MAUKA GRILLE AT OAHU COUNTRY CLUB

MAUKA GRILLE

OAHU COUNTRY CLUB

150 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD

HONOLULU, HI  96817

808-595-6331

www.oahucountryclub.com

Always enjoy a good meal or Pupu's at Oahu Country Club's Mauka Grille.  My lunch favorite here is a half Caesar Salad with Grilled Salmon.  For Pupu's I always enjoy the fresh Sashimi but wish they would cut it a bit thinner.  Sashimi is meant to melt in your mouth and not be chewed.  When you have a big thick slice its good too, but it does not have the finish as thinner sliced Sashimi.  The Poke here is excellent with nice pieces of fresh Ahi Tuna, Onions, Soy Sauce, Black Sesame Seeds and maybe a touch of sugar for sweetness.  Tried the Kalua Pork Tacos recently and they were really good.  Also enjoy the Wild Mushroom Flatbread here but always have to tell them to put half the normal amount of cheese on it.  Love the food and staff at Mauka Grille.  Food is always good.

MAUKA GRILLE

THE MAUKA GRILLE AT OAHU COUNTRY CLUB

SASHIMI

AHI POKE

KALUA PORK TACOS

VIEW FROM OUTSIDE THE MAUKA GRILLE

PEAKS LOUNGE - HYATT REGENCY DENVER - DENVER, COLORADO

PEAKS LOUNGE
HYATT REGENCY DENVER AT THE COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER
650 15TH STREET
DENVER, CO  80202
303-436-1234
https://denver.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Visited Peaks Lounge at the Hyatt Regency Denver twice during a five day business trip.  First time was to get something to eat as the service at the lobby bar was non existent and the main restaurant was closed.  Nice view of Denver from almost every table at Peaks.  This is a nice place to enjoy a drink or some appetizers for sure.  Service was pretty good.  

PEAKS LOUNGE VIEW OF DENVER

PEAKS LOUNGE MENU

PEAKS APPETIZER MENU

ARTISANAL CHEESE SELECTION

PULLED PASTRAMI SANDWICH

LOVED THESE MINI PASTRAMI SANDWICHES

OAK ROASTED SALMON BRUSCHETTA

HYATT REGENCY DENVER AT THE CONVENTION CENTER - DENVER, COLORADO

HYATT REGENCY DENVER AT THE COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER
650 15TH STREET
DENVER, CO  80202
303-436-1234
https://denver.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

The Hyatt Regency Denver served its purpose for a business conference I attended in Denver.  The Downtown location was good for getting to restaurants and even a ball game.  Room was clean and staff was friendly.  Would not consider this a five star hotel.  The $45 per day parking charge is outrageous.  Lucky I got free internet with my Hyatt Membership or between parking and internet I would be spending almost $70.  Then times that by five nights.  Tack this onto the room rate and taxes and its not too cheap or worth it to me.

HYATT REGENCY DENVER LOBBY

CONCIERGE DESK

LOBBY BAR

KING ROOM

TV AND TWO SMALL DRAWERS

COFFEE, TEA AND COMPLIMENTARY WATER FOR HYATT MEMBERS

SMALL REFRIGERATOR  

WORKING DESK

SITTING AREA

SMALL BATHROOM

NICE VIEW FROM ROOM - MOUNTAINS AND BRONCO STADIUM

NOBU HONOLULU

NOBU HONOLULU

1118 ALA MOANA BLVD

HONOLULU, HI  96814

808-237-6999

HOURS:  Monday thru Thursday 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

                 Friday and Saturday 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM / 5:00 PM - 10:30 PM

                 Sunday 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM / 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

