TGIF’s guide to Oahu’s latest happy hour specials:
AMUSE WINE BAR
1250 Kapiolani Blvd.; 237-5429, stagerestauranthawaii.com/amuse-wine-bar
Stage Restaurant has undergone a complete renovation, and with that comes an expansion of the also-stylish Amuse Wine Bar, where happy hour lives at the Honolulu Design Center.
The centerpiece of Amuse remains the high-tech wine-serving system, which offers 80 international wines by the glass; however a bar and lounge area, once behind glass doors at the entrance to Stage, has been incorporated into Amuse, with wines by the bottle and glass, and a fully stocked selection of liquors, mixers and craft beers.
Happy hour specials are available Tuesday through Saturday, 5 to 6 p.m.
Also of note: During happy hour, a $50 Amuse wine-tasting card, providing access to the wine-serving system, can be purchased for $30.
Amuse also has a new manager: Michael Moore, who comes to the wine bar and lounge from Oahu Country Club.
ROY’S WAIKIKI
226 Lewers St.; 923-7697, royshawaii.com/roys-waikiki.html
It’s a first for Roy’s in Waikiki: The upscale restaurant from chef Roy Yamaguchi has debuted a happy hour menu, available seven days a week, 2 to 4 p.m.
Maybe it’s a late lunch; maybe it’s a pau hana for early starters, but either way, it’s tempting, with options including Chinatown Chicken Spring Rolls, served with pineapple sweet and sour sauce ($6); crispy mandoo filled with pork and served with spicy soy and garlic aioli ($6); a snow crab-filled California roll ($5); and Yama Mama Meatloaf Moco, comprising a sunny-side-up egg, garlic fried rice and bacon mushroom pan gravy over Roy’s meatloaf ($13).
Craft cocktail specials include a “Hawaiian” martini and mai tai, both $8, with wine and prosecco offered for $5.
PAGODA RESTAURANT
1525 Rycroft St.; 941-6611, pagodahawaii.com
The Pagoda Restaurant in Makiki has launched a “Wine @5” offer, taking place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in the La Salle room above the restaurant, with pupu, wine or sake, music and karaoke.
For $25 each, patrons can enjoy healthy pupu, Byington Wines or Hwayo Soju, along with kanikapila — friendly enjoyment of music and karaoke, and an opportunity to make new friends or hang out with the ones you bring. Pagoda has begun incorporating healthy “Blue Zone” concepts into its menu, offering dining and drink options that may help to prolong its patrons lives.
The ideas originate with Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow and award-winning journalist, who explored five places in the world where people live the longest, while enjoying good health. Buettner named these places “Blue Zones,” and authored a book about his findings.
One aspect of most Blue Zones, Buettner found, was that its residents drank alcohol in moderation; in that spirit, Pagoda Restaurant is doing its part.
To find out more about Blue Zones, and link to more upcoming social events, visit hawaii.bluezonesproject.com.
TOP OF WAIKIKI
2278 Kalakaua Ave., 18th floor; 923-3877, topofwaikiki.com
Top of Waikiki offers a lengthy happy hour for those who sit at the bar, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. nightly. As the days grow longer, that’s all the better for sampling Top of Waikiki’s new summer-themed menu, inspired by backyard barbecues.
Beginning in June, executive chef Lance Kosaka and crew will offer a $55 three-course menu of shrimp kebabs, an Ultimate BBQ Stack with chicken and ribs, served with jalapeno cornbread, coleslaw and corn succotash, and a dessert of Frozen S’mores.
Just grazing? Pau hana pupu and cocktails are available throughout the evening at the bar, with cocktails and appetizers from $8.
Have a happy hour recommendation? Send your tips to tgif@staradvertiser.com. Pau Hana Patrol roves the island in search of happy hour finds. Look for it in upcoming issues of TGIF.
