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Restaurant Experiences Notable Restaurant: Nobu, Honolulu When my daughter, Alana, friends from San Francisco, and I stayed at the Waikiki Parc in Honolulu recently, we came to the conclusion we had to dine one night at the restaurant located off the hotel lobby—Nobu. This is one of many of Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurants that are scattered around the globe from London, considered one of tops in world, to Las Vegas, from Milan to the newly opened Hong Kong. We knew that the restaurant was going to be expensive but were simply prepared for a shock. However, after the waiter offered a way to order that was totally new to me, we relaxed. What he presented were some suggested per person prices for the entire dinner. After choosing one price, he would simply bring the dishes that fit, each one a surprise to us. Some of the outstanding dishes brought to us were Nobu style sashimi tacos, black cod saikyo miso, rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce and washu beef. The dinner, although expensive, was a real value when you considered the many wonderful dishes he brought. In the morning Nobu is the hotel’s breakfast restaurant. When we were seated we asked for a menu with Japanese dishes. Since there were a number of Japanese hotel guests, we thought that the hotel would offer the breakfast that they so enjoy—as we do. I particularly like miso soup and congee, a rice porridge garnished with crispy onions and seaweed. We were given a breakfast menu in Japanese but they had the same American dishes as on the English menu. “Waikiki chic” is mentioned as a way to describe the newly refurbished Waikiki Parc, a small hotel across from—and owned by—the Halekulani. The hotel offers the amenities of its sister property including the beach and pool area. Mindful of Virgin America, the lobby has changing colored lights along the walls and ceilings. The lighting is playful and mood-setting although I am not quite sure what mood it is trying to capture. |
| From South Africa “We loved Londolozi—very much like Singita although I’d probably choose to stay in Singita again if we went back. They did a nice job having different evening meals planned—one night in the boma, another in an encampment surrounded by candles and torches. The staff was very friendly and helpful—had a wonderful young ranger and a great tracker. They could find just about anything that we asked for—lots and lots of good cat viewing and we even witnessed a pride of ten devour an impala in five minutes Mala Mala is very nice too. The suites are all individual units and each one has two full baths. At Mala Mala the ranger eats all of the meals with his charges and they keep people separated. We had our meals with the people who were in the land rover with us. Luckily we liked them but I prefer mixing around a bit as we did at Londolozi. We loved Capetown and staying at the Mount Nelson.” M.J.A. |