Hokkaido-based Five Star lnternational plans to open the Five Star International Buffet on the third floor of Building C at Royal Hawaiian Center around the end of the month with a hard date of Jan. 19 set for a private grand-opening celebration.
The restaurant’s two predecessors in Japan also are buffet restaurants, but this will be more high-end, said General Manager Gerald Chun, formerly of Michel’s, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Bistro at Century Center and Okonomiyaki Chibo, which is also at Royal Hawaiian Center, and other Honolulu eateries.
Napkins will be linen, not paper, for instance. Also, guests will find complimentary bottled water at the tables, and the focus will be on service as well as quality food, sourcing "as much local food as possible."
Executive Chef Roberto Los Banos also comes with an award-laden pedigree through positions with Hilton Hawaiian Village and Grand Wailea Resort and Spa, among others.
The restaurant will have hired a staff of between 80 and 100 by the time it opens, and some positions are still available in both the front and back of the house.
"At some buffets it can be hard to find a server," Chun said, but "we plan to take a different approach."
Pricing will be comparable to other dine-in restaurants within the center, but families with children of different ages might find some relief from typical buffet pricing schedules.
Lunch, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, will cost $19 for those 13 and older but $12 for children 7 to 12 and $6 for those ages 4 to 6. There will be no charge for tots 3 and under, which also applies to dinner, which will be served from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the last seating at 9:15 p.m. The full dinner buffet price will be $48, $24 for kids ages 7 to 12 and $12 for 4- to 6-year-olds.
A $5 pupu menu will be offered during the 2-to-5:30 p.m. daily happy hour, which also will offer $5 well drinks, $5 cabernet or chardonnay, or draft beer at $2.75.
"I think people are going to see the value in that," Chun said.
60 years at same gig
Attorney Jim Case marks his 60th anniversary with the Carlsmith Ball law firm this month, having joined the firm’s Hilo office in November 1951.
Now 91, Case works in the Honolulu office daily.
"His knowledge of Hawaii history, his intellect, his ability to identify with clients and his ability to solve complicated problems are the qualities that make him a great lawyer, counselor and mentor to this day," said firm Chairman Karl Kobayashi. Case’s work was instrumental as the firm played a key role in shaping Hawaii after its admission as a state, he said.
Case was one of four partners when he joined the firm. He later moved to Oahu to help open the Honolulu office.
Case is the brother of Dan Case, another prominent Honolulu attorney. He is married to Central Union Church archivist Suzanne E. Case and father of former U.S. Rep. Ed Case; Russell Case, general counsel for Virgin Mobile Latin America; Bradford Case, senior vice president for the National Association of Real Estate Trusts; Suzanne D. Case, executive director of The Nature Conservancy, and Elisabeth Case, marketing consultant and Realtor Associate with Coldwell Banker. AOL founder Steve Case is his nephew.
Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com, or on Twitter as @erikaengle.
