Restaurant Type: Steakhouse

Our Rating: 9

Food: 9 • Service: 9 • Décor: 9 • Atmosphere: 9 • Price: $$$

We had very good dinner at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse. This was location at New York City
135 W. 50th Street (Bet. 6th & 7th Avenues), Tel.: 212-957-5050. The very first Bobby Van’s restaurant was opened in Bridgehampton, Long Island in 1969. He was a piano player and actor who loved to perform and entertain friends at his home in the Hamptons area. There are also Bobby Van’s Steakhouses at 230 Park Avenue (46th Street, Tel.: 212-867-5490), 25 Broad Street (Tel.: 212-344-8463) and 131 E. 54th Street (Tel.: 212-207-8050). Also they have two restaurants in Washington D.C. at 809 15th Street N.W. (Tel.: 202-589-0060) and 1201 New York Avenue (Tel.: 202-589-1504).

We started with good appetizers and had great steaks with side dishes. I had the sirloin, which I really enjoyed. You are guaranteed the very best meats. The prices are not cheap, but the portions are enormous. I’ll definitely try out their other locations.

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Restaurant Type: Japanese
Our Rating: 9.0
Food: 10 • Service: 9 • Décor: 9 • Atmosphere: 9 • Price: 8

Sugiyama is the place, if you want to try superb quality Japanese food including sushi & sashimi. It’s located at 251 W 55th St. (between Broadway & 8th Ave)
New York, Tel.: (212) 956-0670 and open Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 - 11:45pm. We have been 4 times over past few years and I’m looking forward for chance to go back again.

Usually we order 8 Course Modern Kaiseki ($128) and it’s one of the best, tastiest, unusual and most enjoyable meals. One of my favorite is a little fried crab that can be all eaten. The top dish is kobe beef (Kaiseki with Wagyu, $192) cooked on the hot red stones. You can get a seat at the counter and talk with the owner chef, Mr. Sugiyama, fantastic experience; real iron chef!

This is pricey but worth all of it!

This was my one of favorite hotels, I did not want to leave. Hotel is located at 2365 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, in the heart of Waikiki Beach.

Since 1901, Moana Surfrider, considered the first hotel opened in Waikiki. It’s elegant beachfront resort with complete amenities, offering luxurious accommodations.

It’ located at 5520 Ka Haku Rd, Princeville, HI, Tel.: (808) 826-2760

This was very romantic evening at Cafe Hanalei with view from the Princeville Resort overlooking gorgeous Hanalei Bay. We had dinner right at sunset and it was the best view. I thought the food was quite good, but you definitely eat there because of the views. Now this resort is under construction and it will become the St. Regis Princeville Resort around July 2009.

Here I have my favorite breakfast places in Hawaii; some are fancy, some are very local and casual.

My very favorite was a relaxed, poolside setting Kukui’s Restaurant at Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club. They are open for daily breakfast buffet and served 6:30 am – 11:00 am Monday to Saturday, 6:30 am – 10:00 am Sunday.
There is a nice buffet, though they also offer an a la carte menu. I love theirs Eggs Benedict, Sweet Bread French Toast and fresh guava juice(my Hawaiian discovery).
Also they have really nice Friday & Saturday night Prime Rib & Pacific Crab buffet. We had breakfast and dinner at Kukui’s and both meals were excellent.

The local favorite Tip Top Motel Cafe & Bakery. It’ located at 3173 Akahi St, Lihue, Tel.: 808-245-2333. I discovered a new my favorite dish; Loco Moco (rice, a hamburger patty, an egg and brown gravy and Tip Top has one of the best in Hawaii) and if you are having hung over, you have to order it. Also Tip Top is known for their famous banana/macadamia pancakes, which were big, fluffy and yummy.

The Veranda at Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach. We were staying in this hotel, it’s elegant classic Victorian architecture. This hotel has Old World charm with front porch offering large wooden rocking chairs. I love my morning buffet, which had also Japanese breakfast; two eggs your style, steamed rice, grilled salmon, miso soup with tofu and pickled vegetables.