Archive for the ‘Bars’ 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 »
Sunday, July 29th, 2012
Overall Review:
Service: The service is good at Chili’s at Kahala Mall which is about the only thing that this restaurant has going for it. Every time we have gone to Chili’s (a handfull of times) the staff have been really friendly but not to bright. The last time when we had really fishy salmon and the waitress though that they caught it fresh in Hawaii (Honey Salmon doesn’t grow here!) but she did take $10 off the total which was appreciated since it was practical uneatable and was priced at $26.
Food: The food is slightly above fast food but priced like it was a first class establishment! The salads look more dead than alive and they charge you an extra $2 for a side salad which is ridiculous when its straight out of a bag, limp and partially brown. All the food and seafood is poor quality but what can you expect when you use cheap ingredients? The food is below average and very inconsistent. The ribs are tasty but there is hardly any meat on the bone. Everything you order is just bland or really bad. Burger King has better food than Chili’s! The biggest problem is that the price tag doesn’t match the food quality so every time you eat at Chili’s you feel like you have been raked over coals. The last time we ate there was so bad that we swore to never go again unless we are drinking margaritas at the bar. Our advice… heat up an Amy’s lasagna or eat an apple and you will have a far better experience than going to Chili’s (its worth waiting for a table at CPK or the Counter. You will end up eating better food and saving money). Chili’s also has a crappy happy hour. Booooo Chili’s!
Favorite Dishes: Dry Rub Ribs (Full Rack don’t get a combo), Santa Fee Chicken Salad, and the Hamburgers.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is meeeeehhhhh at Chili’s. The tables are old and could use a makeover. The lights are low over the booths and so bright that you feel like you are being grilled at the police station which is really annoying and hard to enjoy dinner (specially if you are sensitive to light and get headaches easliy). Overall the bar has a better feel to it than the regular restaurant but the whole place could use a fresh coat of paint and some new decor besides TVs.
Consistency: They are very consistency overpriced and terrible.
Parking: Parking is easy at Chili’s in Kahala mall. If you go during the day you can park right out front, if you go later at night you need to be a bit lucker or you can always park on the roof or over by Macy’s and walk.
Price Range: Medium-High ($11.99-$26) per Entree
No BYOB Allowed
Reservations Not Necessary
Take Out Available
Happy Hour
Address:
4211 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
Tel: (808) 738-5773
Website: http://www.chilis.com/EN/Pages/home.aspx
Hours of Operation:
Sun-Thursday:11:00am-10:00pm
Fri-Sat:11:00am-11:00pm
Happy Hour
Mon-Friday 2:30-6pm in Bar only or Patio ($2 off drafts, $2 off appetizers, $1 off glasses of wine, and $2 off margaritas)
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 Combo Ribs & Shrimp |
 Combo Ribs & Salmon |
 Baby Back Ribs |
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 Side Salad |
 Chicken Fajitas |
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 Fajita Sides |
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Tags: 1 Cork, American Food, free parking, Kahala Restaurant, No BYOB, Ribs
Posted in American, Bars, Fast Food, Restaurants | No Comments »
Friday, April 6th, 2012
Overall Review:
Service: The service is not bad at Dave & Busters at Ward Centers but its all about timing and location. The bottom restaurant has pretty good service and is more formal while the upstairs is not quite as reliable but it is almost like an extension of the bar, much more casual. Regardless where you sit the staff is usually pretty friendly and young (this isnt always a good thing). We have had some pretty bad serivcie as well… but its pretty rare so we will leave the gorey details out.
Food: Dave & Busters certainly isn’t going to win any awards for mouth watering food but it is consistant. It’s like dinner food, its good but its not something you fantasize about later and can’t wait to go and order again. The typical things you find on the menu are… (you guessed it) Hambergers, Fish, Sandwiches, Salads, Ribs, Fries, Wings, Steaks… bar food that could use a bit more seasoning overall! The best part is that there is something for everyone. They do have happy hour and some special events like Taco Tuesday which is fun and worth checking out for some drinks, music and grinds with friends.
Favorite Dishes: French Fries, Spinach Dip, Fire Grilled Salmon, Baby Back Ribs, Chicken Fingers (for the kids) and Apple Pecan Salad.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is nice both upstairs and downstairs. Downstairs dinning is quieter and nice and bright with large glass windows and high ceilings. Upstairs is more of a game room / bar feel like a dark whole in the wall. The seating upstairs is booth style and is more of what you would expect at a traditional arcade. Dave’n'Busters also has a top roof bar which is very nice and tropical with a cool breeze and partially covered roof.
Consistency: They are very consistency average. You get what you are expecting most of the time but there have been a few low points in the past 5 years, and fewer high points were they surprise you with something “out of the box” delicious.
Parking: Parking is one of the best reasons to go to Dave’n'Busters at Ward Centers. They have ample parking at Ward Centers for free. If you get frustrated on a busy weekend (the movie theater is right next to the restaurant so some weekends can get a bit crazy) for $5 you can park in valet on the second floor of the parking structure.
Price Range: Medium-High ($9-$30) per Entree
No BYOB Allowed
Reservations Accepted Downstairs
Take Out Available
Happy Hour!
Special Events & Entertainment
Address:
1030 Auahi St
Honolulu ,HI 96814
Tel: (808) 589-2215
Website: http://www.daveandbusters.com
Hours of Operation:
Sun-Tues:11:00am-1:00am
Wed:11:00am-2:00am
Thur:11:00am-1:00am
Fri-Sat:11:00am-2:00am
Happy Hour
Mon-Fr 4:30-7pm
1/2 Price Cocktails
Beer & Wine Specials
Late Night Happy Hour
Sun-Thurs 10pm-Close
1/2 Price Cocktails
Beer & Wine Specials
Power Hour
Mon-Fr 4:30-7pm
60 minutes of video
game play for only $10
 Cheeseburger |
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 Parmesan Sandwich |
 Steak Salad |
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 Southwest Chicken Sala |
 BBQ Chicken Salad |
 Chicken Fingers |
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Tags: Free Entertainment, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, No BYOB, ward centers restaurant
Posted in American, Bars, Night Club, Restaurants | No Comments »
Friday, March 2nd, 2012
Overall: 
Service: The service is usually good at Gordon Biersh but it can be slow when it gets really busy you just have to hope you get a good waiter. The appetizers come out pretty quickly so order some for the table when you site down so you don’t get fussy (Oh and a few drinks!).
Food: The food is pretty good at Gordon Bierch in Honolulu. It’s nothing fancy or really exciting but its classic American food and it delivers on its promise. The ingredients are fresh and prepared with care. It’s a great place to go with kids and their is truly something on the menu for everyone. They also have a great Happy Hour Mon-Wed (4-6:30pm) with discounted appetizers only $5-$11 range and $1-$2 OFF Lagers, Ales and Wines by the glass. To top it off you can get a premium cocktail for only $5 making this a local favorite hangout.
Favorite Dishes: Southwest Egg Rolls, Gorgonzola Pear Salad, Southwest Chicken Sandwhich, Fresh Fish, Cajun Pasta, New York Strip (with Gorgonzola!), Burgers, Garlic Fries, Beers of course!
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Gordon Biersch is awesome AND it was the first brewery in Hawaii. They are located right on the water and the view is both pristine and amazing. They have live music most evenings and its always a happening place to go with friends for dinner or pupus after work. Even lunch is nice and relaxing… it’s the perfect place to go for a stay-cation and enjoy Hawaii like you where on holiday.
Consistency: It’s pretty consistently fun and good. Whenever you go you get what you are expecting and our nieces and nephews love it.
Parking: The offer validated parking at Gordon Beirsch for 3 hours. If you valet you still have to pay a percentage of the total even WITH a validation so keep that in mind.
Price Range: Medium ($10:50-$28:50) per Entree
Corkage Fee $20 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted
Take Out Available
Happy Hour
Live Music Entertainment
Address:
1 Aloha Tower Dr # 1123
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel: (808) 599-4877
Website: http://www.gordonbiersch.com/default.aspx
Check website for detailed live entertainment schedule each week.
