Kula Ranch Island Steakhouse
Best Western Beach Dunes Inn
3295 Dunes Drive, Marina
(831) 883-9479, www.kula-ranch.com
Kula Ranch strikes just the right balance between a familiar island-themed restaurant and a local joint with mom in the kitchen putting together a pupu platter. Sure, you can get a fruity, adult beverage garnished with hunks of fruit and a tiny umbrella, but this place has the resources to pull off an expansive and multicultural dinner menu featuring Polynesian/Pacific Rim-inspired winners like Hawaiian nachos, coconut panko tiger prawns and macadamia nut-encrusted mahi-mahi. It also has the tuned-in local sensibilities to serve up something like sanddabs, that legendary local catch, done here with a lemon pepper panko breading. A daily 4-6:30pm happy hour offers build-your-own food platters with $2 small bites and deep drink discounts. The ranch also has two big patios with fire pits great for outdoor sunset celebrations. Lucky for Marina-dwellers. Worth the drive for the rest of us.