Reserve now:
Cafe Portofino - Marriott KauaiReservations
Restaurant Reviews List >
Hawaii Restaurant Reviews >
Kauai Restaurant Reviews >
Lihue Restaurant Reviews >
Italian Restaurant Reviews
Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai Reviews List
Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
True Italian fare, but also specializing in Seafood and Steaks! Cafe Portofino overlooking the Pacific Ocean near the Marriott hotel has been called "A honeymoon destination' by Martha Stewart, and 'one of the top 10!' by Gourmet Magazine. Please come and enjoy the gentle tradewinds and enjoy a classic dining experience.
See more Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai details
28 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Rating Breakdown 28 reviews
5 stars
(10)
4 stars
(6)
3 stars
(4)
2 stars
(5)
1 star
(3)
Food
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- scenic view(17)
- great for outdoor dining(16)
- romantic(10)
- fit for foodies(8)
- special occasion(8)
- notable wine list(3)
Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai Reviews List
Review 1 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Italian Delight
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"My husband and I drove from the Poipu area to Lihue to dine at Cafe Portifino for Mother's Day. It was wonderful! I had the Osso Bucco - melt in your mouth!! My husband had the Eggplant Parm. He loves this dish and he said it was the best he had ever had. The view was wonderful, service attentive, and we really enjoyed it."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, romantic, scenic view, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 2 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Tourist Trap
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Unbelievably overpriced for value received. Food quality at Olive Garden would be better. This was not a typical Marriott experience."
Dined on 5/10/2013
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 3 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Fun night at Portofino
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Great service, nice view, and delicious food! The fettucine bolognese and linguine puttanesca were perfect! We wouldn't normally pay $20 each for these two plates, but the location and availability made CP our only choice for our last dinner out and boy was it worth it! Someone else at our table had the best veal marsala in his life! The veal picatta was also a favorite. Basket of bread that included foccacia and a white loaf was a nice treat that you don't find at most restaurants on the island. Our waitress had a great sense of humor and dealt with my picky party ever so graciously. The open air out on the terrace was heavenly! Mahalo, CP!"
Dined on 04/12/2013
2006
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, romantic, special occasion, scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 4 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Remarkably Unremarkable
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I had high hopes based on the web site, but was disappointed in my dinner at Cafe Portofino. Nothing stood out... The food was institutional. I had a bland caesar salad with a mild, non-objectionable dressing and croutons the consistency of moist cardboard. The linguine bolognese wasn't bad, but it was a small portion and largely forgettable. Even the beaujolais was insipid, but that's hardly their fault, I guess. I chose it. The service was robotic. The waitress was neither friendly nor surly, just... there. The meal wasn't particularly cheap, nor particularly expensive. Nothing was _bad_ (except maybe the croutons), and when I left I no longer felt hungry, but I didn't really feel like I had experienced 'Dinner'."
Dined on 04/12/2013
2002
Special Features: scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 5 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Outstanding year after year!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Outstanding year after year! Lovely view of Kalipaki Bay, tropical breezes and lovely fish dishes with outstanding service. Will return again next year."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 6 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
This restaurant is just ok.
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This restaurant is just ok. It is very convenient to the hotel which is nice with a nice view of the water. I had the shrimp dish which the waitress highly recommended. The sauce was good but the shrimp was way overlooked and neither of our meals were hot"
Dined on 04/04/2013
2007
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 7 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Kauai's Little Italy
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Located at the Marriott on Kalapaki Beach in Kauai has its advantages. The view of the bay is spectacular, and the service was just as wonderful as the food. I had the opportunity to dine here over several days while working on the island and never had anything but stellar service and impeccably prepared meals. Have the Oso Bucco or the daily special. Stay for the late night entertainment and if you are on a cruise ship (Thursday night from 10-2am), it is only a short walk from the cruise ship pier. If you want a romantic dinner with a view (the gentleman who played the Harp was a wonderful accent to an evening with my wife) while enjoying authentic Italian cuisine, then Cafe Portofino is the place for you!"
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, romantic, scenic view, hot spot, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 8 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 9 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Good Food
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Good Italian food. No surprises - food seems to be targeted towards the masses - nothing spectacular on the menu."
Dined on 02/10/2013
2006
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 10 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Requires patience
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Maitre' d could not find our confirmed opentable reservation on her list. But, they gave us a table.
Menu said cream sauce, came with tomato sauce.
Phenomenally slow. We think there must have been kitchen problem. Good waiter apologized a few times but eventually just didn't come back for a long time."
Dined on 02/21/2013
2006
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 11 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Italian with an ocean view!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
"Despite some confusion with our online reservation, the food, ambiance and service was great. We're glad we stopped for dinner."
Dined on 02/18/2013
2006
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 12 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Best Italian food this side
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Best Italian food this side of new york or Italy!"
Dined on 02/20/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, romantic, special occasion, scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 13 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Do not go
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"We have never been to a place this bad. From the first moment we arrived it only got worse. The host was rude and arrogant,we sat forever with out anyone coming to the table as the first waitress was busy with the drinks at the next table,someone finally came and she was nice. The food was slow in coming and when it arrive my veal was greatly overcooked and small portion. I ate the entree as I was starved and no one came to check on us. When we went to get the check the waitress was told of the issue and made no effort to try and recover. The table next to us got free drinks and dessert. If this was the last place on the island of Kauai I would not go back."
Dined on 02/20/2013
2008
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 14 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
There were four people. One
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"There were four people. One person liked their entree which was the vegetarian lasagna. Two other pasta dishes were terrible - linguini carbonara and some sort of pasta with meat sauce. The prawns were OK, but not great. The Caesar salad was miniscule for the price charged. The server got one of the orders wrong. It seemed the individual had a hard time speaking and understanding English. It was windy on the outdoor terrace, and there were no wind breaks, thus it was both chilly and windy. Overall, it was a very poor dining experience. As frequent visitors and property owners in Kauai, we would never go to the restaurant again. We had high hopes for our recent experience, but it was not good."
Dined on 02/15/2013
2006
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 15 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Even though the restaurant
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Even though the restaurant does a large volume of buseinss, we were treated well and were not rushed through the service"
Dined on 02/15/2013
2011
Special Features: romantic, scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 16 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Convenient to the Marriott,
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Convenient to the Marriott, but find some place else to go their are better options in the area."
Dined on 02/15/2013
2008
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 17 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
We ate here for Valentine's
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"We ate here for Valentine's Day and before we flew back to the mainland later that night. It was a wonderful meal. Service was excellent. View was beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised of how good the food was."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2007
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 18 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
A nice find within the hotel.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A nice find within the hotel. Menu has a nice selection of entrees. Portion size was good. Wait staff was very busy as the restuarant was full. We sat inside the restaurant and were not able to sit around the outside with a scenic view, so I believe it would have been more enjoyable had we sat there. They had a harpist on the outside patio area but we were not able to hear him inside. I would definetly wait to sit on the outside patio area on my next visit."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2012
Special Features: scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 19 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Give your review a title (optional)
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I have had the same bad meal there twice (shame on me) -- they need to reduce the selections on their menu and concentrate on doing a fewer number well."
Dined on 02/07/2013
2001
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, scenic view
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Review 20 for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Not too bad...
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I cannot say that this was the best Italian fare that I have ever enjoyed but for an island restaurant, it was enjoyable. The service was also good and the attitudes of the servers was excellent."
Dined on 01/28/2013
2004
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Ratings-Only Reviews for Cafe Portofino - Marriott Kauai
Based on the average of (8) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
2 out of 2 recommend this product
Food
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic