Rumfire, the Sheraton Waikiki’s stylish beachside lounge, is a consistent attractor for visitors and locals alike. With four hours of free, validated parking in the hotel parking garage as an incentive to townies, and a range of entertainments that make for a rewarding visit from day into night, there are all kinds of reasons to drop in. We hadn’t “patrolled” Rumfire in nearly five years, so it was time to return.
The experience
The biggest draw at Rumfire has always been the setting. You enter via a dramatic, red-hued foyer set up with cocktail seating, and proceed to the bar or to lanai seating with a stage for a DJ and room for dancing as the night proceeds.
The happy hour menu is served only inside the enclosed central area adjacent to the clubby venue’s bar, but that’s OK: The airy space opens up to the beach, with an ocean and Diamond Head view, and it’s air-conditioned, as you may well want it to be during this peak time of the afternoon.
Service here is cheery, and time flies when you can gaze out at Waikiki’s ocean glories in between sips and bites. Around the time happy hour draws to a close, acoustic musicians are setting up to play patrons through sunset; you might find yourself contemplating a longer stay — perhaps dinner from Rumfire’s expanded menu, or one more drink?
RUMFIRESheraton Waikiki, 2255 Kalakaua Ave.
rumfirewaikiki.com, 922-4422
Happy hour: 3-5 p.m. daily
>> Kimchee Fried Rice, $8
>> Crispy Cheese Pork Tacos, $8
>> Wok Fried Miso Shishito Peppers, $7
>> Select cocktails, $-$10
The food
Rumfire has fine-tuned its happy hour menu to offer classic, international comfort food that pairs very well with a bright cocktail.
One item I was very happy to see has now attained classic status: the RumFire Kimchee Fried Rice. It has always been a winner, and it’s gratifying to see RumFire acknowledge its appeal. This dish will easily satisfy two as a pupu or light meal just on its own, and at $8 it fits the bill.
Bigger than average, street-style tacos, served in a set of two for $8, are likely to be a hit. Rumfire offers a choice of filling: pulled pork and cheese, with crispy-skin chips for crunch; or cubed chicken topped with a pleasantly spicy adobo mole sauce and embellished with citrus jicama slaw and avocado.
Lumpia, $9, has a filling that includes shrimp, pork and bean sprouts. While not substantively different than lumpia elsewhere, I enjoyed it.
Want just a starchy alcohol absorber? Go for the fries, at $5, and choose whether you want simply sea salt or garlic on top. Truffled “tatas,” i.e. tater tots, $5, are also available.
Healthy options include flash-fried edamame with a satay sauce, or a generous portion of shishito peppers, wok-fried and flavored with miso, onion and sesame seeds, and served topped with thin-shaved bonito flakes that seem to dance before your eyes as they waver in the heat generated by this dish. Both are $7.
I need to include a disclaimer as I recommend these shishitos: They are delicious and rich in vitamin C; but part of the sport in eating this dish is that while usually simply tangy, the occasional pepper is spicy hot! My dining companion for pau hana popped an entire pepper in her mouth, then discovered that it was one of the hot ones. She was waving her hands and sucking in air to cool down her taste buds for a good minute or two — providing some laughs for the table.
Save yourself by tasting the pepper before you down a whole one, and don’t forget that while most peppers are mild, you shouldn’t let down your guard. Ha!
The drink
It’s early in the afternoon. What do you drink? RumFire’s aha option is a Skinny Dip cocktail, $8, made with Ketel One and rose wine, cranberry juice and a splash of sparkling water. It’s relatively low-cal and has a cooling effect — a good pair with the aforementioned shishitos.
If you’re going for it, on the other hand, feel free to try the Smokey Passion Margarita, $10, a mezcal cocktail — it does the job.
The Killah McCoy, $8, made with three-year-old Real McCoy rum, creme de coconut, orange and pineapple juice, is a spiked, sweet dessert.
The verdict
Rumfire remains an alluring option for happy hour in Waikiki — if you can get away between 3 and 5 p.m. If your workday doesn’t allow that, consider a beachside cocktail break on a day off. Just don’t forget to take a small bite of those shishito peppers before you commit, or you’ll experience a different kind of fire.
