DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILLE

DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILLE

LIHUE, KAUAI

DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILLE

AQUA KAUAI BEACH RESORT

4331 KAUAI BEACH DRIVE

LIHUE, HI  96766

808-245-1955

www.kauaibeachresorthawaii.com

I love making a stop at the Driftwood Bar and Grille when staying at the Kauai Beach Resort.  This pool and oceanside bar is the perfect place to enjoy lunch, a cocktail or Happy Hour.  The bar looks out over a salt water pool with a white sand beach and the coast of Kauai.  Not a bad little beach shack in my book and the kind of place where you just want to order a cold beverage and kick back for awhile.  On this visit I ordered the Island Fish Sandwich ($13.50).  I asked the waitress what the Fresh Fish was and she said Mahi Mahi.  The sandwich comes with your choice of salad, chips or fries.  I went for the salad.  The Fish Sandwich and all of the other dishes arrived in bamboo baskets that are usually used to steam fish or Dim Sum.  I looked at the Fish Sandwich and said yum when I saw the fresh lettuce, tomato and onion.  Took one bite and my eyes rolled with pleasure.  The Mahi Mahi and vegetables were all so fresh.  Tasted like a fish version of an In n' Out Burger.  Hands down one of the best Fish Sandwiches ever on this blog.  My Wife went for the Fresh Island Fish Wrap ($13) and said it was more like a Lettuce Wrap.  All lettuce and no fish she said.  She took a bite of my Fish Sandwich and wished she had ordered it instead of the Wrap.  My Daughter ordered the Big Kahuna Burger ($14.25).  She ordered it Medium but the beef was pretty well cooked and dry.  This is a big burger at a big price.  Don't think it is worth any where near $14.  

Click links below for more posts on the Kauai Beach Resort:

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/02/aqua-kauai-beach-resort.html

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/02/naupaka-terrace-kauai-beach-resort.html

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-walk-along-beach-in-kauai.html

DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILL

DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILLE IS LOCATED INSIDE THE AQUA KAUAI BEACH RESORT
TAKE A STROLL THROUGH THE POOL AREA OF THE AQUA KAUAI BEACH RESORT

DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILLE LOCATED OCEANFRONT AT AQUA KAUAI BEACH RESORT

POOLSIDE COCKTAILS, PUPU'S AND NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT

DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILLE SITS ON SMALL LAGOON OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN

WRAP AROUND BAR SEATING PLUS A FEW TABLES ON THE SIDE

NICE POOL BAR ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI

NOT A BAD VIEW 

DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILLE MENU

APPETIZERS, GREENS, SANDWICHES AND BURGERS

PANINI, WRAPS, DESSERTS AND KEIKI MENU

BEVERAGE AND COCKTAIL MENU

OUR TABLE HAD SHADE AND GREAT VIEW

ENJOYING A COLD ONE IN PARADISE

ISLAND FISH SANDWICH

GREAT FISH SANDWICH - LIKE A FISH VERSION OF AN IN N' OUT BURGER

FRESH ISLAND FISH WRAP WAS MOSTLY LETTUCE

BIG KAHUNA BURGER

AFTER LUNCH WALK OUT ONTO THE BEACH

NICE PLACE TO RELAX OR SWIM AFTER YOUR LUNCH AT DRIFTWOOD BAR AND GRILLE

NAUPAKA TERRACE - KAUAI BEACH RESORT

NAUPAKA TERRACE

LIHUE, KAUAI

NAUPAKA TERRACE

AQUA KAUAI BEACH RESORT

4331 KAUAI BEACH DRIVE

LIHUE, HI  96766

808-245-1955

HOURS:  Daily 6:30 AM - 10:30 AM / 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

www.kauaibeachresorthawaii.com

Back to my favorite Hawaiian Island of Kauai for a weekend visit.  Arrived late evening on a Friday and headed to the Naupaka Terrace for dinner.  Surprised to see that the Friday Special was Sizzling Platters.  I really was not in the mood for meat so I went for the Ocean Delights Platter ($30) and added the Salad Bar for an additional $6.  My Wife and Daughter ordered the Kalbi Flank Steak ($29) and also went in for the Salad Bar.  The Salad Bar was pretty well stocked with three types of lettuce and plenty of fresh vegetables.  I tried the Balsamic Dressing and it was delicious.  The Clam Chowder Soup which we all tried was a bit bland and really lacked Clams and Clam flavor.  Our Platters arrived Sizzling hot and steaming.  The waiter asked us to wait a minute before digging in as the plates were really hot.  The Ocean Delights Platter included a lot of Calamari, two Shrimp, two Scallops and two pieces of fish.  The Black Bean Sauce was not over powering but the dish lacked seasoning.  Seemed like everything tasted the same.  I liked the noodles that were under the seafood and wish there had been more of these on the plate.  The Kalbi Flank Steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare as ordered.  I took a small bite and the meat was well seasoned.  The marinade was delicious.  Absolutely loved the Snow Peas and Bean Sprouts.  My Wife and Daughter though the dish was great.  I thought the entire meal was just o.k. and would have rather dined here on Saturday night when they have All you Can Eat Crab legs.