Hours of Operation:
Restaurant Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Happy Hour:
Monday-Wednesday: 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
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 Cob Salad |
 Crab & Artichoke |
 Chicken Sandwich |
Tags: American Food, Brewery, Downtown Honolulu Restaurant, Free Entertainment, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Pasta & Pizza, Personal Chef Hawaii
Posted in American, Bars, Brewery, Happy Hour, Night Club, Restaurants | No Comments »
Friday, November 25th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The Service was average at Harbor Pub & Pizza. The waitress was friendly and remembered our order which is all I guess we can really hope for a hole in the wall bar. The place could have used a good scrub down (specially the bathrooms yikes!) but overall it was ok. That being said, we have had friends who have had pretty bad service so its really a crap shoot.
Food: The food is ok at Harbor Pub & Pizza in Waikiki. They are known for their pizza (hence the name of the establishment) and what’s nice is you can order a half / half of different kinds of pizza so everyone at the table wins! They also serve brunch which is nice but if you go we would recommend sticking to the pizza & salads.
Favorite Dishes: Spinach & Garlic Pizza, BBQ Chicken Pizza, and Greek Salad
Atmosphere: Ok to be perfectly honest its a dive bar. Nothing fancy about it and thats ok because it doesn’t promise to be. They have a small bar and about 5-7 tables in the back. There are a few large TV’s which they play sports and surfing on so its a good place to go if you are super hung over and want to hid from the world and not be seen my anyone you know.
Consistency: We have been a few times for drinking and its consistently a hole in the wall. However, it’s fun and has a good crowed. This is the type of place you go for a very low key drink and snack and you def get what your expecting as long as you don’t expect to much!
Parking: Harbor Pub & Pizza has validated parking or you can park in metered spaces across the street close to the Ala Moana Harbor.
Price Range: Medium ($15-$25) per Entree
NO BYOB
Reservations Not Accepted
Take Out Available – ADD $0.50
Address:
1765 Ala Moana Blvd # 1
Honolulu, HI 96815-1486
Tel: (808) 941-0985
Website:http://www.harborpubpizza.com/Welcome_to_Harbor_Pub_Pizza.html/
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Sunday – 7 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Happy Hour – 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
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 Greek Salad |
 Spinach & BBQ Chicken Pizza |
 Ambiance |
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Tags: Ala Moana Blvd Restaurant Review, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, No BYOB, Pizza, Sports Bar, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in American, Bars, Breakfast / Brunch, Happy Hour, Hole In The Walls, Restaurants | 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 »
Friday, October 21st, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service is very good at Cha Cha Cha Salsaria in Hawaii Kai. The staff is really genuine and super nice. Both times we have been so far they where very attentive and you could really feel that they where excited to service you. Unfortunately the manager we can’t say the same thing about. We had two coupons which we thought expired in 2012 but turned out to expire in 2011. It was 5 weeks expired and we asked if we could use just one of the two by any chance (totaling $25). We understand they are expired but we ordered plenty of food and drinks and they already got the money from us for the GC’s so its not like it would have hurt them financially to let us use at least one of them. The server was so sweet and really stuck up for us. The manager however had a stick up his you know what!
Food: The food is hit or miss at Cha Cha Cha. The cobb cajun shrimp salad was terrific and the salsa was to die for (both types both Pineapple and regular) where fresh and had a really good bite. The enchilada and tacos however where pretty average. The enchilada casing was kind of gummy and even the salsa verde wasn’t very memorable. They do have a Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm and brunch on Sundays which is nice so maybe come for drinks (the perfect margarita was terrific) and just enjoy some pupus and the view.
Favorite Dishes: Cobb Cajun Shrimp Salad, Free Salsa, Margarita
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Cha Cha Cha Salsaria is by far the best thing going for this restaurant. It’s located on the Harbor in Hawaii Kai right next to The Shack and is just beautiful. The restaurant has both inside and outside seating and guests are invited to grab a menu and find there own seats which is nice and feels empowering. The inside has mexican themed artwork and a cute little bar. It’s absolutely a good place to meet friends for a casual bite or drinks while enjoying the sunset and beautiful Hawaii weather.
Consistency: Both times we have been the margaritas and shrimp salad where just delicious. The other items where nothing special but may have been consistent we are not sure because we didn’t give them a second chance. We hear that brunch is good so will try that and update this review.
Parking: Cha Cha Cha’s has free parking at the Hawaii Kai shopping plaza so you shouldnt have trouble getting a spot unless you go on the weekend and fight with Safeway shoppers.
Price Range: Low-Medium ($7.95-$18.95) per Entree
Corkage Fee $10 per Bottle
Reservations Not Accepted
Take Out Available
Happy Hour Deals!
Address:
77 Keahole St. C-1A
Honolulu, HI 96825
Tel: (808) 395-7707
Website: http://www.chachachasalsaria.com/
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday Brunch 9 a.m. to 2 pm
Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm and All Night On Tuesday
 Chip & Salsa |
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 Chicken & Beef Enchiladas |
 Pork Taco |
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 Cajun Shrimp Salad |
 Fish Tacos |
 Perfect Margarita |
Tags: free parking, Happy Hour, Hawaii Kai Restaurant Review, Mexican Food, Ocean Views
Posted in Bars, Breakfast / Brunch, Mexican | No Comments »
Monday, September 5th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service at Salt is typically very good. Every once and a while you will get slow service upstairs but most of the time its excellent. The staff is very knowledgeable (especially the bartenders!) and very nice overall.
Food: The food is very good at Salt Kitchen & Tasting Bar on Waialae avenue. The menu consists of tapas, a few burger/ sandwiches and seasonal entree items. The tapas are not spanish in theme but more like a mixture of fusion and italian with items like cheese & meat plates, ahi bites, stuffed tuna peppers, fried egg, fresh beet and arugula salads, squid ink pasta (a favorite of ours), Taco, Butter Gnocchi and some other interesting and unique items like the pork stuffed calamari. It’s the type of place you go with a group and share so you can try a little of this, and a little of that. They also have a large wine list (but where out of a few key choices) – keep in mind the corkage fee is a whopping $50 per a bottle! the highest so far in Hawaii we have encountered so you are better off drinking what the restaurant has to offer which is a lovely assortment of drinks including Whiskey Business, and the Chilango which is a tequila drink with grape fruit juice, oranges and mexican chili flakes for a kick. They are soooo good and on Happy hour they are only $6 per drink. Also we noticed that sometimes it was cheaper to drink the wines by the glass than to order a bottle which was pretty strange so watch out for that as well.
Favorite Dishes: Beet Salad, Cheese & Fig plate, Butter Gnocchi, Taco, Squid Ink Pasta (when they have it), Fried Egg, Daily Crudo, Chevre cheesecake with Caramel Popcorn and the drinks of course!
Atmosphere: The ambiance is nice at Salt. THe downstairs i like a big sushi bar which seats facing the kitchen and the only table seating is upstairs and is very limited, only about 6-8 tables. The artwork is black and white photographs that where cool a few years ago (trendy) but a little out of touch now… they also have some interesting colored pig paintings which give the room a pop of color and really work with the black and white decor.
Consistency: Since it opened Salt has become a regular bar for us and our friends. They are open late and consistently the food, drinks and service are wonderful! The seasonal menus are very exciting and we love trying new things and bringing new people to experience Salt.
Parking: You can park in the Kaimuki shopping center for a pretty minor fee of about $1 per an hour (or on the side closest to Big City Dinner they have metered parking which is more expensive but also close by). If you are lucky you can find some street parking on Waialae but its not easy!
Price Range: Medium ($5 – $21) per Tapa
Corkage Fee $50 per Bottle!
Reservations Accepted Upstairs & Recommended (bar is open seating)
Take Out Available
Address:
3605 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
Tel: (808) 744-7567
Hours of Operation:
Dinner & Tapas – Monday-Sunday: 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.
 Assorted Meats |
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 Assorted Cheese’s |
 Daily Crudo & Beat Salad |
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 Pork Stuffed Calamari |
 Popcorn Goat Cheese Cake |
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 Bread Pudding |
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 Squid Ink Pasta
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Tags: 5 Corks, Appetizer, Honolulu Restaurant Review, street parking, Tapas bar, Waialae Restaurant, Wine Bar
Posted in Bars, Restaurants, Tapas, Wine Bar | No Comments »
Monday, August 29th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service was good at Jade Dynasty. Our waiter was a little pushy but in a nice way. He was attentive and went out of his way to let me know all the items on the menu that contained MSG which I really appreciated and made me trust this chinese restaurant above others in town. The last time we went , however, the food took forever to arrive! after about 50 minutes we had only recieved 2 dishes and had to ask for the rest in a doggy bag to make an appoinment.
