Honolulu Advertiser | Na Heke: The 2001 'Ilima Awards

Chart House • Favorite for Late-Night Dining

The 31-year-old Chart House overlooking the Ilikai Marina and Ala Wai Yacht Harbor is a comfortable, relaxed, old-style surf-and-turf sort of place. This familiar hangout draws both locals and visitors for its reliable, steak-driven menu, nightly live music in the crowded but friendly bar where, manager Matthew Wong says, you can get full dinner service as late as 12:30 a.m. (the dining room closes at 9:30 or 10). The bar, which is partly open to the marina, surrounds you with nautical images and a modicum of friendly noise. Try the spicy "Scottini" – a vodka martini with a secret ingredient.

What's good? A huge pupu menu is offered. Simple starters include sauteed mushrooms, garlic rolls, steamed artichokes, fried zucchini or chicken wings. More sophisticated tastes will enjoy the ahi limu poke, fresh steamed clams, oysters Rockefeller or Dungeness crab and artichoke dip. The bacon and asparagus bisque is a good aprés-sail on a chilly evening. Entrees include macadamia-encrusted mahi mahi, Slavonic steak (marinated beef tenderloin, charbroiled with garlic and butter), and baked shrimp stuffed with crabmeat and – oh, my – topped with Hollandaise.

1765 Ala Moana Blvd. (makai side of Ilikai apartments); 941-6669. Dining room open Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30-10 p.m.; bar open until 2 a.m. Steak and seafood. S, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. No checks. $$.

Zippy's • Favorite for Dessert

Zippy's is our home-away-from-home, the gathering place where we talk story, take Oba-chan to lunch, chow down on chili dogs with rice after the movies, grab a quick family dinner on a weeknight. But this year, readers recognized Zippy's for another side of its personality: its Napoleon's Bakery outlets, with the pastries, cakes and pies we love to take home or carry to parties.

What's good? Readers didn't say so specifically, but we know it was the Napples that did it: apple turnovers in a ridiculously flaky, buttery crust (try eating one without getting crumbs everywhere). However, some people live for Zippy's dobash cake, a sweet-lovers's fantasy. And then there's the haupia cake, the orange cake, the lemon meringue pie, the cream puffs with chantilly ... Next stop, Zippy's!

Multiple locations. Hours differ (many open 24 hours). Local fast foods. No reservations needed. VS, MC AE. Checks accepted. $.

Ryan's Grill • Favorite for Drinks and Pupu

For the fifth year in a row, Ryan's takes home the 'Ilima as the favored watering (and noshing) hole for the pau-hana crowd. The atmosphere is slick, sophisticated and alive, with drinks being poured and served with blinding speed. Executive chef Bill Bruhl and his staff serve a calorie-laden lineup of appetizers so popular that he admits he's not allowed to take any of the favorites off the menu for fear of an uprising.

What's good? You can choose from dozens of beers, from microbrews through the larger houses, along with a brilliant selection of spirits such as single-malt scotches, tequila, gin and specialty vodkas. If it has alcohol in it, you'll find it here. Foodwise, definitely try the signature hot Dungeness crab and artichoke dip, the ahi poke, Manoa lettuce cups with chicken, pork, shiitake mushrooms and ginger and the new li hing ribs.

Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd.; 591-9132. 11:15 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Saturday. Sunday Brunch: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday dinner: 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Selected for drinks and pupu; also bistro-style cuisine, pizza, burgers, salads. Reservations recommended for large parties. VS, MC, AX, DC. Checks accepted. $$.

Starbucks • Favorite Espresso

Starbucks turned 30 years old this year, and the latte kings of the world continue to expand in the Islands and elsewhere. There are 26 shops in Hawai'i, 20 of which are on O'ahu. Among the latest openings here is the new shop at Ward Entertainment Center, the new theater complex.

What's good? One hallmark of a Starbucks is crisp service; these barristas know how to pull a double decaf macciatto with hazelnut before the cobwebs form on the customers. While caffeine made Starbucks king – particularly flavored and fussy espresso drinks and their Frappucino line of sweetened chilled espresso – the offerings include alternatives such as the Tazo line of chai (teas), caramel apple cider, hot chocolate and steamed milk drinks. Pastries, packaged coffee and coffee accessories and newspapers to read while you're drinking round out the menu.

Multiple locations. Hours vary. Espresso bar. VS, MC, AX, DC, JCB. No checks. $.

Kua 'Aina Sandwich Shop • Favorite hamburgers

The name means "country" and country-style simplicity and directness are what you get on Kua 'üina's menu: big, meaty burgers, salty fries, some optional additions. Until a few years ago, you had to drive all the way up to Hale'iwa for what are widely considered to be the best burgers on O'ahu – and people did. But now the Ward Village store means townies can satisfy the craving with a little less expenditure of energy.

