Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
behind the servers' ears. The Hawaiian food is perfectly fine, but people come here more for
the atmosphere than the cuisine.
At the Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Dr. & 808/528-0807. www.donhos.net . Reservations recommended.
Main courses $12-$22 lunch, $15-$27 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11am-9pm, Sunday brunch 10am-2pm.
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant NEW AMERICAN The German-style lagers brewed on
the premises would be enough of a draw, but the food at Gordon Biersch—one of Honolulu's
liveliest after-work hangouts, located in the Aloha Tower Marketplace—is also a lure. Fresh
Pacific and Island seafood highlights the eclectic menu. The lanai bar and the brewery
bar—open until 1am—are the brightest spots in the marketplace, teeming with downtown
types who nosh on pot stickers, grilled steaks, baby back ribs, chicken pizza, garlic fries, and
any number of American classics with deft cross-cultural touches. The stage area for live mu-
sic is a popular weekend feature.
At the Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Dr. & 808/599-4877. Reservations recommended. Main courses
$11-$29. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm.
Downtown
Downtowners love the informal walk-in cafes lining one side of attractive BishopSquare, at
1001 Bishop St. (at King St.), in the middle of the business district, where free entertainment is
offered every Friday during lunch hour. The popular ChePasta, 1001 Bishop St., Suite 10 ( &
808/524-0004; www.chepasta.com ), is a stalwart here, chic enough for business meetings but
not too formal (or expensive) for a spontaneous rendezvous over minestrone. Some places in
Bishop Square open for breakfast and lunch, others just for lunch, but most close when the
offices around them empty.
Note: Keep in mind that Restaurant Row (Ala Moana Blvd., btw. Punchbowl and South
St.), which features several hot new establishments, offers free validated parking in the even-
ing.
Duc's Bistro ★★ FRENCH/VIETNAMESE Surrounded by lei stands and marked by a
cheery neon sign, this cozy 80-seater stands out at the mauka (toward the mountains) end
of Maunakea Street in Chinatown. Narrow and quietly elegant, the restaurant has three com-
ponents: the front room with windows looking out to Maunakea Street, the windowless back
room, and the tiny bar. It has an edgy chic that's more Manhattan than Honolulu, and the
food is beautifully prepared and presented. Duc's new menu leans more toward the Viet-
namese roots of the owners (husband-and-wife team Duc Nguyen and Minh Nga Vu), with
some French influences. Sauces for the meats hint of Grand Marnier (duck supreme), bor-
deaux (lamb Raymond Oliver), cognac (steak au poivre), Pernod (prawns and oysters), and
fresh herbs and vegetables. From the seafood spring rolls with shrimp, taro, and mushrooms
to the excellent “meal in a bowl” (rice noodles heaped with fresh herbs and julienned veget-
ables, topped with lime dressing), creative touches abound. Live music is featured Saturday
nights and surprise vocalists and hula dancers have been known to join in the fun.
1188 Maunakea St., Chinatown. & 808/531-6325. www.ducsbistro.com . Reservations recommended. Main dishes
$12-$22. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11am-2pm and 5-10pm; Sat-Sun 5-10pm.
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