Maile’s da place
for TV sports
MAILE'S PLACE
Open Noon to 2 a.m. daily
614 Cooke St.
(half a block makai of Queen Street)
596-7500
IT'S ANOTHER Monday during football season, and your favorite NFL team is playing while you slave away at the office. Those who work in town know about the usual spots to catch the game live: Dave & Buster's, Murphy's Bar & Grill, Players Sports & Entertainment Club (either the Alakea or University location) or even one of the bars in Aloha Tower Marketplace are a few spots that instantly come to mind.
Unfortunately, all of the places I just mentioned are common knowledge to most sports fans brave enough to ditch work -- including your boss. Why sneak off to Murphy's if the person who signs your paychecks could end up walking through the door a few minutes later? Next time, head over to Cooke Street and check out Maile's Place instead.
Located next door to Karen's Kitchen, Maile's Place is close enough for the downtown crowd and unassuming enough to drive past without really noticing that it's there. Walk in through the front entrance, and you'll find a relatively large room with about 15 booths to kick back in. The regulars all sat at the bar when the Barfly visited, most with a bottle of beer and trusty bucket of ice to go along with it.
Another good sign was the free pupus left at our table shortly after arriving at Maile's Place. Although it was only dried shrimp and scallops and some pistachio nuts, it's always nice to see a bar actually try and make you feel welcome, even if you've never visited the place before. And while it was obvious we were the only customers our server didn't recognize, she still treated us like the regulars sitting over at the bar.
The only downside to the location of Maile's Place is the parking situation. The lot outside might be enough on a slow night, but expect to park on the street and walk a bit if you go during an afternoon or weekend when lots of sports are on television. Then again, do you want someone recognizing your car in front of a bar while you're supposed to be at the office?
If you're looking for someplace off the beaten path to grab a beer without worrying about who you'll run into, Maile's Place is definitely a watering hole worth checking out. As a sign hanging inside the bar says, "If You Stay Wrong Place ... Enjoy Anyway."
How much for a Bud Light?
$2 a bottle; imports are available for $3.50. Well drinks start at $3.50 and premiums at $4.50.
Get things to do?
Maile's Place is a self-described karaoke lounge, with most selections seeming to be geared toward the over-40 crowd. Two Megatouch game machines are located in different corners of the establishment as well.
What about the grinds?
The normal cook wasn't at work when the Barfly visited earlier this week. Maybe that explains the lack of menus at Maile's Place, but the steak ($10) and fries ($4) we had didn't disappoint. The spicy chicken wings ($7) lived up to expectations, too.
And the help?
No complaints here -- our server was friendly enough to stop and chat a few times during our visit, and she did a good job of keeping the bottles coming whenever we emptied the ones we had been drinking.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.
