Oahu recommendations

12/13/2011 update: Gonna just add all my Oahu recommendations for future reference. :) My updates are italicized below.


A friend of mine asked me for dining recommendations for Oahu and I figured, I might as well post my list to my blog in case anyone else is interested. I've highlighted my favorites...must go every time I'm in Oahu...

MEALS

Costco - get the miso marinated butterfish in the fridge section. Be sure to scrape off the miso before baking/broiling though because otherwise it's super salty. Also special to Hawaii are the Hawaiian Chip Company's Sweet Potato & Taro Chips.

Nico's - great & not very expensive, fresh fish...can sell out so don't go too late (they start serving lunch at 10am!). It's pretty close to Ala Moana. They have specials so look for those, but on the regular menu the Furikake Pan-Seared Ahi is the best! Be sure to order it one level rarer than you like because they tend to overcook it.


Macky's Shrimp Truck - on the North Shore...at Weed Circle...just south of Haleiwa. The Butter Garlic is the BEST. The owners are Chinese! haha

Sansei - in Waikiki at the Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort (near the east end). A nice, fancy-ish Japanese fusion place. I believe they have half-off menu on Mondays 4-6pm or something like that. I forget the details, you can call them to find out. But the half-off deal is totally worth it and people start lining up 30+ mins before, so be sure to get there early! I particularly liked the Mango Crab Salad Roll.

Hank's Haute Dogs - featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives, this is a place that does gourmet hot dogs. We tried the special duck & foie gras (only on Saturdays) and it was only ok. The fat boy is one of the most popular ones....wrapped in bacon & deep-fried... hehe They also have a lobster one I wanted to try, but only on Fridays. Pretty pricey for hot dogs, but it's an interesting experience and a yummy snack if you're interested in that sort of thing. Doubt I'll ever go back though. They're also really close to Ala Moana.

Boots and Kimo's - CRAZY long waits (1-2 hrs is normal) and quite a trek from Waikiki (on the east coast in Kailua), but if you have the desire...totally worth it! They're pretty much only known for their Original Pancakes with macadamia nut sauce. And the sauce is seriously like melted ice cream. It was probably the best pancakes I've ever had. The banana pancakes weren't as good cuz the mac nut flavor got a little lost in the bananas. 

FAST FOOD/TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN

Helena's Hawaiian Food - kind of out of the way, but I really liked the Luau Squid...the squid were thick & tender in a yummy sauce that's similar to creamed spinach. The pipikaula ribs were kinda salty though but it's what they're famous for (the ribs are cured...probably goes well with poi) and everything else was pretty normal. I liked the haupia too. Super crowded, so best to go during offpeak hours in order to find parking and stuff. The lau lau is also a must, but I think we liked the one at Young's Fish Market better. Only open Mon - Fri I believe...


Young's Fish Market - Also hawaiian plate lunches. Not as fresh tasting as Helena's but we liked their lau lau better cuz it was mushier and the meat was more tender seeming.

Rainbow Drive-in - it was on Lost! The strawberry slush float is yum...like a strawberry dreamcicle. The mini loco moco (one hamburger patty, one egg and one scoop of rice covered in gravy as opposed to 2) is good to try, but I wasn't a huge fan. The mixed plate was a great way of trying most of the meats. I liked the boneless chicken cuz I love dark meat.

Zippy's - fast food chain of Hawaii. Also has lots of plate lunches. But they're famous for their chili (with or without beans). I LOVE their chili cheese fries. And I've heard good things about their oxtail soup, but have yet to try it.

SNACKS & DESSERTS

Leonard's Bakery - malasadas (donuts). I've only been to the Kapahulu location, but there are others all over the island I believe. Their original is great. I also like the custard filled one and Bob likes the chocolate-filled one. They have a flavor of a month as well. The lilikoi (passion fruit) one is good and so was the banana.

Waiola Shave Ice - it's like a hawaiian/taiwanese fusion shave ice place. I really like the custard bowl. The original store is on Waiola St, but there's another location off of Kapahulu near Leonard's and Rainbow Drive-In. I like this way better than the famous Matsumoto's shaved ice on the north shore cuz I'm not that into Hawaiian shaved ice which is just sweet, artificial syrup over ice.

Liliha Bakery - famous for their coco puffs, which are quite delicious (a nice salty chocolatey flavor) and just a few blocks from Helena's, so you might as well try it since Helena's is a must! Closed Mondays.

FINE DINING

Le Bistro - a little French place just east of Waikiki (really close to where my parents live). Their menu changes, but the beef quartet seems like a regular special for them. And it's awesome! It's beef prepared 4 different ways - one is a short rib, one is ribeye, one is filet mignon, and the last is my fave...a slider of kobe with gorgonzola and foie gras. I also LOVE their escargot....it is by far the best I've had...best to soak up all that buttery garlic sauce with bread. :) Entrees are $30ish.

