Archive for the ‘Asian Pacific’ Category
Saturday, September 15th, 2012
Overall Review: 
Service: The service was fantastic at Stage restaurant in Hawaii. The waiters were extremely attentive and we didn’t have to wait for water, bread, wine or any of our needs during the dinner. Our waiter was also very knowledgeable about wine and the menu and really helped us narrow down our decisions during our meal.
Food: Yummy! the food has fenise, creativity and is delicious. Its so rare in Honolulu to be surprised by the food and you are while dinning at Stage at the Design Center. The menu is Scandinavian-m0dern with a touch of Fusion. In addition to a prefix menu they also have a terrific happy hour Monday-Friday from 5pm-7pm. All the menu items are only $5 each and they also have various drink specials starting at $8. PLUS on Tuesday all bottles of wine are 50% OFF which is hard to beat. They also start you off with an Amuse Bouche which is always lovely and surprising!
Favorite Dishes: Stage Hamachi Sashimi (inspiring dish!), Beet & Goat Cheese Salad, Braised Short Ribs, Chicken, King Salmon, 4 course tasting menu (with entree’s of Miso Butterfish & Filet Mignon pictures of menu below), and of course the wine & bread!
Atmosphere: The ambiance at Stage is nice. The restaurant has high ceilings and interesting artwork. One of the most unique pieces of the restaurant are that they have different tables and chairs which is kind of artistic and trendy. The restaurant has wall to wall windows which overlook Kapiolani blvd which isn’t the best view but does give the atmosphere a spacious feeling.
Consistency: Both times we have gone were delicious but the menu had changed pretty dramatically so we promise to update this section again when we go again to keep you posted.
Parking: Parking is easy at the Honolulu Design Center. Its free which is always nice and has a full floor of parking available. If you go for a busy event night you might have more problems but during times like this they typically add a valet services. No need to get a validation at the restaurant as you dont need to take a ticket upon entry.
Price: ($23-$32) per Entree
Corkage Fee $25 per Bottle
Reservations Recommend
Take Out Available
Happy Hour!
Special Events & Entertainment
Address:
1250 Kapiolani BlvdHonolulu,
HI 96814
2nd Floor Honolulu Design Center
Tel: (808) 237-5429
Website: http://www.stagerestauranthawaii.com/
Hours of Operation:
Lunch
Monday to Friday
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Dinner
Monday to Saturday
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Happy Hour
Monday – Friday
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sundays
Closed
 Truffel Amuse Bouche |
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 Ahi Amuse Bouche |
 Stage Hamachi Sashimi |
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 Beet & Goat Cheese Salad |
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 Miso Butterfish |
 Filet Mignon |
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Tags: 5 Corks, fusion, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Kapiolani Restaurant, Wine Bar
Posted in Asian Pacific, Contemporary, Happy Hour, Restaurants, Scandinavian Food, Wine Bar | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service was applaudable at the Chart House in Waikiki. From the hostess to the table back the staff really was professional, friendly and worked like a well oiled machine. We never had empty water glasses or dishes on the table the whole night and it was really refreshing. They also gave us a complementary Mudd Pie since it was me and my wifes one year anniversary which was delicious and very thoughtful.
Food: The food was delicious and we ate every single morsel of food they put in front of us. The menu has traditional items you would expect to have at a steakhouse including lots of seafood and proteins. The food was really flavorful and worth the price (the Alaskan crab legs where a bit steep at $66.50 for 4 claws but they where super tasty and if you are looking to treat yourself for a special occasion go for it). We recommend getting a few appetizers and sharing with the table to try a few different items. One nice thing to point out is each entree comes WITH a starter salad or soup and side dishes one starch and one vegetable which is really nice and not a-typical for steakhouses who charge ala cart for these items. Finally they also have happy hour from opening to 7pm and 10pm to closing so its a great place for afterwork or late night pupus and drinks with friends.
Favorite Dishes: Sizzling Szechawn Shrimp, Escargot, Whole fried fish (yummy could have eaten two), Crab Claws (great but very expensive $5 per a bit), and the Chart House Waikiki Mudd Pie (best we have ever had!).
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Chart House is just fantastic. The restaurant is right on the water and overlooks the yacht harbor in Waikiki. Its beautiful to watch the boats during the day and at night. The decor is old hawaiianan and the inside of the restaurant is dressed in warm wood tones. Some nights they have live entertainment and ALWAY a full bar! One positive note is that the restaurant is large enough so intimate diners don’t have to be bothered by the rowdy bar goers.
Consistency: We haven’t been to eat at the chart house in a long time but have had good pupus and drinks in the past few years. However, with this surprisingly great dinning experience it won’t be long until we go again.
Parking: The chart house has a parking garage which validates and they also have metered parking out front.
Price Range: Medium-High ($19,95-$69.50) per Entree
Corkage Fee $20 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted & Recommended
Take Out Available
Happy Hour & Daily Specials!
