Get that Rico Rico chicken: Honolulu missed the Peruvian restaurant known for its rotisserie chicken when it left its location at Coolidge and King streets. Rico Rico has now gone back to its roots, offering dishes from a food truck at 1034 Queen St., noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Look for the Rico Rico Chicken banner, across the street from Office Depot. From 6 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Sundays, get that ono food inside Hawaiian Brian’s, 1680 Kapiolani Blvd.
Lovers of sweets: The Moana Surfrider has opened a dessert buffet bar. For $25 ($20 for children ages 12 and younger), guests can choose from sweets such as red velvet cream-cheese cake, orange cake pops, Kona coffee tiramisu, cookies, mango mousse, peanut butter chocolate crunch cup and assorted candies, accompanied by coffee or tea. In a nice added touch, the hotel gives each guest a small box to bring home a favorite offering. Champagne, wine and beer are available for an additional charge. The buffet is available from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Reserve at 921-4600.
Eat poke, support music: Da Hawaiian Poke Co. has added the Jake Shimabukuro Poke Bowl to its menu. The dish, named after the famed ukulele virtuoso, contains spicy ahi with wasabi tobiko, green onions, kabayaki sauce, bubu arare and shredded nori. If purchased this month, $3 per bowl will go to Kalihi Kai Elementary School’s music program. Da Hawaiian Poke Co. opened last month in the Safeway Center Complex, 870 Kapahulu Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 425-4954.
More than sushi: Sushi Murayama is now open on the third floor of the 808 Center, at the corner of Rycroft and Sheridan streets. Dinner hours are 5:30 to 11 p.m. daily, and lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. In addition to the full sushi menu, which includes a $75 omakase option, the restaurant also offers a variety of poke, grilled items, noodle dishes and desserts. Call 784-2100.
Holiday meals with Mavro: Chef Mavro is offering a six-course feast including vegetables of the day or foie gras; fisherman’s soup or opah; lobster; lamb Tajima; caviar; and white truffle risotto. Some of the dishes can be made using white truffles from Alba, Piedmont, Italy, for an additional fee per dish. The special menu is available only on Wednesday, Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 1-3; $148 (add an additional $98 for wine pairings). Reserve at 944-4714.
Taormina Sicilian Cuisine: A five-course holiday tasting menu features corn panna cotta with sea urchin, Kona kampachi carpaccio, choice of pasta, choice of entree and ricotta cheesecake, available on Christmas and New Year’s eves and days. Cost: $100 (with wine pairings, additional $40). Taormina is at 227 Lewers St. Reserve at 926-5050.
New Year’s specials, Part 1
We have a long list of restaurants that will offer New Year’s Eve specials. Here’s the first installment:
>> 12th Ave Grill: Try the Pan Seared Fresh U-10 Hokkaido Scallops ($17) or cedar plank-roasted Alpine King Salmon ($32). Reserve at 732-9469.
>> 53 by the Sea: A countdown party includes live entertainment by Jordan Segundo, Nueva Vida and Rocky Brown, and a glass of Champagne for the midnight toast. Presale tickets are $100. Bottle service is available for $750 and includes admission for six. Private rooms will be available for VIPs at a price tag that starts at $1,500 and includes personal service, gourmet appetizers and admission for at least 12 people. Doors open at 9 p.m.; guests must be 21 years or older. Reserve by emailing tony@53bythesea.com or calling 536-5353.
>> Atlantis Cruises: A New Year’s Eve cruise from 10:30 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. features a buffet including New York strip loin medallions with sauteed mushrooms, Italian sausage-stuffed mushrooms, jumbo shrimp cocktail, pasta salad with grilled vegetables, Jack Daniel’s meatballs, ham sandwiches, cocktail appetizers and desserts. Cost: $173. Reserve at 800-381-0237.
>> Colony Surf: Michel’s offers a $175 four-course menu with choices of beef tenderloin with abalone, Chinese-style onaga or lamb. Seatings begin at 5 p.m.; reserve at 923-6552.
>> Grondin: A seven-course dinner tasting menu features a duo of Kumamoto oysters, scallop, Nuuanu wild boar prosciutto, pork belly, squab, lamb and dessert, $110. Reserve at 566-6768.
>> Hilton Waikiki Beach: At MAC 24/7 Bar & Restaurant, close out the year with a gourmet junk-food buffet, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. The menu includes a nacho bar, buffalo chicken wings, barbecue kalua pork, cheeseburgers, fried chicken and waffles, seven-cheese mac and cheese, chili cheese fries, jalapeno poppers, brownie bites, cheesecake and more. Cost: $20. The restaurant is at 2500 Kuhio Ave. Call 921-5564.
>> Odori-ko: Traditional ozoni soup ($9.95, $12.95 with shrimp) will be offered during dinner from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2. The restaurant is at 1680 Kapiolani Blvd. The eatery is open Mondays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 to midnight for dinner. On Dec. 31 the restaurant will close at 10 p.m. For information: 955-6555.
>> SKY Waikiki: Dress to impress and don’t forget your mask for SKY’s Masquerade Ball, 8 p.m. Dec. 31. The $125 fee includes appetizers of veggie wraps, mozzarella balls, duck potstickers, Thai chicken bites, Doritos-crusted queso mac balls, Indonesian black pepper sirloin, kurobata andagi, banana lumpia, miniature cupcakes and an open bar. VIP guests ($225) will receive a reserved table, oysters, ahi and hamachi sashimi, lobster green goddess salad and Moroccan lamb lollipops. SKY is at 2270 Kalakaua Ave. on the 19th floor. Validated parking available. Reserve at 979-7591.
>> Top of Waikiki: The only restaurant with a 360-degree view of the Waikiki coastline will ring in the new year with a meal of New Zealand king salmon, mushroom arancini, choice of lobster or prosciutto salad, Beef Oscar and citrus panna cotta. Cost: $55 for reservations from 4:30 to 6:15 p.m., $80 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.;and $110 from 9:15 to 10:30 p.m. The restaurant is above SKY Waikiki. Reserve at 923-3877.
>> Waikiki Sand Villa Hotel: A set menu will be offered, in addition to Wood & Bucket Tapas Bar and Grill’s regular fare. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 31 through Jan. 6, get shrimp cocktail, cranberry spinach salad, lobster and “guanciale” (Italian cured meat) mac and cheese or filet mignon with wild mushrooms, apple crisp a la mode and a glass of Champagne for $35. The restaurant is at 2375 Ala Wai Blvd. Reserve at 922-4744.
Send restaurant news — restaurant opening and closings, new chefs, mixologists and menu changes — at least two weeks in advance to mramos@staradvertiser.com.
