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Cinnamons, a closer look
Aloha!
10/24/08 - greetings from Kailua town, home of multi-million dollar beachfront properties! Yes, prices there are elevated beyond common folk like me, propped up even more because of the fact that many are either rented out as vacation houses or converted into mini-hotels called bed and breakfasts. You know, where individual homes are opened up to paying guests, and breakfast is served, along with, sometimes, lunch and/or dinner, as well. I guess some people like that cozy, small-budget, personal feel of individual family hospitality, as opposed to being herded into that sea of visitors crowding the streets between Kalakaua Avenue and the Ala Wai canal - Waikiki, that is, in case you're not from 'round these here parts.
I don't blame them, actually. Kailua is beautiful country, indeed. Miles and miles of powder-soft, white sand beaches, aqua-marine waters, water sports rentals galore, some of the most beautiful homes on the island, and an almost North Shore-type of ecclectic, surfer/new age feel coursing through its cul-de-sacs and by-ways. Nothing against Waikiki, but for those wanting to get away from any sign of tall buildings and bright city lights, this little mecca out on the East side is not a bad option at all.
Yeah, there's been a bit of controversy surrounding bed and breakfast joints on the island, and especially in Kailua, since there are so many of them. Turns out that some of the more permanent residents are not taking so kindly to such a transient atmosphere and next-door neighbors being subject to large, sometimes boisterous gatherings of strangers on any given day of the week. To make matters worse, some are operating without licensing and regulation. The whole situation is stuck in a whole mess of legal actions and re-actions right now, so who knows how it will eventually turn out, or if this current battle will even result in any changes at all. I can see the legitimacy of both sides, so it's a touchy subject, either way. I can afford to stay out of it, though, since I live on the other side of the Koolau's.
But don't worry, visitors, this is not the wild, wild west, and you won't see angry locals sitting in their garages with shotguns or angry mobs demonstrating community sovereignty. Most likely, you won't even get as much as a "stink-eye!" Many shops and restaurants here know they'd close down if it weren't for out-of-town guests, which includes the giant Kaneohe Marine Corps Air base right next-door, so no worries at all! All those proud marines and their families represent a huge boom to the local economy, for sure.
Just one of those restaurants which would be adversely affected by a drop in human traffic is a charming hide-away you won't find unless you're looking. Cinnamon's restaurant out in Kailua is located on a side-street called Uluniu Ave., in a small network of shops inside of Kailua Square. And just to make sure all you military folk keep comin' out, they offer a military-only coupon at their official website, www.cinnamonsrestaurant.com. It's good for a 15% discount Mondays through Fridays. They do reserve the right to take down the online coupon at any time, but as of 10/24/08, it's still up! Other than that, anyone can check it out for their complete menu, along with more general info.
Upon entering the Square, a set of tables and chairs awaits under an open-roofed courtyard, which is actually an extension of the restaurant. This area is a good option if you've been here before, but for first-timers, I'd recommend sitting inside, for reasons we'll get to in a minute.
The entrance carries much the same personality as the atmosphere inside. Minus, of course, the gnarly-looking minataur, or goblin, or whatever you call him sticking out of the wall, along with fake cobwebs over-hanging the roof - almost Halloween, you know. It's kind-of a quiet, European village-look that radiates warmth and hospitality, with wooden shingles on fake roofs and flower boxes of red brick. I guess if you're from Europe, it's nothing special at all, totally un-authentic, even, but for us locals, it's close enough to still be waaay charming and different.
On a side note, Sam Choy has a giant fishing boat sitting right in the middle of his restaurant, while Old Spaghetti Factory has an entire San Francisco-style cable-car (train) that's even bigger. At Cinnamon's in Kailua, you don't get as much Disney-esque drama, but a cool-looking gazebo does score some points, right? Yes, an entire gazebo sits as the main feature of the dining room. Gotta say, I haven't sat in it yet despite having eaten here several times, but then again, you can't really visually enjoy it when seated inside of it! Myself, I'd rather have a seat within clear view, instead
Since it's so close to Halloween, I'll give you a dark pic of the inside. I'm pretty sure that the shadow-person on the left-side is a ghost. Eery, it is - roaming the restaurant day after day, night after night, looking for human companionship but never quite findng it. The smiling guests don't even know he's there. Must be a local ghost, too, judging by his flip-flops...
Ok, ok, I'll give you some color. And a little bit more seasonal decor to put you in the mood.
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Sis' had the most standard, even boring, shall we say, meal of the day. Not that it was bad, but two pancakes, two strips of bacon, and a single fried egg, over-well-done, is not exactly an order that fares well in comparison to the other creative and original dishes found here, some of which we'll see in a moment.
The bacon was a bit skimpy, but pancakes, pretty decent - good, solid, simple fare that was fluffy, moist, and cooked perfectly to a light, golden brown. And if that egg looks a little burnt to you, it's no mistake, as sis' is absolutely obsessive about not having any runny-yellow yolk at all. Even a little bit of wetness inside will spark her to send it back without hesitation.