Address:
1765 Ala Moana
Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: (808) 638-2471
Website: http://www.charthousehonolulu.com/index.html
Hours of Operation:
Dining Room: Monday–Thursday, 5:45 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Happy Hour (everyday)- Opening to 7:00pm & 10:00 pm to Closing
Lounge Opens
Monday thru Friday 4:30 pm
Saturday & Sunday 5:00 pm
Closes:
Sunday–Thursday, 12:30 a.m. (Food Served until 11:30 p.m.)
Friday & Saturday, 2:00 a.m. (Food Served until 12:30 p.m.)
 Escargot |
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 Sizzling Shrimp |
 Clams |
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 Whole Fried Fish |
 Alaskan King Crab |
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 Mudd Pie |
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Tags: Ala Moana Blvd Restaurant Review, American Food, Free Entertainment, free parking, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Ocean Views, Steakhouse
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Bars, Happy Hour, Restaurants, Steakhouse | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service was really excellent at Uncle Bo’s on Kapahulu. The waitress was a real pro, full of smiles and very candid. She was on top of her game and didnt miss a beat from the moment we sat down till the moment we paid the check. In fact, we had a coupon and forgot to read the fine print indicating we had to come after 8pm she spoke to the manager on our behalf (so we could redeem our voucher) and we really appreciated all her help and attentiveness. The only not so memorable in a good way service was the hostess who tried to seat us in the back room because we didnt have a reservation. The restaurant had plenty of empty tables out front so it was a bit particular that we had to ask a few times not to site in the dark, cold back of the restaurant especially when arriving for dinner so early at 6:30pm. The manager finally interviewned and told her she could seat in front with everyone else! ha ha ha
Food: The food was not so great at Uncle Bo’s its average but nothing really stands out as delicious or memorable which you look for from a restaurant and keeps you coming back time and time again. Everything we ordered was very overly sweet including the Baby Back Ribs, Clams and Pork Kabobs. You can find a good assortment of pupu’s, pastas, pizzas, seafood & poltry entrees at Uncle Bo’s with a asian-pacific meets italian theme to it. We also ordered a “Crab Salad with Avocado” but where disappointed when it only had 3 small little pieces of crab a few pieces of avocado and the rest was all ham and a traditional cob salad. It was very boring and miss marketed for sure. The best thing we ordered was the Spicy Tuna Wraps, they where creamy and very tastily but not even remotely spicy.
Favorite Dishes: Spicy Tuna Wraps
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Uncle Bo’s is nice. The restaurant has high ceilings and interesting artwork. The restaurant used to be Anti pastas so one wall has some interesting stanglass windows with garlic and other italian themed pictures covering it. The feel is trendy especially with the dark walls, floor and hanging chains. The front of the restaurant is lovely, however, the back of the restaurant has a completely different ambiance with low ceilings and rather dark / constricted. Our recommendation is to make a reservation and request the front seating area or go another time. The bar only has about 4-5 stools so its more of a place to mingle while waiting for a table than to grab a quick bite.
Consistency: We go to Uncle Bo’s every once and a while but it has been about a year since the last time we went. We are not particular impressed any time we have been with the food but it was convenient with the kapahulu location and late hours to grab pupus with friends, however, now that the new Side Street opened down the street i’m sure we will not be back to Uncle Bo’s for a good long while (the pork chop at side street is to die for!).
Parking: Uncle Bo’s does not have free parking but there is a small private parking lot right next to the restaurant which costs $5 or you can find metered street parking which is free after 6pm and usually pretty easy to come by at night. If you have troubles across the street is another paid parking lot with ample spots as well.
Price Range: Medium ($12-$27) per Entree
Corkage Fee $10 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted & Recommended
Take Out Available
Address:
559 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
Tel: (808) 735-8311
Website: http://www.unclebosrestaurant.com
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Sunday: Dinner – 5:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
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 Crab & Avocado Salad |
 Clams |
 Spicy Ahi Wrap |
 Baby Back Ribs |
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 Pork Kebabs |
 Decor |
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Tags: Asian Pacific Food, Kapahulu Restaurant, Local Kine Grindz, Seafood, street parking
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Bars, Italian, Local Kine Grindz, Restaurants | No Comments »
Monday, July 11th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: Yikes…. the service was terrible at Blue Water Grill in Hawaii Kai. The evening started out with us calling and booking a reservation at 7:30pm that night. When we arrived we where informed that it would still be at least 30 minutes before we could be seated. I inquired why they didn’t tell us to come at 8pm if there where busy and the hostess was frazzled and didn’t really have an answer… hummmm get it together guys! Then once we where finally seated an hour later not only was the restaurant empty (like tables everywhere) but our waiter was less than impressive and kept forgetting things or was MIA for most of the evening.
Food: The disappointments kept on coming when we received our food. By the time we where seated both the local fresh fishes dishes they where out of as well as the lamb. They blamed all the issues on the Groupon deal they did but we felt that they should have been more “on their game” knowing that their deal was expiring July 4th and that MAYBE this weekend people would come and use the GC before it expired!! The food was lack luster, under seasoned and overall pretty bad. The salmon came with mushy and overcooked rice, the ribs where dry and served over a watery slaw which made all the french fries wet, the Filet Mignon was cut into two thine pieces of meat (not a thick piece like it should be) and even our friends hamburger which is impossible to screw up wasn’t so great.