Food: The food was good at Jade Dynasty overall. The vegetables where really well seasoned and cooked. For lunch they have traditional dim sum selections and you can also order off the menu. For dinner there is no dim sum but they have lots of items include chicken (lemon, cold, general tao’s, kung po, etc), peking duck, noodles, rice, pork, seafood (fresh crab, shrimp, prawns, whole steamed fish, lobster etc) , tofu and of course chinese vegetable dishes! We found the food very tasty overall but the most memorable items where the Choy Sum and Stir-Fry String Beans as they where extra crispy and fresh.
Favorite Dishes: Dim Sum – Fresh shrimp & spinach dumplings, signature shrimp dumplings, seafood bean curd roll, steamed BBQ pork buns, Dinner – Stir-fry minced meat with string beans and chii sauce (yummy!), Choy Sum with garlic sauce, and the curry Singaporean rice noodles.
Atmosphere: The restaurant is very clean and grand inside. The ceilings are extremely high and decorated with chandlers giving the restaurant an open feeling as well as reduce the noise factor when busy during the dim sum rush. The decor is black, gold and red and they have very limited artwork inside. The restaurant is large overall and has plenty of tables for larger groups as well as booth seating, in fact they have 7 private rooms available making this a great place to book a party!
Consistency: We have only been twice so far, once for dim sum and once for dinner… so far so good on the food! the owners of the Jade Dynasty also own 20 restaurants in Hong Kong so they must know what they are doing. However, the second time the service was super slow sooo hopefully that was just a fluke
Parking: Jade Dynasty is located at the Ala Moana shopping center so there is plenty of free parking at your finger tips. The restaurant is located close to Mai Tai bar and the parking right outside Norstroms on the third level. We recommend parking there and then taking the elevator or escalator next to Pearl to the restaurant on the fourth floor (3 above ground).
Price Range: Low-Medium ($2.95 – $7.95) for Dim Sum & ($11.95-$48.00 or Market Price) per Entree
Corkage Fee $5-$10 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted
Take Out Available
Happy Hour Drinks Till 6pm
Address:
Ala Moana Shopping Center 4th Fl
1450 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
Tel: (808) 947-8818
Website: http://jadedynastyhawaii.com
Hours of Operation:
10:30 a.m.- 5.pm for Dim Sum
5 p.m – 10 p.m for Dinner Daily
Happy Hour Drinks Half OFF Till 6pm
 Garlic Choy Sum |
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 Singaporean Noodles |
 Pork String Beans |
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Tags: Ala Moana Center Restaurant, Chinese Food, Dim Sum, free parking, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Seafood
Posted in Chinese, Happy Hour, Restaurants | 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 »
Saturday, July 16th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service was good at Home Bar & Grill on Kalakaua ave. Both our servers where really nice, cute and really stayed on top of our groups service. Often times with a large group the service can be slow or some people’s dishes / drinks are not right but this was not the case with Home Bar & Grill which was just great.
Food: The food at Home Bar & Grill is typical bar local style cuisine. Items you can expect to find on the menu include grilled meats, fries, poke, kim chee, salads, loco moco, burgers, seafood and even chicken gizzards. The menu also includes a Home Bar & Grill Burger Challenge featuring three 8oz kulana burger patties with cheese, bacon, sauteed onions, mushrooms, fried egg and a pound of fries. If you can finish it in 15 minutes you get it for FREE. Its a fun local spot with good bar food variety and flavor-full food.
Favorite Dishes: Pork Chop, Parmesan Truffle Fries, Garlic Soy Beans (edamame), and the tater tot nachos.
Atmosphere: The restaurant is the old Slammers and they didn’t really do much to change the inside of the restaurant. It’s kind of run down looking with miss matched chairs and tables. The ambiance is dark and is the type of place you would meet some friends late night for grindz or maybe even a secret lover! haha
Consistency: This was the first time we went but will update this section next time. We do have some friends who say its consistently good for drinks and pupu’s after work though!
Parking: They have a valet parking private lot out front with a few limited spaces….or you can try to find street parking but be careful late at night because the area is a bit ghetto after dark.
Price Range: L0w ($9-$26) per Entree
No BYOB Allowed
Reservations Accepted
Take Out Available
Address:
1683 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96826
Tel: (808) 942-2237
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sun: Dinner & Pupu’s 2 p..m – 2 a.m.
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 Rib Eye |
 Pork Chop |
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 Truffle Fries |
Tags: Hamburgers, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Kalakaua Restaurant, Late Night, Local Kine Grindz, No BYOB, Valet Parking
Posted in American, Bars, Happy Hour, 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, June 20th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service was a bit slow at Luibueno’s in Haleiwa but since the restaurant is in the North Shore I guess its more normal and we should cut them a little slack. They are a bit less “rushed” on the country side of the island so I guess its to be expected. The staff was very nice / friendly and they did get our order right. The only really strange thing was you have to wait outside of the restaurant to be seated which was a little awkward.
Food: The food was a traditional mix of Mexican & Spanish. The menu consists of a large variety of Paellas, Ceviche, Salads, Soups, Burritos, Quesadillas, Entrees and of course TACOS! The menu has lots of fresh fish and seafood items which is nice to see specially since we are in Hawaii. The beans and rice could have used a little seasoning but the seafood was very fresh and well worth the price! They also offer Benuo Happy Hour deals on drinks and a lite menu selection everyday between 3-5pm & 9:30-10:30pm so try it out after work!
Favorite Dishes: Fisherman’s Warf Tacos (without the white sauce) but we would recommend just ordering two taco’s ala cart instead of the plate because we where not to impressed with the rice & beans.
Atmosphere: We really enjoyed the atmosphere at Luibueno’s. It has a unique feel with wooden tables both facing the window on an upper level, interior seating on the lower level and bar seating. Each wall has very nice artwork and a good flow to the layout. The restaurant isn’t very big but they do a good job of positioning the tables so many people can be seated without feeling really crammed or like you are sitting on top of your neighbor. The high ceilings add a nice ambiance to the establishment and make it a pleasant place to have a drink or grab a bite with your friends or family.
Consistency: This was the first time we have been to Luibueno’s because we got a Living Social coupon but we will update this section next time we visit which we are sure to because the fish tacos where just delicious.
Parking: They have free parking at Luibeno’s outside in the Haleiwa town center shopping area.
Price Range: Medium ($10.50-$25.95 / Market Price) per Entree
Corkage Fee $10-$15 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted
Take Out Available
Live Music Wednesday Night from 6-9pm.
Address:
In the Haleiwa Town Center
66-165 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, Hi 96712
Tel: (808) 637-7717
Website: http://luibueno.com/
Hours of Operation:
7 days a week
11 am-12 am
Bueno Happy Hours
3-5pm & 9:30-10:30pm
 Fisherman's Warf Tacos |
 Decor |
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 Bar |
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Tags: Free Entertainment, free parking, Haleiwa Restaurant Review, Happy Hour, Mexican Food, Seafood, Tacos
Posted in Bars, Happy Hour, Mexican, Restaurants | 2 Comments »
Monday, June 6th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The services started off really good at Sarento’s at the top of the Iliaki hotel with the wine sommelier who came right with our bred and wine list…. but after that it was down hill. At first we thought they where trying to give us a “relaxed” experience when we waiting for 10-15 minutes before even receiving a menu but then once the meal started the same service inadequacies carried through. After we ate our entrees it took at least 20 minutes for them to clear our plates and even longer to receive a check which we eventually had to asked 3 different waiters for because we needed to get to a show on time and our waiter was MIA.
