BRASSERIE DU VIN

BRASSERIE DU VIN

HONOLULU, HI

As of tonight, I have a new favorite restaurant to recommend to friends.  Brasserie Du Vin located in downtown Honolulu is a great place for a glass of wine, pupu's or complete dinner.  We went on a Saturday night and the place was pretty much empty.  This is normal for Downtown.  With parking at the Chinatown Municipal lot only $1.50, it is very convenient and affordable.  We started with the Black Pepper Pate.  This country style pork and chicken pate was crusted in black peppercorns and served with greens, pickled vegetables and stone ground mustard.  The mustard adds a great taste to the pate.  Simply stated this dish was awesome.  At $6 it is also a bargain.  It is served with warm, freshly baked bread too.  We also enjoyed a Manchego Cheese which is a firm sheep's milk cheese from Spain. It has a melt-in-your mouth interior of nutty, butterscotch flavor according to the menu.  The menu was right on.  At $4 it was also a good deal.  So far so good here.  Our next dish was Escargots in herbed, garlic green butter.  The snails were tasty.  Shirley wanted more garlic in them.  For our main entree, Shirley had the Grilled Flat Iron Steak with roasted shallot aioli and pommes frites.  At $18 this dish was not too flavorful according to Shirley.  I enjoyed a pan fried Rainbow Trout served with three large Tiger Shrimp, Apple Smoked Bacon and Ali'i Mushroom Beurre Blanc sauce.  It was also $18.  The presentation was great.  You get the whole fish including the head.  We sat in the outdoor courtyard at a small table for two.  The seats are very uncomfortable, but the atmosphere is romantic.  You don't really think you are in Downtown Honolulu when dining here.  Rather a sidewalk cafe in Europe or Italy.  Very nice.

I really like Du Vin and cannot wait to return.  Oh yea, the price for everything was $75.  This included two glasses of wine at $10 each.  You can save a lot of money by arriving before 6:00 p.m.  They have several half price selections that are real bargains.  Imagine dinner for two for $30 at a great place like this.  We are going back soon before 6:00 next time.