Favorite Dishes: Seafood-Artichoke Dip, and our drinks.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is the best thing going for the Blue Water Grill. The restaurant is overlooking the water / harbor of Hawaii Kai and has a beautiful view. The is an ideal place to go for drinks and to watch the sunset. The decor is warm inside with high ceilings and light wood floor and fixtures.
Consistency: We have only been once so far and will never go again. If we do for some strange reason we promise to update this section.
Parking: Blue Water Grill has free parking out front if you are lucky enough to find a spot. The parking lot is in the Hawaii Kai shopping center and is shared with all the other restaurants & vendors including Safeway, The Shack and many others.
Price Range: High ($20-$30) per Entree
Corkage Fee $20 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted (but even if you have one you may still have to wait!)
Take Out Available
Address:
377 Keahole St
Honolulu, HI 96805
Tel: (808) 395-6224
Website: www.bluwatergrillhawaii.com
Hours of Operation:
Lunch & Dinner:
Mon-Thu: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Fri: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Happy Hour – Monday to Fridays 3:00-6:00 p.m. daily.
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 Seafood-Artichoke Dip |
 Baby Back Ribs |
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 Salmon |
Tags: 1 Cork, free parking, Grilled Meats, Hawaii Kai Restaurant, Ocean Views, Seafood
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Happy Hour, Restaurants, Steakhouse | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
Overall: 
Service: The service is top notch at Roy’s. From the moment you arrive till your exit from the restaurant you are treated as a prince / princess. The waiters are attentive, courteous, and extremely professional at this 5 start dinning establishment.
Food: The food is modern asian pacific cuisine and items you can expect to find on the menu are Sushi, Salads, Seafood, Meats and of course desserts. The fresh fish is sensational and truly captivates the essence of the islands. The meats are also very tender and the short ribs just fall off the bone. There hasn’t been anything we have tried on the menu that we sent back or didn’t think was terrific. Another nice touch is instead of giving you a big basket of bread to start you receive a bowl of well seasoned edamame which is a nice light start to your decadent meal.
Favorite Dishes: Beef Carpaccio, Baby Back Ribs, Salads, Hawaiian Style Misoyaki Butterfish (OMG delicious!!), Short Ribs (Fantastic!), Chocolate Soufflé, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Atmosphere: The ambiance at Roy’s in Waikiki is stunning. Both the inside and outside seating area’s are and tropical feeling. The art is also asian influenced which ties into the dinning experience very well. The inside area is rather large but has good acoustics. The only negative thing the restaurant was freezing cold. The outside is much more casual feeling and also has a bar which is perfect for some pupu’s or drinks while enjoying Waikiki.The Hawaii Kai location is in Hawaii Kai and has a similar decor. The restaurant is located upstairs and is also lovely.
Consistency: The consistency at Roy’s is fantastic. Each time you come you can be sure to have a delicious dish with the same amount of food, seasoning and taste as you remembered it.
Parking: Roy’s has validated parking at the hotel around the corner on Beach Walk at the Embassy suites for $6 for 4 hours (you can forget about finding street parking! don’t even try… its not happening). At the Hawaii Kai flagship location you can park for free at that Hawaii Kai Towne Center.
Price Range: High ($24-$33) per Entree
Corkage Fee $25 per Bottle
Take Out Available
Reservations Accepted & Recommended
Address
Roy’s – Honolulu (Hawaii Kai)
6600 Kalanianaole Highway
Honolulu, HI 96825
Tel: (808) 396-7697
Roy’s – Waikiki Beach
226 Lewers Street
Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: (808) 923-7697
Website: http://www.roysrestaurant.com/
Hours of Operation:
Hawaii Kai: Dinner Only
Mon – Thu: 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Fri: 5:30 p.m – 10 p.m.; Sat: 5 p.m – 10 p.m.; Sun: 5 p.m – 9:30 p.m.
Waikiki Location: Lunch & Dinner
Daily: 10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
 Misoyaki Butterfish |
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 Chinese Opah |
 Salad |
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Tags: Asian Pacific Food, free parking, Hawaii Kai Restaurant, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Sushi, Valet Parking, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in Asian Pacific, Bars, Happy Hour, Restaurants | No Comments »
Monday, May 30th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service is hit or miss at Mai Tai’s Bar in the Ala Moana Shopping Center but typically (during the day and early evening) its pretty good. Only when it gets late at night does it get a bit harder to get good service as it gets so packed. That being said, more than one time has our pizza come out cold or later than all the other dishes but whenever you complain they always are quick to rectify the mistake by getting you a replacement item fired ASAP and then taking the dish off your bill which is really excellent service and absolutely does make you feel alot better about the whole situation. The reason we think is because they share a kitchen with Forest Gump so the waiters have to travel a farther distance between retrieving the food and servicing the guests.
