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Namaka Restaurant N Bar

4.4 (104 reviews)
Closed • Closed

Namaka Restaurant N Bar Photos

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NAMAKA RESTAURANT N BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Live music
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - Namaka Restaurant N Bar

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Signature Drinks Menu
Matt P.

The restaurant is located in a plaza with plenty of parking. I was able to make reservations with no issues on a Saturday night. When we pulled up around 7pm, there was just 1 other party that was there and they were seated outside. There was live music and we asked to be seated right in front of him. Boy, that was a big mistake as the speaker was right there and it was very difficult for me and my wife to carry any kind of conversation. That was mostly my fault and I should have asked to be seated a few tables back. But it was fine as the musician was great the whole night with his soothing voice and relaxing tunes. There were only 2 servers at the time so getting my drink refilled was a little slow. We ordered the fried enoki mushrooms. Not sure where they were going with this dish as enoki mushrooms don't really have any taste to them. Plus it's a little stringy. I thought it was a little oily. Not sure if the oil was hot enough when they fried this, but it was a bit greasy and since it didn't have any taste to it, the tartar sauce pretty much carried the dish. My ribeye, however, was great. It was cooked medium-rare with a lot of mashed potatoes. The peppercorn cream sauce was a nice touch and didn't overshadow the meat. The one thing I would suggest is that the ribeye was on the thin side, so it didn't get that char crispiness that you would be able to get on a thicker steak. Since I asked for it to be medium rare, getting the desired texture would not be possible. I would have liked to be thicker as the bite would be more substantial. I normally associate a thin cut to a cheap or budget steak. Flavor-wise and temp, it was perfect. There was so much mashed potatoes that I ended up leaving half of it on the plate. It's a garlic mash and really tasty. The Osso Buco was tender, fall off the bone. I did, however, find it to be a little too salty though. You also get a lot of Risotto. They do not skimp on portions here. Great find.

Craft cocktail. Delicious.
Diana S.

On our last night in Kauai, my husband and I had heard very good things about Namaka, and decided to give it a try. We realized once we arrive there that we had actually been there over 15 years ago at another restaurant called Camp House Grill. This was quite a different experience. I must say that I probably had one of the best muscles, shrimp, and pasta dishes I have ever had. I also had so much that I couldn't eat even half and will be eating the rest of it on my flight home to San Diego tomorrow I will be the envy of the flight. I also had a really lovely cocktail, my husband had a local beer... It was fabulous. New restaurants have a hard time making it... If enough Word gets out this restaurant sure to do well. The portion, the delicious and well-made pasta... The shrimp weren't even overcooked, which is a common mistake, and the great service make it all worthwhile. It's easy to find, easy to get to an easy to fall in love with. Give it a try.... we'll be back. Thank you!!

The steamed artichoke and tempura enoki mushrooms did not disappoint.  Hubby practically ate the whole artichoke by himself.

We had an amazing dinner here on our vacation from Maui. The owner Aurora and our server (sorry I forgot your name) were so friendly and welcoming. We went with all pupus and tried some awesome dishes. Forgot to take a pic of our Hamachi kama. We sat on the patio which was nice and the weather perfect. Highly recommend. Mahalo for the wonderful experience.

Bomb ass Watermelon mocktail
Teresa M.

For a while now my friend has been raving about Namaka's trying to get me to go out. Tonight was the night and I'm kicking myself for not getting in here sooner. First, I ordered a specially prepared watermelon mocktail with some red deliciousness on the rim of my glass and a crazy foam float. I'm pretty sure they figured out how to harvest white puffy clouds to decorate their drinks. Absolutely hands down best mocktail of my life! Super flavorful and very fun. We also ordered a steamed artichoke to share. I grew up having them on our dinner table with mom's tried and true perfect preparation. Love artichoke and love my mom but dang it if I'm not mad that she didn't make them like Namakas. Holy smokes was that good. I was unsuccessful in obtaining the recipe for the dipping sauce though and might have a resentment around it for life. Finally, after 20 minutes trying to decide on my main course, I chose the osso buco over risotto. They did not disappoint folks. I wish I hadn't had breakfast or lunch so maybe I could have finished it gone. Absolutely over the top flavors and so so tender. Perfectly prepared. The sauce that goes with it was unbelievable! There is definitely some sorcery going on in this kitchen. I'm so happy for Kauai that we have another fantastic restaurant to enjoy. My friend was telling me that on Thursdays and Fridays they have live local music too. I'm coming back and bringing friends!!