Clink links below for more posts on the Kauai Beach Resort:

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/02/aqua-kauai-beach-resort.html

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/02/driftwood-bar-and-grille.html

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-walk-along-beach-in-kauai.html

NAUPAKA TERRACE

NAUPAKA TERRACE AT THE KAUAI BEACH RESORT

NAUPAKA TERRACE HAS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING TABLES

OUTDOOR SEATING AT NAUPAKA TERRACE OVERLOOKS WATER AND THE POOLS 

OVERLOOKING THE POOLS AT KAUAI BEACH RESORT

ENTRANCE TO NAUPAKA TERRACE

HAWAII PLANTATION STYLE INDOOR SEATING

WEEKENDS AT NAUPAKA SPECIALS

FRIDAY NIGHT SIZZLING PLATTER SPECIALS

THE STORY OF NAUPAKA

NAUPAKA TERRACE DINNER MENU

FISH, STEAKS, RIBS AND CHICKEN

FRESH SOUP AND SALAD BAR

SALAD BAR WITH BALSAMIC DRESSING, POTATO MAC SALAD AND COTTAGE CHEESE

PRETTY BLAND CLAM CHOWDER WITH VERY FEW CLAMS

SIZZLING PLATTER - OCEAN DELIGHTS

SIZZLING PLATTER - KALBI FLANK STEAK

STINGER RAY'S TROPICAL BAR AND GRILL

STINGER RAY'S TROPICAL BAR AND GRILL

HONOLULU, HAWAII

STINGER RAY'S TROPICAL BAR AND GRILL

HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES INTERISLAND TERMINAL

300 RODGERS BLVD

HONOLULU, HI  96819

HOURS:  Daily 10:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Our plane was delayed over an hour while going to an outer Island for the weekend.  Decided to stop into Stinger Ray's for a cold beer and a snack.  I like Stinger Ray's.  Have always enjoyed good and prompt service and they always have sporting events playing on the numerous wide screens.  I noticed that they had updated the menu from my last visit and liked that they had added some lighter fare along with some local favorites like Mahi Fish Tacos, Loco Moco and Hawaiian Plate.  Fresh Poke caught my eye also so we ordered it.  The Ahi Poke ($13.99) came in a beautiful glass with chips towering over the small morsels of fresh fish.  Looked great but the taste was very bland.  No seasoning or sauce to kick up the flavor.  Honestly, the Poke we make at home with Noh Poke Mix is much better.  The Calamari ($13.99) was decent but there just was not enough on the plate for $14.  We finished it and my daughter wanted more.  At $14 a plate I had to deny her request.  The Calamari was served with basic Sweet Chili Sauce that you can buy at any store in Hawaii.  The menu listed a Ginger Citrus Sauce but it was not on the plate.  The Calamari was served with an uneatable Cole Slaw that was covered in Cumin spice.  That is all you could taste.  Nothing else.  We left it on the plate.  A small draft beer here will set you back $6.29 so this is not a cheap place to hang out at.  It is however a nice little tropical oasis in the middle of an airport.  Not a bad place to chill out if you do not mind high prices and so so food.

