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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Alan Wong's repeats win of 'Ilima's Best Restaurant honor

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor

2006 WINNERS

Best Restaurant 2006: Alan Wong's Restaurant

Best New Restaurant 2006, People's Choice: Romano's Macaroni Grill

Best New Restaurant 2006, Critics' Choice: Ola at Turtle Bay Resort

Best Fine Dining Restaurants, People's Choice: Roy's Restaurant, Hy's Steak House, Hoku's

Best Fine Dining Restaurants, Critics' Choice: Chef Mavro, 12th Avenue Grill, town

Best Casual Restaurants, People's Choice: Zippy's, Big City Diner, California Pizza Kitchen

Best Casual Restaurants, Critics' Choice: Wahoo's Fish Taco, Nico's at Pier 38, Neo-Nabe

Best Ethnic Restaurants, People's Choice: Keo's in Waikiki, Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant, Assaggio

Best Ethnic Restaurants, Critics' Choice: Hakkei, Max's of Manila, Little Village Noodle House Best Coffee Bar, People's Choice: Starbucks

Best Coffee Bar, Critics' Choice: Coffee Talk

Best for Breakfast, People's Choice: Anna Miller's

Best for Breakfast, Critics' Choice: Grand Café & Bakery

Best for Dessert, People's Choice: Cheesecake Factory

Best for Dessert, Critics' Choice: JJ's Bistro & French Pastry

Best for Cocktails, People's Choice: Mai Tai Bar

Best for Cocktails, Critics' Choice: Lewers Lounge, Halekulani

Best for Wine, People's Choice: Formaggio

Best for Wine, Critics' Choice: Vino

Best Kaua'i Restaurant, People's Choice: Hamura Saimin Stand

Best Kaua'i Restaurant, Critics' Choice: Blossoming Lotus

Best Maui Restaurant, People's Choice: Longhi's

Best Maui Restaurant, Critics' Choice: Mala, an Ocean Tavern

Best Big Island Restaurant, People's Choice: Merriman's

Best Big Island Restaurant, Critics' Choice: Hilo Bay Café

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Wong

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Alan Wong's Restaurant once again was named Hawai'i's Best Restaurant by readers of The Honolulu Advertiser in the annual 'Ilima Awards. Results were announced last night during a gala benefiting Diamond Head Theatre, with chefs and restaurateurs serenaded by cast members singing parodies of show tunes into which the restaurant names and specialties had been cleverly woven.

Wong good-naturedly gyrated along to "Dancing Queen," egged on by cast members Loretta Ables-Sayre, Laurence Paxton, Andrew Sakaguchi, Stefanie Smart and Ahnya Chang.

A sold-out crowd of 500 watched the show, then moved on to dinner, made up of tastings from winning restaurants.

Except for the Best Restaurant, which is based entirely on reader ballots, half of this year's 'Ilima Awards were People's Choice awards, based on a reader poll, and half were Critics' Choice awards, based on the opinions of The Advertiser's in-house food experts.

Reach Wanda A. Adams at wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.