Food: The food was very disappointing at Sarento’s! The menu looked really good but only 1 of the 4 things we ordered was very good. The menu is traditional Italian with lots of protein entrees and pastas but nothing was particularity mouth watering in fact, the seafood fra diavolio linguine pasta was a bit overcooked and the seafood it came with was pretty fishy. The stuffed pork chop was extremely dry (and it was stuffed with cheese so you would hope it would have a little moisture) and the best thing about ordering that dish was they brought my wife extra veggies on the side because she didn’t want the potatoes and they where really well cooked. Overall we ate the food because it was expensive and we where hungry but I would have been more satisfied eating at California Pizza Kitchen any day of the week. Another thing we feel compelled to mention is this pupu called the Ossa Bucco Potstickers which had a really strange and bitter taste & even worst aftertaste… we only ate the filling so stay far away from that if you go!
Favorite Dishes: The best thing we had besides the bread & hummus they served on the table was the Ahi Bruchetta which was very fresh and with a little salt quite memorable, light and delicious.
Atmosphere: The ambiance is the best thing going for Sarento’s and it has an unbeatable view over the ocean, diamond head and city of Honolulu. Each table has a unique view and really there is no bad seat in the establishment. One thing to mention is when we called to make our reservation they mentioned it was “Jazz night” and did we want to site in the Jazz section for an extra $10 cover charge. We declined the offer and then when we were seated found ourselves smack dab right behind the wall where the Jazz was playing. The band was very talented but the music was so loud we had to scream to each other across the table! they should either start the live band after 9pm or keep it a bit down so its still background music for the guests (specially if you ask not to be in what they call the “Jazz Section”).
Consistency: I would love to say we would be back to update this section but you couldn’t pay me enough money to give Sarento’s another shot in the near future. Maybe in a few years we will give it another whirl!
Parking: Sarento’s has valet parking at the Ilikai which they validate for you so you only need to pay $2 (plus tip) or you can park in the self parking lot in the Marina Parking off Hobron also for $2 with validation.
Price Range: Medium-High ($20-$38 or Market Price) per Entree
Corkage Fee $25 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted & Recommended
No Take Out Available
Live Music (Piano)
Address:
The Ilikai Hotel
1777 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Tel: (808) 955-5559
Website: http://www.tristarrestaurants.com/sarentos_top_of_i/
Hours of Operation:
Dinner Hours:
Sun – Thu 5:30pm – 9pm
Fri – Sat 5:30 – 9:30pm
Cocktails & Bar:
Sun – Thu 5pm – 11pm
Fri – Sat 5pm – 12am
 Ahi Bruchetta |
 Seafood Fra Diavolio |
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 Stuffed Pork Chop |
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Tags: Ala Moana Blvd Restaurant Review, Free Entertainment, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Italian Restaurant, Ocean Views, Pasta, Valet Parking
Posted in Bars, Italian, 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 »
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service was average at ll Lupino in Waikiki. Both times we went to this restaurant the staff was friendly but very slow to respond to our needs. For example the first time we went the waiter never came back to fill up our wine glasses and we also asked for another menu to order additional items and he forgot twice (was missing in action for most of the meal). The other time we requested Parmesan cheese and peppers for our pizza and waited for over 10 minutes for the items to arrive (by the time we had eaten half our entrees) and the excuse was “we had to grade fresh Parmesan for you” well if its an Italian restaurant we would recommend doing that each day since its pretty probable someone will want it! Overall don’t go to this establishment if you are in a rush or not willing to wait for food, drinks and everything else you may want.
Food: The food was good at II Lupino and is the new Italian restaurant from the chef / creator of Wolfgang Steakhouse. The food was good but not each dish knocked our socks off by any means. The pasta was the most memorable of all the food and we can’t wait to go back and try some different ones from the menu. The salad was extremely boring and the first time we went we ordered the white pizza (with spinach and mushrooms) which wasn’t our favorite, however, the last time we went our friend ordered one for the table and asked for them to drizzle some truffle oil over the top and it was 100% better. (NOTE: if you love prosciutto for $8 they will add fresh slices to any pizza). They also have Happy Hour specials – Pizza’s for $10, Wine by the glass for $5, Beer $4 and snazzy cocktails for $7 between 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm daily so try it out after work for some Pau Hana with your friends.
Favorite Dishes: Prosciutto Panini (for lunch), White Pizza (ask for truffle oil!) Linguine alle Vongole with(Linguine with Clams) served with White Wine, Ravioli all’Anatra (Slow-cooked Duck Ravioli with a Duck Ragu and Parmesan cheese) Yummy! Our recommendation just stick to the Pastas and you can’t go wrong.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is very nice at II Lupino Italian Restaurant. They have both ample indoor and outdoor seating both are extremely nice and have a causal yet elegant decor. The outdoor seating is lovely because it overlooks the Royal Hawaiian Gardens which are beautiful. The color scheme of the restaurant is a stunning yellow and black with rock walls creating a truly memorable dinning experience.
Consistency: We have been twice so far and both times the pasta was delicious and the rest of the items where OK but certainly nothing to write home about. We haven’t been for breakfast or dinner thus far so will update this section after we experience it first hand.
Parking: The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center has a parking lot (for cars under 6.2 feet tall) and II Lupino validates so the parking is free for 3 hours after you eat which is nice if you wish to do a little shopping or take a stroll in Waikiki while in town.
Price Range: Medium ($12-$38) per Entree
Corkage Fee $20 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted & Recommended For Dinner
Take Out Available
Happy Hour Deals!
Address:
Royal Hawaiian Ctr
2233 Kalakaua Ave
Ste 110, Bldg B, Level 1
Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: (808) 922-3400
Website: http://www.illupino.com
Hours of Operation:
Breakfast: Every Day, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Lunch: Every Day, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Dinner: Sunday – Thursday: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Friday – Saturday: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Happy Hour: 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. daily
 Funghi Pizza |
 Linguine alle Vongole |
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 Decor |
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Tags: free parking, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Italian Food, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in Happy Hour, Italian, Restaurants, Wine Bar | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service was good at Tenyaku but not refined. The restaurant was very new (only a few months old) so hopefully they will smooth out the rough edges. The staff was friendly and very attentive the only thing we had to wait for our drinks for quite a while and the waiter didn’t bring all our dinner items at the same time (i.e. he forgot about our rice which came with the meal and we had to bring it up to him after all the meats, fishes and other items arrived also at different times) which made it harder to enjoy everything together.
Food: The food was ok and they have typical Korean Yakiniku and Shabu-Shabu menu selections including some noodle and side dishes. Some items where pretty tasty but overall it lacked a little imagination and the wow factor that makes you want to return to a restaurant time and time again. One of the things we look for with a great Korean restaurants are vegetable/kimchi sides are very dynamic and tie the Yakiniku together. The sides where one of the best things on the menu, however, they only had three and it was kind of boring for the price tag attached to Korean BBQ meats. The bibimbap was also ok and did get nice and crunchy on the bottom but needed salt and some more pizazz overall. The best thing we had was the meat and they did cook ours in the back instead of making us do the Yakinkiu ourselves which is a nice option if you are not in the mood to BBQ yourself! so our advice is if you try this establishment go for Happy Hour either from 11am-3pm, 5pm-6:30pm, & 9pm-last call and get the 20% OFF meat options and keep it simple (TIP: Don’t order the set menu for two people…. its a better deal to order off the menu and we only really liked 2 items we received)
Favorite Dishes: The Premium Kalbi & Kone Kalbi Short-Rib meat and Tofu soup where the best dishes. The vegetable side dishes were also good but they only had 3 dishes (Fish cake, Kimchi and Bean Sprouts) which is less than many other of the best Korean restaurants in town which offer 5+.
Atmosphere: The restaurant was very clean and well taken care of which was great. The owner was also present which added to the ambiance and she even came over to ask us how our experience was going and thank us for coming. Tenyaku has a large inside with at least 20-25 tables. They also had a sushi bar so if you want to eat alone or not have Yakinku its a great option. The inside didnt have any memorable artwork or decor but cleanliness is always a very good asset.
Consistency: We have only been once (and went because we got a Groupon) and to be quite honest don’t think we will try again. However, if we do go with some friends we promise to update this section and hopefully with some great news as we know what to order and what to stir clear from.
