Cuisine & Specialties
The Right Slice is a pie-focused bakery known for Hawaiian-inspired sweet and savory pies. Its menu features a rotating array of “Hawaiian pies” with handmade butter crusts filled with local fruits and ingredients. Flavors change frequently, often reflecting the islands’ bounty. Gluten-free, vegan and no-sugar-added options are available for many pies.
- Sweet Pies: Tropical fruit and cream flavors dominate – signature varieties include Passionfruit (lilikoi) Cheesecake, Mango–Lilikoi pie, Blueberry Pina Colada pie (blueberry with coconut), Lemon-Lime pie, Banana-Macadamia Nut, Coconut-macadamia, and seasonal fruit pies. Reviewers rave about the lilikoi (passionfruit) flavors and the rich, creamy cheesecakes (www.yelp.com) (www.yelp.com).
- Savory Pies: The menu also offers hearty pies and quiches for lunch or dinner. Notable items include Classic Chicken Pot Pie and Shepherd’s Pie (meat and vegetable fillings in pie crust) (rightslice.com). Rotating quiches and pot pie flavors may appear (e.g. meatloaf pie, hot dog pie, etc.) as specials.
- Other Baked Goods: In addition to pies, The Right Slice makes cookies, brownies, and other treats. Recent additions have included edible cookie dough in various flavors and shortbread bars (passionfruit, mango, haupia-coconut) (rightslice.com). They also sell flavored boba (bubble tea) drinks at the bakery, and gift items like Hawaiian-made jams or branded gear.
Notable Features & Ambiance
$$ *($ = inexpensive, $$$ = expensive; The Right Slice is moderate priced, in the $$ range.) The bakery offers a casual, family-friendly vibe. The interior is bright and unpretentious, with display cases of pies and baked goods. Seating is basic – a few indoor tables and counters – so most guests take pie to go or eat quickly on site. Decor is simple and colorful, emphasizing the brand’s pie theme (many staff and customers call Sandy “the pie lady”). Dress code is very casual (shorts, T-shirt, flip-flops are fine).
- Price Range: $$ (Slices are $5–7 each and whole pies run from about $25–$35, depending on size and specialty.)
- Amenities: Indoor seating (a few tables), takeout service, free parking (lot and street parking are available), and full credit cards accepted (Visa, MC, Amex) (www.tripadvisor.ca). The shop is wheelchair accessible (sidewalk ramp, open floor plan). It is family/kid-friendly and casual; pets are not typically seated indoors.
- Atmosphere: A small, high-energy bakery with a laid-back, homey feel. You’ll encounter the aromas of fresh baking and a lively counter where staff help customers choose among dozens of pies. The Right Slice often feels like a local specialty market – vibrant and friendly. When it’s busy, there may be a short queue.
- Dress & Vibe: No formal dress code; guests dress beach-casual. Some reviewers describe the shop as “cute” and “charming,” noting the walls are sometimes covered with fun pie-related art or local promotions.
History & Background
Founded in 2009 by owner Sandy Poehnelt, The Right Slice is a local Kauaʻi success story. Sandy moved to Kauai in 2009 and started baking pies commercially, quickly realizing a local demand for handmade gourmet pies (rightslice.com). The business began at farmers’ markets and wholesale, then opened a retail outlet in Lihue (2011). In 2014 the company expanded to a second bakery in Kalaheo (the current location at Kaumualiʻi Hwy) (rightslice.com). (The Lihue Harbor Mall shop closed in 2019 when its lease ended.) The Kalaheo bakery has now been serving the community for nearly a decade.
