Mama Manoa opens doors to UH sports fans

On Friday, local sports fans, especially those of the University of Hawaii Rainbows persuasion, can start aligning their loyalties with their appetites at Mama Manoa, an Italian restaurant themed around Hawaii sports stars.

Pick your favorite local athlete and your favorite pizza topping as you work your way through the menu offerings.

Among the choices: the Marcus Mariota (barbecued chicken, red onions and cilantro), Akebono (meatballs with Mama’s sauce) and Rell Sunn (margarita with mozzarella, basil and tomato). There’s even the “Rolo” Nick Rolovich (pastrami and grilled onions).

The sandwich menu features the Jim Leahey (Italian sausage), Konishiki (meatballs), Brian Clay (turkey and bacon), Rich Miano (Italian meats) and Dave Shoji (teri chicken).

Also find meatballs, lasagna, chicken wings, salads and desserts of bread pudding and cookie sundae.

Mama Manoa, at 2740 E. Manoa Road, will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Call 888-4392.

DIAMONDS FOR A DUO

Once again, Chef Mavro and La Mer in the Halekulani have received Five Diamond Awards from the American Automobile Association.

It is the 10th year that Chef Mavro has won the top recognition; 28 years for La Mer. The awards were announced last week.

AAA inspectors visit 31,000 restaurants anonymously to evaluate them for potential diamond listings, the association says, and only 0.2 percent earn five diamonds.

Chef Mavro and La Mer share the award with the likes of Le Bernardin and Per Se in New York and the French Laundry in California.

Another 2.5 percent of restaurants reviewed received four-diamond awards.

In Hawaii the 11 four-diamond winners have all been named before, except the Banyan Tree in Kapalua, Maui, which has made the list for the first time.

Four-diamond winners: Bali Steak & Seafood, Hoku’s and Orchids in Honolulu; Spago, the Restaurant at Hotel Wailea, Mill House and Banyan Tree, all on Maui; Red Salt on Kauai; Brown’s Beach House and Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar on Hawaii island; and One Forty on Lanai.

BURGERS ON THE MOVE

If you’ve been intrigued by the idea of visiting Burgers and Things but don’t get to Pauoa much, now the burgers will come to you.

The restaurant plans to start delivery service on Thursday, available 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, serving downtown and Waterfront Plaza areas.

Place orders between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. by calling 971-1946.

Delivery will be free until March 9. After that the fee is $6.50 per delivery. Orders of $40 or more will be delivered free.

TAKE A WALK, GRANT A WISH AND HAVE BRUNCH IN WAIKIKI

Take a stroll in Waikiki on Sunday, then reward yourself with brunch at the Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach, all for the benefit of Make-a-Wish Hawaii.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with a 4-mile walk that begins and ends at the hotel. (The event originally was planned for January, but was delayed several weeks.)

Last year’s event raised $50,000 for Make-a-Wish, which grants wishes for terminally ill children.

A poolside brunch follows at the Lanai restaurant, including a buffet with macadamia nut French toast, guava pancakes, waffles, eggs and pastries.

Also to be served: kalua pork Bene­dicts, avocado toast, lilikoi bread pudding and loco mocos. There will also be salad, fruit and yogurt parfait stations.

Cost is $75 for the walk and the buffet. For those who just want to walk, it’s $35; for those who just want to eat, it’s $50.

Call 537-3118 to register or visit walkforwisheshawaii.com.

Those who want to stay all day can rent a day bed ($500) or cabana ($1,000), which includes brunch and lots of extras. Call 237-1234.

Quickbites is a weekly listing of dining events. Email items to crave@staradvertiser.com.