Parking: Tenyaku Restaurant is located on Keeamoku and has about 8-10 free parking spots in front of the restaurant which is great but also share with the bar “Champions”located next door. TIP – if you are planning to go for an early bird dinner and catch Happy Hour Tenyaku opens at 5pm so Champions is a good place to pop in for a drink while you wait (and you can park in the same lot!)
Price Range: High-Medium ($19.59-$39.50) per Yakiniku Entree (Sides / Other Entrees $6.50-$20)
Corkage Fee $10 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted
Take Out Not Available
Happy Hour Specials!
Address:
Tenyaku
1108 Keeaumoku St
Honolulu, HI 96814
Tel: (808) 593-8281.
Website: /http://tenyakuhawaii.com/index.htm
Visit Website for a 10% OFF Coupon!
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Saturday: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Happy Hours: 11am-3pm, 5pm-6:30pm, & 9pm-Last Call
 Kimchi - Vegetables |
 Bibimbap |
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 Kalbi |
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Tags: Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Keeaumoku Street Restaurant, Yakiniku
Posted in Happy Hour, Korean, Restaurants | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
Overall:
Service: The service is good at Giovanni Pastrami in Waikiki. The bar has very friendly and attentive bartenders/waitstaff are full of smiles and very attentive to your needs. They can also mix up a mean cocktail!
Food: Giovanni Pastrami’s menu consists of hot and cold deli sandwiches which are delicious, pizzas, appetizers, pastas, soups, salads, burgers, hot dogs and typical bar food. Another great appeal is that they server breakfast all day until closing at midnight which is always a winner if you are itching for some eggs and bacon. The food is ok for bar food and a perk is that they have a fantastic Happy Hour with free cheese pizza with any alcohol purchase between 3-5pm, $5 appetizers and deals on drinks ($3-4 beers, $4 well drinks, $1 off wine).
Favorite Dishes: Reuben Bites (with pastrami), Sliders, Fries, Rueben Sandwich (with corn beef!) and Pizza
Atmosphere: The ambiance is that of a sports bar. They have both table seating and bar seating but both are completely surrounded by flat screen TV’s on all the walls which are really distracting if you are trying to eat but perfect for this type of establishment where everyone has their eyes peeled to a sports game of some sort.
Consistency: Giovanni is consistently average. It’s the type of place you go to for a happy hour drink or to valet your car and grab a quick validation to go somewhere else for dinner in Waikiki. Its absolutely consistently great for a drink!
Parking: One of the very best things about Giovanni Pastrami is that they have valet parking at the Wyndham hotel right next to the bar. After 6pm its $6 to park for 4 hours but after that jumps up to $3 per a half hour so be careful or you can quickly run up a huge bill. Before 6pm you can park for $3 for a flat rate all day. .
Price Range: Medium ($13.95-$27) per Entree
No BYOB
Reservations Accepted But Not Required
Take Out Available
Happy Hour Deals!
Address:
227 Lewers St
Ste 118
Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: (808) 923-2100
Website: www.giovannipastrami.com
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sun: 8 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Happy Hour Deals: Mon-Fri 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
 Rueben Bites |
 Rueben Sandwhich |
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 Entrance |
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Tags: American Food, Breakfast Served All Day, Deli Meats, Happy Hour, Sports Bar, Valet Parking, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in American, Bars, Breakfast / Brunch, Happy Hour, Restaurants | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The staff was super friendly at Teddy’s. They are fast on their feet and full of smiles. They where quick to whip down the tables between eaters despite how busy and managed to get the food out in a timely manner. We give Teddies Bigger Burger on Beretania Street two thumbs up.
Food: The food is pretty tasty at Teddy’s Bigger Burger in Honolulu. The food is what you would find in a common dinner with ice cream, onion rings, burgers and fries. What makes Teddy’s so good is that the burgers are made fresh to order and from 100% ground chuck. The chicken on the combo was also very juicy, moist and well seasoned. The buns were fresh and soft and all the ingredients from salads to fries where high quality. They also have a happy hour Monday – Thursday 2pm-5pm for $1 OFF any combo order.
Teddy’s Bigger Burger Menu For Download
Favorite Dishes: Baco Salad (7oz hamburger, avocado, cheese, tomato, bacon), Chicken Combo Sandwhich, Fries
Atmosphere: We really like the atmosphere at Teddy’s Bigger Burger. They are fun and designed like an old dinner. The color scheme is red, yellow and black and from the tables to the art on the walls the casual and hang loose 50′s theme keeps this restaurant young, trendy and fun.
Consistency: We only have been once so far but the restaurant was absolutely packed! we promise to update this section again next time we visit Teddy’s for a quick burger fix.
Parking: The Teddy’s location on Beretania has a good sized parking lot with over 10 spots making this an easy restaurant to go for lunch or a quick bite while shopping in town.
Price Range: Low ($4.99-$11.99) per Entree
No Corkage Fee! (But you have to bring your own bottle opener)
Take Out Available
Happy Hour Deals
Address:
Waikiki
134 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: (808) 926-3444
Website: http://teddysbiggerburgers.com/
University
2424 S. Beretania Ave #101
Honolulu, HI 96826
Tel: (808) 949-0050
Kailua
Kailua Village Shops
539 Kailua Rd., #101
Kailua, HI 96734
Tel: (808) 262-0820
Hawaii Kai
7192 Kalanianaole Hwy., E124
Honolulu, HI 96825
Tel: (808) 394-9100
Hours of Operation:
University, Hawaii Kai, Kailua Locations:
Mon-Thu: 10am – 9pm
Fri-Sun: 10am – 10pm
Waikiki Store:
Hours of Operation
Mon – Sun: 10am – 9pm
 Cheese Burger Combo |
 Delux Burger |
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Tags: American Food, Beretania Street Restaurant, French Fries, Hamburgers, Honolulu Restaurant Review, no corkage fee
Posted in American, Diner, Fast Food, Happy Hour, Restaurants | 1 Comment »
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 »
Monday, February 7th, 2011
Overall Review:
Service: The service was pretty good at Zap’s Cafe & Lounge in Honolulu. When we arrived our waitress informed us of a Happy Hour martini rate of only $3 which we where excited about. Upon asking the type of well liquor we where surprised that not one of all our group had heard of the vodka type. The upgrade for any name brand (Smirnoff, Sky, Absolute, Kettle, Grey Goose, etc) was no less than over double priced at $7 per a drink! Our friend had to then negotiate them down to $5 to be competitive with the bars in the area and seeing as we expected a large group to join us for Pupus after work we wanted to get a good deal. The waitress and manger were very accommodating and even called the owner to get approval for our request which was awesome. So we give the service at Zap’s a thumbs up but would hope the owners research the happy hour rates in town before setting themselves up for failure.
Food: The food was …..in the words of a friend….”Meh” - Everyone in our group was left feeling like the food wasn’t that bad… but it really wasn’t that great either. The best thing by a long shot was the sweet potato fries, so if you go make sure you order at least 2 for the table to munch on. Other items on the menu included breakfast all day, pasta, burgers, salads, pupus, steaks, mac and cheese and other American classics & local favorites. Everything overall needed more seasoning and a little more pizazz.
Download Zaps Cafe & Lounge Menu
Favorite Dishes: Sweet Potato Fries, Edamame (a bit sweet), Pork Chop (Ok but dry and needed some dipping sauce to spice it up a bit). TIP: Don’t order the Eggplant Katsu it was really overcooked and like cardboard
Atmosphere: The ambiance at Zap’s is pretty basic. Nothing really is exciting about the interior of the restaurant or interesting for that matter. They do have a pool table and darts which are fun bar time activities but we didn’t play them while we there. The interior has both lounge seating, a bar and restaurant style seating which is nice for all types of social engagements.
Consistency: We have only been once to Zap’s and don’t think we will return anytime soon. It was OK but nothing very exciting or delicious. Unfortunately we don’t think Zap’s has a long future ahead of it.
Parking: Zap’s does have a small parking lot in front with room for maybe 10 cars.