www.noburestaurants.com/honolulu/experience-2/

www.yelp.com/biz/nobu-honolulu-honolulu-2

www.facebook.com/NobuHonolulu/

I always liked Nobu Waikiki so when they opened a location in Ward Village we decided to drop in and see how Chef Nobu Matsuhisa was doing in Kakaako.  The new Nobu is located in the ultra modern and expensive Waiea condominium complex.  Parking and the restaurant can be accessed on Auahi Street directly across from the movie theaters.  Valet parking is available for $7.  We entered at two minutes before 5:00 pm and the look on the hostesses faces was not positive.  Barely a smile and no welcome or hello.  One gal just blurted out "do you have a reservation?".  I told her yes and my name she said they don't open until 5:00.  We sat on a bench fronting the hostess stand and three or four people stood at the stand.  None smiling or engaging us or another customer who was waiting for service.  These employees need to learn customer service - what a joke we said to each other.  A minute or two after 5:00 one of the hostess steps up and says follow me without smiling and looking away.  She yelled a Japanese phrase which other employees followed and literally dropped us off at our table.  No welcome, thanks for coming in or nothing.  Just walked away.  We watched the front as others were seated and it was the same unenthused and uninterested customer service.  Our waiter was much better but a bit robotic.  Really could tell he was just going through the motions and did not really care.  I expect much better care and interest when you are paying so much money for the food.

Nobu is expensive, portions are small but the food is sometimes delicious.  We started with the Yellowtail Jalapeño ($25).  Amazing fresh flavor and one of my favorite dishes on the menu.  I love the thin slice of Jalapeño and Cilantro with the fish.  The five thin slices were gone fast and we all wanted another plate of this so in ten minutes we were down $50.  I always order the King Crab Tempura at the Waikiki location and asked the waiter if they had it. He said no but they have a Lobster version instead of King Crab.  I ordered the Spiny Lobster Amazu ($34).  The small bites of Tempura battered Lobster had very little taste but the Jalapeño and Red Onion helped.  Nothing like the flavor of the King Crab version and a bit disappointing for the price.  The Sashimi Salad ($28) looked beautiful and included four or five nice pieces of Ahi Sashimi.  Nice salad and dressing.  We were kinda ordering as we go so next up we tried some Sushi.   Tuna and Snow Crab at $5 a piece and Abalone for $25.  Tuna and Snow Crab were incredible.  We ended up ordering lots more.  The Abalone which is farm raised on the Big Island was terrible.  Hard as rubber and one piece was not eatable.  I mentioned this to the waiter and he said sorry but did not offer anything to replace it or take it off the bill.  $25 down the drain.  The Eel and Cucumber Roll ($12) was delicious.  Still hungry we ordered the Carbonara with Soba Noodles ($26).  Not a bad dish but nothing you would crave and order again. Liked the egg on top and fresh asparagus.  Still hungry we ordered the Seafood Ceviche ($17).  A few clams, shrimp and octopus in a sauce that did not compliment the seafood.

Still hungry we ordered the Fire Cracker Roll ($18).  Delicious.  Still hungry we ordered more of the Tuna and Crab Sushi and it was delicious.  My favorites.  The restaurant made a very nice gesture to present my Daughter with a plate wishing her a happy birthday which was nice.  Nobu is good but not great.  Service is good but not great.  Prices are high and portions are small.  

Click link below for previous post on Nobu Waikiki;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2013/06/nobu-waikiki.html

NOBU

NOBU HONOLULU IS LOCATED IN THE WAIEA CONDOMINIUMS 

FRONT STAFF NEEDS SOME TRAINING ON CUSTOMER SERVICE

SLEEK AND MODERN DINING ROOM AND SUSHI BAR

HALF OF DINING ROOM LEADS TO NICE OUTDOOR BAR AND SEATING AREA

SUSHI BAR

NOBU PLACE SETTING

NOBU MENU

NOBU SUSHI MENU

YELLOWTAIL JALAPENO

A GLASS OF BUBBLY WILL SET YOU BACK $25

SPINY LOBSTER AMAZU

SASHIMI SALAD

SASHIMI SALAD ALL MIXED UP

EEL/CUCUMBER ROLL, SNOW CRAB, TUNA AND ABALONE SUSHI

MORE TUNA AND SNOW CRAB SUSHI

CARBONARA WITH SOBA NOODLES

CARBONARA ALL MIXED UP

SEAFOOD CEVICHE

MORE TUNA

FIRECRACKER ROLL

TWO GO BAG FOR TWO PIECES OF SUSHI WAS DESIGNER

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY AT NOBU

KALBI SHORT RIBS

KALBI SHORT RIBS
DINNER AT HOME

Enjoyed some delicious and meaty Kalbi Ribs for dinner.  Served with a delicious dipping sauce containing, Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Shallots, Thai Chili Pepper, Garlic and Pepper.

KALBI RIBS