Gastronome
Sliders
KONA BREWING CO.
Koko Marina Center
7192 Kalanianaole Hwy.
Phone number (808) 396-5662
websitekonabrewingco.com
I like bars. I like food. But I find that bar food is nearly identical at every place — a veritable selection of finger foods, burgers, pizzas and sandwiches. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Eating the same thing a thousand times doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it in a new way at someplace else.
Such was my experience at Kona Brewing Co., where I stopped by for the first time ever last weekend. It’s been at Koko Marina Center in Hawaii Kai for 11 years, but I’ve always stayed away, assuming it was more of a tourist trap. I wasn’t entirely wrong. T-shirts available for purchase at the entrance felt weirdly out of place for a bar.
As expected, the food was, well, expected. And yet, it managed to feel like an entirely new pub experience, though I credit a lot of that to its beer sampler (more on that in the accompanying sidebar). Still, one must eat when drinking — or not, if you’re that hardcore.
Linguine Primavera JAIMIE KIM PHOTOS
The pub reopened last week after a three-week renovation, and with it debuted some new menu items. This includes its Sliders, which were, by far, my favorite. (Though, admittedly, this was the only new menu item I tried.) Served on taro rolls, the three sliders are cooked perfectly. And whatever is in that barbecue aioli, I would like to take home.
The menu describes the trio as “mini,” but mini it is not. If you’re there with friends (which Kona Brewing Co. is perfect for), it’s a good appetizer to share. Me? I plan to order it as my meal the next time I stop in.
Entrees were a bit trickier to choose, considering Kona Brewing Co. has so many. Craving pasta, I ordered Linguine Primavera. The menu described it as having chili flakes, so I asked our server if she would classify it as spicy.
She assured me it was more for flavor than anything.
It could not have been any spicier — so spicy that I couldn’t eat it, and neither could my dinner companion (my boyfriend, who typically is able to eat anything). I wish it hadn’t been impossible to eat, because it came loaded with asparagus, mushrooms and spinach. What I could taste beyond the heat, I liked, so it is something I maybe would try again after better communicating exactly how much spice I can handle.
My boyfriend, however, struck gold with the Cubano he ordered (which he repeatedly said tasted exactly like the ones he had and loved in Florida). Slow-roasted kalua pig is layered with Canadian bacon and topped with provolone, sliced pickles and cumin mustard — all served on Kona Brewing Co.’s homemade focaccia. It was a serious burst of flavor that had a bit of heat without overwhelming the senses.
Overall, it was just the thing for a Sunday afternoon. And it didn’t hurt that a trio of ducks waddling back and forth below our table were great company.
DRINK UP!
There is one beer I will always order: Kona Brewing Co. No, this is not some product endorsement. It’s the truth.
And before going to Kona Brewing Co. in Koko Marina, I had no idea how many varieties the company carried — everything from commonly known beers such as Wailua Wheat (my all-time favorite) to seasonal ciders (my new love).
To allow customers to really get a taste of what Kona Brewing Co. has to offer, order the pub’s beer sampler. Choose any four beers you’d like to try, for fun or to figure out what you want to order in full-size.
It arrives to your table complete with a beer map that provides information about its flavor profile and how bitter or hoppy it is in comparison to others. (This information also is on the menu.)
WAIKIKITCHEN
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend that just so happens to involve eating, then stop by JTB Hawaii’s WaikiKitchen. It takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kapiolani Park and will feature vendors including Lanikai Juice, The Curry, Takoyaki Yama-chan, my personal favorite Nani Kore and more.
The entire event is part of the company’s Rainbow Ekiden long-distance relay race held earlier in the day.
Those looking to justify a weekend food indulgence still can sign up for the morning’s race. Though I plan to go just for the food, duh. For more information, visit honoluluekiden.com.
