MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE

Ala Moana Center; 949-1300. Dinner. $$$$

Morton’s has always been one of my favorite restaurants, in Hawaii and on the mainland.

At the Ala Moana Center location, General Manager Zyron Schoniwitz runs Morton’s flawlessly and efficiently, and his staff pays special attention to each customer.

Start your meal with the onion bread, toasted to provide a touch of crunch, while the inside is soft and warm. A bit of butter on the bread enhances the flavor.

If you need help navigating the extensive wine list, ask for the sommelier, who will narrow your choices to the types that will complement your meal.

My favorite classic is the jumbo shrimp cocktail, each generous piece of shrimp cooked to perfection. The tangy cocktail sauce is a great pairing, making this the ideal appetizer. If you are a crab lover, you will enjoy the colossal crabmeat cocktail.

As a meat lover, my menu choice is lamb. I like to order it as lollipops, which are incredible.

My other go-to is the bone-in rib-eye steak. You can never go wrong ordering that. If your choice is chops, try Mortons’ veal, lamb or pork chops with a little Cajun spice.

To top off your meal, go with the legendary chocolate cake with its molten center. As you cut the cake and chocolate oozes out, it mixes with the vanilla ice cream to form a winning combination. Pair that with an after-dinner drink or an espresso shot to complete your perfect meal.

Dennis Francis is president and publisher of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.