2005 `Ilima Awards
Reader's choice awards are fairly predictable, and the 2005 `Ilima Awards are no exception. Voluntary ballots submitted by readers of the Honolulu Advertiser for their favorite restaurants name not always the best, but often the most popular establishments in each category. I won't bother to repeat the entire list here, but can't help but comment on several award winners.
Hawai`i's Best Restaurant: Alan Wong's
My own experience at Alan Wong's was both delicious and memorable. But is it the best? There are too many promising restaurants I haven't visited for me to know. Verdict: Can't commit..
Best Bakery: Liliha Bakery
The bakery display cases are strictly old school, bursting with all the things your doctor is telling you not to eat. My modus operandi is to sit in the small diner side of the bakery, elbow-to-elbow at the counter with the regulars for a short order breakfast. On the way out, I pick up a half dozen haupia malasadas to take back home. Verdict: worthy choice.
Best Bar: Mai Tai Bar
Let's not mince words. This bar is essentially in an upstairs hallway of a shopping mall. They get occasional big names to play for them, but most nights the live music is a forgettable procession of Hawaiian lounge music. Maybe the popularity stems from being able to take a single escalator ride down to Abercrombie and Fitch in between pitchers. Verdict: You've got to be kidding.
Best Coffee Bar: Starbucks
If I weren't so sad for people, I'd be angry at them for thinking of Starbucks as the pinnacle of coffee. What about the amazing island-grown coffees and daily soups at Covenant, or the friendly vibe at most Honolulu Coffee Company locations? Verdict: People are lemmings!.
Best Plate Lunch: L & L Drive-Inn
The awards writeup sums it up with naively unintended critique, "Our home-grown answer to McDonald's and Burger King..." L & L has a special place in people's hearts both for its predictability and ubiquity. I eat there, and have no shame about it. But best plate lunch? That award should go to Kenneke's on the windward side, or Masa's Massive Plate Lunch in Liliha. Verdict: Understandable, but misguided.
Best Burgers Teddy's Bigger Burgers
Aww yeah, now that's what I'm talkin' about. I may not agree across the board with the dining choices of Advertiser readers, but I have to admit they know a thing or two about burgers. Verdict: I ate until it hurt.
I'll never understand those people who are addicted to Starbucks. I feel so sad when I see Starbucks packed with people drinking their vente lattes and tapping away on their laptops, happily paying for their wi-fi connection, when a few doors down there is a nearly empty independently owned cafe serving better coffee and tea that has free wi-fi. Go figure.
Hi Alan,
I'm quite disappointed with many of the winners, as usual, but then again, I'm only one voice right? But the award that disappointed me the most was the one that went to Keo's. What I'd really like to see is a sampling of industry professionals offering their favorites as part of these annual awards. Don't think it will ever happen, but where do you think Alan Wong would say the best restaurant in Hawaii is? How's about we conduct our own awards?
Hi Alan - I though the combination of Starbucks and L&L was somewhat ironic, since L&L has become the Starbucks of the plate lunch world here on the Mainland. In fact, one of the newer L&L's just opened next to a Starbucks....how appropriate.
I really don't feel that bad now...considering that the local paper, the Union Tribune, gave out the "Best of San Diego" awards to places like the following:
Best Italian - Olive Garden,
Best Japanese - Benihana
And PF Changs is always best Chinese on some of the polls.
And we wonder why many consider San Diego a culinary wasteland?
I love these best of awards. Always love the NY Mag and their best of edition. Wish I was there to enjoy some of these hotspots!