namaka is a great place for special occasions but you can also keep it casual and sit on the lanai or at the bar. read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Brisket - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

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I have eaten food from Italy, to Japan and all across America, from LA fusion, midwestern BBQ to New York fine dining. Believe me When I say this is one of the most incredible meals I have ever had the pleasure of devouring. This food is exquisite. And that is putting it mildly. The Bone Marrow boats were to die for and the risotto that accompanied the most tender & delicious Braised Pork Shank was to die for. 6.5 out of 5 stars. The only thing better than the food (and that's a close call) was the service, very hospitable and generous. Quaint and small, perfect for date night. PS! The Ube balsamic reduction is a culinary experience worth having. read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Bone marrow boats - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

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Service charge fee $25. For linen etc???? Are you kidding me can I ask for no table cloth and not have to pay service fee

Great service and an unforgettable dining experience! This restaurant truly wowed my mom, my fiancé, and me. This is our second trip to Kauaʻi, and without a doubt, this has been the best restaurant experience we've had on the island. Every dish we ordered was incredibly flavorful and generously portioned. My fiancé couldn't stop talking about the mussel and shrimp pasta--he said it was the best pasta dish he's ever had. My mom ordered the catch of the day with risotto and said it was the best risotto she's ever tasted. The flavors of the fresh fish and risotto complemented each other perfectly. I had the teriyaki ribs, and I absolutely fell in love with the teriyaki sauce. It had the perfect balance of savory and sweet without being overpowering, making every bite delicious. The owner was one of the sweetest and most hospitable people we've met. She went above and beyond by personally making my mom a custom mocktail, which she absolutely loved. That level of genuine hospitality made our experience even more special. 10/10--we would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Kauaʻi. We loved every minute of our meal, and my fiancé kept saying he wishes we had a place like this on Oʻahu. We'll definitely be back on our next visit! read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

For a while now my friend has been raving about Namaka's trying to get me to go out. Tonight was the night and I'm kicking myself for not getting in here sooner. First, I ordered a specially prepared watermelon mocktail with some red deliciousness on the rim of my glass and a crazy foam float. I'm pretty sure they figured out how to harvest white puffy clouds to decorate their drinks. Absolutely hands down best mocktail of my life! Super flavorful and very fun. We also ordered a steamed artichoke to share. I grew up having them on our dinner table with mom's tried and true perfect preparation. Love artichoke and love my mom but dang it if I'm not mad that she didn't make them like Namakas. Holy smokes was that good. I was unsuccessful in obtaining the recipe for the dipping sauce though and might have a resentment around it for life. Finally, after 20 minutes trying to decide on my main course, I chose the osso buco over risotto. They did not disappoint folks. I wish I hadn't had breakfast or lunch so maybe I could have finished it gone. Absolutely over the top flavors and so so tender. Perfectly prepared. The sauce that goes with it was unbelievable! There is definitely some sorcery going on in this kitchen. I'm so happy for Kauai that we have another fantastic restaurant to enjoy. My friend was telling me that on Thursdays and Fridays they have live local music too. I'm coming back and bringing friends!! read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Bomb ass Watermelon mocktail - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

Oh my (don't just stay on the downtown strip)! Seek out this hidden Jem in a strip mall down the road from the downtown Kapaa' strip. Brilliant execution by the chef. Was so hard to decide what to have that for this first experience, we choose bone marrow boats, steamed artichoke, seared steak and the fried enoki mushrooms. Holy cow, Batman! Perfect. Partner started with a Paniolo Old Fashioned and I went with our bartenders recommendation of a red (she's brilliant too, btw). Finished with the pineapple upside down cake - lovely, full of flavor and with a delightful scoop of vanilla to finish. Live music didn't let you forget where you were - on an Island of Love and Beauty! read more

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Got to give this place a solid 5 stars. The place.was.very clean and tidy. The receptionist was polite and kind. My waiter was great, very attentive. Now the food, the food was OUTSTANDING. the price is up there, but in my opinion, well worth it. The portion size and wonderful taste for the dishes I ordered was worth the cost. I will visit this spot again before I leave. read more

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Phenomenal meal and service. Haven't had a dinner this great tasting in a long time. Tucked away in a shopping center but more than worth the drive. To start, I ordered the Grilled Brie cheese w/ Chardonnay that came with a toasted Focaccia - no picture because I devoured it in record time. Entree was cooked perfectly, with the most seasoned mash. My plate was wiped clean. Will be returning and recommending to all friends/family visiting Kauai read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

Service was great ... drinks great ... the place has a quiet chill vibe on it . The food is ok but . Selection of food looks great tried 5 dishes out of the menu. Pricey for the type of food they serve and the taste wasn't to its par . read more

What a great find. A nice change from the food trucks and even the chef came out and talked to us. Very personable and a great atmosphere. Would highly recommend. The Cornish hen was a great dish. Will be back next time we come! read more

Incredibly delicious. Everything was cooked to perfection all the drinks were so good! Coming back again and again. read more