STINGER RAYS TROPICAL BAR AND GRILL

STINGER RAY'S TROPICAL BAR AND GRILL IS LOCATED IN THE HAWAIIAN AIRLINES TERMINAL

LIVELY LITTLE TROPICAL BAR

LARGE RESTAURANT SEATING AREA 

STINGER RAY'S MENU 2015 (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

STINGER RAY'S DRINK MENU

AHI POKE

CALAMARI WITH SWEET CHILI SAUCE

TORN BASIL PIZZA

TORN BASIL PIZZA

HONOLULU, HAWAII

ISLAND BREWS TORN BASIL PIZZA

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES INTERISLAND TERMINAL

HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

300 RODGERS BLVD

HONOLULU, HI  96819

HOURS:  11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

It took a flight delay to get us into Island Brews Torn Basil Pizza at the Honolulu International Airport.  It is located in the Hawaiian Airlines terminal after security check near gate 59.  I ordered a glass of vino as it was early evening and I wanted to relax prior to our flight.  The wine came quickly and I was not disappointed in the size of the pour.  Our waitress while busy and handling the entire floor was friendly and attentive.  She checked back on us several times and even asked how we liked the pizza.  We had ordered the Little Italy ($9.49).  Description sounded tasty; Italian Sausage, Hand Made Meatballs, Caramelized Onion, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella and Parmesan.  Even the menu pictures made this look like some pretty good pizza.  Our pizza came in seconds as it was already cooked and placed in a box under a heat lamp.  I opened the box and said "yuck".  My Wife said she lost her appetite and would wait for dinner two hours later.  My daughter all of the sudden said she was not hungry after requesting the Little Italy Pizza.  "Don't eat it" my Wife said.  "It will be a waste of calories".  I went in for a bite.  Chewed a bit and then laughed.  "Worst pizza ever" I said.  It tasted like cardboard and was dry as drywall.  I picked off a piece of Meatball and tasted it. Tasted like cardboard.  The Sausage was nonexistent and what I did find tasted just like the meatball.  Tasteless.  I finished one small slice of the four slices in the box.  "Don't eat it" my Wife said.  She wanted me to send it back.  I took one more bite of a second piece and threw in the towel.  Could not eat this crap.  Probably the worst pizza ever on this blog.  If you do order a pizza here make sure you ask them to make it fresh.  Do not recommend taking one from under the heat lamps.

TORN BASIL PIZZA

ISLAND BREWS AND TORN BASIL PIZZA LOCATED IN THE HAWAIIAN AIRLINES TERMINAL
NEAR GATE 59 HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SMALL BAR AND SEATING AREA INSIDE TERMINAL AFTER SECURITY CHECK

PIZZA IS PRE-COOKED AND PLACED IN BOXES UNDER HEAT LAMPS

TORN BASIL PIZZA MENU

$10 PERSONAL SIZE PIZZAS

THERE ARE NO DRINK PRICES ON THE MENU

THEY DO LIST PRICES FOR VINO

THE DRIEST MOST TASTELESS PIZZA EVER ON THIS BLOG

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT REAGAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT REAGAN

Wishing President Reagan at Happy 104th Birthday!  Wish you were leading us now.

BBQ CHICKEN SANDWICH

BBQ CHICKEN SANDWICH

DINNER AT HOME

Taking a look in the refrigerator and had to come up with a dinner with with some buns we had leftover.  Thinking sandwiches, I went to the freezer and pulled out some Chicken Thighs.  Since we had both purple and regular cabbage I went for a BBQ Chicken Sandwich with Cole Slaw.  I made some small Sliders for my daughter and the larger sandwiches for me and the wife.   Result was delicious.  To cook the chicken I grilled the thighs on a grill pan and then finished in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Pulled all of the chicken off the bones and placed them in a pot and mixed in BBQ Sauce.  Heated and placed chicken on bun and topped with Cole Slaw and Pickles.  These sandwiches were a big hit with my girls and me.

BBQ CHICKEN AND SLAW SLIDERS

BBQ CHICKEN AND COLE SLAW SANDWICH WITH PICKLES

MAHI MAHI WITH GARLIC CREAM SAUCE

MAHI MAHI WITH GARLIC CREAM SAUCE

DINNER AT HOME

Shocked to see fresh Mahi Mahi for under $5 per pound.  Probably the lowest price I have seen in over 15 years.  In today's market I have been paying upwards of $13 per pound for fresh Mahi.  When you have Mahi this fresh, I would never fry it or overcook it.  I simply cooked it on an Indoor Grill Pan and then finished in a 350 degree oven for around 8 minutes.  Topped the Mahi with a sauce that I made using garlic, shallots, white wine, chicken stock, cream, butter and capers.  Simply cooked the shallots and garlic then deglazed with white wine.  Reduced and added Chicken Stock.  Reduced again and then added Cream, Butter, Capers, Salt and Pepper.  Done in a matter of minutes.  Served with White Rice and some fresh vegetables with a honey butter and garlic glaze.

MAHI MAHI WITH GARLIC CREAM SAUCE

A POUND OF FRESH MAHI MAHI FOR $4.67.  THIS WAS A GREAT DEAL!

FRESH HAWAIIAN MAHI MAHI 

FRESH HAWAIIAN MAHI MAHI WITH GARLIC CREAM SAUCE