The Year IN FOOD  

By Kevin McQuarrie

Looking back at the restaurants I have visited in the past year, I’m reminded how lucky we are to live in such a diverse, vibrant community. Now, not every meal was perfect, and we encountered some dubious décors, but overall, the quality of our island’s restaurants is remarkable—and it’s particularly high if you consider that our reviews tend to focus on fairly affordable dining options. These aren’t just the hoity-toity places we visit; they are the spots where you eat with friends and family every night.

So in this retrospective of the past year’s reviews, we’ve rated each restaurant on a scale of one to four “Oahus,” with a four being excellent and a one, a “needs improvement.” Here’s to another year of great food and great friends!

 

Cafe Satino
46-138 Kahuhipa St.
Ph: 236-0062

This hidden, hole-in-the-wall BYOB restaurant has homemade, crowd-pleasing Italian food favorites. The flavors and presentations are above what you’d expect at these prices, but the décor is a bit Spartan.

Food: 3

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 3

Value: 4

Overall: 2.75

 

Cinnamon’s Restaurant

315 Uluniu St.
Ph: 261-8724

Start your day off right with a breakfast at Cinnamon’s Restaurant, in Kailua Square, which specializes in giant omelets and homemade bakery items. The décor has sort of a country/homey feel; if you can, sit outside, where the seating area is nicer.

Food: 3

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 3

Value: 3

Overall: 3

 

Cisco’s Cantina
131 Hekili St.
Ph: 262-7337

Cisco’s has a funky, low-key atmosphere. It’s basically just a fiesta waiting to happen each night. The food, though, holds equal importance, with quality ingredients and intriguing, Mexico-meets Hawai‘i flavors.

Food: 4

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 3

Value: 4

Overall: 3.5

 

La Mariana Sailing Club
50 Sand Island Access Rd.
Ph: 848-2800
La Mariana is the perfect, waterfront place to bring out-of-town guests. It’s a charming, tiki-decorated restaurant straight out of 1963. Order one of the excellent mai tais and a plate of sashimi and get groovy, baby.

Food: 2

Ambiance: 4

Service: 3

Value: 3
Overall: 3

 

The Chef’s Table

333 Keahole St.

Ph: 394-2433

True, it’s tucked away in a shopping center, yet the Chef’s Table boasts warm, Old World hospitality, huge portions of hearty, delicious food, and a well-chosen wine list.

Food: 4

Atmosphere: 2

Service: 3

Value: 4

Overall: 3.25

 

D.K. Steakhouse

Third floor, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

2552 Kalakaua Avenue

Ph: 931-6280

Bring your favorite carnivore to D.K. Steakhouse, a new offering from D.K. Kodama. It’s an American-style steakhouse specializing in high USDA-grade, well-aged steaks. You’ll find a classy décor, polished service and a great wine list.

Food: 4

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 4

Value: 3

Overall: 3.5

 

Keneke’s Plate Lunch
41-857 Kalanianaole Hwy., Waimanalo
Ph: 259-5266

Enjoy fantastic people-watching while waiting for heaping, delicious plate lunches piled high with choices such as kalua pig, lau lau, barbecue chicken, pork adobo, kalbi, and mahi mahi. Did we mention they have incredible french fries, too?

Food: 3

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 4

Value: 4

Overall: 3.5

 

Mexico Lindo

46-132 Kahuhipa St. #A

Ph: 236-4992

This Kaneohe charmer is a bright oasis of conviviality. It specializes in traditional food from Southern Mexico, with fresh-tasting, exhilarating food that actually has a kick to it.

Food: 4
Atmosphere: 4

Service: 3
Value: 3

Overall: 3.5

 

Okonomi Cuisine Kai

1427 Makaloa St.

Ph: 944-1555

Okonomi Cuisine really nails it in the décor, service and style departments. The food is a bit more hit or miss, but it’s still a great place to take a date. Unusual cocktails add to the fun.

Food: 2

Atmosphere: 4

Service: 3

Value: 3

Overall: 3

 

Saigon Noodle House
Enchanted Lake Shopping Ctr.
Ph: 261-2466

This is some of the best Vietnamese food you can find on Oahu, with huge portions and dazzlingly fast food prep. The spring rolls are incredible, as is the photo.

Food: 4

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 4

Value: 4

Overall: 3.25

 

The Willow Tree
Aikahi Park Shopping Ctr.
25 Kaneohe Bay Dr.
Ph: 254-1139

No liquor license and an austere décor further drag down bland Korean cuisine. The service, however, is efficient and friendly, and the prices are super low.

Food: 1

Atmosphere: 1
Service: 4

Value: 3

Overall: 2.25

 

12th Avenue Grill

1145C 12th Ave.

Ph: 732-9469

This polished neighborhood bistro offers contemporary American cuisine, a relaxed crowd, and servers who actually know what they’re doing. Don’t miss the baked macaroni and cheese.

Food: 4

Atmosphere: 4

Service: 4

Value: 3

Overall: 3.75