Uncle Bo’s popular cocktails now served in Haleiwa

It’s the calm before the storm in Haleiwa as local residents and area businesses enjoy a few more weeks of light crowds and smooth sailing along Kamehameha Highway before the start of the winter surf season.

Soon the neighborhood will be packed with surfers and spectators from around the world who will pump millions of dollars into the island’s economy and cause major traffic headaches along the way. Instead of sitting in line with hundreds of other cars heading in and out of Haleiwa during peak travel times, make a day of exploring some of the area’s new shopping and dining options.

One of those is Uncle Bo’s Pupu Bar & Grill, which recently celebrated its first year of business at the Haleiwa Store Lots, a plantation-inspired open-air shopping complex. It’s not uncommon to see a crowd jockeying for position outside the restaurant’s main entrance along the highway, but if you’re planning to belly up to the bar, you can skip that ruckus and head straight in. About 15 stools line the bar, which separates the two main dining areas. Stop by on game day to watch live sports on the two big screens behind the bar; otherwise, expect a steady diet of surfing footage and surf contest replays over the next few months.

Fans of Uncle Bo’s in Kapahulu, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, will feel a sense of familiarity as they enter the Haleiwa restaurant, which offers many of the same food and drinks as the original location. The Haleiwa space is airier and brighter than its Kapahulu counterpart — and for some reason I just can’t picture heading to Kapahulu for drinks and pupu unless it’s well after sunset.

Not so at the Haleiwa restaurant, which offers a full brunch menu until 3 p.m. daily. Treat yourself to Apple Banana Pancakes ($7.95), Prime Rib & Eggs ($22.95), Lobster & Mushroom Eggs Benedict ($20.95) or Sweet Bread French Toast ($8.95). A comprehensive lineup of sandwiches and soups provides heartier choices, as do Uncle Bo’s favorites like Dynamite Shrimp ($10.95), Cajun Seared Ahi ($14.95) and Bo’s Big Nachos ($15.95), which can be shared with friends.

Returning guests know a visit to Uncle Bo’s isn’t complete without a few cocktails, and the drink menu in Haleiwa is sure to satisfy both regulars as well as North Shore visitors who may be discovering this place for the first time. Beer drinkers will have no problem finding a local brew to try, thanks to multiple offerings from Maui Brewing Co. and Kona Brewing Co., as well as cans of Hawaii Nui’s Hapa Brown Ale ($6). The wine list is dominated by California labels, although a few white picks originate in Italy, Germany and New Zealand; a limited amount of sake is also available.

Designated drivers will want to sample one of Uncle Bo’s house specialty sodas ($5), which include tamarind ginger ale, hibiscus pineapple soda and li hing mango lemonade. They’d all be fantastic paired with a chilled vodka shot, too.

But where Uncle Bo’s beverage program really shines is its specialty cocktails. House-made chili pepper water kicks up the spice level of the Kamaaina Mary ($11) without completely burning the palate and making it impossible to taste anything else. That’s important as you segue into an Ehukai Sandbar ($11) with its sweet-and-sour mix of tamarind puree and coconut water-flavored Three Olives Vodka. I’m not particularly sold on the use of blue Curacao in this one, but the overall flavor profile was intriguing enough to keep me sipping to the bottom of my glass.

And it wouldn’t be a trip to Uncle Bo’s without a shot or two. Even if the owner isn’t on hand to help you celebrate, his favorite drink is: Order up a round of Pickle Tickle ($10) shots, also known as a serving of Irish whiskey with house-made pickle juice. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. This combination has grown in popularity over the years, and it tastes better than it sounds. The Sexy Time ($10), made with Three Olives Vodka and Orchid Guava Liqueur mixed with house-made lemonade, is another perennial favorite that is sure to go down nice and smooth.

Jason Genegabus tracks the local bar and drink scenes in “Barfly” every Friday in TGIF; read his blog at inthemix.staradvertiserblogs.com.