Lani Kai

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Lani Kai

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Address:
525 Broome St.
New York, NY 10013

Neighborhood:
SoHo

Getting there ›
Cuisine:
Contemporary American

Price: $31 to $50

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More Details ›

Lani Kai Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.lanikainy.com
Email: info@lanikainy.com
Phone: (646) 596-8778
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:00pm - 2:00am, Friday - Saturday: 5:00pm - 3:00am
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Contemporary American, Asian, Hawaiian
Executive Chef: Sawako Okochi
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Fireplace, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Private Room, Takeout

Getting there

Cross Street: Sullivan & Thompson
Public Transit: Closest subways: C or E to Spring Street A, C or E to Canal Street N or R to Prince Street 1 to Houston or Canal F to Broadway/Lafayette
Parking: Street Parking

A word from Lani Kai

Lani Kai is a restaurant and Artisanal cocktail lounge located in the Soho district of New York City. The menu features New American dishes with a Polynesian flair. Chef Sawako Okochi (formerly of Annisa) showcases ingredients indigenous to Japan, Hawaii and market fresh from New York. Her… style and cuisine reflects a true passion for each culture's unique bounty. The menu is designed to appeal to a variety of guests, from large groups of diners looking to share a range of small plates or pupu platters, to the diner seeking a hearty 4-course meal paired with wine or sake. The beverage program is a Julie Reiner collaboration (Clover Club, Flatiron Lounge). The cocktail list has broad appeal with a range of boozy NYC classics, Tiki favorites and well as balanced tropical libations that change with the season's best offerings. Lani Kai is a modern tropical paradise in NYC... Great for an intimate dinner, a cocktail with friends or private events of all sizes, up to 200 guests.Continued

Lani Kai

3.7

47 $31 to $50 restaurant

Featured Reviews

More Reviews ›

Reviews from OpenTable Diners Learn More

46 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Very Good) 3.7 / 5

Food

(Very Good) 3.7 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 3.7 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.8 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

46 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Very Good) 3.7 / 5

Food

(Very Good) 3.7 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 3.7 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.8 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

Filter Reviews By:

Diners classify this restaurant as:

good for groups(17)
fit for foodies(14)
neighborhood gem(12)

romantic(12)
hot spot(11)
special occasion(11)

Current OpenTable.com Diner Reviews (46)

Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Such a great spot to feel

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/06/2012

2008

Dined on 04/06/2012

2008

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Such a great spot to feel like you're far away for a few hours. Thank Lani Kai!"

Dined on 04/06/2012

2008

Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, hot spot

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Came here on a recent Friday

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/30/2012

2010

Dined on 03/30/2012

2010

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"Came here on a recent Friday night, took advantage of the drinks during happy hour prices. The Pacific Swizzle was like liquid candy. The Bearded Lady was too bitter. The Peru pisco sour had too strong of a cloves flavor. Order 4 appetizer makes it a pu pu platter. It doesn't mean a discount just that it comes in a spinning tray with a flame in the center. We tried the very good okonomiyaki and huli huli yakitori with the very delicious loco moco. I wish the lococ moco was more larger in size. For our entrees, I went with the Kalua pork (delicious), my friends ordered the prawns and sea bass.There were only 2 options for desserts and we got them both--a very tiny portion of pineapple upside down cake and poi doughnuts."

Dined on 03/30/2012

2010

Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Awesome drinks, limited food menu

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/15/2012

2008

Dined on 03/15/2012

2008

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"I was very impressed with Lani Kai's drink menu (they have a lot of speciality drinks!), but their food menu is somewhat limited, especially if you don't like fish. Everything my date and I ordered was fine, but we ordered everything I wanted to try so I don't know if I would return. The atmosphere is dark with candles so intimate on a week night, but this would also be great for groups on a weekend."

Dined on 03/15/2012

2008

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Overall rating

(Poor) 1 / 5

I have not been awarded my

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/27/2012

2008

Dined on 02/27/2012

2008

Food

(Poor) 1 / 5

Service

(Poor) 1 / 5

Ambiance

(Poor) 1 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"I have not been awarded my points for dining at this restaurant!!"

Dined on 02/27/2012

2008

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Overall rating

(Fair) 2 / 5

Fun environment but food was

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/09/2012

2009

Dined on 03/09/2012

2009

Food

(Poor) 1 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Fun environment but food was lousy. The items on the pupu platters were terrible, with the exception of the ribs which were delicious. The sea base was inedible and we sent it back. I would recommend this as a drinks spot - but definitely not for food"

Dined on 03/09/2012

2009

Special Features: good for groups

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Great Food and Yummy drinks

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/08/2012

2012

Dined on 03/08/2012

2012

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

"This was my first time going to Lani Kai. It was for my 37th birthday. The staff was great and very attentive. The food and drinks we (I had the Punch) are great and affordable. I would recommend starting with the Pupu platter. For my entree I had the hangar steak cooked medium. It was tender and delicious. The mussells and prawns are great too. My friends enjoyed their food. I will be frequenting here more often making it one of my new hangout spots."

Dined on 03/08/2012

2012

Special Features: good for groups, special occasion, hot spot

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

We went to Hawaii for our

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/18/2012

2007

Dined on 02/18/2012

2007

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon this year.. This was a great way to relive some aloha style. Food was amazing drinks were very unique and delicious. The only thing mIssing was some authentic Hawaiin music."

Dined on 02/18/2012

2007

Special Features: vibrant bar scene, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, hot spot

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

I would rate every aspect

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2011

Dined on 02/14/2012

2011

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"I would rate every aspect of the restaurant overall as being pretty good. - just seemed like there was a little something off about each part as well. The place was pretty empty when we went (on Valentine's Day) but they seated us right next to another couple right in the middle of the room instead of near the cool looking Hawaiian plants and artwork on the sides/corners of the room. They told us a free cocktail was coming our way, which was served pretty quickly, but then we were left unattended for another long amount of time. The food was spot on though. I got the pan seared scallops and steak. Both were excellent. The mocha creme brulee was also amazing. The cocktails were a little weak/ice filled."

Dined on 02/14/2012

2011

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Went to Lani Kai for Valentines

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2010

Dined on 02/14/2012

2010

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"Went to Lani Kai for Valentines Day - set menu was fantastic; scallops, oysters, steak and fish. No skimping on portions or flavours. Dessert of doghnuts and chocolate bread cake were wonderful too. Great cocktails and service. Lovely."

Dined on 02/14/2012

2010

Special Features: vibrant bar scene, good for groups

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Just DRINK here, DO NOT EAT HERE!!!

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/04/2012

2004

Dined on 02/04/2012

2004

Food

(Fair) 2 / 5

Service

(Fair) 2 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Unfortunately, the food here is not very good. The prawns tasted like chlorine and were over-cooked, the sea bass was undercooked, and everything on the PuPu platter was deep fried. I love Hawaii and spend a LOT of time there, and to call this stuff Hawaiian food is to make a travesty of local Hawaiian cuisine. Furthermore, the hostess was really immature and I caught her texting when I entered the restaurant - that's just POOR FORM. Hire a hostess who gives a good first impression and a cook who knows how to make delicious food and MAYBE we'll come back. HINT: JUST COME FOR DRINKS...leave the food behind, where it belongs. Only exception: POI DONUTS, those are pretty good."