Don's Mai Tai Bar & Restaurant
Hawaii
概要
レビュー
Awesome food and location! Service beyond good, cheerful, with Aloha. So for all, go here! Specifically for millennials, please read: Somewhere along the line you have been led to believe it makes sense to go to a food cart, pay full price, pick up your own food and tableware, buss your own table, get less food, and pay a full tip. Please give a trad restaurant a try. It takes a different approach. Relax, put away your phone, and enjoy the view and personal service at a place like Don's Mai Tai bar. This is in no way disrespectful of you, we all have discoveries to make. I believe you will encounter: Friendly staff Awesome food Amazing venues Thoughtful placement of tables...socially distant and in shaded, breezy areas with stunning vistas. In closing, we all need to consider the impact of our choices. To me, supporting a business that has made a long term commitment to a locale is important. Dons will be there in boom times and bust. Food trucks are just that...they can drive away.
During our recent stay at the Royal Kona Resort, we visited Don’s Mai Tai Bar, having fond memories from our last trip. While the scenic views and friendly service were as delightful as ever, we did notice some changes that left us missing the previous happy hour options. Last time, the Poke bombs and more extensive happy hour specials were highlights for us. This visit, the happy hour menu seemed more limited, with just a slight discount on items like the Chile nachos, which are no longer part of the happy hour deal. My husband also missed the Mai Tai flight and some of the unique drinks they previously offered. Breakfast was a bit underwhelming, but dinner certainly made up for it. The bruschetta and chips with guacamole were enjoyable starters, and my Royal Catch dish, with its flavorful miso Dashi broth and tender bok choy, was fantastic. My husband loved his rigatoni, which was a comforting delight. We’re excited to see the outcome of the ongoing renovations and hope they might consider bringing back some of the previous menu favorites, like the happy hour options and Mai Tai flight. Despite the changes, Don’s Mai Tai Bar remains a wonderful spot for enjoying a meal with a view.
I ordered the sake soy braised short ribs, gochujang garlic shrimp, and a lava flow with strawberry puree. Everything was absolutely delicious. I will be returning! The setting was probably my favorite part. There was a clear view of the sunset over the ocean and after dark the tiki torches were lit. The restaurant is open to the public, so you don’t need to be a resort guest to make reservations.
The sunset view is magnificent from this ideal Kona location. The food and service were much better than many of the other reviews had mentioned experiencing. We loved the Short Ribs with truffle mashed potatoes. Perfectly flavored, tender meat. The potatoes are onolicious! My son gave his $25 Smash burger a 4.1 out of 5 - which was his highest rating for a burger on this trip - and he had quite a few. The coconut prawns were delicious- a little small and plenty (!) of sweet chili sauce but nice crunch and coconut flavor. My only let down was the Ribeye steak ($42). The cut, texture and juiciness just didn’t match up with a Ribeye. Perhaps it was 100% grass fed as it was very lean. It didn’t have the eye of fat or striation of fat that help the tenderness. It seemed more like a New York with extra meat trim on the side. The sauce however was delicious and the truffle mashed potatoes were divine. Jacob was an excellent server and his kind and thoughtful manner added a lot to the meal. Overall = recommended for at least one dinner and maybe a few happy hours.
Pretty meh food for the tourist pricing. Are times that tough? I only saw 2 servers for the whole room, running to keep up although the place was 1/4 full. Not fine dining, sticky tables and hard chairs. Only hotel guests apparently can get front row seating so we were practically in the lobby all 3 visits. It would have been a great view. Sigh.
