Kapiolani hangout
has potential
BIKINI'S SPORTSBAR
AND GRILL
Hours: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Wednesdays through Saturdays
Location: 1700 Kapiolani Blvd.
(above Blue Tropix)
Phone: 944-0001
CREDIBILITY is important. Not only in the bar industry, but in real life as well. If you say you're going to do something, do it.
The Barfly heard a bunch of radio commercials for Bikini's Sportsbar and Grill last week that promised to show the Super Bowl on a big screen while ladies in -- you guessed it, bikinis! -- served ice cold Bud Light pitchers for $5. Football, beer and bikinis? I was sold; off the Barfly went with his trusty Drinking Buddy to catch the big game.
Once we got there, however, it became apparent the bar only kept two of its promises from the commercials we heard. Sure, the game was getting underway and Bud Light was flowing like water, but every server we saw was fully clothed! That's false advertising!
After the initial disappointment of not having any swimsuit-wearing women to go with the game (and there were definitely a few employees who should have been wearing them), the Barfly realized that Bikini's is a real sleeper in the Kapiolani area. Managed by the same people who run Blue Tropix downstairs, this bar is pretty spacious with a lot of stuff for customers to do.
Over a dozen televisions circle the bar and all were tuned to the Super Bowl on the day the Barfly visited. A jukebox sits near the bar itself, although it was unplugged last weekend. We also noticed pool tables upon walking into Bikini's; four of them sit near the bar's main entrance and just behind the tables is another room that houses nine dart machines and some video games, too. This would be a great place to visit with friends who just want to kick back for a bit before moving on to the next episode.
Surprisingly, the food served at Bikini's is pretty darn good, and you won't spend a lot of money either. I got a heaping plate of french fries ($5) and some chicken fingers ($7) to start, and was very satisfied with my choices. The fries I got were hot and crispy, and my chicken tasted better than most frozen stuff served at other places.
The only real downside that I see to Bikini's (other than the lack of anyone wearing them) is its operating hours and seating arrangements. Only being open four days a week after 8 p.m. will not help to build a following; neither will furnishing the place with folding tables and what felt like some of the most uncomfortable chairs on this rock. Give customers something better to sit on and more time during the week to come visit, and Bikini's could easily become a new favorite place to hang out.
How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly drank $5 pitchers of Bud Light on Super Bowl Sunday; domestic bottles are also available for $3.50. You can get a mixed drink here, too, if you like.
Get things to do?
Pool tables, dart machines and video games occupy one side of Bikini's, while a jukebox and karaoke machine are stationed near the bar. Private rooms are also available for birthday or karaoke parties. And there's always Blue Tropix downstairs if things get boring.
What about the grinds?
Everything we tried was pretty tasty - the Barfly recommends the chicken fingers ($7) and the kalua nachos ($8). Other people at our table tried the calamari ($7) and cheeseburger with fries ($8), and had nothing but nice things to say about their food. Korean-style wings ($6), teri meatballs ($7) and kalbi ($7) are also on the menu.
And the help?
Service at Bikini's was adequate, given the pretty big Super Bowl crowd. After initially having to flag down a server to take my order, our table got checked on roughly every 10 minutes or so to see if we needed more food or drinks.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.
