Overall the experience dining here was underwhelming, and slightly off putting. From the very first contact with walking in the door and seeing a sign that says "Be nice or go home." to the grand finale- being billed $4.00 for hot water with a lemon wedge.We did not have a reservation and were told upon checking in that we would be seated in 3-5 minutes outside. The gentleman at the host desk was kind and smiling & said we didn't need to give him our name, he would be right with us. We stood outside, as on their welcome sandwich board, it said "One party at a time inside." Another interesting choice of greetings to customers. After waiting 10 minutes we went in to check and he didn't seem to recognize us.We were seated outdoor at wooden craft like table, and given paper napkins. We did not order any cocktails, however did request one cup of hot water with lemon which took about 20 minutes to come and only after a gentle reminder to a service staff member. We ordered the roasted cauliflower small plate to share, which we enjoyed, however, could have benefited from some sort of dipping sauce, as it was a bit dry and very small portion, considering the price. For our mains were ordered the duck salad and the Caesar. The Caesar was unremarkable - didn't come with a protein option, and did not include croutons- literally just hearts of romaine grilled with a lot of dressing on top. Again, quite pricey for what was offered. The duck salad was ok - nothing to return for though, probably had about 4oz of duck and a small portion of salad for $25.The catalyst for actually leaving a review was when we received the bill and noticed a $4.00 charge for hot water with a lemon wedge. We inquired with the server about this up-charge for water, and she offered to have the owner come and speak with us. The owner never came over, we were informed by the server that he was too busy, and just took it off the bill. The restaurant was somewhere around 70% capacity. That was an interesting customer service move- considering this is a relatively new restaurant and the price point. The lack of hospitality was the most outstanding quality of this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Christie OConnell
This is a wonderful restaurant with innovative dishes. Probably some of your favorites but a few not regularly served here on Kauai. This was a special night with a family members birthday. We made a reservation and were seated immediately. The service was great but be aware if you order all at once it may come out all at once. Pretty much everything we had was outstanding with the exception of the fish tacos. They are very spicy and salty and for me they were inedible. The rest of the table agreed. The waitress removed the full plate with two small bits out of it and we explained why but it was not removed from our bill. In addition be aware they charge 3% of your bill if you use a credit card.Dietary restrictions: Well if you are on low salt eating out in general is difficult but the beet salad may be a good choice. The fried brussel sprouts were delicious and the predominant taste was more vinegar. I would say stay away from the fish tacos extraordinarily over salted and very spicy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salad, Fried Brussel Sprouts, Avalon Burger, Pub Steak, Fried Mac N Cheese, Truffle Fries
Corinne Herman
Enjoyed the food, but the service was slow and clunky. We were still hungry after eating our entrees - they were very small portions for not a small price.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Jeff Morse
Great casual bar atmosphere, superb mixed drinks and the food is amazing. This was our third time visiting Avalon, we'll definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill L
Food was not great. Everything was spicy and or smoked. I get it thats the theme i guess but very heavy handed. Service and atmosphere great. Good drink menu
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Ryan Schneider
We stumbled on Avalon and were so elated that we did. Had no expectations and we were blown out of the water. All the food was prepared with extreme attention to detail and each bite was more savory than the last.We were visiting from Seattle where the food is less than average. Pub food just doesn’t exist in the PNW and the Avalon is a diamond in the rough.Don't sleep on the mac n cheese bites or the fried green tomatoes. I wish we had room for dessert but we were comfortably full.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laura Wulff
Pricey but fun and different. A great experience all around. Order the candied bacon cheesecake - you won’t be sorry. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scotch Egg, Sprouts, Bacon Bourbon Caramel Cheesecake, Fried Mac N Cheese
Crystal D.
