Aku Eats Oahu : Watering Holes : Watering Holes, page 2

Watering Holes, page 2

Senor Frog’s. The Royal Hawaiian S.C. in Waikiki. 440-0150. 11am-4pm daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. The restaurant with the very adult reputation has toned it down a bit for the family crowd in Hawaii, but that doesn’t mean the fun stops here! During early-evening hours they even cater to the kids, and everyone has a blast singing and dancing along with the host, who has everyone standing on their seats, bunny-hopping through the dining area, and frolicking on the stage like a Broadway musical. The whimsical furnishings are also in perfect step with the fun, with bikini-clad bar stools mimicking rear ends, swing-sets for seats, and giant frogs peeking over and around corners and rooftops! Add to that arrangement balloon-makers, dancers in outrageous outfits, karaoke, salsa, and alcohol, and you have one potent mix of entertainment!

Unlike the original Senor Frog's restaurants in Mexico, this "Wild on E" poster child tones down the hedonism at its Hawaii restaurant. The party, however, is still high-octane and fun. Guacamole and buffalo wings - I'd say come for drinks first and then food.

Ige’s Restaurant & 19th Puka. 96-761 Oihana pl. in Pearl City. 486-3500. Dinner nightly except closed Sunday, late night till 11pm Thursday, 12am Friday, and “whenever’s” on Saturday. Parking in lot across street. Prices: $. Map. This local-style hangout is the product of a family with deep roots in the local restaurant industry. With lunch wagons, a catering service, and several restaurants under their belts, the 19th Puka is their latest venture. There is a huge variety of local-style foods, such as fried won-tons, lumpia, wing dings, teri flap steaks, and shoyu pork, as well as daily specials like Hawaiian plates, turkey ala king, chicken hekka, spaghetti, and beef stroganoff. The dining room/bar is as cavernous as the menu, as it sits in a former warehouse. Entertainment like Karaoke and jazz is a regular occurance and it has recently begun hosting live radio broadcasts of all UH football games played away from Aloha Stadium. Because of the ample space, large groups often gather and with the full-service bar and several televisions playing, it does get a bit sports-bar-ish.

Murphy’s Bar & Grill. 2 Merchant St. in Downtown Honolulu. 531-0422. Lunch Monday-Friday, Dinner nightly except closed on Sunday, late night till 2am. Parking in nearby municipal lots or on street. Prices: $$. Map. Murphy’s is a popular spot for the downtown crowd. Lunchtime can get quite busy, while evenings frequently host special parties and events. There are great sandwiches, burgers, salads, corned beef and cabbage, garlic steaks, and more, and don’t forget a pour of thick, malty Guinness on tap!

Kelley O’neill’s, Irish Rose Saloon, and O’Toole’s Irish Pubs. O’Neill’s – 311 Lewers St. in Waikiki, 926-1777. Irish Rose (map shown) – 478 Ena Rd. in Waikiki, 947-3414. O’Toole’s – 902 Nuuanu Ave. in Downtown Honolulu, 536-4612. Prices: $$. Map. This family of Irish-themed Pub’s have become quite a hit with tourists, military, and locals alike for their casual, up-beat atmosphere accentuated by live music nightly, of the good ‘ol rock ‘n roll variety! Sandwiches are the star food attractions here, but don’t forget about the Irish meat pies and corned beef. The Pirhana Brothers, who play at the Irish Rose and get downright funky with old-time rock ‘n roll classics, never fail to pump the crowd up.

The Shack. 4 locations: 377 Keahole St. in Hawaii Kai S.C. in Hawaii Kai (map shown), 396-1919; 95-221 Kipapa St. at the Mililani S.C. in Mililani, 627-1561; 2255 Kalakaua Ave. at the Waikiki Trade Center, 921-2255; and 1051 Keolu Dr. in Kailua, 261-1191. Parking outside all stores. Prices: $$. Map. Except for the Waikiki location that just opened recently, the Shack seems to stay away from the busy retail hubs around town and instead opt for quiet residential areas to plop down their restaurant/bars. All locations are a boon to the areas they serve, who are all more than happy to have a genuine watering hole nearby. All of them are sports-bar-ish, with television screens, darts, and pool tables. The meals are mostly right out of a Mainland bar, with jalapeno poppers, nacho’s, fries, buffaloe wings, sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, and the like. Perhaps the most famous thing on the list is the double shack cheeseburger, which, interestingly enough, is served with one of the few local choices on the menu - Portuguese sausage!

