| About: | A South Seas "fantasy island" in an almost impossible to find location near the airport, this local watering hole is a throwback to the Trader Vic's days. The food is standard: salads, burgers, Chicken Parmigiana and the like. The decor is the draw: a tacky mishmash of fishnet, glass floats and shell chandeliers adorns the sprawling room. A reed fence is all that separates you from the ocean, and a huge live tree grows in the middle of it all. If the lounge music doesn't make you feel misty-eyed, the smoke will. |
| Hours: | Mo from 11:00am to 08:00pm,Tu to Th from 11:00am to 10:00pm,Fr from 11:00am to 05:00pm,Sa to Su from 11:00am to 10:00pm |
| Categories: | Entertainment Venues, All Bars, Pubs, & Clubs, Night Clubs, Restaurants, American Restaurants |
| Parking: | Street |
| Payment: | MasterCard, Visa, American Express |
| Cuisine: | American |
| Reservations Policy: | Suggested |
Did not like this restaurant at all. Service was extremely friendly, but food was below average standards. I ordered the open faced turkey sandwich and it was nothing to write home about. My boyfriend ordered the calamari steak and offered some of his mashed potatoes...when I took a bite, they were COLD...not even room temperature but cold. The waitress was so friendly instead of bringing it up to her, we just ate our food and left. Just like the Crouching Lion Inn...food is way overrated, people are friendly, and I won't return. As for the tiki bar, I could care less...I pay for the food, not the ambiance, and the food was edible, but lousy. Damn Rachel Ray for advertising this place.
After a few missed turns we finally found La Mariana.
Fortunately in time to see the sunset over Keehi and the La Mariana Sailing Club. I would have enjoyed knocking back a few My Thais in the Kon Tiki Bar, but our group was hungry. My scampi was good but others ordering the Ahi complained that it was over cooked. Unanimously we agreed that ours or anyone's Hawaiian experience is enhanced by a trip to La Mariana. Two blind gentlemen provided the music: one skillfully on the piano and the other on bongo drums.
Normally this enough would provide a lasting memory.
What I will mainly remember is a throwback to an Hawaii Five-O experience in a place that made this mainlander feel like a local. Go there !!
Christmas Eve at LaMariana was a pleasant surprise. Among our party of 5, we came up with many of the lyrics to most of the songs played by the blind pianist. It is amazing that we finished our delicous meals considering we sang almost from start to finish. The mahi mahi florentine was as good as I remembered from 5 years ago. I ordered the rice (standard local fare) when I found out the potatoes are fake. No big deal. Talk about not talking with your mouth full, we sang! I was smiling so hard my head hurt. One of us knew many of the songs from the 40's that her father used to sing. She ordered the stuffed eggplant and said it was good. Someone else ordered the steak and lobster and said it was good. Another of us would make the, "Time to take a break" announcement at the just the right times when the pianist was taking a break. We laughed and ate and sang. Best of all, it was a nearly private party. We were seated at a large table two feet from the piano and only two other window tables were taken but the occupants left early. The few patrons at the bar were far enough away to make it seem like we had the place to ourselves. We are planning a return trip for a Birthday celebration. Good feelings all around.