Open kitchen, brilliant Chef
Joenne M.

Oh my (don't just stay on the downtown strip)! Seek out this hidden Jem in a strip mall down the road from the downtown Kapaa' strip. Brilliant execution by the chef. Was so hard to decide what to have that for this first experience, we choose bone marrow boats, steamed artichoke, seared steak and the fried enoki mushrooms. Holy cow, Batman! Perfect. Partner started with a Paniolo Old Fashioned and I went with our bartenders recommendation of a red (she's brilliant too, btw). Finished with the pineapple upside down cake - lovely, full of flavor and with a delightful scoop of vanilla to finish. Live music didn't let you forget where you were - on an Island of Love and Beauty!

Solomon C.

Got to give this place a solid 5 stars. The place.was.very clean and tidy. The receptionist was polite and kind. My waiter was great, very attentive. Now the food, the food was OUTSTANDING. the price is up there, but in my opinion, well worth it. The portion size and wonderful taste for the dishes I ordered was worth the cost. I will visit this spot again before I leave.

Bone marrow boats

I have eaten food from Italy, to Japan and all across America, from LA fusion, midwestern BBQ to New York fine dining. Believe me When I say this is one of the most incredible meals I have ever had the pleasure of devouring. This food is exquisite. And that is putting it mildly. The Bone Marrow boats were to die for and the risotto that accompanied the most tender & delicious Braised Pork Shank was to die for. 6.5 out of 5 stars. The only thing better than the food (and that's a close call) was the service, very hospitable and generous. Quaint and small, perfect for date night. PS! The Ube balsamic reduction is a culinary experience worth having.

Jada I.

Phenomenal meal and service. Haven't had a dinner this great tasting in a long time. Tucked away in a shopping center but more than worth the drive. To start, I ordered the Grilled Brie cheese w/ Chardonnay that came with a toasted Focaccia - no picture because I devoured it in record time. Entree was cooked perfectly, with the most seasoned mash. My plate was wiped clean. Will be returning and recommending to all friends/family visiting Kauai

Brisket

Friendly service and the food is consistently good (which is not easy to find on island). The portions are pretty large and are a great value. The cesar salad was enough for us to share as a starter. Osso Buco is flavorful and tender. The brisket was equally tasty and so soft that we didn't even need a knife to cut it. I recommend the cosmo made with fresh blackberries--very refreshing. They even had live music. Namaka is a great place for special occasions but you can also keep it casual and sit on the lanai or at the bar.

Live entertainment!!
Tim K.

This new-ish restaurant was great! They're doing a great job of introducing new tastes to west Kauai. Service was excellent, food was delicious. The arancini balls brought back memories of Sicily with a Hawaiian twist. We had a table that allowed us to see the chef in action and she was keeping busy! Highly recommend this for lunch or dinner. Loved the added live entertainment in the evening. Nice touch.

Bone Marrow... it's amazing!
Beth s.

We love this new restaurant so much that we chose it for our last dinner on the island. The bone marrow was a repeat order for us, and it was even better than the last time. Brittney was an excellent server who made our evening extra special with her warm and attentive service. The chef and manager were so kind to remember us from our previous visit, which made the experience feel even more personal. Namaka is quickly becoming one of our favorites, and it's truly a must when visiting Kauai!

Bone Marrow Boats
Kristen R.

New restaurant in Kapa'a. Couldn't decide what to cook/eat for dinner at home and it was getting late. So we decided to drive from Puhi to Kapa'a. Everything we ordered was good. Only thing I didn't take a picture of was the fish and chips (with Ono), which was also good! Would definitely come back again. Services was great. Britney (sp?) was a great server!

Pork with mashed potatoes

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the friendly attentive staff, creative flavorful dishes, and a welcoming lively atmosphere. The creative cocktail menu is also a favorite.

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18 days ago

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2 months ago

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Aurora R.

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3 months ago

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4 months ago

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Aurora R.

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13 days ago

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1 year ago

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2 months ago

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Aurora R.

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11 months ago

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11 months ago

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4 months ago

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9 months ago

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3 months ago

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8 months ago

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6 months ago

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10 months ago

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can't wait for you all to come back again

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4 months ago

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6 months ago

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9 months ago

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3 months ago

Service charge fee $25. For linen etc???? Are you kidding me can I ask for no table cloth and not have to pay service fee

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10 months ago

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6 months ago

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Ask the Community - Namaka Restaurant N Bar

Is there a bar menu?

HI Jane, There is no differentiated bar menu and the Chef can add small plates and specials at will,… 

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