Nicole Santiago, of Ala Moana, and Joseph Reyes, of Pauoa, enjoy a meal together at Neo-Nabe at 2065 S. King St. The menu is built around nabe, the Japanese simmered-at-the-table meal-in-a-pot, and includes broth recipes for local tastes.
	ADVERTISER LIBRARY PHOTO | June 30, 2006

A quartet of buddies who had worked in the restaurant and club scene dreamed this restaurant up by envisioning the place they were looking for and not finding — one that would serve contemporary comfort food in relaxed surroundings late, late into the morning. They built the menu around nabe (NAH-bay), the Japanese simmered-at-the-table meal-in-a-pot, and created broth recipes for local tastes (more robust than Japan-style dashi). Order a plate of ingredients, choose your broth and dipping sauces, they'll fire up the brazier and you do the rest. Save room for ojia, a filling rice dish made from your leftovers that falls somewhere between chazuke and risotto, prepared for you at the table. The bar menu was limited at this writing (beer, sake, plum wine, Crown Royal) but expected to expand.

2065 South King St., Suite 110. 944-6622. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5 p.m.-5 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Reservations recommended. Valet and self-parking. VS, MC, JCB. No checks. $$$.

Web site: www.neonabe.com

Checks: Local checks and travelers’ checks only