Price Range: ($4.50-$14.95) per Entree (some market price items)
Corkage Fee $ per Bottle
Reservations Accepted
Take Out Available
Address:
1018 McCully St
Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: (808) 942-0012
Website: http://zapcafelounge.com//
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Thursday: 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Friday-Saturday: 4 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Sunday: Open for Private Events After 4 p.m. Only
 Pork Chop |
 Eggplant Katsu |
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Tags: American Food, free parking, French Fries, Hamburgers, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Late Night, McCully Street Restaurant
Posted in American, Bars, Happy Hour, Local Kine Grindz, Restaurants | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
Overall:
Service: The service at Nobu is exceptional. Each waiter is very professional and you know you are sure to get stellar service when you go for dinner or drinks. The sushi bar in particular has excellent service and it is fun to watch the sushi masters create each roll.
Food: Wow the food is above and beyond delicious at Nobu! each bite is packed with unique clean flavors that dance on your tongue. Nobu has a wide variety of dishes from sushi to salads with exotic global flavors. Each dish created by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa is well balanced and the sashimi is so fresh it melts in your mouth. No matter what you order its sure to be memorable and super yummy. They also have a fantastic happy hour Monday-Friday 5-7pm in the lounge area with special dishes, $4 beers and $8 martinis.
Favorite Dishes: Spider Rolls, Nobu Tacos (Lobster and Crab), Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno, Eggplant with Misa, Miso Black Cod, Salmon New Style Sashimi, Shitake Salad, Sakitini (Sake Martini – cold and fresh), EVERYTHING
Atmosphere: We just love the atmosphere at Nobu. The restaurant is very grand with high ceilings and red/ gold color scheme. The lamps are also very trendy and have a modern meets antique feel to them. The tables are dark wood and there are both circular tables and booth seating available. Although the restaurant is large its not very noise which makes it the one of the best restaurants in town. The bar/lounge area is also lovely and very chic feeling. Its nice to go for a drink before dinner or even to have dinner at the bar with a friend.
Consistency: This restaurant receives my top personal chef approval for being one of the best Japanese restaurants in Hawaii. Each dish is always consistently tasty and you know what to expect.
Parking: Nobu offers Validated parking at the hotel.
Price Range: Medium-High ($18-$46) per Entree
Corkage Fee: Wine $25 per bottle, Champagne $35 per a bottle
Reservations Recommended
Take Out Not Available
Happy Hour in Lounge
Address:
Nobu Waikiki
2233 Helumoa Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
waikiki@noburestaurants.com
Phone: +1.808.237.6999
Fax: +1.808.237.6990
Website: http://www.noburestaurants.com/waikiki/experience/introduction/
Hours of Operation
Sunday – Thursday: 5:30 p.m – 10:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Monday – Sunday: Bar Lounge 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m.
 New Style Sashimi |
 Miso Black Cod |
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Tags: 5 Corks, Happy Hour, Japanese Food, Personal Chef Hawaii, Sushi Bar, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in Happy Hour, Japanese, Restaurants | 1 Comment »
Monday, December 20th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is usually excellent at Mexico restaurant and the food comes out of the kitchen really fast. The best waiter is actually Mexican so if you see him there its worth your while to site in his corner as he can really “work a room.” Only one time have we had a really crappy waitress who left our food sitting on the window ledge for a good 10 min before serving it cold and soggy which has pretty disappointing.
Food: The food is average-good. Its not the best Mexican food we have ever had, however, its one of the best in Hawaii for sure. They have all the traditional dishes, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and a full bar stocked with tequila and a variety of beers. The chips and salsa are really good and they must make them fresh daily so try not to fill up before your huge entree arrives. One thing that is really nice about Mexico Restaurant is that they offer some healthy options including grilled fish tacos & burritos served with salad instead of fried with beans & rice.
Favorite Dishes: Fresh Burrito, Tamale, Mixed Fajitas (Come out sizzling and large enough to share!), Salsa, Chips, Beans & Rice, and ALL the salads (TIP- if you like Crab is da fresh kind!).
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is one of the best things about this restaurant. Its really spacious and themed to perfection. The bar is very quaint and the tables, art and vibe is totally Mexican through and through. It’s a nice place to meet with friends or have a bite with your family as its kid friendly and overall very casual.
Consistency: The consistency is good. We have been 4-6 times and its pretty consistent. The food is just average Mexican food and nothing fancy so if your itching for a fixing…. Mexico restaurant is a good place to come even though its a bit out of the way.
Parking: There is free parking at Mexico Restaurant. The lot, however, is super small and can be difficult to park in during lunch or peak dinner time when the place is packed. Most often for dinner they have a valet guy outside to help customers so if you need help it may be available and will need it to get out of that lot in the dark… especially after a margarita or two!
Price Range: Medium ($10-$22) per Entree
Corkage Fee $10-$20 per Bottle
Reservations Not Accepted
Take Out Available
Live Music! Thur, Friday, Saturday Night
Address:
1247 N School St
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 845-9059
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Sunday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
 Enchilada's |
 Bar Area |
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Tags: Bar, Free Entertainment, free parking, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Mexican Food, School Street Restaurant, Tacos
Posted in Bars, Breakfast / Brunch, Mexican, 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 »
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service was excellent at Kincaid’s. Our waiter was professional, courteous and very helpful throughout our entire dinning experience. He was well spoken and we felt taken care of the moment we sat down. In fact, he went above and beyond to give us the fresh baked bread coming out of the oven and one of the dishes we ordered was fishy and our server took it back right away, apologized profusely and offered to replace it and give us free dessert. That’s exactly the type of service you want to have at a restaurant! attentive and trustworthy (like I wasn’t worried he would spit in our food in the back).
Food: The food is seafood & steak through and through. The menu also has the classics like Fish Tacos, Salads, Calamari, Artichoke and Crab Dip, Oysters, Steaks, Pork Chops, Fresh fish and a bunch of daily specials. They often add and change the menu which keeps it interesting. Kincaid’s also has a good Kama’aina special a 3-course meal for only $25 between 4-6pm daily. They also host happy hour between 3pm-7pm & 10pm-close daily.
Download Kincaid’s Menu in Honolulu
Favorite Dishes: Steamed Manila Clams (Delicious and not fishy at all!), French Fries, Mediterranean Salmon (on lunch specials menu), Home Grown Baby Greens with Maytag Blue Cheese Spring Rolls (ask for light on the dressing but very interesting and tasty dish!), Bread (TIP: ask for the butter on the side they smear it all over the top of each piece)
Atmosphere: The ambiance of Kincaid’s is that of a sailing restaurant sporting a stunning view of the Ward Center harbor. They also have various sailing pictures and instruments as the featured art to tie the theme together. The tables and chairs are super dated. With a serious makeover and this restaurant could really have a unique and upscale feel.
Consistency: Its been over 4 years since we have eaten at Kincaid’s so we promise to update this section once we return. However, the consistency between the dishes was so-so. We had two really great dishes, one OK dish, and one “send it back” dish which doesn’t say alot about the restaurants overall consistency – or lack there of!
Parking:Parking is a breeze at Kincaid’s. They have ample outdoor parking at Ward Warehouse and the overall Ward area but it is also a very popular mall with the movie theater across the street. If you can’t find a spot try the parking garage in the Ward Warehouse building – its huge and your sure to find something.
Price Range: Medium ($10-$22) per Entree
Corkage Fee $13 per Bottle
Reservations Accepted
Take Out Available
Happy Hour!
Address:
1050 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96814
Tel: (808) 591-2005
Website: www.kincaids.com/
Hours of Operation:
Lunch: Mon-Sun 11am-4pm
Dinner: Mon-Sun 4pm-10pm
Bar: Sun-Thurs 11am-12am, Fri-Sat 11am-1am
Happy Hour: Daily 3pm-7pm and 10pm-close
First Seating: 4pm-6pm
 Maytag Blue Cheese |
 Daily Fish |
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Tags: free parking, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Kama'aina Specials, Ocean View, Seafood, Steakhouse, Ward Center Restaurant
Posted in American, Happy Hour, Kama'aina Specials, Restaurants, Steakhouse | No Comments »
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service was good at Formaggio’s and they had plenty of staff on hand. The waiters however, where not very good listeners and they brought us the wrong pizza not once, but twice during our dinner! Also on a previous time they brought us the wrong wine which was double the cost of the bottle we had asked for.