Hooters. 1 Aloha Tower Dr. at the Aloha Tower Marketplace ocean side of Downtown Honolulu. 524-4668. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. We all know you come here for the drinks, along with some chicken wings and burgers. A few may even come for the excitement of cruise ships loading and unloading right outside. Other than that, we don’t know of any other reasons for you to visit. Right?

Hard Rock Café. 1837 Kapiolani Blvd. right outside Waikiki. 955-7383. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking outside store. Prices: $$. Map. Located right across the street from the Convention Center, this music-themed museum/restaurant is an internationally-recognized establishment that is fine for kids, especially during lunch or early evening hours. The store inside sells memorabilia of all the great entertainment legends, and who hasn’t gotten a Hard Rock Café T-shirt or hat at least once in their lives?

Moose McGillicuddy’s. 310 Lewers St. in Waikiki. 923-0751. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, late-night till 3:30am daily. Parking on street. Prices: $$. Map. Moose McGillicuddy’s is your classic bar/grill, with blackened chicken pasta, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, fajitas, buffalo wings, and all the rest of ‘em. By late evening it becomes a raging nightclub, full of mostly tourists and military personnel, but also some locals. Watch out for the Sunday bikini beach parties and contests!

Kanpai is a lively, local-style watering hole with ono-kine grindz, and we're not talking Waikiki-local, either, with items like these fried ahi belly's.

Kanpai. 404 Ward Ave. in Kakaako. 593-9202. 11am-2am daily, from 7am Sunday during football season! Parking behind store. Prices: $$. Map. The very popular-with-locals bar/grill, Slammers, has forever closed its doors. In its place, with much of the same management, staff, and menu, has moved to this new location, at the former Dixie Grill and then Tio's, under a brand-new name. It is still a full-fledged sports bar, with large television screens and busy dart boards to prove it. Food-wise, you still can’t go wrong, with local standouts like furikake garlic chicken, pork chops, salt ‘n pepper shrimp, and burgers, all done with a good degree of quality from chefs who formerly populated fancy Pacific Rim restaurants. The tiny parking lot is no longer, as there is ample space right behind the new place, much to the delight of happy fans of who seem to have transitioned in very well.

Therapy. A Closer Look. 7192 Kalanianaole Hwy. at the Koko Marina S.C. in Hawaii Kai. 394-8200. 11am-2am daily. Parking in Center lot. Prices: $$. Map. This new location in Hawaii Kai is the more local option to the Shack close-by, featuring dart boards, large-screen televisions, pool tables, and a wide variety of local-style and Japanese pupu’s and meals. There are great burgers, crispy garlic chicken, fried noodles, edamame, and rib-eye steak, as well as a large variety of both new-wave and traditional sashimi and sushi choices. Comfortable, roomy, laid-back spot to enjoy a few drinks and a great time.

New-wave sushi choices abound at Therapy Sports Bar and Grill in Hawaii Kai.

Lulu’s. 2589 Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki. 926-5222. 24 hours, alcohol served till 4am. Parking at the Zoo across the street or on street. Prices: $$. Map. This is the spot to be at for post-2am partying. It sits on the far Diamond Head side of Waikiki, right across from the zoo. The music is sometimes so loud it gets irritating, which actually fits in perfectly with the boisterous crowd, at least during after-dinner hours. As in many Waikiki night spots, you’ll find mini bamboo roofs, tiki’s, flower designs, and surfboards everywhere. The menu is very large and eclectic, from build-your-own-burgers to Prime Rib, crispy won tons, and sushi! There are also more varieties of beer on tap than most places.

Boardriders. 201 Hamakua Dr. in Kailua. 261-4600. 11am-2am daily. Parking in lot behind store. Prices: $$. Map. This neighborhood hot spot welcomes live bands and dancing on particular nights, featuring ska, reggae, Ja-waiian, and other funky, new generation-music. Of course, being in Kailua, there is a surf-type atmosphere to this place, but with tacky Polynesian overtones that almost scream of Waikiki! Food is just ok, but the bar is stocked and there is a decent selection of beers on tap. When you’re not busy on the dance floor, there are a couple of pool tables, dart machines, and television screens to get the play-by-play.

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