Over the years, The Right Slice has become known on Kauai for supporting local growers and using quality ingredients (rightslice.com). Sandy and her team often showcase island-grown fruits (mango, pineapple, guava, passionfruit) and even backyard garden produce in their pies. Their origin story – “see a need, fill a need” – led to a thriving niche bakery that celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2024 (rightslice.com). Customers appreciate its community roots and devotion to consistent quality. The shop has built a solid local reputation and often appears on “best bakery” or “best pie” lists for Kauaʻi. (A Kauai specialty podcast in 2025 even featured an in-depth interview with Sandy praising her entrepreneurial spirit and bakery (www.culinarytreasurepodcast.com).)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
Reviews highlight The Right Slice as a must-visit pie spot on Kauai. Guests consistently praise the flavor variety and quality of the pies, describing them as fresh, generously filled, and rich-tasting (www.yelp.com). The Hawaiian-themed flavors are frequently mentioned – for example, many reviews cite the tangy lilikoi (passionfruit) cheesecake and pies as “to die for,” along with other fruit pies like mango-lilikoi and pineapple variations (www.yelp.com) (www.yelp.com). The buttery, flaky crust also draws compliments. Overall comments often emphasize that the pies live up to “rave reviews” – many say it’s “worth the trip,” even if you have to drive across the island (www.yelp.com).
Service and atmosphere get positive notes: staff are described as friendly and knowledgeable. (One reviewer vowed to return because of the “nice lady” who helped them (www.yelp.com).) Many guests enjoy sampling multiple flavors by slice. The bakery’s convenience factors – free parking, easy parking, and welcoming vibe – reinforce the positive experience.
Consistent praise: Freshness, unique Hawaiian flavors, flaky crust, and friendly service. Favorites mentioned most often are the passionfruit (lilikoi) pies and cheesecakes, chocolate coconut, and classic macadamia nut. Guests also note the availability of vegetarian and specialty options (like gluten-free) as a plus.
Common criticisms: Price and portion size. Some visitors point out that individual slices or small pies are “pricier than average dessert,” and a few say slices felt small for the cost (www.tripadvisor.ca) (www.tripadvisor.ca). (However, most who complained about size still said the taste justified it.) A minor critique in a few reviews is that certain fillings weren’t as tangy as expected (e.g. one guest hoped for a stronger lilikoi punch) (www.yelp.com). On occasion, guests have noted that popular flavors may sell out by late afternoon. Overall, negative comments are relatively rare, and even “critical” reviewers often still call the pies delicious.
Practical Visitor Tips
- Hours: Open daily. Monday–Friday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday–Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (rightslice.com). (Closed major holidays, but otherwise no regular day off.)
- Plan your visit: No reservations needed (it’s a walk-up bakery). For the best selection, stop by in the morning or early afternoon—many customers say certain pies can sell out. Late morning is a sweet spot: tour buses and peak lunches often arrive around noon. If the line is out the door, it moves quickly, but you may have to wait a few minutes.
- Ordering: You can order whole pies or slices. They offer delivery and island-wide special orders for events. When picking up a large pie, note there is a deposit on the metal pan (refundable in store credit when you return the dish) – this is explained on their website and menu boards. Slices are served on plates or takeout containers.
- Payment: Major credit cards are accepted (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover) (www.tripadvisor.ca). You can also use cash, but cards are convenient. Tip: bring a cooler bag if you buy a frozen pie to bring home or on a plane (the shop has an option to freeze pies for easy carry-on transport).
- Kids & Extras: The casual cafe has a few chairs so kids can sit enjoying pie or cookies. They also sell juice and bottled drinks. (Children generally love the sweet pies!) This is not a table-service restaurant, so it’s quick-serve style.
- Travel Tip: The Right Slice is famed for its “to-go” pies. If you’re flying out of Kauai, consider ordering a pie to carry on. The staff can pack pies in insulated boxes suitable for airplane travel, making a unique souvenir or gift.
- Dress/Attire: Very informal. Beachwear or shorts are fine – it’s the islands! No dress code enforcement.
- Quirks: The shop sometimes runs special flavors or holiday pies, so check their social media or website for daily offerings. There’s also a small retail section with Kauaʻi-made goods, gifts, and the bakery’s branded merchandise (t-shirts, towels, etc.). Finally, note that the Kalaheo bakery occasionally participates in local farmers markets (e.g. weekly afternoon pick-ups at the Kukuiʻula Market), which can be a fun alternative to the bakery visit.
Guests leave with pies and smiles – just be prepared for moderate prices and a busy counter during peak times. This quirky, local bakery makes pie-loving a Kauaʻi adventure!