Food: The food is pretty darn tasty. They have good size portions for sharing with the table and the food is Italian-American-French. Typical items you can find on the menu are Pizzas, Salads, Panini’s, Fondue, Lobster bisque, Escargot, Foie Gras Crostini’s, Onion Soup and other good food to eat along with wine. The restaurant has over 50 wines by the glass and its fun to sample a few instead of committing to a full bottle. (TIP: double, triple check the wine you order. On more than one occasion they brought us the wrong bottle or the price was misleading on the menu!)
Favorite Dishes: Salmon Carpaccio (yum!) , Boneless Short Ribs in Red Wine (falls right off the bone!), Mixed Green Salad, Cheese Sample Plat, Pancetta & Pesto Pizza.
Atmosphere: Love the atmosphere at Fomaggio’s. It’s very cozy with intimate lighting, low ceilings, and the flicker of candle light on each persons table. The restaurant feels like a wine cellar or somewhere exclusive and is small in size. You could dress up, or dress down for Formaggio’s depending on who you are going with.
Consistency: Both times we have been to the Honolulu location have been pretty consistent. The bill was wrong on both occasions also but the wine and food where better than average and the overall experience was positive.
Parking: Formaggio’s has free parking which is extremely convenient and directly in front of the restaurant. They have plenty of spaces and the easy accessibility from all the highway, Kapiolani blvd, and Kapahulu makes this a great place to meet friends after work.
Price Range: Low-Medium ($8-$22) per Entree
Wine: Medium-High ($27.97-$95) – Average Bottle $50
NO BYOB
Reservations Not Accepted
Take Out Available
Live Music Friday & Saturday Night!
Address:
2919 kapiolani blvd
Honolulu, HI 96826
Tel: (808) 739-7719
Website: formaggio808.com/ /
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Thu: 5:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Fri* 5:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Sat* 6:00 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Sunday: Closed for Private Parties
* Live Music 9:30pm
Tags: free parking, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Italian Restaurant, Wine Bar
Posted in American, Bars, French, Italian, Restaurants, Wine Bar | No Comments »
Thursday, August 12th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is excellent at the Yard House despite how extremely busy it is. Regardless if you sit at the bar or a table the staff is attentive, friendly, and don’t leave you hanging for more drinks or whatever condiments you may need. The service does tend to be better earlier in the day/night and after it gets past 10pm it can be more challenging to flag down some staff if you are in the external bar seating. Our recommendation is to come early and once you are finished with dinner or pupu’s then migrate to the bar for more fun and faster drink service. Also… be ready to wait for your table. The Yard House is always busy and be prepared to wait for at least 45 min for a table during peak eating hours.
Food: The food at The Yard House is pretty good. It’s nothing fancy but each dish is tasty and fresh. It’s prefect American style food to share with friends any time of the day and they also have a great happy hour late night and after work for drinks (Domestic Beer $3.50, Martini $6.25, Wine $1,50 off per glass) and half off appetizers and pizza. They also have a gluten sensitive menu for those with this growing food allergy.
Favorite Dishes: Chicken Lettuce Wraps (da best!! – also good in vegetarian version), Moo Shu Egg Roll, California Roll, Spinach Cheese Dip (but don’t order that if you are on a diet its packed with tons of calories but is delicious specially after a few drinks), New York Steak Salad, Pizza’s, Burgers and Seared Ahi Steak Sandwhich
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at the Yard House is that of a fast-pass restaurant / bar. The decor is reminiscent of a trendy rock sports bar with tons of important beers, wide screen TV’s, double sided bar, and of course table seating. You always need to fight for a seat whether squeezing in at the bar or waiting the estimated 45-1.5 hours for your table. The music is always good at the Yard House if you like rock and your sure to have a good time with friends any time you meet at this hip venue.
Consistency: The Yard House is consistently good. The food and service are pretty standard and you know what to expect each time you visit.
Parking: Is pretty tricky at The Yard house for sure – there isn’t street parking on Lewers but you can park at the valet at Embassy Suites Hotel on Beach Walk (NOTE It costs $6 with validation not including tip!). Our recommendation is to take a cab and this way you can enjoy a few drinks, and not worry about parking in the heart of Waikiki!
Price Range: Medium ($11-$34) per Entree
Corkage Fee $10 per bottle
Reservations Not Accepted For Dinner (Lunch reservations accepted and recommended)
Take Out Available
Great Happy Hour Deals!
Address:
226 Lewers St
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Tel: (808) 923-9273
Website: http://www.yardhouse.com/default.aspx/
Hours of Operation:
SUN – SAT
11:00am – 1am or later
Happy Hour & Late Night
Monday – Friday 2pm – 5:30pm
Sunday – Wednesday 10:30pm – Close
 California Roll |
 Chicken Lettuce Wraps |
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Tags: 5 Corks, American Food, Free Entertainment, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, International Beers, Late Night, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in American, Bars, Happy Hour, 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 »
Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The overall service is so so at Du Vin. The staff is very friendly but not fast by any means and historically we have had better service for dinner than lunch.
Food: The food is pretty good. It’s Italian french inspired and they use a lot of yummy ingredients such as Arugula, Prosciutto, Assorted Meats, Cheese and Fresh Fish so its hard to go wrong. For lunch and dinner they always have great specials and a Prix Fixe menu for only $25 a person. The deal comes complete with the daily appetizer, entree and dessert. (FYI: Du Vin doesnt allow any substitutes on these items)
Favorite Dishes: Moules frites, Escargot, Roasted Beet Salad, Crostini of warm Gorgonzola Dolce and Prosciutto, Pork Chop, Fresh Fish of the day
Atmosphere: Du Vin is absolutely one of the most wonderful restaurants in all of Hawaii when it comes to its Atmosphere. The restaurant screams Italy or Spain with its series of small connecting rooms all with intimate lighting and indoor/outdoor seating options. The Salon is the place you want to sit after work with your mates and have a glass of wine, cheese selection, and unwind. The Patio is the romantic place to sit with a date or close friend under the stars. The Cask Room you may find yourself in for a wine tasting or a family reunion. This room can be rented out for large functions and has a beautiful old bar at its center.
Consistency: The restaurant is pretty consistent. Sometimes the bread is a bit old but they heat it up which helps it taste fresher. On first Friday Du Vin gets extremely busy so for better food and better service come sometime during the week.
Parking: Du Vin is located in the heart of Honolulu so there are numerous public parking garages or if you have parkma (parking karma) that day you may snag a street spot. If not its recommend parking at the China Town lot of Beretania and walking to the restaurant but remember to check because some lots close up after 12am!
Price Range: Medium ($10-$22) per Entree
Corkage Free $25 per Bottle
Reservations Not Accepted
Take Out Available
Address:
1115 Bethel Street
(Across from Hawaii Theatre)
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Tel: (808) 545-1115
Website: www.brasserieduvin.com/
Hours of Operation:
Lunch served 11:30 am – 4:00 pm Monday – Saturday
Dinner served 4:00 pm to late, Monday – Saturday
 Daily Special |
 Shrimp Salad |
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Tags: Bistro, Contemporary Food, Downtown Honolulu Restaurant, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Italian Food, Wine Bar
Posted in Bars, Bistro, Contemporary, French, Italian, Restaurants, Wine Bar | 44 Comments »
Monday, March 29th, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service was top notch at BLT. They have plenty of staff and I never had an empty glass of water throughout dinner. The waiter was extremely nice and also very helpful in answering questions we had about what was in each dish.
Food: The menu at BLT is classic Steakhouse meets French bistro. They have a very diverse menu and wonderful raw seafood selections. BLT spoils you with two table appetizers starting with grilled bread and warm pate, followed by hot popovers covered with cheese. They have everything you would expect on a traditional Steakhouse menu in addition to a Chefs Daily Special 3 course menu which everyone at our table took advantage of for only $60 per a person! The dishes where inspiring, had very generous portions and an island pacific flare to it.
Favorite Dishes: The free appetizers of course! From our 3 course dinners – Spicy King Crab Dumplings in Miso Soup, Tenderloin, Crusted Shutome, and Coconut Parfait with Guava Curd and Pineapple Soup was the most delicious dessert we have had in a while.
