---

Hightide has reopened
under new management

After a few dark months on the King Street side of Puck's Alley, the lights are back on at Hightide Cafe.

Hightide Cafe Location: 2600 S. King St. (in Puck's Alley) Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily Call: 945-3555

Head around the corner to University Avenue and you'll find a couple of successful watering holes that have managed to stay in business for a long time. Unfortunately, the original owners of Hightide couldn't make things work and were forced to shut down.

A little more than a year after my review of the bar appeared in this space, I was back for a look at what the new owners have done to the place.

The short answer? Nothing much has changed -- and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

THE IMAGES that come to mind when you think of Puck's Alley are probably those of college students in their early 20s learning how to handle their liquor.

But the surrounding neighborhoods are made up of recent graduates, young families and a good number of older residents. These people, along with those who live in Manoa Valley, also need a place close by to knock a few back.

This is the niche that a bar like Hightide fills, a destination for those who don't want to deal with kiddies getting punchy because you bumped into them while walking to the bathroom. There's lots of space (and air conditioning!) here, with plenty of tables that aren't packed together to maximize the number of drinking customers inside the room.

While the aquarium that used to sit just beyond the front entrance is no longer there, the rest of the bar's layout remains pretty much the same. A couple of wicker couches on the mauka end of the L-shaped room help with the kamaaina vibe, although the thatching above the bar itself kicks the kitsch factor up a bit.

A slightly elevated stage area sits just next to the beaded curtain that separates the bathrooms from the rest of the bar, and five televisions are spread throughout the room. There's also a big screen set up near the stage, with a lone dart machine along the opposite wall.

---

RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Local comedian Andy Bumatai hosts an open mic night Thursdays at Hightide Cafe at Puck's Alley.

---

WITHOUT THE proper liquor license, Hightide co-owner Gregg Fraser is limited when it comes to nightly entertainment. Since he's unable to offer live music for the time being, stand-up comedy is getting a chance to shine.

And what better choice to spearhead a showcase of local talent than Andy Bumatai? The veteran comedian hosts an open mic night on Thursday nights starting at 8 p.m.

When we visited last week, more than a half-dozen wannabes with varying amounts of experience were signed up for a turn after Bumatai's 30-minute opening set. I recognized a few people from seeing them elsewhere, like Kaleo Pilanca, Kento and Shawn Felipe. It was also a kick to watch Paul Ogata test out new material during his brief stint onstage.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem like everyone in the audience was there to support the comics. During Bumatai's set a group of people playing darts kept making noise, prompting him to remark that "one good thing about getting old (is that) I don't give a rip" about inconsiderate people interrupting him. A better solution might be to turn the dart machine off, eliminating the problem before it starts.

But in a town where there are only a handful of options for stand-up, Hightide has already established itself as a worthy proving ground for the next generation of local comics. Be sure to pay a visit on a Thursday before the end of the month -- besides going to enjoy the comfortable atmosphere and ono grinds, Bumatai hopes enough people will show up to convince Fraser to extend the open mic night past its initial four-week trial run. Do Honolulu's young comics a favor and stop by.

How much for a Bud Light?

The Barfly had to pass on Bud Light this week, opting instead for a Steinlager draft that was on special for $2.50.

Get things to do?

Televisions, a dart machine and a couple of pool tables provide entertainment, and there are two Megatouch machines at the bar.

What about the grinds?

A full lunch and dinner menu is available, but you're better off choosing something off the pupu menu. The Big Boys Platter ($18) comes piled high with fried shrimp, grilled chicken wings, french fries and cheese quesadillas, while the Veggie Dip Platter ($6.75) is a good option for those looking to eat healthy. And you can't go wrong with the Bar Burgers ($6.75), three hockey puck-size patties that are perfect for sharing.

And the help?

Both the bartenders and servers on duty during our visit last week seemed flustered. We had problems ordering drinks, even though we were right at the end of the bar! Seeing the owner jump in to help was a relief, but I still hope the staff gets the hang of things soon.

---

BACK TO TOP
|

Been there,
done that

Chili's Grill and Bar
4211 Waialae Ave.
738-5773

If you're stuck at Kahala Mall and need to take the edge off, Chili's gets the job done. The pupu menu, full of deep-fried goodies, is the main reason you'll want to hit this joint.

Scores Bar and Grill
661 Auahi St.
526-4161

Scores is an oasis for the active drinker -- Megatouch games, a pool table and a ton of dart machines provide hours of entertainment. I just wish they would offer food here.

Cheeseburger Waikiki
1945 Kalakaua Ave.
941-2400

Now's the time to visit Cheeseburger Waikiki, before the masses learn how easy it is to find parking and grind some ono burgers late at night. Don't sleep on this one!