Joe W.
Yelp
I had high hopes for Kalani's after living in Hawaii for 5 years, and I was excited to see how an upscale Hawaiian-themed restaurant would bring those island flavors to South Lake Tahoe.
The atmosphere definitely delivers on that island vibe, tropical, stylish, and still upscale enough for a nice evening out. The wait staff was very attentive, from the lady who kept my drink filled to the team that was constantly clearing plates off my table. Service here really stood out and made the evening feel smooth and well taken care of.
For appetizers, I tried the chicken wings, and they were a great start to the meal. The wings themselves were cooked well, but the standout was the aioli sauce, rich, flavorful, and something I'd happily order again just for the dip.
For entrées, I ordered the shrimp scampi, the sea bass, and a side of coconut shrimp. The shrimp scampi was by far the best dish of the night. The noodles were cooked to perfection, the flavor was right on point, and the shrimp were butterflied beautifully, not to mention gigantic. This dish was a true winner and something I'd recommend to anyone dining here.
The sea bass caught my attention because it was featured in Bon Appétit magazine, so I figured there was no way it could be bad. And while it was cooked to perfection, it wasn't "magazine worthy" amazing either. On top of that, the portion size was not respectable for the price being charged, which made it feel like poor value.
The most disappointing item, however, was the side of coconut shrimp. At $13 for just five pieces, they were flattened, low-quality shrimp that felt like they came off a frozen food truck. They were nowhere near the size or quality of the shrimp served in the scampi, and honestly, if this is what they're going to serve, it should be removed from the menu because it degrades the overall quality of the restaurant.
What also surprised me was the lack of Hawaiian staples on the menu. I expected to see a Blue Hawaiian featured in the cocktail lineup, or even something as traditional as Kahlua Pork on the entrée list, but neither was offered. For a restaurant that markets itself as Hawaiian-inspired, leaving out these classics felt like a missed opportunity.
Overall, while Kalani's has a nice atmosphere, excellent service, and a few standout dishes (the shrimp scampi especially), the portion sizes compared to the cost make it hard to justify the value. For that reason, I'd rate it at three stars.