21 Degrees North

Average food at best, beautiful atmosphere. On our first night at Turtle Bay, we decided to dine at Ola, as it was only steps from the hotel. We walked along the beach to get there, and arrived 15 minutes prior to our reservation. We were seated (promptly despite our early appearance) right on the beach while the sun was setting. It was breathtaking--tiki torches burned in the background and the ocean breezes were amazing. Our waiter (Ray) was very friendly and knowledgeable - he recommended a few different dishes, and we ended up with a sampler appetizer to start that included "Nachos" (fried wanton with goat cheese, Kalua pork, "hawaiian" sour cream, etc.) and two other items: Ahi cakes and fried soft-shelled crab. The Nachos were great, the Ahi cakes were overly salty and dull, while the soft-shelled crab was good but not great (it was served on top of vegetables that were somewhat flavorless, and you can't get too creative with tempura).

We ordered Pina Coladas and Daquiries, and enjoyed those thoroughly. Finally, I had their petite filet served with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, while my fiancee had vegetarian risotto. They were both good, but not great (I ordered medium well, it came out very unevenly cooked and rare in some areas: her risotto was... well, kind of boring).

I would give this place another shot, as it is a beautiful location, and the setting alone is worth the relatively cheap price (just over $100 for two people with appetizer, entrees, and drinks).…