Atmosphere: BLT has a wonderful atmosphere. The restaurant has both with indoor and outdoor seating perfect for any occasion. The ambiance is beautiful with walnut floors, dark leather banquettes and highlighted with tropical art and murals. The restaurants design has fantastic flow from room to room and even the bar area is separated enough from the main restaurant that it creates another interesting dinning experience and really helps reduce the traffic and noise to the dining room.
Consistency: We have only been once so far but promise to update this section when we go again which will be soon since it was so delicious!
Parking: BLT is located in Waikiki so parking is challenging on the street and Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is a bit of a walk. We recommend valeting your car as the restaurant validates and you can even enjoy a free bottled water while waiting for your car after dinner (or after dinner drinks upstairs).
Price Range: High ($29-$50) per Entree
Corkage Fee: $25 per bottle
Reservations Recommended
Address:
Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk
223 Saratoga Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Telephone: 808-683-7440
Website: http://www.bltsteak.com/
Hours of Operation: Open For Dinner Only
Sunday – Thursday: 5:30PM – 10PM
Friday & Saturday: 5:30PM – 11PM
 Pâté BLT Starter |
 Tenderloin Special |
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Tags: Bar, Contemporary Food, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Steakhouse, Valet Parking, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in American, Bars, Contemporary, Restaurants, Steakhouse | No 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 »
Sunday, March 21st, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service was pretty good and the staff was both friendly and attentive. The only negative thing that happened was for Happy Hour when we first sat down our servers shift was ending and it took a while for our new server to take over (at least 20 min!) during which time they lost our initial order which was annoying. That being said, once the change over happened our server was on top of his game.
Food: The food was really disappointing. When you go to a restaurant of this caliber you expect everything to be cooked to perfection but it was not. Throughout the meal we where constantly reminded that if you want a good steak go to Hy’s!
Download Wolfgang’s Steakhouse Menu In Waikiki
Favorite Dishes: Happy Hour: Steak Tartar & Ahi Tartar (both only $5) where the best dishes of the 4 they offer from 5:30-6:30pm. Dinner: Canadian Bacon! Yummy! it’s so good you can just go and eat that for dinner, Sauteed Spinach, Ribeye Steak, Apple Strudel (straight out of the Swiss Alps).
Atmosphere: The atmosphere of the restaurant is elegant with dark floors, high ceilings and beautiful views of the Royal Hawaiian lanai area and Waikiki. The restaurant isn’t particularly large but they managed to squeezed a ton of tables into the space which makes uncomfortable and the acoustics are terrible. The floor was so incredibly slippery that it was like an ice skating rink, be careful and for god sake hold on!
Consistency: Both times we have gone, the food has been terribly inconsistent and throughout the meal we have had a range of food i.e. Fries that where soggy than crispy, potato chips where stale then burned, sliders and steak which was raw and then totally overcooked.
Parking: Wolfgang is located in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center so its best to park in the mall and make sure to get your ticket validated for free parking or it can cost you a small fortune to park!
Price Range : High ($28-$60) per Entree
Corkage Fee $25 per Bottle
Take Out Available
Reservations Recommended
Address:
2301 Kalakaua Avenue
Royal Hawaiian Center, 3rd Level
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone Number: (808) 922-3600
Website: www.wolfgangssteakhouse.com
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Thu: Lunch & Dinner
12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat: Lunch & Dinner
12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sun: Dinner
5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sat-Sunday: Brunch 11 a.m. -3 p.m.
 Bar Chips & Blue Cheese Dip |
 Filet Mignon Prefix Menu |
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 Apple Strudel |
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Tags: free parking, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Steakhouse, Waikiki Restaurant
Posted in American, Breakfast / Brunch, Happy Hour, Restaurants, Steakhouse | No Comments »
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is hit or miss at P.F. Chang’s. Typically its not that bad but every once and a while you can get less than acceptable waitstaff.
Food: The food is pretty good. The menu is American Chinese and P.F. Chang’s has all the basic standards you would expect like Lemon Chicken and Mongolian Beef. Nothing really exciting but all the food is good. They have a special lunch menu which is a good deal and attractive if your going for a business engagement and are short on time. P.F. Chang’s also has a Happy Hour Monday-Friday from 3pm-7pm with half of appetizers and Drink specials – $3 draft beers, $6 Drinks, $2 OFF wine
Favorite Dishes: Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Dumplings, Hot & Sour Soup, Spicy Green Beans, Kung Pao Chicken, Buddha’s Feast, Cantonese Chow Fun, Marinated Sea Bass and Dirty Martini (they are so big they count as food!)
Atmosphere: Both locations have a similar landscape and are both very beautiful inside. The concept is fresh, contemporary and bright. Guests can be seated both outside and inside which is nice for breezy summer days or brisk winter nights. The high ceilings and art help make these restaurants dynamic.
Consistency: Both Hawaii P.F. Chang’s are consistent.
Parking: If you are going to the Waikiki location the best place to park is at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. If you are going to Ward Center the best place to park is at the Hokua condominium where the restaurant is located. P.F. Chang’s will validate parking at both these places.
Price Range: Medium ($10-$25) per Entree
Corkage Fee: $10 (Cannot Bring Wines that are on P.F. Chang’s Wine List)
Take Out Available
Reservations Not Needed
Great Happy Hour!
Address:
Hokua Restaurant
1288 Ala Moana Blvd Suite 110
Honolulu, HI 96814
Serving lunch and dinner daily.
For reservations please call: (808) 596-4710.
Website: http://pfchangshawaii.com/
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Thursday and Sunday 11am – 10:30pm
Friday and Saturday 11 am – 11:30pm
Happy Hour Monday-Friday: 3pm-7pm
Waikiki Restaurant
Royal Hawaiian Center
2201 Kalakaua Ave Suite 116
Honolulu, HI 96815
Serving lunch and dinner daily.
For reservations please call 808-628-6760.
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Thursday and Sunday 11am – 11pm
Friday and Saturday 11am – midnight
Tags: Chain Restaurant, Chinese Food, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Waikiki Restaurant, Ward Center Restaurant
Posted in Chinese, Contemporary, Happy Hour, Restaurants | 89 Comments »
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Overall:
Service: The service is always very good at all the Big City Diners. The staff has a lot of Aloha and you always feel right at home.
Food: The food is excellent. The menu screams classic American “diner” but with a local flare. There is something for everyone at the Big City Diner and its sure to become your families favorite! They also have an excellent Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm with your favorite dine-in pupus at 50% OFF and $1 OFF big beers, house wines and well drinks. Big City Diner also features a weekly menu selection of $10 entrees which are delicious, fresh and make the menu really exciting.
Favorite Dishes: Ultimate Vegetable Omelet, Bloody Marys (designated as breakfast food), Fresh Fish & Eggs, Fried Rice, Ramen, Salmon Salad, Paniolo Chicken Salad, Taco Salad, Upcountry Veggie Sandwich and many others!
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is nothing fancy but that’s part of the charm. Its a place where you can never be under dressed and is perfect for spending time and a quick bite with friends and family. Each location has the same homely environment and they even have a treasure chest and balloons for the keiki’s! yay!
Consistency: Each location is excellent and we never leave disappointed.
Parking: For the Kaimuki location the best place to park is at the Kaimuki shopping center. For the Ward Center location directly across from the movie theater is a good place to start looking for parking or in front of Nordstrom’s Rack. If you are in a rush you can valet on the second floor of the movie theater parking lot for $5.
Price Range: Low ($8-$20) per Entree (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
No Corkage Fee!!
Take Out Available
Reservations Not Needed
Addresses:
Big City Diner – Kaimuki
3569 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu – (808) 738-8855
Website: http://bigcitydinerhawaii.com/
Visit For Menu’s & Daily Offers!
Big City Diner – Ward Center
1060 Auahi Street, Honolulu – (808) 591-8891
Plus locations in Pearlridge, Waipio and Kailua!
Hours of Operation:
Sun-Thursday: 7AM-10PM
Fri-Sat: 7AM-12AM (midnight is last seating)
 Tofu Omelet |
 Wings |
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Tags: 5 Corks, American Food, Chain Restaurant, Diner, free parking, Happy Hour, Honolulu Restaurant Review, Local Kine Grindz
Posted in American, Breakfast / Brunch, Diner, Happy Hour, Hawaiian, Local Kine Grindz, Restaurants | 1 Comment »
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