Merriman's - PoipuWe got to sit on the deckWe got to sit on the deck and it was a beautiful view. Service was great. Food was excellent.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous Food and Dining ExperienceThe food was amazing, service was great and the ambiance was a perfect combination of fine dining and beach casual. We will definitely be back for another fabulous dining experience!5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWell doneWe've eaten a few times at Merriman's and each time was very good. Food is fresh w/ emphasis on sustainability and localism. Server Jordana was fantastic, insightful and knew the menu well. I wouldn't hesitate to go again and again5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMNothing is better on KauaiMerriman's is such a wonderful and fabulous place. Sure, that "other place" has a nice sunset but their food isn't that good and their menu hasn't changed in years! Merriman's has a great view (even though it isn't right on the beach) and the stellar food and service make up for whatever it might lack otherwise. We've been to Merriman's on Maui and we prefer the atmosphere at this restaurant - much more relaxed and casual but still upscale. No complaints at all about the meal other than it ended. The only place we're going for an upscale meal is Merriman's when we're by Poipu!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent. Make another reservationExcellent. Make another reservation for 2 days later.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial occasionThe food was fabulous. The beet salad was delicious and different. We had the New York steak and it was enough for two people. The only disappointment came when they did not acknowledge our anniversary and I had told them in advance . The service was friendly. We did not try desert because we were to full. We will be back!5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe Keep Coming Back!Every time we are in Kauai, we make it a point to dine at Merrimans. We have never been disappointed with the service, meal, or wine. When we want to linger over dinner, we are given time. When we are in a hurry, service is appropriately fast but we don't feel rushed. The menu is fresh and a tad eclectic. Lobster macaroni and cheese is not traditional fare on the island, but they pull it off as a fantastic appetizer. There is a wide variety of seafood and meat and always fresh vegetables. And, save room for dessert!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMNo Better Food in PoipuWe always come to Merriman's at least once during each vacation. Other places have a better view but the the food at Merriman's may be better item for item. The corn and the beets are wonderful side items here. The fish is always perfectly done. The wine list various and always has specials of interest. The price though always limits us to one visit per vacation.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat sunset watchingWe ate upstairs at the main restaurant for dinner. We had eaten before downstairs for lunch, which is more casual atmosphere and food. The upstairs is very special though in the evening for watching the sunset. The food was quite good and lovely presentation. The prices are expensive, but in line with most restaurants of that caliber in Hawaii.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is very unique andThe food is very unique and the combination of flavors is sublime. Ask for a view seat the sunset is fabulous from the upstairs deck. The only thing I missed was the bread it was average, on the big island Merimans has the most delicious bread.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWent there for dinner on 4/20/13,Went there for dinner on 4/20/13, served by Matt who was very helpful. His food recommendations were spot on and he provided one of the best dinner experiences that I have ever experienced. We had the rack of lamb which was very good and also a combination of Lobster and a fish dish that went together well. The make your own combination was a good way to try more of the menu items.
The overall experience was excellent and Matt was a great server.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMSimply excellent. PortionSimply excellent. Portion sizes were perfect. Will definitely return on our next trip.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMA can't miss place on Kauai.A can't miss place on Kauai. The fish is fresh, the sunsets are beutiful and the service is excellent. Try the Ahi Poke!4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThere was a large corporateThere was a large corporate group there the night we went and it was so loud we could hardly carry on a conversation. The food was outstanding but pricey. Portions were small but very tasty and quite enough. Just seemed small for the price. Next time we will ask for table on the back deck with a nice view. We have been before and it was much quieter under normal conditions.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFantstic meal with a great sunsetWe made reservations with some hesitation after reading some reviews about poor service on line. We were seated promptly and our waitress Georgiana was very attentive. They have a nice wine list, we chose a Sonoma Coast pinot noir from Three Sticks winery. It went well with our fish and I would rate it 90-91 points. We both had the tomato, beet & papaya salad with goat cheese and macadmia nut vinaigrette dressing. All ingredients are fresh and local from Kauai. The salads were great, and large enough that we could have split one. For an entre my wife had a half order of the Sesame Crusted Opah. I had half orders of both the Macadamia Crusted Monchong and Pan Seared diver Sea Scallops. All three excellent. We had no room for dessert.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMXO Peter!Dining out on the terrace is highly recommended! M's prepares the best Monchong on the island! The Opah was another favorite at our table. Our server had amazing knowledge of the different fish available and was patient with all of our questions. My favorite restaurant on the island!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMHands down best restaurantHands down best restaurant in Kauai! The food is amazing - super fresh and expertly prepared. Entire staff is extremely friendly. A truly awesome dinner experience.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Out-of-towner's VisitAddress won't show on GPS, so call the restaurant to get the direction on how to reach it. When we arrived at 6:30P, the receptionist wouldn't move up our 7:30P reservation; I wasn't show if we were snubbed or the restaurant was really busy (there was no one waiting, reservations only, and we didn't see any obvious empty table; we would have arrived earlier if we didn't drive around Koloa 3 times looking for the place). Tailored to locals?
The food is fusion, local ingridents and nicely presented, but the flavor didn't excite my taste buds; I like creamy and heavy, and that isn't this chef's style.
We got to sit at the balcony, which could see the ocean and sunset, but by our time it was dark and breezy. Luckily we got jackets.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWow!This was our best experience at all of the Merriman's in Hawai'i! We arrived just before sunset and sat on the veranda. Amazing views, fabulous, fresh food. Quick service, responsive esp. to our child's request for vegetables (believe it or not). Beautiful location!!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is very good, attentiveThe food is very good, attentive server and nice setting. I do think it is overly expensive, especially for the potion you get and we are used to high prices being fom NY. Other more reasonable choices.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful, Romantic restaurantWe had a great time at Merriman's Poipu! The view was priceless and the food was beyond delicious. I would highly recommend this for a date night or a special celebration.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMBest in Poipu!What's not to love about this place? It's in paradise! This was by far the nicest ambience of the 6 nights we ate in the Poipu area. The place is in a quaint shopping village, on the second floor of a plantation style building. We were first brought to the worst table in the place: right next to the bar and literally in the middle of the aisle. They really had no business putting a table there. When we refused it, the hostess got a little snooty with a: "well, where DO you want to sit?" After being seated, everything was divine. They served one of the best martinis on the island ( a red drop rocket or something like that) not too sweet, not too weak. Service was attentive, wine selection good, fish was fresh and skillfully prepared.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMBest meal of the whole weekBest meal of the whole week in Hawaii (Maui and Kauai). Outstanding food. Server Tiare was especially fantastic, as well.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMInnovative menu, first classInnovative menu, first class service, overall a white table ambiance in a tropical setting. Easily the equal of top-flight restaurants in major cities!3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and beautiful viewMerriman's has been a great addition to the restaurant scene in Poipu. My husband and I have been there three times over the past two years. The food is fresh and local. All delicious. And as an added bonus, there's a terrific view of the sunset.3/6/2013 12:00:00 AM