Scotty’s Beachside BBQ – Casual Lunch with a Fantasic View

On our way to the airport from Princeville, B and I stopped at Scotty’s Beachside BBQ for a quick lunch. It’s a casual restaurant with a fantastic view of the beach, allowing us to enjoy one last look at the beautiful blue waters before our flight (it's always so hard to leave Hawaii!). I also appreciated how the dining room is tiered so everyone in the restaurant has a view - great thinking!
Sandwich Sampler with Grilled Chicken, Pulled Pork, BLT, and Beef Brisket. The tender pulled pork sandwich was my favorite, so I’d recommend just ordering with that and a side of their tasty baked beans.
Great view, efficient service, and decent food for a reasonable price.

BITE METER: Scotty’s Beachside BBQ – 3.5 bites (out of 5)

Helicopter Ride Over Kauai

One of the best (and only) ways to see Kauai is by helicopter since over 70%(!) of the island is inaccessible by car. Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and has the most diverse terrain. After researching various helicopter tour companies, I decided to go with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. They’ve received lots of accolades and seemed to have the best reputation for service, experience, and safety.

B and I were fortunate enough to be seated in the front of the helicopter with the pilot. By far, the best seat in the house with open views in all directions (unlike the back row seats). FYI – you can’t reserve the front seats. The seats are assigned by the computer based on weight, and you’re more likely to sit in the front if you’re lighter.

Our ride

This is river where Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark was filmed. Many movies are filmed in Kauai, the most famous being Jurassic Park.

Waimea Canyon, ‘the Grand Canyon of the Pacific”

Picture-perfect mirror lake in the middle of a forest

Cascading waterfalls

The jagged Napali Coast (western side of the island), makes me think of folds of molten chocolate.

I especially loved flying through the narrow valleys.

The most amazing part of the flight – flying into the middle of the island and being completely surrounded by waterfalls. Our pilot performed a smooth 360 turn so we had a total panoramic view of all the falls. With almost 800 inches of rain each year, this is the wettest spot in the world!
The helicopter ride was spectacular and well-worth the $200/person. [Tip: Book online to save 10%.] I would highly recommend Blue Hawaiian Helicopters…the staff was professional, the helicopters looked new and felt safe, and the experience was mesmerizing.

BITE METER: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – 4.5 bites (out of 5)

Kauai Grill – Lost in Transit

Kauai Grill is celebrated Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s first restaurant in Hawaii. I’ve been to many of his restaurants around the world and feasted on some incredible meals (especially at his signature restaurant in New York). However, I find that Jean-Georges’ vision seems to get lost on his island outposts. As with my experience at his restaurant in Bora Bora, I found myself disappointed with the food at Kauai Grill. It was a sloppy shadow of the Jean-Georges empire built on exciting flavors and precise techniques.

Ginger Ahi Tuna Tartar – I actually ordered this appetizer from the bar while watching the sunset before dinner, and ironically, it was the best dish of the evening. It was refreshing yet bursting with flavor. I loved the balance of the sweet ginger with the salty soy sauce and the spicy chili oil…all enhanced by the creamy avocado. The sliced radish was a creative idea for crispy “chips” to eat with the tartar. Btw, the Jean-Georges ginger margarita cocktail was AWESOME with this (as well as on its own!)

Black Bean Braised Octopus – while I liked the strong taste of the fermented black bean sauce with the tender octopus, the octopus was way too salty to thoroughly enjoy. This dish would have been so much better had they not killed it with salt and balanced it with more acidity.
Seed & Nut Crusted Moi in Brown Butter Emulsion – as you can see, this dish did not look very appetizing…way too much brown on the plate and reminded me of something I did NOT want to be thinking about at the dinner table! Unfortunately, it didn’t taste very good either. The fish was mushy despite the seed crust, and the flavors were flat and uninteresting.
Butter-Poached Kona Lobster with Artichoke Hearts and Yuzu Aioli – the lobster was cooked to perfection…sweet and succulent with a delicate buttery flavor. However, the accompanying components were all wrong with the lobster. The yuzu aioli was too heavy, especially since the lobster was already poached in butter, and the bland artichoke hearts were a strange pairing with the lobster. I wished they had added something bright or more complex to complement the lobster.
Bruléed Banana Bread with Caramel Ice Cream – the banana bread was a little dry, but had nice flavor and tasted good with the caramel ice cream.

To sum it up, the food wasn’t bad, but it still needs refinement and didn’t live up to the Jean-Georges name. The dining room also lacked personality. It felt hollow and out of place for Kauai with its flashy decor of red lights and large swanky booths. The service was also quite amateur. Our waiter was slow, inattentive, and wasn't knowledgeable on the wines or food. Even the hotel’s other restaurant had more proficient waiters.

Based on my experience, I’d recommend ordering the restaurant’s tuna tartar and the Jean-Georges signature cocktails from the St. Regis hotel bar instead of dining at Kauai Grill. The atmosphere on the bar’s terrace is much more open and pleasant. [Tip: If you do decide to eat at the Kauai Grill, make sure to request a table by the window with your reservation. Like every other place inside the St. Regis, the views are gorgeous.]

BITE METER: Kauai Grill – 2.5 bites (out of 5)

St. Regis Princeville - A Plush Paradise

I’ve been to Hawaii several times, but this was my first trip to the island of Kauai…and all I can say is, “Why didn’t I come here sooner?!” I totally fell in love with the lush island, and it’s become my favorite place in Hawaii. Kauai feels so much more remote and exotic than the other Hawaiian islands. And nestled up on the quiet North Shore, the St. Regis Princeville provided the perfect plush accommodations to relax and enjoy it all.

The view from the hotel lobby is STUNNING. Walking in, you are surrounded by two levels of floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto Hanelei Bay and the Bali Hai Mountains.
Our ocean-view room was comfortably furnished. My only complaint is that we had reserved a room with a king bed, but got one with 2 queens. The St. Regis was completely sold out, so they couldn’t switch our room. Not a big deal, but it would have been nice if they’d been more apologetic about their mistake.
But none of that mattered after seeing the spectacular view from our room. If only I could wake up to this *every* morning! The beach is conveniently close to the pool, which makes it easy to enjoy both areas as well as getting food and drink service.

I was also REALLY impressed by the hotel’s spa. Super luxurious facilities and amenities, including the most awesome shower stall...a huge rain showerplate overhead, four heads on the sides, and a mini waterfall over a bench. I felt like a queen sitting on the bench as the waterfall washed the shampoo from my hair. The spa treatments are pricey but well worth it if you want some serious pampering.

On the otherhand, the hotel’s restaurants weren’t as good as expected from a resort of this caliber (yes, even with Jean Georges’ new restaurant but I’ll get to that later). Most of the food was just ok and could use a lot of improvement, especially given the prices. Breakfast was actually my favorite meal while staying here. I’m usually not a morning person, but I’d wake up early each morning to have breakfast on the hotel’s terrace - an absolutely breathtaking setting!
One of my favorite breakfast items – perfectly toasted bagels with a generous serving of velvety smoked salmon and toppings
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at the St. Regis Princeville and will definitely be back. Comfortable hotel room, good service, and gorgeous setting. Although the resort was fully booked, it didn’t feel too crowded and they had a good number of lounge chairs for their guests (nothing ruins relaxation in paradise faster than constantly having to fight for your own spot!) And I definitely felt like I was in paradise while at the St. Regis.

BITE METER: St. Regis Princeville – 4.0 bites (out of 5)