What's good? The third-of-a-pound burger with all the fixins is the heart of the menu. But it's the monster half-pounder that floats our boat: eight juicy ounces of hunka-hunka burning charbroiled beef with lettuce, tomato and their signature oddball accompaniment, a carrot slice. Some say the shoestring fries are even better than the burgers. We'll get back to you on that.

Two locations: 66-214 Kamehameha Highway, Hale'iwa, 637-6067, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; and Ward Village (across from Ward Centre), 1116 'Auahi St., 591-9133, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Selected for its burgers and fries. No reservations required. No credit cards. Checks accepted. $.

Pizza Hut • Favorite Pizza

This year Pizza Hut became the first company in history to deliver pizza to the pioneers living in outer space on the International Space Station – the culmination of nearly a year of collaboration between Pizza Hut and Russian food scientists. Which means getting a fresh, hot pizza to your door is a piece of cake to these guys. In addition to the pizza itself, the ad agency (BBDO) who creates the company's dynamite television commercials is at least partially responsible for their growth and success.

What's good? The new Insider pizza features a blend of six cheeses stuffed between two thin crusts and then topped with a tangy tomato sauce, more cheese, and your choice of toppings (oh, mama!). The New Yorker is a 16-incher with a sweeter, savory sauce, and cut into eight, big foldable slices. Our readers also love the buffet available at some stores; a pizza, pasta and salad combo.

Forty-six Hawai'i locations. Hours vary. Take out or delivered pizza. VS, MC. Checks accepted. $.

John Dominis • Favorite Seafood Restaurant

Long the special-occasion choice of Islanders, John Dominis offers everything you expect in a fine dining establishment here in Hawai'i: a very professional staff, excellent service, fresh seafood of all kinds and a gorgeous Diamond Head view. A koi pond streams through the restaurant, giving a sense of peace and relaxation to its patrons. The Sunday buffet is always mobbed.

What's good? Fresh blue-point oysters on the half shell and the king crab cocktail are fine cold starters. Hot appetizers to try are seafood crepes, oysters Rockefeller and the steamed clams in white wine, butter and garlic. Popular entrees include lobster Thermidor, abalone with white wine and capers, and their specialty, cioppino. If the menu seems a bit dated, it's as it should be: John Dominis has a sort of timeless, unchanging reliability that's appreciated by locals who've seen many others come and go.

43 'Ahui St.; 523-0955. Dinner: 6-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sunday brunch: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Seafood-focused menu. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, DS, JCB. Checks accepted. $$$.

Ruth's Chris Steak House • Favorite steaks

Ruth's Chris has a new chef – Todd Wells, formerly of Sunset Grill and Ryan's Grill – and new weekday lunch service and, if you haven't visited in a while, you'll find the Restaurant Row eatery much larger and with a beautiful new entryway and bar. But otherwise, the formula devised by founder Ruth Furtel for this fine dining chain hasn't changed: Give 'em a great steak and a superb selection of wines and they will come. The chain recently walked away with high industry honors, winning three Platinum Awards (first place) from the 21st Annual "Restaurants & Institutions Choice in Chains" Awards, a national consumer survey of chain restaurant preferences, including Best Chain Steak House in the United States.

What's good? The restaurant's New Orleans origins show in the appetizers including shrimp remoulade, Louisiana gumbo and crab-stuffed mushrooms. But the focus here is on beef, prime- and choice-grade steaks grilled at a phenomenal 1,800 degrees – filet, rib eye, New York strip, porterhouse (for two), or the T-bone are all great choices. The menu guides diners carefully through the types of steak and the waiters are knowledgeable, too. Ruth's is known for its trademark, richly generous side dishes from broiled tomatoes to creamed spinach, asparagus with Hollandaise to garlic mashed potatoes. Order one to serve two.

Restaurant Row, 500 Ala Moana Blvd.; 599-3860. Dinner: 5-10 p.m. daily. Steak and seafood. Reservations recommended. VS, MC, AX, DC, JCB. No checks. $$$.

Kozo Sushi • Favorite sushi

Founded in Japan in 1970s, the Kozo Sushi chain opened here in October 1980, in Mo'ili'ili. There are nine locations on O'ahu now. The idea of sushi as a fast-food product was new to Hawai'i (sushi was something you pre-ordered at the okazu-ya, or went to a fancy restaurant for). But this concept caught on quickly. Now, when in doubt about what to take to a party, or how to round out a sketchy dinner menu, it's Kozo's.

What's good? Our readers love the quick service, the open kitchen and the way the rolls are packaged in see-through plastic containers, ensuring a fabulously crunchy texture when you're ready to enjoy California rolls, tekka maki, futomaki, egg maki, ahi, unagi and other favorites. Their party platters seem to make an appearance at almost every potluck dinner or picnic we go to.

Multiple locations. Hours vary. Take-out sushi. VS, MC, AX, DC, JCB. Checks accepted. $.

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