258425 Sun Aug 05 15:15:25 -0700 2001 7 25 Elsewhere In America 0 1367609 My fiance and I are headed to Oahu for our honeymoon. It will be our first time to the island. Can any of you fellow chowhounds recommend places to eat? I want to make every meal count! Sun Aug 05 15:15:25 -0700 2001 0 monique l. 1 1367612 I live in Hawaii and my favorites: La Mer in Halekulani Hotel - great seafood, but expensive. At least have afternoon umbrella drinks on the "House without a Key" patio. You'll get complimentary Maui potato chips, live Hawaiian music and hula by a former Miss Hawaii. Drinks on the Banyan Tree Lanai at the Moana Surfrider Hotel is also a good place for people watching. Hoku's in the Kahala Mandarin Hotel - EurAsian cuisine, get to this restaurant before sunset for the view. 3660 on the Rise in Kaimuki is great EurAsian. The best and most popular items are the ahi katsu and New York Steak Alaea. Save room for dessert!! Alan Wong's - great food, but wait staff can be snobby. Roy's - great food, but far from Waikiki and noise in dining room is deafening. Padovani's in the Doubletree Alana Hotel - wonderful french inspired food and even better desserts. Chef Mavro's - fresh ingredients and each course is better than the last, great wine pairings. Good place for a romantic evening. Mariposa in Neiman Marcus Ala Moana Shopping Cntr - make reservations for lunch on the patio for the excellent view, the popovers here are amazing (at dinner they serve good monkey bread instead of the popovers). Pineapple Room (run by Alan Wong) in Liberty House at the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Staff here is much nicer. They also have a wonderful full afternoon tea which includes a plate of savory items and a plate of sweets and of course, your choice of tea. On Jin's - a local secret. It's a nice restaurant with self serve at lunch, but fine dining at night. Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab. Micro-brewery restaurant in a big warehouse setting. Humungous servings. Much less crowded and more casual than Sam Choy's Diamond Head. Breakfast at Eggs and Things near the Sizzler in Waikiki is a local favorite. Brunch at the Prince Court Hotel is wonderful. If you want a good view for brunch, go to the Hanohano Room atop the Sheraton Waikiki. All day or late night dining at Big City Diner in Kaimuki is fun and the food is good. Big portions. Ryan's at Ward Center is a good place for drinks (great bar) and afternoon pupus. The crab and artichoke dip with foccacia bread is my favorite. A fun place is Tanaka of Tokyo (I like the Waikiki Shopping Center location). It's a teppanyaki place where the chefs cook in front of you. Go across the street to Duty Free Shoppers new plaza after dinner. Be careful, they tempt you with lots of yummy samples of candies and chocolates. Kua Aina Hamburgers by Ward Center or in Haleiwa (north shore) - legendary burgers. Giovanni's White Shrimp truck - one in Haleiwa and the orginal near Kahuku (other side of the island)- the shrimp scampi here is not to be missed if you are a garlic lover. The good news is that they sell bottles of their marinade too. Genki sushi has self serve plates off a conveyor belt and multiple locations around the islands. It's good and inexpensive. The spicy ahi is the best. Waiola Shave Ice in makiki - this is a local favorite on a hot day and this is THE place to have it in town. Bubbies Ice Cream makes the best homemade ice cream in town. Tropilicious is a contender, but closed its retail store. Look for tropilicious ice cream in restaurants. Malasadas (Portugese donuts) are best at Champion Bakery on Beretania near Keeaumoku). Not my favorite, but my husband can't live without it: If you really want to act like a local, go to Rainbow Drive-In and have a plate lunch. One meal has your monthly intake of cholesterol. I think this will hold you for awhile. Have a great honeymoon!! Sat Aug 11 07:27:20 -0700 2001 1367609 0 Genie 2 1367613 WOW - this is an excellent list, and clearly from someone who knows the local turf! Even though my girlfriend is from O'ahu, and her family's been there for generations, AND we visit them every year and eat out a lot...there are several suggestions on this list that I haven't tried, so I'm saving it for future trips. People visiting Hawai'i should know that food is a MAJOR part of local life, and Genie clearly knows da kine - you should all save this list for reference. ----------------- I'd second a couple of these: the shrimp truck, Bubbies (even if you don't eat ice cream, you have to just go and enjoy the menu selections), and Waiola Shave Ice - best shave ice on the island, in my opinion, light years beyond the "famous" Matsumoto's in Haleiwa, which has become more of a t-shirt shop - their shave ice is junk now. A few more suggestions: you gotta try plate lunch somewhere - L&L is all over the place, real basic stuff; Hau Tree Lanai at the New Otani Hotel (towards the Diamond head end of Waikiki, formerly Kaimana Beach Hotel); Ono Hawaiian Foods (but be prepared to wait for lunch - small place, extrememly popular with locals); and for another local experience, go to a Zippy's - the food's plain, but it's a local icon - the chili is a trademark there. If you get away from town (Honolulu) and get over to the Windward Side (the northeastern shore - the more lush/green part of the island), I'd recommend Haleiwa Joe's Seafood Grill in Kane'ohe (formerly Chart House - gorgeous view, great seafood and prime rib, live Hawaiian music on Friday nights, no reservations so go around 5 pm, have a drink, and get seated at 5:30 for dinner; the owners also run the original Haleiwa Joe's in -you guessed it- Haleiwa on the North Shore); also Buzz's Steak House (the one in Lanikai/Kailua, NOT the one in Honolulu - President Clinton ate there); and for an interesting Mexican/Hawaiian blend, Cisco's Cantina in Kailua - try the kalua pig enchilada with pineapple salsa. OK - now I'm hungry... Thu Aug 16 13:23:45 -0700 2001 1367612 0 Retro 3 1367614 Thanks you both sooo much for all the suggestions! We leave in a week.... can't wait! Fri Aug 17 01:56:37 -0700 2001 1367613 0 Monique L. 2 1367695 Okay, I want to add one more to this list: Indigo. It's downtown and the parking situation could be better, but I never miss it when I get back home. Thu Jan 03 17:37:58 -0800 2002 1367612 0 P 2 1370110 I NEED a bottle of giovanni's scampi marinade,but the website is gone and I have had no luck w/the #...what's a girl to do? I REALLY REALLY NEED it...please e mail me if ou have any suggestions Sat Apr 02 14:53:11 -0800 2005 1367612 0 ryner 3 1370116 did you have any luck getting a reponse to this? I would like to find out where to buy some, too.... Sun Apr 10 19:11:02 -0700 2005 1370110 0 angela 1 1367631 There's a great Buddhist Vegetarian Restaurant in the Chinese Cultural Plaza on Beretania St. in honolulu's Chinatown. Go mid day for VEGAN Dim Sum- really tasty. For "Conventional" excellent Dim Sum, try the place at Pauahi and Smith. DUC's Bistro on Maunakea is a great little place with live Jazz. Mon Sep 10 17:56:39 -0700 2001 1367609 0 April