 |
 |
JJ Dolans, a closer look
 |
  |
Check out these other fine views of JJ Dolan's!
 See the official page of JJ Dolan's! |
 Yelper's on JJ Dolan's! |
 Kawehi Haug checks out JJ Dolan's! |
Aloha!
5/30/10 - For waaay too long, two very highly-touted pizza houses have been glaringly and conspicuously absent from the guide portion of this site (category tabs on left). To finally catch-up, the first is being covered today while the second will be here soon enough - Kumi and I already sampled the place and are eagerly awaiting a return visit before posting. Both are relative newcomers to the island pizza scene, and both have been getting rave reviews not only from consumer-based forums and sites, but also from the pro's. In fact, the label best pizza on the island has been attributed to both spots, with JJ Dolan's garnering accolades from, among many, a critic's choice Ilima Award as well as a best pizza ranking from the editors of Honolulu Magazine. I say critic's choice and editors to validate the honor, as it's not a people's choice kind of thing, such as those found in the big newspapers, where Pizza Hut, Papa John's, and Round Table are constantly being voted the best! Of course, no bashing meant to the big pizza chains, as I enjoy all of them myself, but the best? Oooy vey!
JJ Dolan's is, as colorfully explained on their menu and site, an Irish Pub with New York Pizza from two guys in Chinatown! How can we not be interested? And oops-dang it, yeah, that's me, caught on film!
I don't know if you can consider this area Chinatown, though, as it's still a short walk away from the King St./Hotel St. area that houses the bustling markets and funky smells of Chinatown proper. I'd consider this vicinity, on Bethel St. just mountain-side of the Hawaii Theatre, more like Downtown Honolulu, of which the smaller Chinatown is embedded. Whatever the case, here's a map and street view to help get you there.
Parking is a simple matter, as directly across the street sits Mark's Garage, where parking is, last I remember, $5 for an all-night pass on weekends and evenings, and a few bucks more during Downtown work hours. Day-time, metered street parking is probably your cheapest option, but remember that besides availability issues, some stalls limit you to only a single hour - plenty for a quick lunch, but that's about it. Just mountain-side of Mark's Garage is an open lot that is perhaps the most convenient option, but is also the most expensive. Save it for an extra side-dish or another pie topping or two!
Our first experience here was an evening escapade with Kumi and a couple of good friends, where we arrived at just after sundown. A long bar is the first thing you'll see, while a decent-sized dining room houses a bustling mix of all walks, from older folks and America's finest (military) to youngsters and the clubbishly hip who dominate the scene the later it gets. Upon first walking-in, it was relatively quiet and steady, but come around 9pm or so, the scene began changing until it was pulsing with all the energy of a nightclub!
The decor and atmosphere is decidedly sports bar'ish, with a good 'ol Irish/American theme featuring old-fashioned photo's hanging, giant Pepsi bottle-tops, football helmets, a few flat-screens, and your typical beer mirrors and banners everywhere. Oh yeah, and maybe a paddle or Hawaiian quilt or two scattered about as well, just enough to pay respect.
The bar area is large and well-stocked, with both bottled and tapped beer, spirits, and even a decent selection of wines. Being open until 2am every night except Sunday, when they close altogether, this bar puts in a lot of overtime, lemme tell ya!
While there I met a cool guy by the name of Dean Ichimura, who is the district liquor/wine rep for Paradise Beverages, the giant local wholesaler. He explained that there's a new type of vodka called Pau, and it's the only vodka made strictly in Hawaii. Based in Maui, they use Maui Gold pineapple mash as a base and employ a glass still distillation process that Master Distiller Mark Nigbur says arguably creates one of the purest vodkas in the world. Right now, it's only a two-person crew running the show and Mark oversees every step of the process, so only a limited number of bottles are made and each comes personally signed by the master himself! As you can imagine, it is pricey, at $99 per!
To find out more about Pau Vodka, check out their website at www.paumaui.com.
I didn't taste it, but then again, I don't know much about vodka, so I wouldn't be a good judge anyways. Besides, a busy Irish pub/sports bar simply screams out for a tall draft of Smithwick's (pronounced Smiddick's), one of the easiest-drinking dark beers around. By the copper-brown looks of a pour, you may confuse it for a heavier Stout or something, but going down, it's surprisingly light; too light, even for those looking for more of a punch.
Want a real man's beer, a true stout? Can't go far in that world without talking about the King of Stouts - Guinness! And on this particularly fine evening, we enjoyed ours with a bomb - Irish car bomb, that is. It's actually the first time I've ever had one. It consists of a pour of Irish Guinness, a half-shot of Bailey's Irish cream, and a half-shot of Jameson Irish whiskey. The bomb part entails dropping your mixed shot into the glass of Guinness, then downing the entire concoction in one fell swoop! Just watch out for the bomb inside - if you're not careful, it could blow-up your two front teeth!
To be sure, this little party got started right away (bet ya thought I'd say with a bang)! Our menu did look a little fuzzier all of a sudden!
d Besides the regular menu, you can also follow them on Twitter (I gotta figure out how to get on there, as well!), where they up-date you on other types of specialty pizzas. Check out the following entries I lifted from their official site:
| Pizza Special #1: MEAT BOMB! Meatball, Chorizo, Salami, Ham, Portuguese Sausage and Jalapenos. 1 day ago Pizza Special #2: Spinach, Salami, Roasted Bell Peppers, Garlic and Brie on a White Pie. 1 day ago Pizza Special #3: Chicken, Black Olives, Capers and Feta on a White Pie. 1 day ago Pizza Special #1: Bay Shrimp, Chorizo, Roasted Bell Peppers, Brie and Green Onions. 2 days ago Pizza Special #2: Red Potato, Garlic, Maple Bacon, Mushrooms, Bleu Cheese and Green Onions. 2 days ago |
But we'll come back to pizza later, as da gang was first eager to sample some of their side dishes, which are not shown above but are also available. First-off, Kumi had to squeeze-in a quick salad, one full of fancy greens, red onions, broccoli, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, and even radicchio. Forget boring head or romaine lettuce!
