Hilo Fish Co and Bite Me in Kona (assuming someone caught some).

I am not a burger person at all, but for some reason every trip to Honolulu I just have to have a burger at Duke's Barefoot Bar. It might not be the best burger on Oahu or even Waikiki, but I can think of few places I'd rather sit and chow down a burger, drink a beer and take in the scene.

I like Outback for what it is. I don't expect amazing beef, but it is nice to get out of a restaurant for under $100 and I love the bloomin onion.

Hy's will always be my go to place for steak....dk is okay, Wolfgang is okay, like Morton's ESPECIALLY at happy hour and Chart House is a great value, fun and local vibe.

But I'll look into this place and ask my clients in HNL if they know it or want to try it my next trip.

Sorry I am late to the party. the question isn't really what are you giving up (a wide variety of good Italian & French), but what are you gaining?

There are so many good, mind blowing Japanese & Korean izakayas/yakinikus that it isn't even funny.

There is plenty of high end stuff in Honolulu, but finding the local saimin, manapua, plate lunch places is an adventure.

If you've never done much Vietnamese or Filipino, you are also in for a treat.

To me the shrimp trucks are the ultimate tourist trap. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd swear the majority of their business is the tourist trade.... too expensive for locals.

What kind of an experience? Ages? Day time or night time?

For night time, I think La Puerta and Las Hadas are fun/good, but they are more upscale bars than restaurants.

If It was me, I'd actually ride the ferry over to Coronado and eat at Candelas.

The Blind Burro is also good and fun.

For counter serve, hole-in-the-wall, Valentine's is pretty good too.

During the day I'd jump on the trolley and head to the 25th/Commercial stop and walk to La Fachada, Tacos El Paisa or El Salvadoreno Restaurant.

Funny, I've just never been impressed with either Cafe Chloe or Jsix. I've been to each at least 3 times and never had an "oh wow" experience. They aren't bad... they are even what I'd call pretty good, but I don't get the lavish praise either.

Dobson's does impress me on many levels, especially value.

I didn't see Grant Grill on the list? I think that might be the best restaurant experience in the Gaslamp.

Nobu & Katsu-ya leave me cold, especially at the prices. I think Taka is better than either.

Maybe give Spike's a try? I've only been there once, but it was interesting.

Where in Mission Bay will you be? What is "early"?

You could eat someplace near the Zoo in Hillcrest or Banker's Hill.

I love Clayton's Coffee Shop for artery clogging junk, Tartine when I am feeling self righteously healthy and the little place next to Starbucks (name escapes me completely) for something casual.

Fogo de Chao, at least the ones I've been to, are pretty good and yes, better than Rei do Gado, but about 20% more expensive as I recall.

I am pretty sure this is Fogo's first venture into SD County.

A Slater's 50/50 burger with blue cheese, anchovies, fried dill pickles and a fried egg.

I an confused by parts duex et tres? Is there a quatre? Or is this the latest place for new openings?

Blue Ribbon Rustic Kitchen from Wade Hageman going in in Hillcrest where the African place used to be on University and 5th St.

http://www.blueribbonrustickitchen.com/

Oh and Salt and Cleaver in Hillcrest too on 5th as well, was supposed to Sausage King, but had to change the name.

I've never met a New Yorker who ever readily agreed to anything, let alone about other spots in the U.S. having better food regardless of the type.

For Italian, Michael's on Naples or Nico's at the Naples area of Long Beach.

For good food and something different, Sir Winston's on board the Queen Mary. It is the former first class dining salon and quite good.

Blue Ribbon Rustic Kitchen from Wade Hageman going in in Hillcrest where the African place used to be on University and 5th St.

http://www.blueribbonrustickitchen.com/

Oh and Salt and Cleaver in Hillcrest too on 5th as well, was supposed to Sausage King, but had to change the name.

Wish I hadn't been busy, I'd have sent you to Tortilla Republic.

I think Red Salt is okay, but just not what I want on Kauai, I can get those type places cheaper by the dozen in LA or NYC.

I like Merriman's Poipu far better than I like the Beach House these days. I don't think it has been the same since Josselin left. But I like the Merriman's on Maui even better.

Love the Right Slice at the Wednesday Culinary Market and love the little Korean lady if she still shows up with her homemade goodies.

On Maui, Plantation House, Merriman's, DUO, Ferraro’s, Joe's Bar & Grill, Nick's Fishmarket, Lahaina Grill, Capische, Spago, Roy's, Hali'imaile General Store, Kojima Sushi, Gerrard's, Pacific 'O and Mala Ocean Tavern are my favorites. I think Nick's has fallen a bit, maybe more than a bit, but I still love the setting and the food is good, just not "oh wow".

Honorable mentions go to Honu for solid food, Sea House for solid food and a great setting and 808 Bistro for good food and good imagination.

The rooftop is nice, the drinks are good, but food wise it won't break into my top 5, probably not top 10.

(Plantation House, Merriman's, DUO, Ferraro’s, Mala Ocean Tavern, Lahaina Grill, Spago, Roy's, Hali'imaile General Store and Gerrard's)

*note: Plantation House has gone on injured reserve due to a fire and I've called up Capische? in relief.