Avalon has moved into their new space in Kilauea, which I love! The interior of the restaurant seems a little tight but outside they have a spacious covered patio lined with lights. The restaurant sits right on a corner of the main road to the lighthouse which is perfect for sitting and eating while catching the action in Kilauea town. I love the atmosphere and ambience of the restaurant, it’s cool and rustic, with a modern feel. The food is as amazing as it was at their last location. My favorite is the pub steak and mash potatoes, a smooth whiskey, (they have many options) and I always finish it off with the StickyToffee Pudding for dessert
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Duck, Fish, Bread Pudding, Pub Steak, Fried Mac N Cheese, Truffle Fries
Ann Morse
They had me at cocktail. And everything else. Yes to today’s special, a Tequila Boulevardier, smooth, complex, slightly bitter, get to know me drink. Followed by fried green tomatos over the top with pork belly. Rare duck breast on polenta with sauce that begged for bread to savor every essence. Bread pudding dessert and espresso martini? Yes please! Can’t wait to share with my Hawaii-bound bourbon loving family. Also beautiful woodworking on the bar! Lovely casual fine tasting experience. Mahalo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Esther Smith
Four of us went for dinner last evening. It took 45 minutes to get our first cocktail. Granted, they were busy because of the holiday but that is no excuse for poor service. We were there in November and had the same experience with slow service so it seems to be an ongoing problem. Also, the sign on the entry desk (Be kind or leave) is a bit of a turnoff. On a positive note, the food is very good. However, after two poor service experiences we will not return. There are other restaurants on the north and east shore that we enjoy.Vegetarian options: Brussel sprouts were yummy
Waited 40 minutes for table after our reservation time. Waited when we sat for server. Service was poor, had to ask for refills on water. Sat with our finished plates for 15 minutes. Waited for 15 minutes for check that was wrong. Waited another 10 minutes. Never asked how our food was or if we needed anything doing our entire dinner.Not the dining experience we expected.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Emily Pabst
Delicious food and good drinks. A bit pricey for small
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Truffle Fries
Rachel D
The food was amazing, perfectly cooked, great flavors. We had the Mahi mahi fish special, the pub steak, beet salad and the scotch egg. They also surprised me with having Alta Maria wine from Santa Barbara country and I love their wine. The only thing was 3 of us split this and I left hungry. The beet salad was barely any beets on the plate and the dinner portions for $45 per plate was tiny. I had two glasses of wine. We each ended up paying $70 without tip and I left hungry. So if you plan to dine here have a big lunch or feel great about spending $$$ and have a three course meal all to yourself to feel like you have food in your stomach. The service was lovely as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scotch Egg, Pub Steak
biefan xu
I was charged an extra tip of $29 without my authorization in this restaurant. An experience that I have never had before. And guess what, the food they served is as terrible as their poor honesty.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Marshall Dan
Most awful restaurant I have ever visited in Hawaii. The dishes were either too sour or salty, and the lamb was extremely greasy. Btw they charged us an extra 4 dollar for a cup of water without informing us. Poor taste and service.
Overall the experience dining here was underwhelming, and slightly off putting. From the very first contact with walking in the door and seeing a sign that says "Be nice or go home." to the grand finale- being billed $4.00 for hot water with a lemon wedge.We did not have a reservation and were told upon checking in that we would be seated in 3-5 minutes outside. The gentleman at the host desk was kind and smiling & said we didn't need to give him our name, he would be right with us. We stood outside, as on their welcome sandwich board, it said "One party at a time inside." Another interesting choice of greetings to customers. After waiting 10 minutes we went in to check and he didn't seem to recognize us.We were seated outdoor at wooden craft like table, and given paper napkins. We did not order any cocktails, however did request one cup of hot water with lemon which took about 20 minutes to come and only after a gentle reminder to a service staff member. We ordered the roasted cauliflower small plate to share, which we enjoyed, however, could have benefited from some sort of dipping sauce, as it was a bit dry and very small portion, considering the price. For our mains were ordered the duck salad and the Caesar. The Caesar was unremarkable - didn't come with a protein option, and did not include croutons- literally just hearts of romaine grilled with a lot of dressing on top. Again, quite pricey for what was offered. The duck salad was ok - nothing to return for though, probably had about 4oz of duck and a small portion of salad for $25.The catalyst for actually leaving a review was when we received the bill and noticed a $4.00 charge for hot water with a lemon wedge. We inquired with the server about this up-charge for water, and she offered to have the owner come and speak with us. The owner never came over, we were informed by the server that he was too busy, and just took it off the bill. The restaurant was somewhere around 70% capacity. That was an interesting customer service move- considering this is a relatively new restaurant and the price point. The lack of hospitality was the most outstanding quality of this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
