A unique new restaurant has opened on Kauai’s north shore,
featuring traditional Mediterranean dishes and popular island
cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. The Mediterranean Gourmet
Restaurant is situated in the oceanfront facility originally known
as Charo’s, located at Hanalei Colony Resort in Haena.
Mediterranean Gourmet is operated by husband-and-wife team, Imad
and Yarrow Beydoun. At age 23, Beydoun moved to the U.S. from
Lebanon. He settled in the Monterey, California area, where he
worked for many years in kitchen and food and beverage positions at
upscale hotels and restaurants.
Last year, the Beydouns relocated to Kauai’s north shore, where
Yarrow has family. Beydoun quickly gained a following for his
homemade hummus, sold at local farmers markets. His packaged
products, including hummus, babaganush, falafels and tabouleh, are
still available on Kauai under the Mediterranean Gourmet label at
Papaya’s health food stores in Kapaa and Hanalei, Kilauea General
Store and the Saturday and Tuesday Hanalei farmers markets.
At Mediterranean Gourmet, Beydoun shares the cuisine of his
childhood, featuring fresh, traditional preparations with a
homemade touch “just like Mom used to make.” Open for lunch through
dinner six days a week, the restaurant presents a menu of
appetizers and entrees including popular Middle Eastern
standards.
For those whose tastes aren’t so exotic, the menu also offers
such familiar dishes as chicken quesadilla, Caesar salad, grilled
fish sandwich, hamburger, steak and fresh fish entrees. Diners can
complete their meal with island-made cheesecakes, Beydoun’s
homemade baklava and a cup of Turkish coffee or French press
teas.
Dinner specials are offered each evening, and a bellydancer
entertains on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant
has not yet obtained its liquor license, so diners are invited to
bring their own beer or wine.
Situated directly on the beach at Hanalei Colony Resort,
Mediterranean Gourmet is open Monday through Saturday from 11a.m.-9
p.m.
808-826-9875
www.hcr.com
