Wai'olu Ocean View Lounge

Ever since I had breakfast at the In Yo Café at the Trump Hotel Waikiki, I've been longing to check out the hotel's other restaurant, the Wai'olu Ocean View Lounge.  We were planning to get a couple of drinks after watching the matinee show of the Book of Mormon, but all the new bars in Downtown were closed on Sundays so it was kismet that we ended up at the Trump Hotel.  

We sat at a table with a pretty view of the city and the ocean in the background.  We were early enough to order off their happy hour menu so we opted for the spicy tuna and hamachi rolls. Both were yummy and paired nicely with our cocktails. 

We couldn't resist ordering their nachos with another round of drinks: draft Asahi and the Maui mule. The Maui mule was pretty exceptional and was made with ginger puree and ocean vodka.

We ended with French press 100% Kona coffee and the tiramisu which came in a cute mason jar.  The two together were excellent!

Our server was the absolute best. I liked how honest she was in her recommendations and how knowledgeable she was with the drinks and menu.  Can't wait to return!

Enjoy Live Entertainment Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.


Wai'olu Ocean View Lounge
Trump International Hotel Waikiki
808-683-7456

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Eat This! Milk and Cereal Pancakes from Scratch Kitchen and Bake Shop

When friends ask me for a brunch recommendation, Scratch Kitchen & Bake Shop easily comes to mind.  I love the laid back, relaxed atmosphere the restaurant offers.  It's a great place to brunch with your girlfriends, but it also makes for a fun breakfast with your kids.

What triggered my recent visit was a picture of Chef Brian Chan's Milk & Cereal Pancakes.  My goodness, they were beautiful.  And although I had just made a bunch of New Year's resolutions, I knew they had to be broken so I could taste the yumminess.  Plus, technically, calories are cumulative so if I just have a light dinner, all should be forgiven.  Right?

Don't answer that.  Besides, they were absolutely delicious and totally worth it.  The pancakes are not just any pancakes.  They are frosted flakes pancakes and topped with bananas and berries sitting pretty in a sweet milk syrup.  

This amazing dish wasn't on the breakfast menu the first couple of times that I dined at the restaurant.  I love that the menu changes from time to time surprising patrons with new and innovative dishes.  They are located on Smith Street in Chinatown and open daily from 8 am to 2 pm.

Scratch Kitchen & Bakeshop
1030 Smith St.
808-536-1669

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Save Your Third Sunday For Afternoon Tea at the MW Restaurant

Being that the MW Restaurant is one of my favorite new places to dine and I am huge fan of Michelle Karr-Ueoka's desserts, I nearly flipped when I heard they would be hosting Afternoon Tea the third Sunday of every month.  I am after all, Afternoon Tea's biggest fan and I enjoy getting fancy for an afternoon of girly-ness and delicious bites.  

I braved the rain brought by Hurricane Ana to attend the October Afternoon Tea and it was unlike any high tea I had experienced.  Set in the modern restaurant, they forgo the tiered presentation and the usual tea sandwiches are replaced with beautifully plated gourmet bites.  The tea has a set menu ($35) that changes monthly but is filled with amazing petite sandwiches, savory bites, scones, and sweets.  But if that isn't enough, you can add on extra options and also upgrade your tea to a premium tea or mimosa.

At this tea, the petite sandwiches and savory bites included:  spam sandwich, duck pastrami, kamaboko sandwich, spaghetti and meatballs, somen salad, chicken club sandwich, and Ho Farms butternut squash.  I also opted to add on the devilled eggs and caviar for an additional $8.  The savories were in a word, incredible.  The bite sized portions were bursting with flavor.  I enjoyed every single one of them.  I never knew I was a fan of duck or caviar.    

  

The fromage blanc scones were served with yuzu curd and Hawaiian pineapple relish.  Yum!  

The variations of the pate choux (light pastry dough) included:  tiramisu cream puffs, pumpkin pie profiteroles, banana cream pie gateau st. honore, strawberry haupia paris breast, lemon meringue eclairs, doughnuts and andagi.  They tasted as wonderful as they looked, but there were so many that as much as I wanted to, I could not finish.  Thank goodness for takeout boxes!  

This tea was excellent and the first time I left so stuffed.  My friends and I enjoyed ourselves so much that we vowed to be back.  Don't wait too long to make reservations, November and December are already full, but we got seats for January.  Hope to see you there!  

MW Restaurant
1538 Kapiolani Blvd.
808-955-6505

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Waipahu Cafe

I recently went to Waipahu Cafe to meet up with a friend visiting from Oregon.

Complimentary Kim Chee

Banana Hot Cakes

"Famous Fried Rice Omelet"

Shrimp Fried Rice Omelet

Waipahu Cafe is known for their Fried Rice Omelets, and I must admit - it was quite good!  I finished the entire thing!

The kids had the Banana Hot Cakes - and they really enjoyed them,

Although service was a little slow, mainly because there were only two people working - the cook and the server, I didn't mind it that much, as it just gave my friend and I more time to catch up.

Waipahu Cafe is a nice little restaurant serving great breakfasts!

