Chef Mavro — restaurant review — Hawai’i

In college, en route to work, I rode many times on The Bus past Chef Mavro, a cute little building with a continuous frosted wave of etched glass ebbing and flowing around its perimeter, hugging the “sandy” apricot-colored walls, a pleasant oasis amidst the low-rise tenements and eyesores of another era lining busy King Street [...]

3660 on the Rise — restaurant review — Hawai’i

I don’t know how many times I’ve driven past this place and missed it (and of course by “driven” I mean “being driven”, haha). Well, never again because it is a “don’t miss”. In an expensive-looking building on the iffy strip of “thrift haven” Waialae Avenue, 3660 on the Rise sits “atop” a [...]

Alan Wong’s — restaurant review — Hawai’i

Located conveniently (or maybe not so conveniently) on South King Street, in an unassuming narrow three-story office-type tenement, Alan Wong’s dining room overlooks lush Manoa Valley scenery that’s unfortunately blocked by a bunch of apartment buildings and condos, dammit (just kidding, I love the skyline… “Honolulu city liiiights”). This is a big tip: reserve [...]

Palo Alto’s Spago to close

Shoo shoo Spago! Wolfgang Puck just isn’t welcome in Palo Alto anymore. Ten years of the King of California cuisine was enough. June 1st is the closing date for the iconic ritzy restaurant on the fringe of downtown Paly. In a press release, senior managing partner Tom Kaplan announced that the [...]

Indigo Eurasian Cuisine — restaurant review — Hawai’i

I have three words to describe Indigo and that’s “oily as hell”. Not a greasy oil, but extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette to the max. The pair made technicolor Willy Wonka swirls on my emptied plate; I’m not kidding, I thought I was on drugs.

When the waiter suggested the lunch buffet, [...]

Hoku’s at the Kahala Resort — restaurant review — Hawai’i

Ah, Sunday Brunch at Hoku’s. Where else can you get melt-in-your-mouth sake (salmon) nigiri and fresh tender lobster tail (the kind that’s so sweet you devour it without any seasoning or butter) at 10:30 in the morning?
Sure Hoku’s is in one of the prettiest settings; decked in whitest white linens at the [...]

Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch, Crab & Big Aloha Brewery — restaurant review — Hawai’i

Sam Choy is a big man so his restaurant portions are for big men. Super hefty entrées and heaping piles of country wedge fries await you at Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch, Crab & Big Aloha Brewery, located right next to that infamous tourist trap Hilo Hatties. And oh man you can’t miss it; [...]

La Mer at the Halekulani — restaurant review — Hawai’i

La Mer is one of the most elegant restaurants I’ve been to, and I think that’s actually the best part about it. Don’t get me wrong, the food is nice and the waiters hover attentively to make sure they brush every single crumb before it even flitters to the 800-count tablecloth, but you’ll certainly [...]