Food: The food is good for typical bar food and they have a playful assortment of local favorites and standard bar items like seafood appetizers including popcorn & coconut shrimp, ceviche, ahi, sliders, salads, sandwiches , and great flatbread pizzas on the menu. For a great deal on drinks and pupu’s you have two chances for Happy Hour everyday from 4pm-7pm and then again from 8pm-11pm. Happy Hour deals include $4 Martinis, Wine, on the Rocks $3-$8 Pitchers of Beer and $5 select appetizers
Favorite Dishes: Flatbread Pizzas, Avocado Spring Rolls, Sliders, and Edamame
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Mai Tai’s is wonderful. They have the perfect outdoor but indoor seating and it really relaxing and a great place to enjoy the outdoors and beautiful Hawaii weather during the day and the night. The tables and decorations have a Tiki & Hawaiiana theme and the waitresses all sport matching aloha wear outfits which brings the whole ambiance of the restaurant up a notch.
Consistency: Mai Tai’s is pretty consistently good. As mentioned before they also have a tendency to bring out the food not completely hot so be prepared for that (and remember to send it back!). Other than that they have great food, a full bar and a consistently cool atmosphere to be enjoyed!
Parking: Mai Tai’s has lots of free parking because it is located on the top floor of the Ala Moana Shopping Center making this a great place to meet after-work or anytime for some drinks and pupu’s with friends.
Price Range: Low ($7-$12) per Entree
No BYOB Allowed
Reservations Not Accepted
Take Out Available
Live Local Music Twice A Day Every Day
4pm – 7pm & 9:30pm – 12:30am
Address:
1450 Ala Moana Blvd • Honolulu, HI 96814
4th Floor, Ocean Side
Tel: (808) 947-2900
Website: http://www.maitaibar.com/honolulu/about.php
Hours of Operation:
Sunday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
NFL Sundays 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Happy Hour Everyday: 4-7pm & 8pm -11pm
 Garlic Edamame |
 BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza |
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 Decor |
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Tags: American Food, Free Entertainment, free parking, Happy Hour
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Bars, Happy Hour, Local Kine Grindz, Night Club, Restaurants | No Comments »
Monday, February 21st, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service is pretty good at Lulu’s. However, both times we have been recently they got our order wrong. They always correct the dish with lots of apologies but still its annoying to wait for your food to come out while everyone else at the table has lunch / dinner. It’s either the servers or the kitchen line but it shouldn’t be hard to make a salad without dressing!
Food: The food is run-of-the-mill American food. It’s not really exciting or always very good but its inexpensive and they have something on the menu for everyone. Menu selections include great appetizers to share with table, sandwiches, burgers, salads, pastas, steaks and seafood, etc. They also serve traditional breakfast with omelets, pancakes, local favorites like Loco Moco (and keep a few breakfast items on the lunch menu for those late risers which is considerate).
Favorite Dishes: Kalua Pork Nachos, Chicken Tenders, Grilled Chicken Sandwhich, Mahi Mahi Sandwhich, Grilled Island “Catch” Salad, Long Island Cobb Salad, and the Cajun Fries.
Atmosphere: We really like the atmosphere at Lulu’s in Waikiki! The ambiance is by far the best thing going for this restaurant along with its location. The restaurant is on the second story with large windows and a fantastic unobstructed view of the ocean & Waikiki strip. The palm trees are beautiful and its a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the sunset with friends for a causal lunch, dinner or pupu’s after work.
Consistency: The consistency is not so good. It’s rare they don’t get an order wrong or put a different ingredient on your dish from the last time you went. In fact, last time we ordered the Mahi Mahi sandwich and salad and they used Swordfish which was the “Fish of the Day” on both so either someone got confused or they ran out and figured we where tourists and wouldn’t notice. I mean they should at least point it out some people don’t eat Swordfish and may appreciate the opportunity to change their order for something else in stock.
Parking: The only place you can park even close to Lulu’s is in the Kapiolani beach park right across the street. Don’t forget they replaced the meter parking with the pay ticket station so their is no need to bring a bucket of quarters with you anymore (TIP: the machine only accepts credit cards).
Price Range: Low-Medium ($10-$24) per Entree
NO BYOB
Reservations Not Accepted (Expect for large parties)
Take Out Available
Address:
LULU’s WAIKIKI
2586 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
aloha@lulushawaii.com
Tel: (808) 926 – 5222
Website: http://www.luluswaikiki.com/
Hours of Operation:
Open Daily 7 a.m. – 4 a.m.
Serving Breakfast (7am-11am), Lunch (11am-5pm) and Dinner (5pm-11pm)
 Fish Salad |
 Mahi Mahi Sandwhich |
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Tags: American Food, Bar, Ocean View
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Bars, Breakfast / Brunch, Happy Hour, Restaurants | No Comments »
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is very professional at Mariposa. The staff is very well trained they hire excellent servers for the most part. They give you just enough attention that you feel taken care of but not rushed. You absolutely must have a reservation during rush lunch hour (12-1pm) if you don’t want to wait for a table for ages.
