GREAT EATS HAWAII: BAKERY AND TABLE

Sunday, November 27, 2016

BAKERY AND TABLE

938 PIIKOI STREET

HONOLULU, HI 96814

808-592-7777

HOURS: Monday (Closed)

Tuesday thru Sunday (4:30 PM - 6:30 PM) Dinner 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday thru Sunday Bakery open 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday Brunch 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM

www.bakeryandtable.com

www.yelp.com/biz/bakery-and-table-honolulu-2

www.facebook.com/BakeryandTableHonolulu/

Bakery and Table took over the the former stylish space that housed an upscale appliance store on Piikoi. To say they remodeled the place is an understatement. What used to be a kitchen showcasing large refrigerators and expensive ranges, now is a beautiful, bright indoor/outdoor space that is impressive and inviting. The large downstairs bakery with an open ceiling includes a dining area, bakery, deli and coffee shop. Just wondering around downstairs was fun. Loved looking at the dozens of pastries, sandwiches, breads and snack items. Loved the look and feel of this place and the employees made us feel welcome with bright smiles. We walked upstairs and I had one of the "wow" moments where I stood at the top and looked out and the dining area, bar and lanai. Wow...one of the most beautiful spaces in Honolulu. Open, bright, clean and welcoming. I naturally gravitated to the outdoor lanai where I found a wall of water, gorgeous artwork, comfortable seating and a bar. A worker followed me out and happily explained that the outdoor space is primarily used for Happy Hour and at night. She pointed out the water walls and said that at night they also light up with fire. She said to come back for Happy Hour as it is very popular with $2 beers and very inexpensive Sushi and Oysters. I was hooked and wanted to stay until 4:30 even though we were there for a weekend Brunch. We were seated inside next to large windows that looked out over busy Piikoi Street. Not many customers on this weekend day which kind of surprised me because this place is really cool. We received large blue goblets of ice water and menus that were a bit light on the ink. I tried the Classic French Onion Soup ($9) and loved it. Covered in cheese and filled with onions and a light but flavorful broth that was delicious. Others at the table tried this soup and also loved it. I would go back again just to enjoy the French Onion Soup. The Clam Chowder ($9) was also good with large pieces of clam, corn, bacon and ham. Lots of flavors going on here but not enough Clam taste. Really good though and you can tell they don't scrimp on quality ingredients. The Roasted Beet Salad ($12) was beautiful on the plate. A sea of color and textures that even include flowers. The beets were roasted to perfection and delicious. There was a little too much of the Blue Cheese foam which might be better tasting if they just used Blue Cheese crumbles. Great salad though. We all enjoyed it. I went with the Vongole ($19). This pasta was cooked perfectly and there were a good amount of small clams in the shell which I liked. The sauce was very light and included thinly sliced red chilis which added a little kick when you got one. The flavor of this dish was really good but not great. The Carbonara ($17) came to the table and we all were impressed with the poached egg on top. Once you slice the egg, the rich yolk coats the pasta and adds a lot of flavor. The sauce included mushrooms, bacon, cream and fresh herbs. Three people tried this dish and we all liked it. The restaurants signature dish Baked Katsu Curry ($16) was a large portion of Chicken Katsu over white rice and covered with a rich and powerful Curry Sauce filled with onions. Cheese was placed over the top and the dish was baked in the oven. I liked that the chicken remained moist and also enjoyed the onions in the sauce. This is a big dish of Curry that should fill most people up. Whether it is worthy of being a Signature dish is questionable to me. The Desserts were presented and I could not leave the place without trying the large Chocolate Bread Pudding ($12). This huge ball is served at the table and the waitress pours the warm sauce over the chocolate ball. The chocolate shell begins to melt giving way to piece of warm and gooey Bread Pudding. Everyone loved this dish. It is a chocolate bomb and I loved it. All in all we loved Bakery and Table. I think this place is misunderstood and under marketed because the space, food and service are all really good. Heck I am ready to go back for Happy Hour tomorrow. You will see me back here with family and friends.