All their side dishes are pretty much classic combinations that go hand-in-hand with pizza, such as this order of wings:
Deee-licious! What could be more sports bar'ish, more guy's night out, more beer-chugging-friendly than golden-brown, deep-fried, full of love chicken wings? Add-in a dip of super-sharp, house-made blue cheese dressing, and things couldn't have been better. And instead of a third of the basket full of celery and carrot sticks, this one came with only the good stuff!
I'm really beginning to like this place...
Next-up, instead of fries, we chose rings. You know - I don't know what it is about Hawaii, but why is it that we gotta panko everything? I mean, panko has its place, especially on chicken and pork, but as for more delicate items like fish, shrimp, scallops, and yes, onions, I'd just rather have a nice batter instead. Or at least once in a while would be great. Panko is just a little too coarse and heavy as compared to a batter done well. Outside of that, however, I really can't complain, as the rings were still tasty, with giant, crisp, sweet onions and a batch that came out piping-hot and still sizzling.
As we placed our next order, a basket of fish 'n chips, I could only hope and pray for batter instead of panko, and to my pleasant surprise, my wish came true. However, noone ever said the ol' flour and water mix was a cure-all! In another one of those food types that Hawaii is, uh... challenged by, fish 'n chips stands right there, alongside dishes like Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, deep-dish pizza, chicken-fried steak, and Mexican as a whole, to name a few categories, all of which we here in the islands could take some lessons on.
During our trip to New Zealand a couple of years back (Abel Tasman Track, Fiordland Region, and Queen Charlotte Track), Kumi and were completely spoiled rotten by the best fish 'n chips we've had anywhere in the world, bar none. Of course, I've never been to England before, where fish 'n chips are the Brittish answer to burgers and fries, but no matter where we went in Kiwi-land, whether it was a posh restaurant or a sleepy, street-corner diner, they were absolutely phenomenal. The batter was virtually the same everywhere - unbelievably crisp on the outside, seasoned perfectly, and as light as a good tempura, while the fish itself tasted much like halibut (though it wasn't) - very flaky, very tender, and mild-sweet in nature.
These weren't bad or anything, but like I said, I'm just so spoiled after our New Zealand trip! Along with ketchup, tartar sauce, a splash of lemon, and a hot batch of fries, it still made a decent side.
But the biggest reason for visiting JJ Dolan's in Downtown Honolulu is, of course, their pizza. Beginning with the all-time best variety ever, a simple combination you can momentarily stray from but must always come back to, few things in the foodie world can be so utterly pleasing to the heart and soul as a straight pepperoni and cheese pizza:
As you can see, the pepperoni pizza here at JJ Dolan's is full of love, done in the very traditional, very simple way - not overly loaded with cheese or pepperoni, a crust that is thin yet thick enough to remain crispy on the bottom throughout the whole pie, and a tangy, naturally sweet tomato sauce. No secrets here, no special ingredients, just a warm-fuzzy pie that hits home and brings it all back.
Pepperoni is, by the way, the only type of pizza here served by the slice, and at $3 per, can be a very economical meal or a great addition to a whole pie of another variety. And one of those varieties may very well be a Giacomo, straight-off their regular menu:
With Co-owner Danny Dolan formerly from O'Toole's Irish Pub, the other co-owner, Jay Neibuhr, arrived from a long stint at nearby Murphy's Bar and Grill, where he created this particular combination called the Giacomo, which comes with sausage, pepperoni, salami, and olives. Yes, it is a meat-lovers pie, but it's not as heavy as you may think, as the meats are balanced by a relatively light and well-spread distribution as well as a healthy portion of olives.
One of the offerings frequently showing-up on their specials list is a potato pizza.
Whaaa???
Well, not just that. In addition to red potatoes, there's also Maple bacon, mushrooms, garlic, blue cheese, green onions, and a white sauce.
Once again, it's a simple mix, and one that combines fresh toppings with a perfectly-done, oven-toasted crust, which is half the show, as far as I'm concerned. The thinly-sliced potatoes are a nice touch, adding a unique and subtle taste of something a little extra, while the small bits of maple bacon and generous sprinkles of freshly-grated garlic add bolder swaths of flavor to the pie. But the one dominant theme, and one that just may smack you upside the head if caught unawares, is blue cheese. Spread only in the center portion of the round, perhaps covering only a quarter of each piece's surface area, at the top of each triangle, that's pretty much all you'll ever need! As strong and pungent as genuine blue cheese is, you better be a blue cheese lover if you wanna tackle one of these!
I love it here. The pies are done right, the sides are great, the atmosphere is comfortable, the drinks flow freely, and the vibe is definitely fun, energetic, and up-beat. It all adds up to a prime spot for both a guy's or girlfriend's night out, and if the 'twain shall meet and get acquainted, all the better! Get good-kine chance for both sides, brah!
Hey, hope you're all having a great and wonderful day! Make the most of the rest of your week, and don't let anything get ya down! I'll leave you with one final street-shot right outside the door, where sits the Hawaii Theatre and lots of other great restaurants and night-spots:
Take care, and Aloha till next time!
Aku
Post a Comment or just say hello! Don't worry about leaving REAL names if you don't want to! No e-mails will be posted without consent, last names will be abbreviated, and if you don't want me to post all or any part of your correspondence, please state so! Hope to hear from you all!