Food: The food is used to be better at Mariposas! We used to think that everything and anything you order was cooked and seasoned to perfection but lately its been so-so and its harder to find something that you want to order on the menu. The menu consists of American and Asian-Pacific classics like Salads, Sandwiches, Pasta, Fresh Fish and other seasonal delights. Also Mariposas treats each diner to a little sip of turkey consomme followed by a huge flaky and delicious popover to hold you over before your appetizers / entree make their debut (these are still very good). They also removed our favorite passionfruit non-sweetened ice tea from the menu which was disappointing. Our advice is go for lunch and stick to the salads!
Favorite Dishes: Crab Salad, Applewood Salmon Salad, Mariposa Burger, Lobster BLT, and Seared Diver Scallops.
Atmosphere: I just love the ambiance at Mariposa’s and Nieman Marcus in general. The restaurant is located on the third floor and has a beautiful view of Ala Moana beach park and ocean. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating which is nice for versatility. The restaurant is large and in-charge with tropical vibrant art and beautiful ceiling fans. The moment you walk into Mariposa you feel like you are in a luxurious and tropical hot spot of food and culture. I find lunch a nicer overall experience than dinner – the day light and the lunch crowd are more casual and its an overall more pleasant experience than dinner.
Consistency: Again lately Mariposa hasnt been so memorable. Its been consistntly ok but the atmopshere is amazing and we still enjoy going. I hope that it returns to its usual mouth watering food. I think they need a menu refresh and until that happens we are lowering them from a 4 star to a 3 star.
Parking:Parking is as easy as pie since Mariposa is located at the Ala Moana Shopping Center in Nieman Marcus. Literally you can enter the mall from any entrance point and find ample parking somewhere – best news it’s free! Another option if you are looking to impress someone or late for a date you can use the valet service offered at Nieman Marcus.
Price Range: Medium ($14-$24) per Entree
Corkage Fee $25 per Bottle
Reservations Recommended
Take Out Available
Hale ‘Aina Award Winner!
Address:
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96814
Tel: (808) 951-3420
Website: /http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/info/store.jhtml?storeId=31/AM&rest=200074&_requestid=27352
Hours of Operation:
Open for Lunch & Dinner Daily 11 a.m. – 9 p.m
 Shrimp Salad |
 Crab Salad |
 Seafood Pasta |
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 Salmon |
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Tags: 5 Corks, Ala Moana Center Restaurant, Asian Pacific, Contemporary Food, free parking, Honolulu Restaurant Review, private chef hawaii
Posted in Asian Pacific, Contemporary, Restaurants | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Overall:
Service: Service is always pleasant at Indigo’s. The staff wears cool Balinese looking uniforms which match the decor of the restaurant which is always fun. The bar tenders in particular are always very attentive and make the best drinks! overall the staff is very good unless you go on First Friday when the crowds take over.
Food: The food at Indigo’s is a bit of a mesh between Asian, Mediterranean and French with an modern island spin. The menu has a good variety of dishes including interesting hot appetizers, salads, fish, and poultry – It is recommended to go for lunch and try the buffet instead of going for dinner. The lunch menu is very limited but if you get the buffet it is a good deal and you won’t be disappointed (note you cannot order from the dinner menu at lunch). They also have one of the most fantastic happy hours in town with over 30 Martinis to choose from all for only $4. It truly is Martini Madness and a great place for Pau Hana with friends after work (beers $3 and discount on Appetizers as well).
Favorite Dishes: For Lunch – Roasted Tomato Garlic Crab Soup (YUM!), or the best is to get the $15.95 lunch buffet – delicious assortment of cooked vegetables, seasonal composed salads, fresh fish, chicken, noddles, potatoes, pizza, hummus and at times warm appetizers. For Dinner – Tempura Ahi Roll, Watercress Salad, and Steamed Fish with Sizzling scallion oil
Atmosphere: Love Love Love the atmosphere at Indigo’s! Its so unique that nothing on the island compares to it. The restaurant has various seating areas all showcasing a different experience. The main dinning area has high ceilings and very modern tropical art & furniture. My personal favorite is the outdoor patio seating which feels a bit like Bali and you can enjoy a glass of wine as you can gaze over the garden outside. There are also two other bar areas and the Green Room is a wonderful place to meet friends after work and enjoy happy hour (Martinis to dye for! – big and cold) or for the late night crowed they have a dance room in the back.
Consistency: Lunch and Happy Hour are consistently terrific at Indigo’s. Great place to take an out of town guest if you go downtown for any reason!
Parking: Yup parking is not pleasant downtown but there are ample municipal parking structures you can select from. The cheapest one is located on Beretania on the right hand size of the street right after you pass Nuuanu Street (NOTE: this parking garage closes at 12pm and your car will be locked in so if you park here – make it an early night). Also Indigo’s has a valet service for $5-$6 dollars which is attractive at night when its harder to find a parking space.
Price Range: Medium ($10-$22) per Entree
Corkage Fee $15 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted
Catering & Take Out Available
Happy Hour!
Address:
1121 Nu’uanu Avenue,
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 521-2900
Website: www.indigo-hawaii.com
For more information on INDIGO catering please call 808.521.2900 or contact Bob Grossberger at Indigobob@hotmail.com.
