Kahuna's Icehouse is located on Highway 620 in Lakeway at the site of the former fast-casual [and fast lived] restaurant Pronto. Kahuna's is the brain child of Tony Ciola and John Innes, both of nearby Ciola's restaurant. And it's been busy [sorry Hillary] from day one. The Lakeway area, in my opinion, is seriously underburgered. So Kahuna's, with its casual cuisine and laid-back vibe was the perfect tonic for this little village by the water.

The menu at Kahuna's is simple and the choices are tasty. I usually begin with about ten Waikiki wings. My favorites are the Lemon Pepper and the Honey BBQ. First requsite: they're delightfully crispy. Second requisite: they're subtly tasty. Little bit of heat but it sneaks up on you instead of overwhelming you. And in keeping with the island vibe of this place, I very much like the Caribbean Salad. Fresh romaine, sliced mangos, onions, red bell peppers and wild strawberries populate this mélange of flavor. I dined at Kahuna's with a male friend one day who derisively dismissed it as a "chick salad". That is, until he tried some of mine. The fruit vinaigrette dressing seals the deal. Another good appetizer, or a meal for some, is their Pipeline Pizza. These 10" personal pies are pretty darned good. [Not New Haven quality, but not bad]. I like mine with sausage, pepperoni, red onions, mushrooms, and of course red bell peppers. The red sauce and mozzarella cheese complement. And the crust, always critical, is inviting.

Kahuna's is all about burgers and why not? The Island Burger is a good place to start. Chopped Black Angus and American cheese blend nicely together and medium with a little pink in the center sounds good. Another that I tend to order is the Wipeout Burger. I'm a sucker for the combination of mushrooms, Swiss Cheese and bacon over a grilled burger. This burger just explodes with flavor on that essential first bite. And if you are really ready for a living large experience, then try the namesake Kahuna Burger.

This is two Black Angus patties with Monterrey Jack cheese, bacon, and most importantly, guacamole. Assuming you can get your chops around this colossus of flavor, you will be rewarded. The Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich is also a blast. This is a marinated and grilled chicken breast topped with pineapple and Monterrey Jack. The first time I ate this I had an uncontrollable urge to shout "Book 'em Dan-o.!" I was literally transported to Oahu. The Baja Fish Tacos are also worth sampling. Go for the fried Mahi Mahi [tastier than the grilled] with the cabbage, pico de gallo, and chipotle red pepper sauce. The only sandwich that has disappointed to this juncture is the Kahuna Club. I've found it to be on the dry side on both occasions. Changing the bread would help a lot.

And may I add that the fries are very good. And, they have an excellent shelf life. I took an order home one time and they were still perky after twenty minutes.

So by all means paddle your surf board over to Kahuna's at 3620 Highway 620 just outside of Lakeway. And you can hang ten at one of the cooler owner operated joints in the area.

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