Fish Bar Deli, nestled in Old Kapa’a Town, serves as a casual dining space, a welcoming bar, and a comprehensive market, offering an array of dishes, seafood options, salads, sandwiches, and a variety of market goods. The dishes, such as the Double Decker Diner Burger and the OG Fried Chicken Sammie, showcase a breadth of culinary offerings that explore various dietary inclinations. Fish Bar Deli also takes part in special events, such as a pop-up dinner event and participation in Kapa’a Art Night, enriching the community’s culinary and cultural experiences.
In a discussion with Erin Keller, the owner and chef of Fish Bar Deli, during a Kauai TV episode hosted by Amanda Smith, she highlighted the restaurant’s commitment to fresh and simple culinary processes, stating, “It’s organic butter, non-GMO oil,” to describe the foundational ingredients used to sear ahi for their ahi bruschetta, and noted that they “like to keep things pretty simple here and just nice and fresh, let the ingredients speak for themselves.” Amanda, after tasting the dish, commented on the balanced flavors and various textures: “There’s a little bit of a bite from the arugula aioli that’s really well-balanced with the cheese, and then you have the pickled shallots to make it kind of crisp and bright.”
Seafood, a central element in Fish Bar Deli’s offerings, adheres to a strict freshness principle, with Erin affirming, “We never use any frozen fish here at Fish Bar Deli.” Furthermore, the establishment’s fish and chips is characterized by Amanda as having a “crispy” exterior while maintaining a “nice and moist” interior. She drew attention to its “thick flakiness” and unequivocally endorsed it, assuring viewers “you can’t go wrong when it comes to fish and chips here.”
Fish Bar Deli’s bar offerings include cocktails crafted with freshly squeezed juice and local ingredients, as illustrated in their “bikini wax” cocktail. Amanda’s enthusiastic description of the drink reflected its balanced yet complex flavor profile: “A little bit of salty, a little bit of tang. I could taste a little bit of that bite of that chili in there too, which is really good.” The bar cocktail, according to Amanda, is not only one of her favorites but also showcases their dedication to using “local ingredients.”
In the market component, Erin drew a clear line connecting the name of the establishment with its offerings, explaining, “All of the inspiration came literally from those three words: Fish, Bar, and Deli.” This indicates that the array of products available in the market — from pantry staples to specialty cheeses, gourmet snacks, and beverages — adhere to a thematic cohesion inherent in the establishment’s identity.
Erin’s commitment to her culinary establishment and its role within the community becomes evident through her open invitation to visitors, asserting, “Come on down, and I will talk story with you any day of the week.” This transparency and willingness to engage with patrons further characterize Fish Bar Deli as an establishment deeply entwined with its locale and community.
In this manner, Fish Bar Deli, through its myriad of offerings and adherence to fresh, locally sourced ingredients, stakes its place in Old Kapa’a Town, not merely as a dining establishment but as a community hub that welcomes a diverse clientele to experience its array of culinary delights and market offerings.