Hours of Operation:
Lunch
Tue-Fri: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Happy Hour
Tue-Fri: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat: 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Dinner
Tue-Thu: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri-Sat: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Bar
Tue: 5 p.m. – Midnight
Wed-Sat: 5 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Closed Sun and Mon
Tags: Asian Pacific, Downtown Honolulu Restaurant, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Late Night, Valet Parking
Posted in Asian Pacific, Bars, French, Happy Hour, Mediterranean, Night Club, Restaurants | No Comments »
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is wonderful at the new Side Street Inn on Da Strip! from the moment the valet opened the car door, to the moment we were seated the service was excellent. The staff was smiling, happy, and down right pleasant through the entire meal. Its rare to find such good service and it commendable!
Food: The food is served family style so its the perfect place to go with lots of friends & family for pupus or dinner. The menu is very typical of a local style restaurant with lots of Asian and Island flavors, lots of meat dishes, appetizers and overall good grindz. Each dish was served hot, fresh and in a timely manner so its no wonder the place was packed!
Favorite Dishes: Nalo Green Salad (big and delicious), Pork Chops, Hoisin BBQ Baby Back Ribs (all ribs are just delicious!), Garlic Soy Beans, and drum roll….Peanut Butter Crunch dessert. Sooooo freaken good! (Tip: Don’t order the fried rice, its very heavy and not very crispy)
Atmosphere: The new side street in has a great atmosphere. The restaurant has ample seating and airy high ceilings prefect for absorbing all the noise. The Side Street in has both booth and table seating making it a very homey, bright and modern restaurant you can feel comfortable wearing anything in.
Consistency: We have only been to this new location once but the food is consistently tasty with the other Side Street Inn location on 1225 Hopaka St.
Parking: Oh the parking… yes not our favorite part of the evening seeing as the only convenient place to park is the valet service provided by the restaurant at a $5 fee without tip! Don’t get me wrong… I’ll pay for valet but if I eat at the restaurant I hope to get a better deal than $7-$8 per a visit. Of course you can always find free street parking on Kapahulu if your lucky.
Price Range: Medium ($8-$20-Market Price) per Entree
No BYOB Allowed
Reservations Recommended
Take Out Available
Address:
614 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: (808) 591-0253 or 596-8282
Website: www.sidestreetinn.com
1225 Hopaka St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
Tel:(808) 591-0253 or 596-8282
Hours of Operation:
Hopaka St – Sunday – Saturday 2:00 pm – 2:00 am
Da Strip – Please call restaurant as hours for new location are TBD
 Steamed Fresh Fish |
 Pork Chop |
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Tags: Honolulu Restaurant Review, Kapahulu Restaurant, Local Kine Grindz, Valet Parking
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Bars, Breakfast / Brunch, Hawaiian, Local Kine Grindz, Restaurants | No Comments »
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service was so so at the Kaimana Beach Hotel. The staff is def union and we had some old timers serving us. They where all very friendly, local and personable, however, they where not very fast or gave good recommendations. That being said they did refund our crappy appetizer which we appreciated.
Food: The food is ok. The fresh fish was good and brought the overall dining experience up. The vegetables where cooked perfectly and the portion size was way above average and I would defiantly go back for the dish.
Favorite Dishes: Fresh Opakapaka with steamed vegetables (TIP: Do not order the Chefs Ocean Trio! gross)
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is prob the best thing going for this restaurant. Yes the furniture is VERY dated – think 60′s – bright pink table clothes that are super run down and rinky-dink tables and chairs. However, the restaurant sites ocean front and is shaded by a beautiful Hau Tree where Robert Louis Stevenson use to sit and write. At one time this restaurant was most likely IN and charming but now it looks like it needs a serious make over! If you visit either look up at the tree or out over the ocean and no where else!
Consistency: We have only been once for dinner so far but once we return promise to update this portion.
Parking: The restaurant is located at the Kaimana Beach Hotel so you can valet the car and get validation. Or you can park at Kaimana Beach park and walk.
Price Range: High ($25-$39) per Entree
Corkage Fee:
Reservations Accepted
Address:
The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel.
Hau Tree Restaurant
2863 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: (808) 923-1555 / Fax: (808) 922-9404
Website: http://www.kaimana.com/hautreelanai_2.htm
Hours of Operation:
Breakfast: 7 am – 10:45 am
Lunch: 11:45 am to 2 pm (Mon. – Sat.)
Sundays Lunch: 12 pm – 2 pm
Dinner: 5:30 pm – 9 pm
Tags: Asian Pacific, Hotel Resturant, Ocean View, Valet Parking, Waikiki Resturant
Posted in Asian Pacific, Breakfast / Brunch | No Comments »
Thursday, April 15th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is the only thing really lacking at this restaurant. Typically the staff is very helpful and friendly however, super slow to take your order and follow up with drink refills and other requests (i.e. by the time extra ketchup arrived at the table we had already devoured the fries!). The bar has much better service and if your aiming for more of a eat & shop experience that’s where you should sit.
