A photo tour of Neighbor Island restaurants: Holuakoa Cafe, Honu, The Banyan Tree, Josselin's Tapas Bar and Grill

In the magazine, check out my reviews of four Neighbor Island restaurants—Holuakoa Gardens and Cafe (Hawaii Island), Honu (Maui), The Banyan Tree (Maui), and Josselin's Tapas Bar and Grill (Kauai).

Here's a visual aide to the dishes that make these restaurants great:

Holuakoa Gardens and Cafe on Hawaii Island
If I could give an award for best outdoor dining, I would give it to Holuakoa Gardens and Cafe, where the food is as delicious as the setting pleasant. Top left: headcheese with a fennel and walnut slaw; top right: brisket with caramelized onion jus. Above left: gnocchi in a turmeric cream sauce; above right: smoked pork shoulder on risotto.

Honu on Maui
Mark Ellman's latest restaurant is an East Coast and West Coast seafood shack rolled into one. There's an exemplary lobster roll (ab0ve), in a top-split chia seed sweetbread roll.

Above left: fresh catch (here, monchong) dore style, in a lemon caper butter sauce; above right: fried pig's ear.

The Banyan Tree at The Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Maui
A beef duo of beef tartare and beef tongue (above, top) surprised with a thick cut of beef tongue in a complex mole sauce. Dessert here (above, bottom) was one of my favorite: caramel popcorn, Meyer lemon curd, lavender financiers and popcorn ice cream.

Josselin's Tapas and Grill on Kauai
Jean Marie Josselin is back, and his new small plates restaurant delighted in so many ways. The avocado sampler (above) featured avocado in various preparations: roasted, fried in tempura batter, pureed into a light mousse on top of avocado panna cotta, the latter presented like a cupcake. A foam of dashi shiitake mushroom brings earthiness; a smidge of peanut butter, nuttiness.

Above left: corn creme brûlée, with powdered goat cheese; above right: 36-hour pork belly with rosemary orange honey.

Above: vanilla ice cream profiteroles (the menu said pistachio, but they tasted like vanilla), served with a small carafe of warm, melted chocolate.