Posted on: Wednesday, October 6, 2004
'ILIMA AWARDS
Readers pick favorite restaurants
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor
Every year, we ask readers to vote for their favorite restaurants in the 'Ilima Awards balloting. This year, as in a number of years past, Alan Wong's was the selection for Best Restaurant.
See our guide to Hawai'i's Best Restaurants for more detail on these winners. The guide is inside the newspaper for those who receive home delivery of the paper on O'ahu.
Here's the list:
• Hawai'i's Best Restaurant: Alan Wong's Restaurant. • Best New Restaurant 2003-2004: Cheesecake Factory. • Best Fine-Dining Restaurants: Ruth's Chris Steak House, Hy's Steakhouse, John Dominis. • Best Family Restaurants: Zippy's, Big City Diner, Anna Miller's 24-Hour Restaurant. • Best for Pasta: Auntie Pasto's. • Best Bakery: Liliha Bakery & Coffee Shop. • Best Drinks and Pupu: Ryan's Grill. • Best Coffee Bar: Starbucks. • Best Vegetarian: Down to Earth Deli. • Best Plate Lunch: L & L Drive-Inn. • Best Central O'ahu Restaurant: Ruby Tuesday. • Best Windward O'ahu Restaurant: Lucy's Grill & Bar. • Best North Shore Restaurant: Haleiwa Joe's Seafood Grill, Hale'iwa. • Best Leeward O'ahu Restaurant: Bravo Restaurant. • Best East O'ahu Restaurant: Roy's Restaurant, Hawai'i Kai. • Best Southeast Asian: Keo's in Waikiki. • Best Italian Restaurant: Assaggio. (Editor's note: Readers did not specify which outlet, so the award goes to the entire group, which includes restaurants at Ala Moana, in Mililani, in Kailua and in Hawai'i Kai.) • Best Japanese: Kyo-Ya Restaurant. • Best French restaurant: La Mer, Halekulani hotel. • Best Chinese: Hee Hing Restaurant. • Best Korean: Sorabol Restaurant. • Best Restaurant, Kaua'i: Hamura Saimin Stand. • Best Restaurant, Maui County: Longhi's. • Best Restaurant, Big Island: Merriman's. • Best Hotel Restaurant, O'ahu: Hoku's, Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii hotel. • Best Hotel Restaurant, Neighbor Islands: Kona Beach Restaurant, King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel. • Critics' choice restaurants: Chosen from among restaurants we've reviewed and written about in the past year — BluWater Grill, 12th Ave. Grill, Hilo Bay Café and Chef Mavro.
Wong, as well as the other award winners, will be feted Monday evening at a sold-out gala benefiting Diamond Head Theatre.