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We love this new restaurant so much that we chose it for our last dinner on the island. The bone marrow was a repeat order for us, and it was even better than the last time. Brittney was an excellent server who made our evening extra special with her warm and attentive service. The chef and manager were so kind to remember us from our previous visit, which made the experience feel even more personal. Namaka is quickly becoming one of our favorites, and it's truly a must when visiting Kauai! read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Bone Marrow... it's amazing! - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

Our bill was $141 for 2 entrees which both was pork and it was ok. And 2 drinks. We arrived before 7pm and got our food at 7:45p. We ordered an appetizer but it was given to the wrong table. Also there's a 12% fee applied for just being in the restaurant. It's on the menu. We decided to stay and give this place a try. read more

New restaurant in Kapa'a. Couldn't decide what to cook/eat for dinner at home and it was getting late. So we decided to drive from Puhi to Kapa'a. Everything we ordered was good. Only thing I didn't take a picture of was the fish and chips (with Ono), which was also good! Would definitely come back again. Services was great. Britney (sp?) was a great server! read more

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Staff was amazing from the waitress to even the chef asking how our dinner was. Food was excellent. read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Pork with mashed potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

Namaka is a nice restaurant for a casual night out, some dishes are on the higher end but the portions are big so it balances out. A simple date night option with lots of daily specials (always something new to try) Not fancy or upscale at all, but a fun, lively environment and they sometimes have live music! Ambiance: more family style, comfy and casual. has a salad bar as soon as you walk in... bar seating is fun. AC is cold inside for those who like that. Exterior seating is outside by the parking lot and has no decor so it's even more casual out there. wouldn't call it "cute". There's no aesthetic theme or anything but it works considering the location. Service: servers and bartenders are really awesome and the chef is lovely. Food: Portions were generous, and the menu has a European influence with an island twist. Overall, the flavors were decent enough. Bone marrow was great and comes with sourdough bread. the pickled onion side was amazing with the marrow. would be good with some olive oil/ vinegar to pair with the bread. The risotto was a creamy corn risotto which was different. It wasnt traditional risotto rice. It was more reminiscent of a corn/rice casserole of sorts. the osso buco was a huge portion but for tenderness it was not "fall of the bone" tender. The guava bbq sauce was okay, but the creamy corn risotto flavor conflicted with it. potato purée for this lovely piece of meat would have been better. The arancini was large, but the flavors of the creamy corn risotto with a very tart lilikoi sauce wasnt my favorite. The seared steak was served cold (intentionally), but the thicker slices made it pretty hard to chew. the sauce it came with was really good though. That said, the service and atmosphere were nice, and I'd be happy to come back and trying other dishes and maybe some specials. It's possible I just didn't order the right things but would love to see what else chef has going on. 4 stars for portions 4 stars for service 3 stars for food/flavor 3 stars for ambiance read more

Great place to have a nice drink and food. Owen did very nice and did a beautiful job within her restaurants. If ur on island or coming to island of Kauai check them out. Also have live music . read more

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We just had the BEST tomahawk steak at Namaka! A generous slab over 2 inches thick, perfectly Frenched and served with ceremony tableside by the chef herself. It would probably feed 2-3 ravenous people if that was the only main ordered because salad is also included. Our table of 4 had leftovers because we also ordered 3 apps and 2 other mains. That steak was uniformly medium/medium rare throughout with a textbook crust; a technical feat because getting the meat along the bone to the same temperature as the rest of the cut takes a lot of adjusting during cooking. It needs a 30-minute lead time, so be sure to have your order fired up before getting your appetizers/salad. Our fave appetizers were the enoki mushrooms, bone marrow boats and artichoke. We went on a Tuesday just before Christmas - there were guests at every table and even the bar was rocking. read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Tomahawk steak, served tableside. - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

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We were unpleasantly surprised that this restaurant had no atmosphere. We dined outside as there were no indoor tables for our reservation, which is basically in the parking lot. Food was ok, not as described. We thought we had to be in the wrong place and actually looked up the reviews and pictures from the various websites. We probably should have walked back out. High priced for mediocre experience. read more

Yummy dinner at Namaka - dont miss out on this great new place in Kauai Village Shopping Center near Safeway! Great service, big portions and a creative, tropical inspired menu. My date and I had: Fried enoki mushrooms w/ aioli Mac nut crusted marlin with fragrant rice (Entrees come w/well-stocked salad bar) Pineapple upside down cake Chocolate raspberry tart Beautifully plated food and oh my! fancy drinks kept walking by my table, there's so many other things I want to try! We will be going back soon! read more

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Everything was amazing, this was our last night in Kauai and our tattoo artist Cory recommended Namaka and it did not disappoint. I had the filet mignon and my boyfriend had the surf and turf. Everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection! The service was amazing and the owner/cook Aurora made our night by coming over and chatting with us for a bit. Let me not forget to mention the portions! Huge and well worth what you're going to spend. The restaurant is very clean and everyone was so welcoming we will be back and sad we didn't come sooner as 1 visit isn't enough! read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Filet mignon so yum! - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

