Feeling like a little grilled eggplant appetizer with your Gauguin, perhaps? How about some hummus with your Hockney?

Those in the know head for two of Honolulu's art museums for more than the high-class eye candy. They go for the grub.

"Both of them have exceptionally good food, quite sophisticated," said author and former Advertiser food editor Kaui Philpotts, who has eaten all over the world. "I think ours are as good as any museum cafe."

She had nice things to say about the Honolulu Academy of Arts' Pavilion Café, which not only has gorgeous surroundings but chef Mike Nevin's light touch on salads, sandwiches and entrees. Want a whopper sandwich? Try his piadini, stuffed with fresh mozzarella, pancetta and enough greens to satisfy your five-a-day.

Another Philpotts tip: Order the daily specials there and at The Contemporary Museum's café.

"That's often where really interesting dishes are," she said.

The Contemporary Café's recent lunch special was a chicken Nicoise salad with portabello mushrooms, egg, potato and polenta. Visitors nibbled indoors, where works by Thomas Krieger, Alexandru Preiss and Amanda Toy were on display, or outside in the sculpture garden with Jun Kaneko's "Dango" (1988, ceramic), Toshiko Takaezu's "Haru" (1992, stoneware), Takaezu's "Three Moons" (1995, stoneware) and Arnold Zimmerman's untitled 1984 stone piece.

Chef/manager Adam Gilbert bakes up desserts such as chocolate gateau (flourless cake). Check out the Sunday brunch, when eggs Benedict and Monte Cristo sandwiches pop up on the menu.

In neither case does lunch include admission to the museum, but at least take a leisurely stroll on your way to the cafe, because getting there is truly half the fun.

At either spot, a membership card gets you a discount. And make reservations, especially on weekends.

Elsewhere, we hear the Bishop Museum has a serviceable snack bar that serves hot sandwiches. And David de la Torre of the Hawai'i State Art Museum says a café is planned there soon.