Sis' husband, on the other hand, ordered one of the most daring items on the menu, depending, I guess, on your perspective. From someone from as far away as Viking-country, Norway, to order a Hawaiian omelet of kalua pig, green and white onions, tomatoes, and yes, green luau leaves, it takes some level of adventure. Luau leaves? Not many locals will even consider them in an omelet...
However, it actually turned out to be the most pleasantly surprising dish of the morning! One bite, generously supplied to everyone on our table, was enough to get all of us excited. The strong flavors of the luau leaf, along with pork, veggies, and egg, really did taste like a Hawaiian lau-lau! And, as my brother-in-law duly noted, you didn't get that "dilution" of flavors that often happens in an omelet, where there are so many competing ingredients that everything just kinda melts into one taste, while completely losing track of the individual items. Cooked egg kinda does that to things, doesn't it? On this Hawaiian omelet, the main flavors of kalua pig and luau leaf were very dominant, and almost bullingly stood up to the surrounding eggs that sought to seep into every crack and crevice, then solidifying in an attempt to blanket everything else out. Not gonna happen here. Hawaiian omelet - no ka oi (the best)!
Again,
Wifey's order was called a farmers omelet, chock-full and loaded with potatoes, bacon, green onions, white onions, ham, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. Omelets here are a bit pricey, at $10-$11, but go with a two-egg'er instead of the standard three-egg'er, and they'll knock two bucks off the price.
I guess you can tell from the pic that there's a whole lotta ham in this particular omelet, and it's also the kind of omelet where the egg is cooked, allowed to harden on both sides, and then filled with ingredients, unlike the Hawaiian omelet, which was obviously cooked together so that the eggs mixed with the fillers. I don't know exactly what specifications merit omelets being prepared either way here, or anywhere, for that matter. Most times, I like them mixed, but other times, such as in the case of the fabulous mushroom omelet from Zippy's, separated is better. I guess if you're trying to keep the inner ingredients in their original states, as in this next pic, it makes more sense to keep everything separate from the ever-intrusive nature of the egg.
A family of items Cinnamon's is well-known for are their signature eggs benedicts. As one of my all-time favorite breakfast meals, it is usually made from layering a single poached egg, Canadian bacon, and hollandaise sauce over a slice of toasted English muffin. Fabulous in itself, but here there are also many variations which substitute Canadian bacon with mahimahi, crabcake, kalua pig, raw spinach and tomato, or lox, which is cured, smoked salmon.
Half-orders, or one english muffin stack, are $8.99, while full orders, or the standard two stacks, are $11.79, including your choice of home-style fries or hash browns. A super-combo is also possible at $2 more per half-order or $3 more per full order, and consists of any type of eggs benedict available, plus an extra load of raw spinach and tomato.
Yet another fully-customizable option is to have a full order come with two different types of eggs benedict! In my case, it was a traditional, which comes with Canadian bacon (and turkey, at least here) in the background and a crabcake version in front. I love it when restaurants are flexible!
I don't think this crabcake could stand up to any Pacific Rim or Seafood Restaurant, as it was a little on the bready side and crab pieces, a bit small. No giant lumps of white crab here, but the taste was still delicious mixed with runny egg and creamy, buttery-rich Hollandaise sauce.
Speaking of runny eggs, I should have the uninitiated know that seldom will you find an eggs benedict without a gooey mess of yolk inside, unless you specifically ask otherwise. Though most people thoroughly enjoy having the yolks soak through everything on the plate, some, like sis', wouldn't even sample my crabcake for fear that some of it leached in. The next pic was specifically designed to gross' her out!
I should also note that Cinnamon's has a wide variety of lunch items, as well, all served between 11am and 2pm, except for Sundays, when it is breakfast-only. Arrive at night or late-afternoon, and you'll be greeted by locked doors and boarded windows. Lunch items can include burgers, salads like curried chicken and papaya, taco, or mandarin; many different sandwiches like Rueben's, patty melt's, roast beef dips, and pastrami; and main dishes like meat loaf, pasta's, Hawaiian plates, locomoco, and stir-fry's. Unfortunately, I haven't tried anything on the lunch side yet. For a complete view of the menu, check out the link I've provided above.
As far as Kailua breakfast places go, and there are many great ones, Cinnamon's is definitely at or near the top of the list, with an atmosphere that is probably the most attractive of them all. It's a great place for hot coffee, maybe a newspaper or magazine, and a casual meal to start off the day. The waitresses are super-duper-friendly, always there to greet you with a warm smile and an always-refreshed cup of joe. Honestly, they gotta have the most friendly breakfast crew anywhere, which is a huge plus first thing in the morning!
Hope you've enjoyed the tour! Catch you next time!
Aloha and thanks for stopping by!
Aku
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