Dining: 30 Meals Under 30

August 26, 2010

Baci Bistro

Photo by: Monte Costa
$25.40! House salad ($5.50), linguine with clams ($13.95) and profiteroles ($5.95).
A cozy little spot with Italian music playing and plenty of wine available, Baci Bistro is the perfect place for meeting up with friends. We tried the house salad, topped with an artistic ribbon of beets and carrots, then tucked into a giant bowl of sweet clams and linguine. Our server had recommended the “natural” sauce, but you can also choose a white or red sauce if you like things a little heartier. Decadent, chocolate-topped profiteroles filled with vanilla ice cream finished our meal. La dolce vita! Lunch Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner nightly from 5:30 to 10. 30 Aulike St., 262-7555. bacibistro.com.

Photo by: Monte Costa
$25.40! House salad ($5.50), linguine with clams ($13.95) and profiteroles ($5.95).
A cozy little spot with Italian music playing and plenty of wine available, Baci Bistro is the perfect place for meeting up with friends. We tried the house salad, topped with an artistic ribbon of beets and carrots, then tucked into a giant bowl of sweet clams and linguine. Our server had recommended the “natural” sauce, but you can also choose a white or red sauce if you like things a little heartier. Decadent, chocolate-topped profiteroles filled with vanilla ice cream finished our meal. La dolce vita! Lunch Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner nightly from 5:30 to 10. 30 Aulike St., 262-7555. bacibistro.com.

Show Caption Hide Caption
Mermaid Bar

Photo by: Linny Morris
$20! Soup du jour ($6.25), Mermaid custom salad with sautéed shrimp ($13.75).
There’s no need to jockey with the hoi polloi for a seat in the crowded food court at Ala Moana Center. The Mermaid Bar, tucked away on the second floor of Neiman Marcus, offers a secluded, peaceful lunch experience, for just a few dollars more than you’d spend on a regular old plate lunch. On a recent Saturday we enjoyed a wonderful chicken lentil soup and a fresh salad made to order with all our favorites: broccoli, cucumber, blood oranges, tomatoes, bacon, croutons. We also sprang for the sautéed shrimp, which added $4 to the tab, but, all in all, it was an entirely reasonable bill for an entirely civilized lunch. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Neiman Marcus, second floor, 951-3428.

Photo by: Linny Morris
$20! Soup du jour ($6.25), Mermaid custom salad with sautéed shrimp ($13.75).
There’s no need to jockey with the hoi polloi for a seat in the crowded food court at Ala Moana Center. The Mermaid Bar, tucked away on the second floor of Neiman Marcus, offers a secluded, peaceful lunch experience, for just a few dollars more than you’d spend on a regular old plate lunch. On a recent Saturday we enjoyed a wonderful chicken lentil soup and a fresh salad made to order with all our favorites: broccoli, cucumber, blood oranges, tomatoes, bacon, croutons. We also sprang for the sautéed shrimp, which added $4 to the tab, but, all in all, it was an entirely reasonable bill for an entirely civilized lunch. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Neiman Marcus, second floor, 951-3428.

Show Caption Hide Caption
Sapori Enoteca/Birreria

Photo by: Mark Arbeit
$24.50! Stuffed pork-loin chop ($18) and a glass of pinot grigio ($6.50).
Sapori Enoteca/Birreria is a mouthful to say, but your stomach will thank you for stopping by. Sapori means “flavor” in Italian, and chef Donato Loperfido creates dishes that live up to the name. Nestled in the ground floor of the Uraku Tower, Sapori is a classy, tapas-style place. Looking for a larger dish, we opted for the stuffed pork-loin chop. The dish’s aroma captured us even before the waiter set it down. The pork is stuffed with Montasio cheese and speck (a type of dried ham) and neatly sliced, with a red wine tartufata sauce. The entrée featured roasted potatoes and haricot vert on the side. With a glass of pinot grigio and complimentary bread, you’ll leave more than satisfied. Open nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m., except for Fridays from 4:30 to 10 p.m. 1341 Kapiolani Blvd., 955-3582, saporihonolulu.com.

Photo by: Mark Arbeit
$24.50! Stuffed pork-loin chop ($18) and a glass of pinot grigio ($6.50).
Sapori Enoteca/Birreria is a mouthful to say, but your stomach will thank you for stopping by. Sapori means “flavor” in Italian, and chef Donato Loperfido creates dishes that live up to the name. Nestled in the ground floor of the Uraku Tower, Sapori is a classy, tapas-style place. Looking for a larger dish, we opted for the stuffed pork-loin chop. The dish’s aroma captured us even before the waiter set it down. The pork is stuffed with Montasio cheese and speck (a type of dried ham) and neatly sliced, with a red wine tartufata sauce. The entrée featured roasted potatoes and haricot vert on the side. With a glass of pinot grigio and complimentary bread, you’ll leave more than satisfied. Open nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m., except for Fridays from 4:30 to 10 p.m. 1341 Kapiolani Blvd., 955-3582, saporihonolulu.com.

Show Caption Hide Caption

Thirty dollars used to be plenty of cash to buy a nice meal. But recently, we’ve noticed that restaurant entrées are routinely pushing that threshold, with many menus showing dishes costing $30—and up. That’s why we were particularly inspired to find entire meals that cost less than $30. Real, satisfying meals, at nice restaurants, even with a glass of wine. It can be done—here’s how.

BY CHRISTINE HITT, BY CHRISTINE HITT,BY CHRISTINE HITT,BY CHRISTINE HITT,BY CHRISTINE HITT,BY CHRISTINE HITT,