Roy's - Hawaiian fusion. 2 locations in Honolulu (also one in SF). I think they're just ok, but they're super popular. If you go, I think the miso butterfish is the best, but since I've learned how to make it, it's not as impressive anymore. 

Alan Wong's &/or the Pineapple Room - The restaurant is dinner only and expect to spend around $100 if you get the 5-course tasting menu or the chef's tasting menu. Bob and I went Dec 2011 and decided to order a la carte and enjoyed the mini loco moco appetizer best. The Pineapple Room is lunch only, but cheaper and located in the Ala Moana Mall. Reservations recommended. 

Hiroshi Eurasian Tapas - Fun and inventive dishes. Reminded us of stuff we'd see on Top Chef. Loved the Sous Vide Lobster Tail and the Pan Roasted Opah. Sit at the bar 5:30-6:30pm daily for 50% off everything.

Sushi Sasabune - No website last we checked. Bob and I really wanted to go here, but couldn't with Duncan... Get omakase menu...it's basically whatever the chef wants to serve you...specialities, freshest stuff, etc. And it can go on for like 13 courses, or you can stop any time, just tell them one course before. If you get the full meal, it'll cost you like $150. They also instruct you how to eat each course and if you don't follow, they'll ask you to leave. That's why they're dubbed the Sushi Nazis on yelp. Really hope to try it one day.

RECREATION

ultralight flights - ask Bob for details

Lost tour

snorkeling - Hanauma Bay (very popular and crowded, so get there early)

kayaking

beach

hikes - There's a trail to the Manoa waterfall which is nice. Diamond Head is another good trail. And for a real challenge, there's Koko Head near Hawaii Kai Costco.

Pearl Harbor - sobering, but really good

whale watching - in Dec

walking along Waikiki

Italy trip: Venice

And finally to finish up the blogging of our Italy trip (only 6 months late...), I give you the details of our time in Venice and Verona.

• hotel: Papadopoli Venice (formerly Sofitel)
• super close to the train station, but super far from Saint Mark's Square and all the sights
• But we had a corner room on the top floor with a terrace to go out onto and had a great view
• Grand Canal
• We took the cruise recommended by Rick Steve on a vaporetto and used his audio guide and it was great. It gave a good overall feel of the city and history.
• St. Mark's Square
• Was crazy crowded with tourists! I totally don't remember the crowds from my visit 10 years ago. And I must say it was definitely a huge con and ruined my fond memories of Venice.
• It was nice in the relative emptiness in the evening after all the day-trippers left and you could sit and enjoy the cacophony of warring orchestras from the cafes
• Campanile - had to visit because it's what Berkeley's Capanile is based on! good views from each side and fun to be there during the bells
• St. Mark's Basilica - only saw atrium because the rest was closed for service, long lines, and flooded because of high tide! Very opulent. Not our style.
• Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs - we didn't go in, but were very disappointed to see that the Bridge of Sighs is covered up with a billboard advertisement!! bleh!
• It is impossible not to get hopelessly lost walking around the city and we did it a lot. But it's one of the best ways to see the city as well and discovering hidden, quiet, picturesque little nooks along the canal to enjoy a sandwich, etc.
• The Peggy Guggenheim Museum houses a collection of modern art...which isn't really up our alley, but we went because we had free tickets through our Costco package.
• We tried to experience a pub crawl as described by RS, but it was so hard finding the places, that we gave up after going to the first cichetti bar he listed called Osteria al Portego. It wasn't that great because it was super crowded, the waitress was not pleasant and the food was not hot or yummy. We eventually accidentally found the self-serve restaurant that RS had mentioned called Rosticceria San Bartolomeo and had the squid ink pasta that was just ok and gave us gross lips and teeth. But we returned on another day to get the super popular fried mozzarella sandwich that everyone was ordering. It was very yum and you could get it with just the cheese or with prosciutto. It runs out very quickly though and you have to kinda fight to get your order in for it.
• La Boutique del Gelato was Bob's favorite of all the gelato we tried in Venice, but after finding it and plassing by it several times throughout our trip, we couldn't for the life of us find it on our last day! :(
• On our last night touring Venice, we enjoyed a romantic canalside dinner at Ristorante alla Conchiglia where Bob enjoyed baked sea bass and I really liked my linguine with mussels, clams and shrimp.
• We tried the famous peach bellini at Harry's Bar but think it's overrated (especially since we had to walk 35 mins to get it...and 35 mins back to our hotel).
• Ostaria ai Storti was nearly impossible to find, but good food. We had pizza, seafood gnocchi and fragolino which is a yummy strawberry-flavored wine.

