HONOLULU -- Aloha Tower Marketplace at Honolulu Harbor has two new
restaurants -- Don Ho's Island Grill and Chai's Island Bistro.
Don Ho's opened in a ground-floor location previously occupied by
Scott's Seafood, and faces cruise ships that dock at the pier. With
thatch roofs and Ho posters and memorabilia, it has the feel of
Hawaiian eateries of a few decades ago.
Partners in the new facility are restaurateur Barry Silverman,
Maui entertainment figure Shep Gordon and entertainer Ho. It offers
inexpensive dishes, with such signature items as island leg of
spit-roasted pork, fire-roasted chicken and surfboard pizzas.
Prices range from $6.95 to $10.95 for salads, $6.95 to $9.95 for
pizzas, $9.95 to $16.95 for fresh island fish, and $4.95 to $16.95
for rotisserie. The menu is overseen by Mark Ellman, of Maui's
Avalon restaurant and Maui Tacos, known for his Pacific Rim
flavors.
Tropical drinks are showcased in the Tiny Bubbles Bar, named for
Ho's hit song.
Said Ho, "I'm proud to have a restaurant named in my honor. It
offers residents and visitors a chance to experience the Hawaii we
all remember." Don Ho's Island Grill is open for lunch and dinner,
11 a.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays, and until 2 a.m.
Fridays and Saturdays.
Chai's Island Bistro, open for lunch and dinner, is on the
ground floor adjacent to the marketplace entrance. It is the second
Honolulu restaurant for chef Chai Chaowasaree, who owns Singha Thai
Restaurant in Waikiki. However, although his Waikiki eatery
specializes in traditional Thai cuisine, the new restaurant serves
"contemporary cuisine with a Thai twist," aimed at attracting the
downtown crowd.
Chai's Island Bistro can accommodate groups, has an extensive
wine list, and indoor and outdoor seating for up to 200 people.
Appetizers range in price from $6.95 to $8.95; soups and salads,
$4.95 to $6.95. Entrees range from $15.95 for tofu & heart of
palm Napoleon, to $27.95 for a Kona lobster, both with Thai ginger
sauce.