KAPAA — Yumm, yumm, yumm and yumm. Let me say it one more time. YUMM. If there’s one word I can say about my New Year’s celebration, that word is yumm.
There’s a saying that if you find yourself doing something in the New Year, then it’s something you’ll continue to do a lot of throughout the year. Here’s to hoping that sentiment is true, for my husband and I started ours by dining at Lemongrass Grill Seafood & Bar in Choy Village in Kapaa.
We were seated outside on the patio, a quiet enclave next to a busy highway, beautifully decorated with plants, thatched umbrellas and holiday lights under a large silver moon.
The patio, a busy place where vacationers and local families dined in unison and couples escaped for a romantic, “beginning of the week,” date and servers hustled to and fro ensuring the enjoyment of their guests.
Though busy for the first day of the year, our meals arrived in record time, beautifully presented.
I ordered the 8 ounce New York steak, my husband, chicken fettuccine. For some time, I’d been craving the simplicity of a meat and potatoes meal and at Lemongrass Grill Seafood & Bar, my simple meal was just that. Simple to perfection, yet bursting with flavor.
The crowning achievement of my perfectly cooked steak was the cracked peppercorn dipping sauce. The savory sauce, in all its peppery glory, was without a doubt one of the best things I’ve ever been served. It was silky smooth and seasoned to perfection. Move over A1! The cracked peppercorn sauce is worth every penny ($21) spent on the entire meal.
The steak. Let’s talk about the steak. Medium well, slightly seasoned, tender, served on top a mound of garlic mashed potato’s, snappingly steamed fresh vegetables, topped with sauteed mushrooms. The entire meal was enjoyable to the last bite and that’s just what I did, ate EVERY. LAST. BITE.
My husband said his pasta was delicious, but I was too focused on my steak and that glorious sauce to try any. The large mound of pasta was served in a bowl, topped with vegetables and slices of chicken. It was lightly but perfectly sauced and he had leftovers for the next day.
We’re not usually the type to order dessert, but the hula pie sounded too good to pass up and it was a special occasion, so why not? The ice cream pie with cookie crust was encapsulated in a thick chocolate ganach and topped with whipped cream, macadamia nuts and a cherry on top. The serving size was more than enough for two people.
The service was prompt and professional with multiple servers attending to us during our visit.
Lemongrass Grill, Seafood & Bar, is worth a visit. A place I am hopeful will become a regular for my family in the coming months of the year.