Waipahu Cafe
94-300 Farrington Hwy
Waipahu, HI 96797
(808) 671-0065

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Underdogs Sports Bar & Grill

Some of our classmates recently met up at Underdogs Sports Bar & Grill.

Nachos

Pork & Tots

Furikake Garlic Chicken

Grilled Kalbi Short Ribs

Fried Rice

Kalua Pork Quesadilla

I tried everything except for the Kalbi, and EVERYthing that I did try was delicious!  Everyone commented how good the food was.

Not only does Underdogs offer a lot of good food (and drinks), but they also have darts, a pool table, and karaoke.

Service was great, the atmosphere was fun, and the food was delicious.

It was a great place to hang out with friends.


Underdogs Sports Bar & Grill
508 Waiakamilo St
Honolulu, HI 96817
Neighborhood: Kalihi
(808) 888-2873

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Shiro's Saimin Haven - Aiea

 Our family recently went to dinner at  Shiro's Saimin Haven in Aiea.

Wun Tun Min

Keiki Corn Dog with Fries

Keiki Cheese Pizza

Keiki Chicken Nuggets with Fries - yes, frozen dinosaur chicken nuggets, but my son still loved them.

Side Order Fries with Gravy - always need to have gravy with my fries whenever possible.

Chicken Katsu - some gigantic pieces of katsu that DH enjoyed.

I had the Wun Tun Min and the side order of Fries with Gravy.  YUM!

As usual - the service was quick and friendly and the food was good.

I can't wait to go back!

Shiro's Saimin Haven

98-020 Kamehameha Highway, Aiea, HI  96701

(808) 488-8824

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Mariposa

I recently went to lunch at Mariposa (located in Neiman Marcus at Ala Moana Center) with the bloggers at Hi Tea Style.

Complimentary Popovers

Complimentary Chicken Consomme

Warm Roast Beef Dip

Tuscan Chicken Melt

Caramel Pot de Creme and Petit Truffle Brownies

Prices are on the high side, but I thought the food was good and the view was great.

I ordered the chicken sandwich - it was tasty, but for the price I would've liked a whole sandwich instead of just half (although I didn't pay - the sweet gals at Hi Tea Style paid for my lunch!).  Both Hi Tea Style bloggers ordered the roast beef sandwich, and one of them didn't care for the sandwich at all.

However, we all agreed the dessert was delicious!

Mariposa
Level Three
Neiman Marcus
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
808.951.3420

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Papa Ole's Kitchen - North Shore Day Trip Stop #3

After spending some time at Kokololio Beach, we drove just a very short distance down the street to have lunch at Papa Ole's Kitchen.
 

Garlic Chicken - Very tasty!

Hamburger Steak with Brown Gravy - they give two large hamburger patties.  My husband said it was delicious!

Papa Ole's is quite popular - when we arrived there was a very long line.

There are only a few tables inside, but there are several large picnic-style benches outside.

The food was GREAT, the portions were LARGE, and I definitely recommend stopping by for some lunch if you're in the area!

Papa Ole's Kitchen

54-316 Kamehameha Hwy
Ste 9
Hauula, HI 96717

(808) 293-2292

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California Pizza Kitchen & Pizza Dough Rewards

We recently went to California Pizza Kitchen in Aiea (Pearlridge) for lunch after running some errands in the area.

Complimentary Bread and Olive Oil

I signed up for Pizza Dough Rewards, through which I automatically received a reward for a Free Small Plate, and I ended up getting the Spicy Chicken Tinga Quesadilla

California Club

Spicy Korean Barbecue Pizza

The service and food was great as always, and I love the new Pizza Dough Rewards program!


California Pizza Kitchen

98-1005 Moanalua Rd # 554

Aiea, HI 96701-4718

(808) 487-7741

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Naupaka Terrace

Our family recently dined at Naupaka Terrace to celebrate my birthday!

Naupaka Terrace is an open-air restaurant located in the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa that overlooks the pool.

Complimentary Cheese Bread - (they only offer one serving)

Kids Cheeseburger with Fresh Fruit

Kids Chicken Tenders with Fries

All adult entrees come with all you can eat Soup and Salad Bar - lots of great salads and topping options, as well as Quinoa, Pasta Salad, Rolls, and more. 

Soup of the Day was Tomato Bisque

New York Steak

Chicken Penne Pasta - rich and creamy, and very delicious

Complimentary Guava Cheesecake - delicious!

As expected with most resort restaurants, prices were high, and since it was an open-air restaurant, there were some flies that wouldn't leave the salad bar.

Our original server was nice, but service did seem a bit slow despite a nearly empty restaurant.

At one point we were waiting to order dessert, and we kept waiting and waiting and waiting.  Finally another server, Scott, came by and explained that our original server had a family emergency and had to leave.  We ended up not ordering dessert because my kids were getting restless, but Scott was super friendly, very funny, and efficient.

Overall, the food was delicious, our second server was great, and we really enjoyed our dinner at Naupaka Terrace!

Naupaka Terrace:
92-1001 Olani St  Kapolei, HI 96707
(808) 679-0079

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