Cute little restaurant with a great back story. The ambiance is "casual romantic" with string lights. Alcohol is limited to beer, wine, and sake. There are a few mock tails for those that don't drink! Menu is 2 pages so not a ton of choices, but the food we got was good! read more

How is this place only rated at 3 1/2 stars? I stopped by randomly for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. Food was amazing and friendly service. Nice selection of artisan sodas. Will definitely be back! read more

Ate here last night, our first night on the island and we were looking for something easy in Hanalei, but both wanted fish. First, the atmosphere is perfect. Such a lovey building done to replicate the historic plantation house that was destroyed by hurricane Iniki. Details down to the screen door made this place special. Second, the service. I see a lot of people complaining about this in reviews, and I think it comes down to people behaving like entitled tourists versus gracious guests. Our server was at first a bit stiff with us, but through a few questions and interactions, ours was pleasant and kind. She lit up when we acted nice and normal. Lastly, the food. The appetizer platter for two was good - worth getting as the items were unique and different. Our main courses were exactly what we like ~ fresh fish, simply prepared and delicious. We each had a different fresh fish of the day, and selected one of the three toppings. The rice paired with it was lovely. This isn't heavy, over the top food, it is excellent, simply prepared and fantastic. I would definitely come here again! read more

Very average food, and overpriced. My husband made me go there, and regretted it. Fish was chewy and had no taste.

Amazing presentation and seriously delicious food. Do not miss this gem on your next trip to Hanalei. Service is top notch. Creative and beautiful cocktails- vegetarian options, delicious fish... whole family loved it !!!! read more

Maybe the best and most creative restaurant on the North Shore. Currently on dinner, but they also have fantastic breakfast when they get backup and running. Highly recommended! read more

Had dinner there last night. It was delicious! Great food, service and ambiance! We'll be back next trip!

The food was really good! Only 4/5 though, because out of all the restaurants my family and I have gone to on our vacay, this is the only one that gave me a plastic straw. Seems silly, but with how pricey this place is, you'd think they could afford eco-friendly straw alternatives (plus, I wish they had just asked if i wanted one from the get-go so I could have said no thanks). Hope that changes soon m; Otherwise, the food was delish and the vegan options were superb! My favorite was the sesame ahi (not vegan haha). read more

Postcards Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Gorgeous decor, Old Hawaii mixed with Hamptons-esque. Love the travel theme and the overall feel. Get the tropical sangria!

We celebrated our anniversary here, we enjoyed the ambiance, romantic and quiet (it was MLK holiday) our food great, came out in a timely manner, had the grilled octopus cooked to perfection (tender and full of flavor), ordered Local Catch, another great dish (the broth was phenomenal with tamarind and the kabocha purée) perfect blend of sweet and sour broth. Hubby had Arbi Masala and Scallops. We ordered dessert, took it home cause we were too full. Enjoyed the whole experience here @ Postcards Cafe, highly recommend this place !!! and bring someone special with you. read more

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Absolutely amazing! We made reservations online for the same day, we were sat right away, and the food was incredible. We ordered the ceviche, lamb, and beef; so delicious and well plated! We sat on the patio near the evening and it was very comfortable. The service was great too. The manager even stopped by a few times to check on us! We highly recommend dinning here! read more

Quaint and very picturesque! This is a quiet little spot to enjoy some fine dining. The lobster was amazing and well prepared. Portions are larger I had to take a to go to savor the Moring deliciousness of this cuisine! read more

Cocktails were very weak and not much taste. Food was good but service was extremely slow. It was a busy night and we had reservations.

From start to finish, we were treated to amazing and varying flavors, textures from silky to crunchy, and presentations too pretty to break apart to eat! Thank you, Chef Javi Melendez, for making my 73rd birthday dinner so fabulous! Thanks also to the friendly staff! read more

As a vegetarian I've struggled to find a decent vegetarian meal on the island. Tonight I found it here. The charcoaled yuca was innovative, beautifully presented and delicious. My wife ordered the market fish which was marlin. It too was nicely prepared and beautifully presented, but she preferred my dish! read more

My husband and I came here for dinner and sat at the bar. We were so happy we did. Jeff, the bartender gave us outstanding service and made our dinner fun and special. I recommend sitting at the bar ! The original Mai tai is delicious, all the food was spectacular. We will definitely be going back. read more