This is a wonderful restaurant with innovative dishes. Probably some of your favorites but a few not regularly served here on Kauai. This was a special night with a family members birthday. We made a reservation and were seated immediately. The service was great but be aware if you order all at once it may come out all at once. Pretty much everything we had was outstanding with the exception of the fish tacos. They are very spicy and salty and for me they were inedible. The rest of the table agreed. The waitress removed the full plate with two small bits out of it and we explained why but it was not removed from our bill. In addition be aware they charge 3% of your bill if you use a credit card.Dietary restrictions: Well if you are on low salt eating out in general is difficult but the beet salad may be a good choice. The fried brussel sprouts were delicious and the predominant taste was more vinegar. I would say stay away from the fish tacos extraordinarily over salted and very spicy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salad, Fried Brussel Sprouts, Avalon Burger, Pub Steak, Fried Mac N Cheese, Truffle Fries
Enjoyed the food, but the service was slow and clunky. We were still hungry after eating our entrees - they were very small portions for not a small price.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Great casual bar atmosphere, superb mixed drinks and the food is amazing. This was our third time visiting Avalon, we'll definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was not great. Everything was spicy and or smoked. I get it thats the theme i guess but very heavy handed. Service and atmosphere great. Good drink menu
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
We stumbled on Avalon and were so elated that we did. Had no expectations and we were blown out of the water. All the food was prepared with extreme attention to detail and each bite was more savory than the last.We were visiting from Seattle where the food is less than average. Pub food just doesn’t exist in the PNW and the Avalon is a diamond in the rough.Don't sleep on the mac n cheese bites or the fried green tomatoes. I wish we had room for dessert but we were comfortably full.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pricey but fun and different. A great experience all around. Order the candied bacon cheesecake - you won’t be sorry. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scotch Egg, Sprouts, Bacon Bourbon Caramel Cheesecake, Fried Mac N Cheese
Avalon has moved into their new space in Kilauea, which I love! The interior of the restaurant seems a little tight but outside they have a spacious covered patio lined with lights. The restaurant sits right on a corner of the main road to the lighthouse which is perfect for sitting and eating while catching the action in Kilauea town. I love the atmosphere and ambience of the restaurant, it’s cool and rustic, with a modern feel. The food is as amazing as it was at their last location. My favorite is the pub steak and mash potatoes, a smooth whiskey, (they have many options) and I always finish it off with the StickyToffee Pudding for dessert
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Duck, Fish, Bread Pudding, Pub Steak, Fried Mac N Cheese, Truffle Fries
They had me at cocktail. And everything else. Yes to today’s special, a Tequila Boulevardier, smooth, complex, slightly bitter, get to know me drink. Followed by fried green tomatos over the top with pork belly. Rare duck breast on polenta with sauce that begged for bread to savor every essence. Bread pudding dessert and espresso martini? Yes please! Can’t wait to share with my Hawaii-bound bourbon loving family. Also beautiful woodworking on the bar! Lovely casual fine tasting experience. Mahalo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Four of us went for dinner last evening. It took 45 minutes to get our first cocktail. Granted, they were busy because of the holiday but that is no excuse for poor service. We were there in November and had the same experience with slow service so it seems to be an ongoing problem. Also, the sign on the entry desk (Be kind or leave) is a bit of a turnoff. On a positive note, the food is very good. However, after two poor service experiences we will not return. There are other restaurants on the north and east shore that we enjoy.Vegetarian options: Brussel sprouts were yummy
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Truffle Fries GF, Bread Pudding
Restaurantji Recommends
Waited 40 minutes for table after our reservation time. Waited when we sat for server. Service was poor, had to ask for refills on water. Sat with our finished plates for 15 minutes. Waited for 15 minutes for check that was wrong. Waited another 10 minutes. Never asked how our food was or if we needed anything doing our entire dinner.Not the dining experience we expected.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Delicious food and good drinks. A bit pricey for small
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Truffle Fries
The food was amazing, perfectly cooked, great flavors. We had the Mahi mahi fish special, the pub steak, beet salad and the scotch egg. They also surprised me with having Alta Maria wine from Santa Barbara country and I love their wine. The only thing was 3 of us split this and I left hungry. The beet salad was barely any beets on the plate and the dinner portions for $45 per plate was tiny. I had two glasses of wine. We each ended up paying $70 without tip and I left hungry. So if you plan to dine here have a big lunch or feel great about spending $$$ and have a three course meal all to yourself to feel like you have food in your stomach. The service was lovely as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scotch Egg, Pub Steak
I was charged an extra tip of $29 without my authorization in this restaurant. An experience that I have never had before. And guess what, the food they served is as terrible as their poor honesty.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Most awful restaurant I have ever visited in Hawaii. The dishes were either too sour or salty, and the lamb was extremely greasy. Btw they charged us an extra 4 dollar for a cup of water without informing us. Poor taste and service.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1