David Mills
Dining Out Kahiki Restaurant Tamarindo
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ecently, Pachanga has tended to confuse. For years, it was the domain of Schlomy Koren, who moved to Seasons, and chef Andrea Segnini, from Sukkha, took over for a very short time, and then the restaurant closed. Following the fire which destroyed Iguana Surf, Kahiki moved to Pachanga and is now serving the good food for which Kahiki was known before the blaze, under ownership of Dave MacDaniel. Chef Steve Blanco, who served fine foods in New York restaurants, moved to Tamarindo eight years ago and presided over Las Olas, Lazy Wave and Mar y Sol in Flamingo before moving to Kahiki. The restaurant is small, leisurely and comfortable, a good peoplewatching place.
Floristeriacristal@yahoo.es 2-653-8762 / 2-653-6282 / 8-354-1041
For starters, there is a choice of chicken skewers, firecracker shrimp, fish fingers in a tropical dipping sauce, shrimp roll with pineapple sauce. There is chicken soup with Asian vegetables and a Caesar and a house salad. We chose the Aloha Tuna Tower, and the Mediterranean Platter, hummus with chips, olives and falafel, plus an arugula salad. All dishes were delicious and plentiful. For burger fans, there is the classic woody burger and a Honolulu Mahi Mahi fish burger. My dining companion, though vegetarian, found plenty to interest her among the entrees: the mahi mahi turns up again in two entrees – with a tropical glaze or with puttanesca sauce; a vegetarian lasagna; two tuna dishes – blackened or Asian style; whole roasted red snapper; and Hawaiian coconut shrimp with mango sauce. I could be a vegetarian if I didn’t like meat so much, and chose the pork tenderloin, medaillons of juicy pink meat on a bed of potato puree and spinach. Other choices were chicken breast with couscous and spinach, chicken penne in a green walnut pesto, filet mignon marinated in chipotle and surf ‘n’ turf. Desserts are vanilla ice cream, triple chocolate brownie with ice cream, and a heavily loaded Rousie Brown after-dinner drink. Kahiki is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30 to 10. All major credit cards are accepted. Tel: 8826-0758. Opposite Pasatiempo in Hotel Mamiri. This location also serves breakfast and lunch under the name Jimmy’s.