I have been eating at Postcards for almost 20 years. It is always a must do when we are in Kauai. The food has always been excellent but they have raised the level with their new chef, everything on the menu is excellent. The food is always fresh and creative. The service is great and the ambiance is cozy and charming. If you are in Kauai this is a must try. It is by far the best restaurant in Hanalei and probably all of Kauai. read more

This cute little cottage is just perfect for Hanalei. It keeps you in the moment on this island paradise. The service is amazing and the dishes we ordered, leek-soba salad and vegetable masala were very good. But if you like the spicy Indian version of masala, this is not for you. The goat cheese-lilikoi cheesecake was excellent. It was light and fluffy and had a perfect crispy base. The lilikoi flavor was just enough to make it interesting. Even if you aren't up for dessert, order it. It's wonderful. read more

Excellent creative gourmet dining in a crisp well lit home with high ceilings just as you enter Hanalei from Princeville. I had the fish special which was served on a bed of fresh mushrooms which at first glance was unusual, but the flavors worked well together. The chef takes pride in creating top notch dishes using fresh local ingredients with a creative flair for different flavor profiles and plating. The wine list is good, but the mark-ups are way over the top, even for Kauai. Reservations are a must at this popular restaurant just on the outskirts of bustling Hanalei. read more

I came here a couple nights ago for dinner because it was highly recommended and I noticed in the paper that it was voted the best restaurant in the North Shore. It's an seafood and organic restaurant with vegetarian food and a lot of gluten free meals too. We came early and good thing we did because there was only 3 tables left and all were 2 tops....good thing we were two. We sat on the little porch in the front which had a screen around it so don't worry about pests bugging you. We ordered from our server Sara the Hibiscus Cooler which is Pineapple juice blended with hibiscus iced tea & mint, humus with warm house-baked organic bread, a Caesar salad and the From The Sea entree which we chose the monchong fish blackened. It took a while before our food came...again....relax it's Hawaii Time. The Hibiscus cooler was a tasty drink, the hummus was good and the fresh baked bread was fantastic and the Caesar had baked parmesan crisps which was good but it did not have anchovies :( The blackened monchong http://madehealthier.com/2008/05/29/broiled-monchong (yeah...I never heard of that fish before either and I have been to Hawaii a bunch of times) was wonderful. Very moist, light and flakey...perfectly cooked. It came with some broccoli, rice and sweet potato. It's a bit pricey but not St Regis pricey, the staff dress up a bit but you can come dressed up or shorts or anywhere between because I noticed all of the above. When we left there was a bit of a wait so make reservations or come early like we did. Parking is a problem because there are only a few spots but look nearby along the highway or side roads. read more

Postcards Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Food: not good Service: bad Atmosphere: ok-ish Prices: way too high for what it is We were on honeymoon and wanted a nice dinner out one night. All the guidebooks recommended Postcards, and the description as vegetarian + fish seemed perfect for a (veganish+fish) and (vegetarian) couple. Only 4 parking spaces, but after hours you can park across the street in a neighboring business's lot. We chose to sit outside and then noticed how buggy it was and how many mosquitoes were eating us, so we moved inside. An upscale restaurant with outdoor seating usually does something to discourage bugs. We ordered the taro fritter appetizer and the risotto entrees. We were disappointed that there was only one vegetarian entree, and one that could be made vegetarian, on the menu. Didn't seem that vegetarian friendly, and there were only 6 entrees on the menu total. Maybe a handful of appetizers would have been better. My husband got the risotto with seafood, and I got mine with tofu/vegetables. The taro fritters were ok, not great. Both risottos were way too oily, and seemed overly cheesy. The seafood one came with no vegetables, which disappointed my husband. Mine had a good amount of tofu & vegetables, but it was still bad due to being so overly oily and not prepared very well. The service wasn't so good. Our waitress wasn't friendly, didn't smile ever, seemed like she was trying really hard to be formal but not succeeding, and wasn't attentive. The fake formal thing got on our nerves with the way she announced each ingredient/dish instead of just telling us. Another waitress came by to refill our waters (for which we had to wait a long time) and take our plates away, and she seemed a little better. Our plates and our glasses were all sweating like crazy, and they had no placemats or coasters or tablecloths or anything. The whole table became quite wet, which was uncomfortable. In general, the place was uncomfortable and didn't have the romantic ambiance we had hoped for (instead was bright, loud). The better waitress came by to provide dessert menus and seemed very surprised that we weren't interested, but we were just itching to get out of this place and end our bad experience. If the prices had been half what they were, I don't think we would have felt so bad, but it just seemed a total shame to spend so much money (just under $100) on poorly prepared food with annoying service/atmosphere. read more

01.15.15 It was our last night visiting Kauai and we had finally made our way to the north shore. Postcards came enthusiastically recommended by a coworker, so I had to check it out. I have to frame this review through my state of mind that night: I was exhausted (from vacation, I know...) and too hot to be hungry. I was irritated by all my mosquito bites. There was not much that could have elevated my mood. We were seated right away with our choice of seats (indoors or in the lanai). We chose a table inside by the window, and ordered some Kona Brewing beers and an appetizer: crunchy seafood-filled "rockets" with coconut curry. Give that a try. You won't be disappointed. They're know for the wasabi crusted ahi, so of course the boyfriend snagged that to order. I was almost out of the mood for fish, but ended up ordering the sorrento - a seafood pasta dish. Don't get me wrong - the dishes were delicious, and the portions hearty. But after what seemed like an eternity of bites, it did not look like I put a dent in my plate. To go it is. And almost as good the next morning out of the fridge. Great place for a quiet dinner, away from the glitz and glam of resorts on the island. True to their name, they give you a postcard with your bill! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/postcards-cafe-hanalei?select=vNBJUpNSo1GPHU0nGcH4Ug#vNBJUpNSo1GPHU0nGcH4Ug Total damage for two: $105 read more

Postcards Restaurant - rockets. wasabi crusted ahi. sorrento. - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

There are not a lot of places to eat in Princeville, and I didn't really feel like dropping $80-$100 per person at the hotel, so we ventured out here for a meal after a long day of hiking. We were ravenous and wanted to order half the menu, so I'm not sure if my tastebuds / judgement was clouded after hiking 8 hours without food. I'm sure even McDonalds or Applebee's would have tasted delicious, given how hungry we were. House Baked Organic Bread ($3) - This was just okay; I'm sure they change the flavors often, but this was pretty garlicky with every bite. The bread was warm, but a bit dense and with too many spices / garlic. Less is more. Trio of Tapenades with House-Made Crostini ($12) - This had an artichoke, eggplant, and olive tapenade with crostini that was just so-so, a little hard, and had either too much butter or seasoning on it. The tapenades were on the salty side for me, and not amazing. I ate it because I was starving, but it wasn't my favorite. Kailani Farms Organic Greens ($10) - This had mixed greens, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini pumpkin seeds, and cranberries, and dressing, It was good, but nothing extraordinary. Wasabi Crusted Ahi - This is their signature dish; again - good, but not out of this world. The wasabi coating overpowered the taste of the fish a bit. It came with rice, green beans, pureed carrots and a steamed tomato. The vegetables were tasty and fresh, although the pureed carrots reminded me of baby food. The Sorrento ($24) - This seafood pasta was also just okay, but on the watery side. It's a decent portion and a good choice if you're hungry. All in all, a cute atmosphere with decent food, but nothing mind-blowing. Everything was just okay, edible, but with slightly higher price-tags (thanks Princeville). I probably wouldn't come back here on another trip to Kauai but if you're looking to save some money and not eat at the overpriced restaurants at the hotel, this is a good option. read more

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***please read*** About 3/4's through our dinner, we noticed that we had been seated quite literally next to the restroom. It looked like the women's restroom had 2 doors and they shut one door and placed a table (our table) against the door. We had noticed several people shaking the door trying to open it but that door was clearly locked. As a result, our table shook every time someone attempted to open it. I should also point out that there was about a foot open at the bottom of the door so we could hear everything. We didn't want to make any assumptions so we waited until we left the restaurant to confirm. We made our way around the place to see and we had indeed been sat next to the restroom. I called the restaurant shortly after to ~kindly~ let them know that wasn't right and they should reconsider when seating customers, however the hostess hung up on me. This is upsetting given the food was really good and our waiter was super nice. We for sure won't be returning and I truly hope they reconsider how they seat and receive feedback from customers. read more

If you are ever in Hanalei, Kauai check out Postcards Cafe. Great cuisine, vegetarian and excellent desserts. You should make a reservation and book it early, parking is a little tight. For those of you who visit Kauai often you know that most places don't pack in a full house like this little place can. Friendly cats roam free on the premises, not in abundance, but you might see one strolling through while you are enjoying your delicious meal. They offer seating inside and out, grow much of their own vegetables in the garden and are organic. Go for local fish, makes for a wonderful meal. I had the Chefs Special served by Michelle a wonderful young lady! Grilled Mahi with lemon basil and avocado sauce and spiced sweet potatoes with fennel, cherry tomatoes and a salad tossed with red wine vinaigrette! It was spicy hot and excellent. I finished with the sherbet drizzled with fruit sauce. My auntie had the crab cakes, said they were the best she had ever had! About $150.00 for 4 of us to eat, one had a glass of wine. f you are Kauai, Postcards is a must visit! Always Organically Yours, Renay read more