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I'm rooting for this restaurant. The service is so sweet and genuinely caring. The decor serene and spacious. It's such a beautiful environment. However, the meals fell short. We ordered a Cornish hen, the house tofu, and pasta with mussels and shrimp. All were on the verge of being good, but some of the flavors were either non-existent or confusing. I can only speak for what I tasted and hope the chef takes this to heart in the most positive of ways. The hen hadn't been seasoned and, chicken without enough salt has no flavor to my palate. The same can be said for the accompanying Makrut rice: bland. The hen was flattened and all the bones crushed so I was picking shards of bone out of every bite. There was an unidentifiable sauce on the side that didn't help pull it together, and the slivered raw vegetables sprinkled over the top were out of place. My husband said there wasn't flavor to the breaded tofu. It was as if the chef took a block of tofu from the box and tossed it in unseasoned breadcrumbs. Both his and my dish were a generous pile of food, and not well presented. We eat with our eyes first, so I think the visual aesthetic is important. Appretizers are what I'd recommend. The risotto balls and the caesar salad were very good. Avoid the enoki mushrooms for the same reason as stated above: bland and served with a tartar sauce? We will return. The service and environment are that good. I recommend sticking to the appetizer men read more

We were looking for a restaurant, a great one! It took us a while. But Yelp had great reviews about Namaka Restaurant and Bar, in Kapa'a. Mina the waitress described the Loco Moco and that it came with Kimchi fried rice, something I've never had, but I was willing to try. I got a fried egg for the top, and OMG!!! IT WAS DA BEST IN ALL DA ISLANDS!!! Seriously, it was the best I've ever had (Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, and Oahu). I'll be back next time I'm in Kaua'i. This is a must try restaurant! Enjoy! You can thank the Chef, I did. read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Store front. - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

Everything is Amazing!!! Full Service with Aloha!!! Now serving Lunch! Burgers and Fried Pickles were the Bomb! Definitely a Must Go Restaurant! read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - The New Lunch Menu! - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

Food is exceptional! Everything is house made and incredibly delicious. Highly recommend the calamari, ribs, osobocu and fish poboy sandwich. Looking forward to sampling the rest of the menu. Service was fun and efficient a wonderful stop and a hidden gem! read more

Horrible service. It was slow inside, we got seated and no one came to us in 15 minutes so we got up and left. Never seen anything like it. They were literally just standing around talking to each other instead of helping seated guests. Price wise seems about the same as everyone else on the island. Live music was nice also. Place was slow at 7pm on a Saturday. read more

Holy Cow (what I said when I got this plate)... this place was amazing!! To start off, the workers were great people, and service was even better. The atmosphere you can tell is newer, but don't let that fool you, the food is amazing. The plate in the photo is a Christmas special as we came for Christmas Eve, featuring a 44oz Prime rib. And when I say this is the best piece of meat I have ever had... I truly mean it!! They also offer many other options besides this from salad to vegetarian plates. The dessert was great as well. Although we didn't get any alcoholic beverages, they had more than enough to choose from and from the looks of it, they look delicious. Overall, great experience, great people, and great food!!! Mahalo! read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

Took way too long to get a drink order and place our food order. First server was friendly, second server not so much. The Wahoo was not seasoned at all. Extremely bland for a sauté. We also noticed the server use her finger to wipe food off a customer's plate before she served them vs using a napkin or serving towel. read more

We were a party of 3 for dinner. Filet was cooked perfectly and sides were very tasty. Also had the catch of the day, prepared great and the lilikoi sauce was excellent. Auroa, owner and chef, came out to talk story. Live music was very nice. Highly recommended! read more

Food was amazing and service and entertainment was great . Enjoyed the homemade brownie with ice cream for my Birthday dessert . read more

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The food was excellent and the staff were the friendliest people I've met in a restaurant in years. My friend and I are already on a first name basis with everyone after only one visit. I had fish and my friend had pasta and both were excellent, and the fried risotto ball appetizers were da bomb. The dessert and cocktails were excellent also. The restaurant is hiding in plain sight in the Safeway shopping center so it's not easy to find, but it's well worth the effort. We will for sure return. read more

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The Oso bucco with mashed potatoes, the corn risotto, the muscles & shrimp pasta bowl & the arugula salad plus salad bar incl with entre' was a PLUS so fresh. Brittany's service with A++ We highly recommend it!! read more

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We waited for our fish and chips for 1 hour we had two orders they never said sorry for the wait never asked how the food was which the fish was bland the fries were good my husband like the bone marrow but online it said 25$ and we get there the menu said 32$ for bone marrow I would not recommend mediocre food and way too expensive not worth your time and lacking any customer service read more

It was not busy but the service was very slow. The salad buffet was terrible with no real dressings, some leftover Ranch. The fish and rice were so dry, it was hard to believe that this restaurant had good reviews...sorry, but that's a NO for me. read more

As a tourist I was surprised this kind of place exists in an inconspicuous strip mall. Amazing atmosphere, story, and service from everyone. The food was equally as good. This is a must visit for any occasion. read more

Namaka Restaurant N Bar - Cornish game hen, osso buco, bone marrow, steak appetizer - Seafood Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

I had the ceasar with crab cakes. It was outstanding. The restaurant is nice, the waitress was lovely and helpful and the owner was delightful to visit with. I highly recommend this restaurant for an upscale lunch or dinner. read more