Friday, 18 December 2009

  • Roy's Hawaiian Fushion Cuisine



    Roy's - Waikiki Beach
    Roy's - Waikiki Beach
    226 Lewers Street
    Honolulu, HI 96815
    808-923-7697
    http://www.roysrestaurant.com

    Price: $$$
    Ambiance: Casual/Business
    Food: 4/5
    Service: 4.5/5
    Tummy Points: 4/5
    Notes: Service was imbeccable.
    A Fixe Menu $35 if available

    Roy's (Lewers Street) on Urbanspoon

    First opened in 1988 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Roy's has grown into 33 restaurants spread throughout the United States.  According to Roy's, they create Asian dishes with European techniques.  If you've been to Nobu, Roy's is along the same tracks.  If you haven't been to Nobu, I'd agree with Roy's description of their food and add that they focus primarily on seafood and their menu is more european style as they don't have any noodles or rice dishes as is typical of most Asian restaurants.  An interesting fact I read on Wikipedia, Roy's had partnered with Outback Steakhouse to grow his chain in continental US.

    I've been to Roy's in Texas (my current favorite) so I had high expectations coming to the city that Roy's originated and a city surrounded by the ocean.

    The roasted macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi was not my favorite.  While eating it, I kept thinking this tasted like fish and chips but rather than batter it was encrusted with macadamia nuts.  The top was crunchy and the rest of the fish was a little overcooked and thick like haddock.  I thought mahi mahi was supposed to be a light flaky fish. 

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Tuesday, 15 December 2009

  • Umalu

     


    Umalu
    Hyatt Regency Maui Resort
    and Spa
    200 Nohea Kai Drive,
    Lahaina, Hawaii, 96761-1985
    808-280-6986
    http://hyattregencymaui.org/
    umalu/


    Price: $$
    Ambiance: Casual
    Food: 4.5/5
    Service: 4.5/5
    Tummy Points: 4.5/5
    Notes: Spicy Buffalo Wings
    $12, Umalu Nacho Grande $16,
    Papaya Coconut $7 

    Umalu is one of the latest retaurants to open on Maui.  Umalu sits pool side and has a beautiful view of the ocean as well as Lanai and Molokai islands.  If you stay later in the day, you can even catch the sunset below the ocean.

    As most other restaurants on Maui, Umalu is part of a resort which made it very convenient for us to visit since we were already staying at the wonderful Hyatt Regency Maui Resort.  In contrast to the other restaurants at the Hyatt, Umalu is a casual eating affair and prices are very reasonable compared to the portion and food quality.

    The spicy buffalo wings were lightly battered, tender, and so juicy.  The wings had just the right amount of buffalo sauce to not overwhelm the chicken yet give it a good kick.  The sauce was thick and sweet.  Unlike most other buffalo wings I've had, the sauce was infused into the batter so it didn't taste like it was pre-fried then dipped into a glob of sauce.  They actually cooked it in the sauce as its final step.  It was just amazing.

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Friday, 11 December 2009

  • Bongo Ben's Island Cafe



    Bongo Ben's Island Cafe
    75 Alii Dr.
    Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
    808-329-9203

    Price: $$
    Ambiance: Casual
    Food: 2.5/5
    Service: 2.5/5
    Tummy Points: 2.5/5
    Notes: Chicken Katsu $11.95, 
    Fresh Catch $14.95. 

    Bongo Ben's Island Cafe on Urbanspoon

    We had spent a whole day driving and hiking through Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.  It was amazing to see the cooled lava formations and the ocean water crashing against the island.  Sadly it was raining for most of the day so it didn't feel great.

    We had landed in Hilo on the East side of Big Island and drove southwardly to Kalaola because the Volcanoes National Park was along the way and hotels in Kalaola were better.

    It was already dark and late when we got to Royal Kona Resort but still made the effort to walk down the street to find a few local eateries still open.  We decided to give Bongo Ben's Island Cafe because it had the most people sitting around eating and chatting.  It might not be the best indication of the good restaurant but it usually works.

    I ordered the fresh catch which was grilled Ono fish with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.  Ono fish is also known as wahoo in other parts of the world.  Ono was probably overcooked as it was chewy and the mango salsa did little to bring out any fish flavor.  The texture was like chicken.  The mashed potatoes still had the red potato skin, which I like.  It was also buttered so it was fatty and tasty.  The broccoli was just steamed and flavorless.  It needed a lot of pepper to bring it back to life or dipped in the mashed potatoes.

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Friday, 04 December 2009

  • Rainbow Drive-in



    Rainbow Drive-in
    3308 Kanaina Ave.
    Honolulu, HI
    808-737-0177
    http://www.rainbowdrivein.com

    Price: $
    Ambiance: Casual
    Food: 3.5/5
    Service: 3/5
    Tummy Points: 3/5
    Notes: Rainbow Special (2
    patty burger) $3.30, Boneless
    Chicken w/gravy $6.50. 

    Rainbow Drive-in on Urbanspoon

    Opened back in 1961, Rainbow Drive-in has long been serving various plate lunches in Honolulu.  They pride themselves on serving generous portions of hearty simple food at reasonable prices and counting on sales volume.  Food they serve is geared for workers and beach-goers in the area so it was all quick foods.

    The ordering is fast and you feel very rushed since a line quickly forms behind but they didn't rush us.  The menu is on the wall behind the cashier with black pre-cut plastic letters on a lighted yellow board.

    There's only outdoor covered seating on contoured plastic chairs.  Seating space is limited to a number of people were eating in the parking lot sitting on the curb.  I guess they don't need much since they're called a drive-in and not a restaurant it's not expected everyone sits there to eat.

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Wednesday, 02 December 2009

  • Saint Germain



    Saint Germain
    2301 Kuhio Ave. #117A
    Honolulu HI, 96815
    808-924-4305
    http://www.stghi.com

    Price: $
    Ambiance: Casual
    Food: 2/5
    Service: 2/5
    Tummy Points: 2/5
    Notes: Chocolate croissant
    ~$1.29. Baked goods aren't
    freshly baked in the morning. 

    Our Hawaii trip was a short with no time to spare.  We needed a quick walk and eat type breakfast just to keep our stomachs from growling at us.  Across from our hotel was a bakery so we decided to pay them a visit to see what we could pick up.  Inside it's laid out like walk in bakery with a counter of "freshly" baked buns under plastic covers and center counters of pre-packaged not as fresh bread.  Saint Germain also has a small casual seating area with metal unpadded chairs in case you really want to enjoy your baked goods on the spot.  But I was content with eating on the go.

    Ideally the bread for the day is preoared and baked early in the morning at the store so if you get to a bakery early, you get their best bread.  Unless they're so popular and run out, they may bake more bread mid-day.  Unfortunately, a common trend with bakeries of this size and ones within a franchise or chain, they have one central location that prepares all the bread dough prior to baking.  If the store has an oven then baking is done on site.  Otherwise a truck or van drops off pre-baked goods to the location, just like a grocery store.

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About Me

  • I travel around Canada and the United States tasting dishes from all kinds of restaurants. With 300+ restaurant reviews, come take a look inside and find a new place to taste.

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