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Best fancy meal of the trip. Our server (Megan) was a delight. Always smiling and always friendly, really looked for us to enjoy our time at Postcards. For appetizer had the seafood platter for two. Everything on that plate was delicious. Crabcake was excellent, as was the seafood wrap. The seared ahi tuna was perfectly executed and provided a good omen for the fish to come. For dinner had the Wasabi Encrusted tuna and grilled monchong Tuna -Medium rare, just the way it should be. Had the wasabi crust which would provide that kick every bite, and the crunch from the panko added to the texture of that the soft medium rare tuna. Fish definitely shined. There's a reason why they call it their specialty. Monchong - Megan described it was mix between the ahi and a halibut. And she was right. Moist throughout and also had the hardiness where it wasn't flaky. I initially ordered the pineapple sage sauce to it. However, Megan wanted me to try the macadamia nut butter so she proactively asked the chef for it on the side. To our surprise, the chef put the butter on the fish and the sage sauce on the side... Definitely was the right choice. A happy accident. Butter was much better and complimented the monchong perfectly. There nothing not to like. Service was on point. Seafood was the shining star, and it spoke for itself. This is a I'd come back kind of place. read more

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Service was great but the food was an absolute joke. You would be better off getting a frozen pizza for dinner.

Mr & I came to Postcards on our first night in Kauai. They offer beer & wine only so Mr had a Longboard & liked it very well There was 1 veggie entree option which was Mexican & we weren't really in the mood so just ordered a bunch of appetizers They were out of bread - the ovens were not working so didn't get to try the famous Mac nut butter - shame Polenta cakes - these were nice & smokey with a cilantro paste and pickled cabbage & other veggies Organic greens salad had a ton of greens & not so much cranberries or pumpkin seeds Same with the beet salad - it was a ton of greens and a few diced beets. Had been hoping for a big plate of beets Dessert was the lilikoi mousse & have to say this was the biggest disappointment. It was a dish of whipped cream with a drizzle of passion fruit So overall, have to deem this place was A-OK but not sure we'd return read more

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Had a lovely meal during a recent vacation. The food was excellent (ordered the crispy leek salad, tofu main, and hibiscus iced tea - all great). And the staff was welcoming, attentive, just lovely. I'd absolutely return. read more

I loved the atmosphere at this place. The food was delicious. The server was very knowledgeable about the menu and his recommendations were spot on. I would definitely go back the next time I'm in Kauai. read more

Awesome time, food and company. Jeff made the most amazing food and also was so kind and fun- he made the night! The ceviche was super tasty and so was the tropical mai tai's. Loved that it was relaxed and not as crowded as other hanalei places. A gem! read more

We are locals and thrilled to find that Postcards Cafe uses local, non gmo corn! On this island where gmo corn research is out of control, this little restaurant has the awareness and integrity to offer their customers local non gmo ingredients. Mahalo Nui Loa to Postcards, we are spreading the word to our networks. Wondering if you are non gmo completely, and if not, hope you can become so and market that widely. New research has shown gmo food to be very dangerous to the human immune system and healthy digestive flora. Those that are aware of this and still want to go out and enjoy a good meal would love to know where they can be sure to get healthy, life enhancing food! read more

An unexpected treat to find such excellent cuisine and stellar service by Jeff. Jeff was very detailed and helpful in walking through the menu and guided us to a 10/10 meal. Every dish was consistently surprising and excellent. Jeff's service was attentive and sincere. Would highly recommend and return again. read more

This restaurant was a real gem! We found the organic and super fresh ingredients and presentations to be excellent. They had a variety of starters and entrees from meat-based to vegetarian to vegan. In particular we loved the yuca entree, the crispy leek salad, the salmon starter, the catch of the day (swordfish), and the goat cheese- cheesecake! read more

Postcards Restaurant - Yuca Charcoal and Catch of the day entrees. - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

