Quick Bites

Another edition of Outback Steakhouse celebrated its opening in Hawai‘i Kai last week with a benefit for America’s Promise. The new location, next door to Roy’s Restaurant, features the signature Aussie-style menu of steaks, prime rib, shrimp, chops, ribs, salads and fish entrees. Known for its "Bloomin’ Onion," Outback Steak Houses now number 620 restaurants worldwide, according to manager Ed Ennis. They are open 4-10 p.m. daily; 396-7576.

Roy’s gets rapped

"Say aloha to foolish food and silly service at Roy’s San Francisco," writes Stephanie Rosenbaum in a San Francisco Magazine review of Roy’s new restaurant. After that subhead, the critique of Roy’s in the City by the Bay was not flattering at all. San Francisco restaurant reviewers (and New York, too) have not been kind toward Roy Yamaguchi’s entree into foodie town. But the Euro-Asian chef and founder remains unflappable.

In town last week for the launching of his Y Sakes, Yamaguchi’s reaction to the recent review: "The bottom line is that our guests are happy we’re there."

"It’s nice to get good reviews," continued Yamaguchi. "We read and analyze them and if we can improve, we do. We believe in what we do and we want to make what we do better."

Yamaguchi’s empire now numbers 23 restaurants, stretching from coast to coast on the Mainland and in Guam and Japan. Ten more are scheduled for opening this year in cities like Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

"I’ve been told over and over again that because we have multiple restaurants we won’t be well recognized," commented Yamaguchi. "True or not, I don’t know. It shouldn’t matter if you have one unit or more, whether you’re a chain or not. You should be recognized for the efforts of one location or a hundred if the quality is there."

Perhaps more telling is the fact that Yamaguchi and his partner Outback Steak House continue to open restaurants and draw crowds. "Our restaurants are packed. It’s amazing, we’re getting busier and busier."

People on the move

Gary Manago has joined the Hilton Hawaiian Village as director of food and beverage. Formerly with the Pacific Beach Hotel, Manago is a veteran of the restaurant and hotel industry in Hawai‘i.

Akira Moreno has been named food and beverage director and Serena Lotz director of restaurants at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki.

Asian noodles spotlighted

Noodle Nights is the theme of a weeklong noodlefest at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Hawai‘i’s Plumeria Beach Cafe. Legends Seafood Restaurant will present a Chinese noodle buffet featuring chow fun, e-mein, chow mein, Shanghai noodles, kwan lo mein, cake noodles and ma jai (dessert noodles), March 16-18.

Wasabi Bistro’s Shiketo Yagi will create his favorite Japanese noodle dishes, yaki soba with lobster and yaki udon with teriyaki chicken, in addition to six other noodle dishes on the buffet, March 19-21.

The flavors of Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will be featured March 22-23.

The noodle buffet, including beer sampling for the Chinese and Southeast Asian nights and sake sampling for the Japanese night, is $41.50, $20.75 for children 5-12, plus tax and tip. 739-8760.

No meat as spring dawns

March 20 is the first day of spring and the observance of the 17th annual Great American Meatout coordinated by the Farm Animal Reform Movement, a public-interest non-profit organization that publicizes the impacts of animal agriculture. Across the country, people will turn to a menu of grains, vegetables and fruits for the day.

Restaurant specials

At Dixie Grill Bar-b-que and Crab Shack in ‘Aiea, "Kids Eat Free" on Tuesday and Wednesdays when accompanied by the purchase of an adult entree. Children 12 and under can choose an item from the keiki menu, including a beverage. Dixie Grill, at 99-016 Kamehameha Highway, is open from 11 a.m. daily except Monday. 485-2722.

The Red Lobster is in the midst of a Lobsterfest, a celebration of everything lobster that runs through May 20. Artichoke lobster dip, lobster and shrimp lettuce wraps, lobster rolls, lobster and crab stuffed mushrooms, lobster chops, rock lobster dinner, steak and lobster, lobster alfredo florentine pasta and of course live Maine lobster are on the special menu. Entrees are priced from $14.99. Red Lobster is at 1765 Ala Moana Blvd.; open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 955-5656.

Quick Bites runs every Wednesday in the Advertiser food section. Food Editor Joan Namkoong welcomes tidbits of food news.Write to her c/o The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Call 525-8069, e-mail jnamkoong@honoluluadvertiser.com, fax 525-8055.

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