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Barfly Jason Genegabus |
O opens with style
HONOLULU residents got their first look at the newest nightspot in town this week, as The O Lounge made its debut with a grand opening party on Monday night.Hundreds showed up for the invitation-only event, hosted by Kimo Kahoano and featuring a live performance by eight0eight.
Other local notables on hand included Tino Ibach, Tony Conjugacion, Lance Rae, Kim Gennaula, Guy Hagi, Donalyn Dela Cruz, Bill Van Osdol, Justin Yoshino, Jeff Kino, Giorgio Taye, Al Waterson, Jed Roa, Jill Kuramoto and Tom Moffatt.
Billed as Hawaii's "chicest ultra club," the nightspot targets a slightly older, more sophisticated clientele. Think "Wonderlounge" at the W Honolulu, "Feng Shui" at the Hyatt Regency Hotel or "Skyline" at the Hanohano Room, and you've got a good idea of the vibe here.
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The O Lounge Hours: 6 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays Location: 1349 Kapiolani Blvd. (former China House Restaurant) Phone: 944-8436
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WALKING INTO The O Lounge, the first thing that struck me was the size of the room -- this place used to be a restaurant called China House, and owner Elizabeth Hata Watanabe hasn't changed the layout much.
Gone are almost all of the tables and chairs, replaced by a number of futon-like beds covered in pillows. They weren't too high off the ground either, making it easy to situate yourself with a drink while still being able to keep your feet on the floor.
Two bars service customers, with the bigger one taking up most of the Ewa wall opposite of the main entrance. The other is the centerpiece of a smaller room, with additional tables and another pillow-covered couch providing places to sit and people watch.
It'll also be interesting to see what's planned for a pair of small alcoves, each furnished with a couple of couches and a little more brightly lit than the main area of the lounge. Put up a velvet rope to control access, and you've got a pair of fantastic VIP areas that let you see who is coming and going while remaining comfortably away from the crowd.
A nice touch would be to offer bottle service, already a staple at other ultra lounges both here and on the mainland.
Usually the service includes a personal host or hostess, who will pour drinks tableside. It's more expensive than hustling your own cocktails and fighting for a barstool, but it fits right in with the type of atmosphere that The O Lounge is going for.
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ACCORDING TO a spokesperson I talked to on Monday night, expect the emphasis to be on live entertainment while catering to a professional, upscale crowd with money to spend.
For the time being, the performance area is located in the middle of the room, just steps away from the main bar. A dancefloor is close by, and resident DJs Kutmaster Spaz and Mr. Goodvybe have been brought onboard to spin music between live sets.
With Monday night's crowd consisting of an eclectic mix of industry folk and the family/ friends of owner Watanabe, it's a little difficult to predict this early whether or not The O Lounge will be a success.
But if you're the type of person who enjoys getting dressed up and living large, give this place a chance. You won't have to worry about elbowing your way through a crowd or sipping a ridiculously overpriced drink here -- yet.
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How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly paid $5 for a Jack and Coke at The O Lounge. Domestic bottles were $2.50 each, but don't be surprised if prices get tweaked a little as the grand opening hoopla settles down.Get things to do?
Live entertainment is supposed to be the main draw, but there's also a pool table and a couple of Megatouch game machines available. It was also a lot brighter here than other nightspots in town, making it a lot easier to people watch while sitting on one of the couches.What about the grinds?
The menu hasn't been finalized yet, but there will be food available to customers at The O Lounge. Dishes in the works include chilled, stir-fried garlic marinated shrimp, broiled ribs with a Hoisin glaze, Hawaiian-style kalua pork quesadillas, and a 10-ounce ribeye steak served pupu style.And the help?
While they sure looked cute in their cheongsams, The O Lounge staff seemed overwhelmed at times during Monday's grand opening. Hopefully they'll have a better handle on things after working out the kinks over the next few weeks.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.