GREAT EATS HAWAII: DEAN AND DELUCA

DEAN AND DELUCA
THE RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES
383 KALAIMOKU STREET
HONOLULU, HI 96815
808-729-9720
www.deandeluca.com

New York's famed Dean and Deluca has opened a small store at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Waikiki. I stopped in for lunch thinking I would find a grand array of international food items and perhaps a taste of New York. Well, pretty surprised to find a very small shop that seemed like it did not know exactly what it wanted to be. It's a coffee bar kinda, a bakery kinda, a deli kinda and a bar kinda. The main area downstairs is really small with only two shelves of product, beverages, coffee, bakery and deli. I was kind of shocked but then learned that there was an upstairs. We went up to find a small seating area, deli and bar. The seating looked comfortable so I went back downstairs and grabbed Roasted Beets ($2.40), Tako Poke ($2.40), Ahi Poke ($5.28), Ham and Cheese Sandwich ($12) and a Roast Beef Wrap ($14). The guy behind the counter was nice and he cut the sandwiches into three pieces as requested. You then need to take the food across the room to a cashier and pay. Took all of this back upstairs and ordered the Charcuterie Platter ($16) and a glass of Champagne ($31). Grabbed a comfortable seat near the bar and laid out all the food. Karina who was brought out from the New York flagship SoHo Dean and Deluca to open the Waikiki store which is a franchise, presented our Charcuterie Platter with class and described every item on the plate. She was well spoken, very calm, looked us in the eye and did an incredible job serving our table. We talked a bit and she made us feel at home and we wanted her to feel at home as she has only been in Hawaii for a few weeks. The Charcuterie Platter at $16 is the best bargain in the store. Great selection of cheeses and three meats. None of us cared for the Head Cheese which was tasteless. If I order this platter again I will ask for something different. The Roasted Beets were a bit bland and were screaming for seasoning. I did not like the Poke because both the Ahi and Tako were coated in mayonnaise which I do not like on fish. The Ham and Cheese Sandwich was pretty good but for $12 I expected a little more. The star of the lunch was the Roast Beef Wrap. Filled with a very flavorful beef that the entire family loved. This was a really good Wrap. This Dean and Deluca is small and they are trying to find out what the market wants and what works in Hawaii. I would go back again for a glass of wine and the Charcuterie Platter. Nothing else really turned me on.