Love Jagerhaus, especially for breakfast, but also to delve into my German roots :)

To me sushi has always been about more than just the quality of the fish, but the quality of the overall experience. There is a zen like component to me in a great sushi spot and generally am not fond of abusive or dismissive chefs (except Ino in SF, that crazy old chef can abuse me all he wants he is just so amusing).

I've been to Sasabune three times now, always with clients and always the same experience. Since I've started taking them to the spots above, they've been happier. Me too. :)

All you can eat of garbage is still garbage. The over cooked, over salted, over sauced pastas of OG are despicable. They can not even get a simple pomodoro right.

Quantity over quality is no way to eat. 9 helpings of frozen shrimp sounds like a punishment dreamed up in Guantanamo.

Both Ruth's Chris and Morton's use USDA prime, but Morton's doesn't drown the steak in butter.

Gemmell's, Break of Dawn, Brussel's Bistro, K'ya, L'Hirondelle, Rocq Cafe and Café Mozart off the top of my head.

I personally wouldn't believe ANYONE from ANY Internet website including Chow.

One of LA's very best restaurants was destroyed by this same rumor "anti-Semite".

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/...

It is very, very easy in this Internet age to start a smear campaign against a restaurant, shop and even person. You can either get friends to join your campaign or create multiple IDs.

As to where this thread went, not going to restaurants because someone has a different political opinion seems just silly. Do you know the views of of the owners of every place you dine on every topic? It seems absurd to single out a place for a single view when they do other things you agree with.

Go and decide for yourself.

I like Mama's, don't love it. I do think it is more expensive than it should be and that irritates me, but not enough to stop going.

I think what gets under my skin are the gushing "OMG, this is the greatest restaurants ever" reviews it gets. I get that folks from places that don't have the setting and ambiance of Mama's are bowled over by it, but would Mama's get a Michelin star? Is it a chef driven restaurant with amazing tastes and combinations that you have never experienced before? Unique methods of cooking? Any sous vide, liquid nitrogen or anything creative? I am not saying anything is bad there, the food tastes yummy and the service is great, but it is not more creative than Hula Grill (ouch! I know that is a low blow, but consider it hyperbole).

I think Mama's is a great place for the quintessential Hawaii experience, I just don't think it deserves the price they command and if they can bring you an "updated" menu before you've ordered, they can certainly figure out a way to put prices on the menus :)

Sushi Izakaya Gaku, Mitch's, Kin Chan Sushi, Yanagi Sushi, Sushi ii, Imanas Tei, Morio's Sushi Bistro would all rank ahead of it in terms of food and experience.

The quality of the seafood at Sasabune is absolutely top notch, but it lacks the scope of the incredible menus at Gaku or Imanas Tei which are also complete izakayas.

And it lacks the intimacy of Kona Kai, Sushi ii or Kin Chan.

No offense taken... well at least no permanent damage was inflicted, I recover from these grievous wounds pretty quickly. :)

I am not a fan of the shrimp trucks and don't really consider them "local" food, and certainly not "traditional" (which is the distinction 'local' vs 'traditional', local is the blending of cultures, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, American, Filipino with Hawaiian and traditional being 'pre-contact' foods).

Lunchwagon is the older term, but the hipsters are winning and taking over, Honolulu has monthly 'food truck' events now. It is hard to stem the tide.

http://www.streetgrindz.com/

Interesting..... Morton's is disappointing, but you like Olive Garden & Red Lobster and think Ruth's Chris is better than Morton's. I guess everyone has their tastes. The food is so bad at Olive Garden and Red Lobster when I am forced to go with friends it is all I can do to sit on my hand's and not rend my clothes.

I've never had a bad steak, sides or service at a Morton's and I've been to a dozen or more. Is it my first choice? Not in any city I travel to, but like Bill we either go as guests or it is where my client has chosen to dine. I do find their steaks better than Ruth's Chris, the whole sizzling in butter thing just doesn't do it for me.

I am a huge fan of Morton's Happy Hour.

Queen Surf ?!?! Freakin' A you must be an old fart! :)

I am a big fan of Hy's, Morton's would be my back-up.

I think Honolulu has three to four better sushi spots without the drama and attitude.

As to Mama's I am just not impressed or at least not as impressed as so many others are. I've had good fish there, good service and its a lovely setting, but there are a half dozen restaurants that put out better food that could be on this list including Spago, DUO and Ferraro's to name a few. I think people are sucked into the "John Smith caught this fish" thing and that with the setting creates a memory whose sum is greater than the component parts.

It depends on which one you go to, I don't like the Ezogiku in the Royal Hawaiian Center, but the one across from Nakamura is fine.

Have you tried Santa Ana? Lola Gaspar, Chapter One: the local modern, The Playground and Ostioneria Bahia Mexican Seafood?

Other spots to look at Mas Islamic, Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen, Fuoco Pizzeria Napoletana, and over the hill, the Cat & Custard Cup.