Food: The food is delicious at Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room! The food is inspired by fresh local grown ingredients and diverse cultures in Hawaii. The food is fresh and definitely speaks to Pacific & Hawaii Regional Cuisine.
Favorite Dishes: Garlic Stir-fried Soy Beans, Steamed “Chinese Style” Onaga, Any Fresh Fish Dish, “Pineapple Room” Ceaser Salad (like a chopped salad with Kailua Pork), Seared Ahi Steak & Tofu Salad (TIP: ask for two pieces of Tofu instead of the Ahi Steak its the star of the dish), Kailua Pig “BLT”, Hamburger with French Fries (ask for them extra crispy), and the Chocolate Crunch Bar.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere of the pineapple room is light, tropical and elegant. They do an excellent job of including Hawaiian textures and prints into the featured artwork as well as the furniture/kitchen. The restaurant has wonderful windows that give nice day light to the dinning area. You can also sit at the bar if you like which is faster and and also very pleasant but not quite as Hawaiian in its feel.
Consistency: The pineapple rooms food is consistently good and the service is consistently slow!
Parking: One of the many advantages of going to this restaurant is its located in Macy’s at Ala Moana Shopping Center. To avoid the parking frenzy that can occur at this shopping hub we recommend going directly to the third floor of the garage and park as close to Macy’s as you can. Parking is free anywhere in the mall and the roof is usually pretty open (TIP: If you are a shade junky beware the third floor is not covered!)
Price Range: Medium ($15-$26) per Entree
Corkage Fee: $15 per bottle
(NOTE: You cannot bring wine that restaurant serves on there wine list)
Reservations Recommended
Address:
1450 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu HI, 96814
Phone Number: 808.945.6573
Fax: 808.945.5246
Website: www.alanwongs.com/
Hours of Operation:
Breakfast: (weekends only)
Sat: 8AM-10:30AM Sun: 9am-10:30am
Lunch: Mon-Sat: 11AM-4PM Sun: 11am-3pm
Dinner: Mon-Sat: 4pm-8:30pm
 Salmon Rissotto |
 Onaga Fresh Fish |
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 Daily Special |
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Tags: Asian Pacific, free parking, Honolulu Restaurant Review
Posted in Asian Pacific, Contemporary, Hawaiian, Restaurants | 30 Comments »
Monday, March 29th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service was exceptional at Apartment 3. Even when the night crowd started to filter in our waitress was on top of her game. As she bobbed and weaved through people she never forgetting our orders or missing a beat. The bartenders are also top notch and mix up some delicious drinks.
Food: Apartment3 has a very interesting menu and takes modern play on traditional comfort foods such as Ratatouille, Mac & Cheese and French Onion Soup and integrates locally and sustainably ingredients to make dynamic and bold dishes. Happy Hour is one of the best in town with $5 specialty drinks, $4 drafts, and $5 pizzas to name a few. (TIP: Tuesday night is Happy Hour All Night!)
Favorite Dishes: Beet Salad (amazing!), The Yard Sale, Cheese & Honey, Stacked Ratatouille, and The Parma thin Crusted Pizza. (TIP: All the appetizers are large enough to share and only $5 each for happy hour – making it one of the best deals in town!)
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is very cozy, classy and inviting. The room is very dark, lounge like and features a fireplace in the bar area. Apartment 3 also has pool tables and a special room for private parties. The main dinning room is off to the side of the bar and not quite as exciting as the lounge but has nice booth seating if your looking for a more intimate dinning experience. It’s not a very casual place so if you want to fit in you should dress to impress anytime after 8pm.
Consistency: The food and experience has been consistently strong since they opened. It continues to be one of our favorite places to go meet people after work as they have such a great happy hour, good music and friendly staff.
Parking: Apartment3 is located at the Century Center which has about 20 guest stalls which you can park in. The restaurant/bar also validates so the parking is free which makes this a very convenient place to go 
Price Range: Medium ($9-$24) per Entree
Corkage Fee $25 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted & Recommended
(For Dinner in the Main Dinning Room Only)
Address:
1750 Kalakaua Ave
3rd Floor
Honolulu, HI 96826
Phone Number: (808) 955-9300
Email: hello@apartmentthree.com
Website: www.apartmentthree.com
Hours of Operation:
Tue – Fri: 6pm – 2am | Sat: 7pm – 2am
Happy Hour Daily till 8pm (All day Tuesday)
Food served until 12:30am
Tags: Bar, Contemporary Food, free parking, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Late Night, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Bars, Contemporary, Happy Hour, Night Club, Restaurants | 9 Comments »
Friday, March 26th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service can be slow at Mermaid Bar but the staff is really friendly and as long as you are not in a rush its a great option for lunch.
Food: The food is Contemporary and seasonally inspired. The menu selection is simple with soups, salads and sandwiches but the Mermaid bar offers unique twist on the classics making it dynamic. Also the desserts are made fresh daily and irresistibly good if you are in the mood for a afternoon coffee and pastry to share with friends.
Favorite Dishes: Custom – Build Your Own Salad, NM Sampler, Turkey Chili and the Spa Wrap. (TIP: Oxtail Soup is the special every Thursday and is delicious but they always sell out so go no later than 12pm or be prepared to order something else!)
