One of my girlfriends was raving about this restaurant (it was her 3rd time there in the past 3 weeks), so how can I say no to this invite?
We were greeted by all of the retail staff as we walked past the Tommy Bahama store on the 1st level. As we ascend to the 2nd level, we were warmly welcomed by the friendly hostesses. Once we sat down, we were greeted by a basket of their warm and fluffy house bread; made fresh every 15-20 mins. Paired with the heavenly butter that is reminiscent of Thanksgiving (butter with Nutmeg?), it wraps you up in comfort instantly.
We first sampled their Pork Belly & Shrimp for a small bite.
Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly, Hokkaido Scallops, and Shrimp Appetizer (Special of the day)- $23. The scallops were heavenly with the Roasted Garlic Cilantro Aioli sauce. The sweet corn relish really brightens the dish. If I had one complaint it would be that the pork was very fatty (and the piece I ended up with was tough so wasn't entirely edible). Though my friend's had no problem. Maybe I need tougher teeth. Flavor-wise the dish was very harmonious and packed a punch!
Next we sampled the Fish Taco.
Blackened Fish Tacos. (Tomato Relish, Chipotle Aioli, Sour Cream infused with Lime, and Island Slaw; served with a side of Plantains in dipping sauce)- $19.50. This was really good. Ask for a side of Sriracha hot sauce to amplify the flavor even more. My friends truly enjoyed this a lot. Let's just say they made sounds similar to the restaurant scene in "When Harry Met Sally". Tone it down girls, we are in a family-friendly restaurant!
Finally Entrée time!
Parmesan Crusted Sanibel Chicken- $33.5. Stuffed chicken with a mixture of herbs and cheese, accompanied with Mashed Chive in Cauliflower, and Broccolini. Served on a Red Pepper Cream Sauce. Lovely presentation but taste-wise, it was a bit underwhelming. The chicken was perfectly moist though. Overall, it was good, but not as amazing as it looked.
[PROS]
- Attentive service! Let's just say I had a mishap when my wine glass broke and our server and the bartender came to my rescue instantly. Not sure if service was better due to my cute single girlfriends though I think that helped.
- Good food.
- Parking available nearby (by the Bank of Hawaii building right across. Validation is $6 for four hours daily after 6pm, or Sat.-Sun. all day).
- Nice breezy and comfortable atmosphere.
- While the wine list is limited (see menu below), they do have super fair pricing and more than a few picks I really like/ familiar with. I also spotted a few bottles of Japanese Whisky's (Yamazaki 12 yrs, Hibiki 12, Hibiki Harmony) displayed on their bar (off-menu).
- You can go shopping right after downstairs.
- There's a rooftop bar with sand and fire pit area perfect for drinks.
- Gluten-Sensitive/ Vegetarian Menu available.
[CONS]
- Prices for the Appetizers and Entrees are on the higher side.
- Entrée Menu is limited.
- If your table is right by the road it can get a bit noisy or a bit chilly. Bring a wrap or a light jacket for night-time if you are prone to get cold like me.
- Not the best view from the 2nd floor.
Generous pours on the Wines!
This was taken after I had already taken a sip. ;)
I do apologize, I drank my other glass without snapping a picture.
Dessert time!
Butterscotch Pudding- $11.5. We didn't get it but it looked so yummy! I loved that all their dessert samples were all freshly made (not plastic). I'm getting this next time for sure!
Malted Chocolate Pie- $12.50.
Our server Duane was so kind to split the Chocolate cake in 3's for us. An interesting fact we learned from him was that he and a few of the other restaurant staff came from Morimoto's Waikiki.
He seemed quite knowledgeable about the wines I chose (personal favorites/ safe choices) so I didn't interrupt him when he explained where each came from.
He seemed quite knowledgeable about the wines I chose (personal favorites/ safe choices) so I didn't interrupt him when he explained where each came from.
Malted Chocolate Pie (cut view). The outside crust is made from Chocolate Cookie, giving it a crunchy texture, while the Mocha Mousse was light and fluffy. The top was garnished with English Toffee Crumble. Really yummy!
Pineapple Crème Brulee with Tahitian Vanilia Beans, and White Chocolate Mousse- $11.50. This was good, but if I "had" to compare with other Crème Brulee I've had before, its not mind-blowing. I did enjoy the cut Pineapple chucks on the very bottom, though it certainly is very creative and beautiful-looking.
Exterior of the Store + Restaurant. It's right next to a road.
The view from the 2nd floor isn't that exciting. Though the 3rd floor roof-top lounge would possibly offer better views of Waikiki.
| Tommy Bahama Store + Restaurant Waikiki (Located at the start of Waikiki, next to Hard Rock Café). 298 Beachwalk Drive Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815 808.923.8785 MON-THURS : 11a-10p FRI: 11a-11p SAT- SUN: 9a-11p Reservations by phone or OpenTable. [Menus]- see photos below. |
Stairway leading up to the restaurant on the 2nd floor.
Restaurant Interior + stairs leading up to Rooftop (Fire pit & sand box). We will have to check out the roof-top lounge next time!
High ceilings and open air dining. Very relaxing and low-key vibe. At night, these art panels are illuminated into light boxes.
Bar area.
At the conclusion of dinner, our server offered us a Tommy Bahama postcard to fill out for that special someone (they will take care of the postage and mailing of it for any address in the world). As our dear friend collects postcard, they just added it to their collection.
Specials of the day. Your menu might be totally different.
Wine & Sake List. The prices for the wines look quite reasonable to me. Do you agree?
Mixed Drinks Menu.
Appetizer, Soups & Salads Menu.
Entrees and Sides Menu.
Desserts, Coffee, Tea and After Dinner drink's menu. Hmm...where's the price for the Coffee & Tea?
Overall, I would recommend Tommy Bahamas Waikiki. Although, the food wasn't exactly perfect (there were great hits and tiny misses), the exceptional service really made it a wonderful visit. Though if you ask my friends, they said everything was perfect so maybe I'm just being too critical. Its a great place to hang out, relax and catch up with friends. Definitely good for ordering drinks and appetizers. I hope to visit again soon to try out the rest of their menu.
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