Island Tour (afternoon tour included in our Costco package)

• Murano - went to a glass blowing factory and got to see a demonstration of a master making a prancing horse which was neat
• Burano - vibrantly colorful sailor town. We skipped out on the lace-making demonstration to get more time to walk around the town. I liked it for the cuteness, and Bob liked it because we happened upon the filming of a Bollywood dance video.
• Torcello - ghost town, 15 inhabitants and lots of houses for sale

Verona (day trip)

• We enjoyed Verona just because it was nice to get away from Venice for a day and go to a more relaxed/quiet city. Also, we wanted to take advantage of the fact that our hotel was so close to the train station! :)
• We stopped at a self-service cafeteria called Brek for lunch and had a surprisingly good spaghetti alla amatriciana.
• We did RS's self-guided walk from the guide book and it was fine. We also got the Verona card because a lot of entrance fees and public transportation would all be included.
• Verona's Roman Arena/colosseum still used today. It was neat to see another colosseum outside of Rome and see the similarities, etc.
• Piazza Erbe was picturesque
• House of Juliet
• super crowded with tourists, lots of love graffiti in the tunnel entrance
• The museum was included in our Verona Day Card so we went in and I took a picture on Juliet's famous balcony
• Went to church Sant'Anastasia to see the statues of hunchbacks holding the holy water and a faded  fresco of St. George and the Princess

Italy trip: Florence

Wow. I can't believe I never finished blogging the Italy trip. Well, here's a quick highlight of Florence with all the sights and food we loved the most in the city we enjoyed the greatest of our whole trip (dare I say, all international travel??).


We loved Florence the best because it was small enough to be able to walk everywhere really easily, but chalk full of sites so that time really flew and we were never bored. Also, we loved the prices and the food. yum yum

• Hotel: Grand Hotel Minerva, in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella
• super close to the Florence SMN train station as well as one of the churches and totally walkable to all the Florence sights
• Sights
• Sculptures in the Loggia (Piazza della Signora) 
• a favorite place of ours that's also free (yay!) but beware! no eating inside! There are guards who actually enforce this. We returned several times.
• We particularly liked the statue of Perseus and both of Gimbologna's pieces here because of how life-like and detailed they are.
• Baptistery doors are an impressive artwork employing perspective. It was fun figuring out what Biblical story was depicted in each of the pictures.
• Bargello museum (sculptures)
• We especially liked the fountain (broken into pieces in the courtyard) as well as all the Gimbologna stuff).
• Galileo museum (science -- my husband really liked it, it was ok for me)
• Uffizzi (the most famous art museum in Florence and possibly Italy)
• better appreciated with Rick Steve's audio tour
• The Ponte Vecchio's super romantic at night...but really fun to window shop the jewelry stores during the day too
• Street performers abounded at night after the stores closed so it was fun to stroll around with a gelato in the evenings
• We enjoyed listening to a classical guitarist, an American folk singer, and watching a mute whistle clown perform on various occasions.
• Other Sights:
• Il Duomo (church & bell tower)
• saw Duff Beer for sale!
• Leonardo da Vinci Museum - tiny little place with some interesting creations from da Vinci's notebooks, but not very impressive.
• Oltro Arno - the other side of the river was nice to walk through
• It would've been interested in visiting Salvatore Ferrigamo's shoe museum, but not for $$...
• Included in our Costco travel package was a half-day private trip to San Gimiagno and Siena which we found to be completely no worth it because it gave very little time in either town and was totally not enough for Siena (roughly 45 mins which was only enough time to glimpse Il Campo and quickly run through the Duomo)
• Favorite Foods
• Florentine tripe sandwich and porchetta sandwich from a cart called L'Antico Trippaio [off of the main street Via Calzaiuoli]
• Trattoria "da Giorgio" serves common folk's food and a 3-course meal for cheap [just southwest of S. Maria Novella]. We particularly liked the ribollita (a bread soup) and barchetta.
• Grom gelato [off of main street Via Calzaiuoli, close to Duomo]
• Sostanza's artichoke pie and Florentine steak (yum yum rare!!) [just southwest of S. Maria Novella]
• Brunello wine (got a glass at a sandwich place called I Fratellini) [off of main street Via Calzaiuoli]
• Trattoria Za-Za's gorgonzola gnocchi, wild board ragu paperdelle and porcini/live pate over crispy polenta [located near Mercato Centrale]
• Trattoria Mario's - orata (sea bream fillet), pork chop and chick peas  [located near Mercato Centrale] - super popular, only open for lunch