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Barfly Jason Genegabus |
Surfriders steps
into Bikini’s
AFTER A little more than a year in business as Bikini Cantina, the second floor watering hole at Aloha Tower Marketplace reopened this week as Surfriders Bar and Grill.The change came with little fanfare, and there are still numerous reminders of the bar's previous incarnation to be found.
I first learned about the change when I attended a party there last week, although there were still two signs with different names hanging near the front entrance when I returned on Monday night for a second look.
It doesn't look like there are any big remodeling plans either, according to a number of employees I talked to.
The bar's pupu menu was tweaked a little, and some of the interior was redecorated, but you won't notice that big a difference in the space that used to house Baja Betty's and Rodeo Cantina before Bikini's took over in July 2003.
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Surfriders Bar and Grill Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily Location: Aloha Tower Marketplace (Above Don Ho's Island Grill) Phone: 525-7288
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THAT'S NOT to say that Surfriders necessarily needs to change its layout. The bar's upstairs location provides a much better view of Honolulu Harbor than any of its competitors on the ground floor.
Seating is plentiful here, with a number of regular dining tables accompanied by the others that let you sit on a barstool at a higher level and get a better view of the action around you. Another half-dozen barstools are available at the bar itself.
With the windows open to the elements and no available air conditioning, you're going to be most comfortable here when the sun is setting and trade winds are blowing. Unfortunately, the muggy weather earlier this week and ineffective ceiling fans left me a little too sticky for my liking, even though it was pouring rain during most of my visit.
FROM MY experience, the best time to visit this place is when you've got a big group of friends to entertain, or if there's live music being offered at the bar on the night you want to visit.
Show up with a crowd, and you can take over a couple of tables or a corner near one of the bar's two pool tables. When I showed up last Friday, Neken was playing and customers were standing shoulder to shoulder.
You also might want to keep Surfriders in mind the next time you've got friends from out of town to entertain. While the prices aren't as cheap as other bars in town, you'll manage to save a couple of bucks by bringing them here instead of venturing into one of the other restaurants at the marketplace.
AND NO matter what, don't forget to validate your parking ticket when you visit!
Even though I've been to Aloha Tower countless times, I still managed to forget about getting my ticket validated last weekend.
The price I paid for my mistake was an extra four bucks -- I was charged $6 to park on Friday night, but just $2 a few days later when I remembered to get that little sticker before I left.
So be sure to get that validation people -- you'll save enough money to buy at least one more drink at the bar!
How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly paid $4.25 for a "schooner" of Bud Light at Surfriders Bar and Grill, but smaller sizes are also available. A 16-ounce domestic beer will cost you $3.50, while a 12-ounce draft will set you back $2.75. Coors Light and Bud Light are the only options for draft beers, unless you're willing to spend a little more for some Killian's or Kona Golden Ale.Get things to do?
Two pool tables on one end of the room provide for some distraction from the numerous television sets throughout the bar. Music selections in the bar when there's no live entertainment range from Metallica and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Alicia Keys and Jewel.What about the grinds?
While employees at Surfriders were quick to point out the new menu at the bar, it appears that most of the selections have been renamed and repriced from the previous menu that was offered. Instead of purchasing single tacos, for example, you can now order the Cabo Wabo Tacos ($6.95) and get a choice between mahi mahi, kalua pork, blackened chicken or carne asada. Pupu menu staples like chicken wings ($7.95), edamame ($3.95), garlic fries ($3.95) and New York steak ($14.95) remain. The Long Boarder Burrito ($10.95) and Shrimp Scampi ($14.95) I tried was filling, but just average in comparison to other places when it comes to taste.And the help?
Besides having to wait too long to place an initial drink order, it seemed like my server was too busy doing other things instead of checking on my table and the ones around me. It was also disappointing to get the bill before I had even decided to call it a night -- the easiest way to discourage me from having another drink is to close my tab before I'm ready!
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.