Atmosphere: Mermaid Bar is a contemporary, small, bright and airy restaurant. It’s the perfect place to go for lunch while your out shopping. The restaurant is very casual and has excellent day light. The art is also very unique and trendy.
Consistency: The restaurant has consistent good food. Often times the salad size varies along with the number of toppings but the food is fresh, good and what you are expecting every time.
Parking: The restaurant is located at Ala Moana Shopping Center in Neiman Marcus so you can park for free anywhere at the mall. Neiman Marcus also offers valet parking.
Price Range: Low ($10-$14) per Entree
Corkage Fee $ per Bottle
Reservations Not Accepted
Address:
Ala Moana Shopping Ctr, Level Two
Neiman Marcus
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone Number: (808) 951-3428
Website: www.neimanmarcus.com/store/info/store.jhtml?storeId=31/AM&rest=200078&_requestid=42697
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sat – 11am-3:30pm
Sunday Closed
 Salmon Salad |
 Smoked Salmon Panini |
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 Oxtail Soup |
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Tags: Ala Moana Center Restaurant, American Food, Asian Pacific, Bistro, free parking, Honolulu Restaurant Review
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Bistro, Contemporary, Restaurants | No Comments »
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is not very good at Panya Bistro. More than once our server forgot our appetizer which was disappointing. It also appears they only have two servers working at a time making it almost impossible to get a refill on your drink, and even paying the check can become a chore!
Food: The food is good. The menu is very interesting and borrows items from around the globe. You can a wide range of foods such as Vietnamese Summer Rolls, New England Clam Chowder, Spaghetti, Char Siu Ramen, or even Miso Soup and Curry! (Tip: Panya is also a walk-in bakery with cakes, breads and wonderful pastries!)
Favorite Dishes: Thai Style Rib Eye Steak Salad, Tofu Salad, Panya Burger, Homemade Gyoza, and Green Beans.
Atmosphere: The restaurant is very trendy, small and chic. The decor is minimalistic and the bar has a beautiful recycled counter top and cool glass bottles illuminate on the wall. The restaurant is small and very popular so it can be hard to go with big groups.
Consistency: Panya’s food is contestant and a good recommendation for a trendy lunch date with a friend.
Parking: Panya has a great location right next to Longs in Ala Moana Shopping Center. Parking is free anywhere in the mall and typically you can find parking on the second floor (close to Sears & Longs) and walking to the Bistro/Bakery.
Price Range: Medium ($8-$18) per Entree
Corkage Fee $20 per Bottle
Take Out Available
Reservations Not Needed
Address:
Panya Bakery, Bistro & Bar
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Ala Moana Center, 2054B
Honolulu, HI 96814 USA
Phone: (808) 946-6388
Website: http://panyabakery.com/
Hours of Operation:
M-Sat: 7:30am-11:00pm
Sun: 8:00am-10:00pm
Tags: Ala Moana Center Restaurant, Asian Pacific, Bistro, Contemporary Food, free parking, Honolulu Restaurant Review
Posted in American, Asian Pacific, Bistro, Contemporary, Restaurants | No Comments »
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is so so – that being said we have had much better service for dinner than for lunch.
Food: The food is contemporary, fun and delicious! The trend is organic and island fresh with an Italian /Mediterranean twist. Town often changes the menu which keeps things entertaining. The entree dishes are not big enough for sharing but it is recommended to order few appetizers for the table to sample for fun if you are not exceptionally hungry. (TIP: If you go for lunch and are craving a salad be warned its the size of a small appetizer! you need to order the “Big” salad or stop at Tamura’s for some Poki on your way home!)
Favorite Dishes: Ahi Cake, Arugula Salad, Fresh Fish, Hand Cut Pastas & Gnocchi are quite good.
Atmosphere: The restaurant is very hip and chic. You can sit both outside (dog friendly) or inside. The acoustics are not so great so if the restaurant is full be ready to yell to your friends to be heard. The restaurant is both casual and classy so you can dress up if you like or go as you are depending on your dinning engagement and company.
Consistency: Dinner is consistently good but we have had a few painfully slow and not very good lunches.
Parking: Town has a 30-car private parking lot in the back but you need to have “parkma” to get a spot as its also shared with another restaurant. You can also find ample free street parking is once the lot is full typically without problems.
Price Range: Medium ($15-$30) per Entree
Corkage Fee: $15 per bottle
Take Out Available
Reservations Recommended
Address:
3435 Waialae Ave
Honululu, HI 96816
Call For Reservations: (808) 735-5900
or Email: info@townkaimuki.com
Website: http://www.townkaimuki.com
Hours of Operation:
Breakfast: Monday – Saturday: 6:30am – 11:00am
Lunch: Monday – Saturday: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Dinner: Monday – Thursday: 5:30pm – 9:30pm, Friday – Saturday: 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Tags: free parking, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Italian Food, Kaimuki Restaurant
Posted in Asian Pacific, Contemporary, Italian, Mediterranean, Restaurants | 1 Comment »
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