I went to this place a few years ago when I was on the island and I thought it was really great. Went back during Covid and was really relieved that they were still open. Called in advance and told them I was vegan and they said it would be no problem and they have A couple different options. When I arrived, the only thing they had was a plain leafy salad. I could see many dishes that would easily be made vegan by leaving off the cheese, or taking off the yogurt. The waitress was happy to give that a shot but she was shut down by the cook. Cook would not make any changes whatsoever. It was not crowded, and the sort of things that we asked for were really basic stuff- easily done at pretty much any restaurant you go to. Felt sorry for the waitress who wanted to help. I understand Covid makes things a little more difficult, and this restaurant is absolutely adorable-so glad to see they were still open. But the refusal to make basic concessions was pretty surprising. When you are a top-notch / top oriced restaurant in a tourist town, I think you should have a chef who has some pride in being a creative chef and not just making the formula. Most restaurants would invent some thing amazing. Usually they say " absolutely let us surprise you!" These guys wouldn't even just simply hold the cheese. I really hope this review gets the owner to pay attention. If you have no reason for a special order then absolutely go. If you have an allergy or anything special of the sort, skip it. Owner- if you make a change to this system please send me a note and I will raise this to five stars. read more

My wife and I came here on a Thursday night and got seated right away. We're on our honeymoon, so it was great that the decor and ambiance was nice. I found this place on yelp, and seeing all the rave reviews had high hopes for another great dinner (we'd had excellent meals at Roy's and Tidepools the previous two nights, so we were on a roll). We started with the pupu platter, which was the one good highlight of the meal (if we'd not ordered this, I think I would've given this a single star). My wife ordered the Sombrero. It was ok, although I think it was a bit light on shrimp. I ordered the Seafood Sorrento, which was a pasta dish with fish, scallops, and shrimp. I have to say that this was the most disappointing dish that I've had in quite a while. The fish was completely inedible--the waiter wasn't sure which fish it was as it could have been a number of different ones. But it was the driest, toughest, chewiest piece of fish I've ever eaten. I didn't even know fish could ever be described as chewy, but it had the consistency of a really tough piece of beef and it took me quite a while to chew a single piece. Very unpleasant and ultimately inedible. I moved on to the scallops (I love scallops and part of why I ordered the dish), but it had a single small scallop in the entire dish--I swear. One scallop on the entire plate. I had to console myself with a handful of shrimp and some average pasta. I did mention to the waiter how tough and chewy the fish was, but he just apologized and didn't really offer to take it back or have it remade. I'm not one to make a fuss at restaurants, so I was going to let it go, but looking at a mostly uneaten dish with several pieces of horribly tough fish that cost $24, I stopped him when he was taking the plate away and asked if I could be comped or something for it. He took off the dessert, but I still felt completely ripped off. It wasn't a little bit bad or blah--it was like trying to eat vulcanized rubber. read more

Make a reservation!!!!! Made the mistake of taking our chances and we waited and Waited And waited.... I wanted to devour a cow! Order the bread that comes with the macadamia butter! Wow!!!!! Order more bread, carbs rock! Had a pasta dish with plenty of prawns, mushrooms and other good stuff! Oh yeah, order the lava cake! We ordered 2 for 5 of us and we practically stabbed each other with our forks! Yum!!!!!!! The atmosphere was pretty cool, I felt like I was in someone's home, cozy & comfortable! A must try if you are in the North Shore area! Hanalei is the best place on earth! read more

Fantastic food, service, and drinks. Best meal of our time in Hawaii. The classic Mai Tai was something we are still trying to recreate at home, and the catch of the day was amazing. read more

Must visit spot when staying on the garden island. My boyfriend and I visited while we stayed in Kilauea, near Princeville. The restaurant is casual but at the same time romantic and intimate -- so fitting of the north shore. We ordered a pupu platter and pitcher of white wine sangria to start off. Loved the seafood rockets and seared ahi tuna! Sangria was very different from what we're used to here on the mainland as it was infused with pineapples and kiwi. For the main course, I had the fish of the day, monchong with butter macadamia and it was soo delicious! I practically licked the sauce off the plate. Boyfriend ordered the super fresh blackened ahi tuna. Out tummies were very satisfied. read more

Postcards Restaurant - Pupu platter: Crab cakes, taro fritters, seared ahi tuna, seafood rockets, mango chutney. - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Really good food. Well thought out recipes which are very unique. My husband and I both had the Yuca Charcoal dish which was vegan, and really good. We both loved it! They do a great job of using local ingredients and enhancing the meal by mixing unique flavors. We travel a lot, live in LA and from Chicago. So have a decent background of eating a lot of good food read more

Postcards Restaurant - Yuca Charcoal which is vegan! - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii