Veterans honored: Two restaurants are offering specials for veterans and personnel with military ID on Wednesday, Veterans Day:
>> BLT Steak Waikiki, in the Trump International Hotel at 223 Saratoga Road, is offering 50 percent off the entire bill for parties of two or less, and 25 percent off the bill for parties of three or more. Reserve at 683-7440 or go to trumphotelcollection.com/waikiki/restaurant-waikiki-hawaii.php.
>> IHOP is offering free Patriotic Pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Buttermilk pancakes will be topped with glazed strawberries (red), blueberry compote (blue) and whipped topping (white). For locations, go to ihophawaii.com/locations.
>> Sunday Supper at 12th Ave Grill: This Sunday’s $30 special meal consists of Cider & Ginger Braised Pork Shoulder, white bean and kale ragout, pickled red cabbage, house-made Big Island cinnamon apple sauce, and cranberry upside-down sour cream cake. To reserve, call 732-9469 or go to 12thavegrill.com.
>> "Modern Chef Takeover": Executive chef Keith Pajinag of Modern Honolulu, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd., gives up his kitchen to chef William Chen of Fresh Box this weekend. This first takeover focuses on eating local. Chen will offer Coriander Ahi Tostadas on the Poolside Menu and Confit Ahi Belly Toast on The Study menu, Friday through Sunday only. From 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday, join both chefs as they give a cooking lesson, and meet Brooks Takenaka of the Honolulu Fish Auction, as Takenaka teaches participants how to break down and filet a tuna. Two cocktails will be paired with the evening’s tastings, and there will also be a do-it-yourself poke bar. Cost for Sunday’s event is $50; get tickets at flavorus.com.
>> Deepavali Festival of Lights: India Cafe celebrates the Deepavali Festival of Lights with a small block party Sunday. Enjoy a buffet of 16 dishes including curries and healthy vegetarian dishes, entertainment by Willow Chang and Laurie Kallis, and a henna tattoo booth, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. next to Times Supermarket in the Kailua Shopping Center, 600 Kailua Road. Cost: $13.95. Call 262-1800 or go to indiacafehawaii.com.
>> Wine tasting at VINO: The classics are the focus of next week’s tasting. Try the 2006 Benrovia Rioja "Gran Reserva," 1997 Chanteleuserie Bourgueil "Vielles Vignes," 1998 Chateau Moulin Pey Labrie and 2000 Fontanafredda Barolo "La Villa" at Thursday’s event. Cost is $39 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reserve at 533-4476 or email ataketa@dkrestaurants.com.
NEW PLACES AND DISHES
>> Genki arrives at Pearlridge Center: Shoppers can get some sustenance at Genki Sushi beginning today. The chain restaurant is opening another location between Hickam Federal Credit Union and Salon Bobbi & Guy on the second level of Pearlridge Uptown. Call 485-5801.
>> Tommy Bahama in Waikiki: The lifestyle brand opened Tommy Bahama Restaurant Bar & Store last week in Waikiki at 298 Beachwalk Drive, with a menu focused on island-inspired cuisine. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Call 923-8785.
>> Pasta, pasta, pasta: Angelo Pietro held a grand opening celebration at its Kaimuki location, 1108 12th Ave., on Oct. 23. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call 941-0555 or go to Angelo Pietro Honolulu on Facebook.
>> Additional seating: Japengo at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort has opened a 2,200-square-foot terrace for dining from 6 to 10 p.m. daily, with outdoor seating and an ocean view, a wraparound glass railing and manta ray-shaped umbrellas with low-voltage lighting. For reservations, call 237-6180; japengowaikiki.com.
>> Diamond Head Kitchen is back: The restaurant known for its rotisserie chicken, now under new management, will hold a grand opening for its Diamond Head Kitchen Food Truck on Saturday in the Kuntz Express parking lot on Hickam Air Force Base. The truck will offer whole- and half-chicken meals, chicken tacos and more, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Information: info@diamondheadkitchen.com.
>> New at Mac 24/7: Chef James Aptakin has created eight new dishes: Thai grilled kalbi steak salad, Hawaiian moonfish tacos, barbecue kalua pulled-pork sandwich, Kona lobster and North Shore shrimp BLT, Hawaiian seafood angel hair pomodoro (surprisingly light and tasty!), barbecue kalua pork eggs Benedict, house-made biscuits and gravy, and apple-banana cobbler. To wash the dishes down, try one or both of the two new house cocktails — Mac ginger ale or Guavalicious. Word to the wise: The Hilton Waikiki Beach, home to Mac 24/7 at 2500 Kuhio Ave., has four happy hours on its grounds. From noon to 2 p.m. daily, check out the pool bar; keep the happy hour going from 2 to 5 p.m. at Mac 24/7; then move on to LBLE, the lobby bar, from 5 to 7 p.m. Mac 24/7 also has a midnight-to-3 a.m. happy hour Sunday through Thursday. Call 921-5564.
>> New at Gokoku Sushi: Three set meals have been added to the restaurant’s menu. First, whet the palate with the Monthly Otsumami Trio ($5.50), which consists of shuto with seafood sashimi; egg yolk miso zuke; and uzaku, unagi with pickled cucumber and tofu. The Kago Kaiseki "Momihi" ($29.95) has kisu or sillago tempura, ahi poke, steamed monchong, seafood pot and unagi rice. The Hoku ($38.95) offers a variety of tempura, udon, yamaimo potato and chicken with yuzu cream sauce, beef filet ham, fish of the day, chirashi sushi, sashimi and kobachi. For the heartier eater, try the Mahina ($48), which comes with an appetizer plus a variety of tempura, sashimi, miso butterfish, steamed fish and nigiri sushi. To close off the night, order the Assorted Wagashi Dessert ($14.50). The restaurant is in the Koko Marina Shopping Center, 7192 Kalanianaole Highway. Call 888-7777.
Send restaurant news, including holiday-related items, openings and closings, new chefs, mixologists and menu changes at least two weeks in advance to mramos@staradvertiser.com.
