The Crooked Surf
Casual oceanfront resort bar-and-restaurant at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort in Wailua/Kapaʻa. Known for lighter fare, tropical cocktails, and a relaxed poolside setting.
- Oceanfront resort setting
- Poolside and outdoor seating
- Casual dress and atmosphere
- Daily lunch-to-dinner hours
The Crooked Surf is a casual oceanfront resort bar-and-restaurant inside the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, and its appeal is straightforward: this is a place to linger over a drink, a light meal, and a Coconut Coast view without dressing up or making a production of it. Set in Wailua on Kauai’s east side, it leans more toward easygoing resort comfort than destination dining, which is exactly why it works so well for a sunset stop or a low-key meal by the water.
What it does best
The menu lives in the lighter, crowd-friendly end of Hawaiian-regional resort dining. Expect familiar island and American staples rather than a chef-driven tasting menu: fish tacos, poke-style plates, burgers, sandwiches, bowls, wings, and a few local favorites that keep the kitchen anchored to place. Tropical cocktails are a major part of the draw, and the setting gives even a simple lunch a vacation feel.
That balance—casual food, easy drinks, oceanfront setting—is the restaurant’s strongest card. It is especially useful for travelers who want something convenient and scenic rather than a formal sit-down dinner.
The feel of the place
The Crooked Surf has the relaxed energy of a poolside hotel bar with a bit more personality. The name itself nods to the curved surf that breaks along Kapaʻa’s shoreline, which gives the restaurant a stronger sense of place than a generic resort venue. It opened with the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort’s 2019 transformation, and that heritage still shows in the polished but unfussy resort setting.
Outdoor seating, open-air views, and a surf-tiki mood make it an easy fit for lunch, late-afternoon drinks, or an unhurried dinner. It is also a practical choice for families and groups, since the atmosphere is casual and the menu has enough variety to satisfy mixed tastes.
Caveats worth knowing
The main tradeoff is value. The Crooked Surf is not positioned as a bargain spot in the sense of portion-to-price value, and some travelers find the food average for what they pay. Cocktails can also draw mixed reactions, and the kitchen can be less compelling than the view. That does not make it a bad choice, but it does mean expectations matter: go for the setting and the relaxed resort experience first.
It is also not the best option for a quiet, intimate meal or for travelers chasing a standout culinary experience. This is a social, scenic place, and at livelier times it can feel busy and hotel-bar-like rather than serene.
Who should go
The Crooked Surf is best for travelers staying on or near the Coconut Coast who want an easy lunch, a sunset drink, or a casual dinner without leaving the resort zone. It is a solid fit for families, groups, and anyone who values atmosphere and convenience as much as the food.
Travelers looking for a quieter room, sharper service, or a more ambitious kitchen may want something else. But if the goal is ocean views, tropical drinks, and a laid-back Kauai resort meal, The Crooked Surf fits the moment well.
