DINING IN HAWAII. The image forms in your mind. Delicious, healthy island foods such as fresh fish, sweet pineapple and papaya, macadamia nut pie and a tropical drink. Well...maybe. Unlike other guidebooks which lead you to believe that every meal in Hawaii will be a feast, we are here to tell you that you will have ample opportunity to have hideous food served by uncaring oafs, as well as great meals served in the ambiance of a lifetime. We probably receive more letters of appreciation from readers about our brutally honest restaurant reviews than any other subject. Here are just a few of the reviews from our 2nd edition of Oahu Revealed. (They're in no particular order here, but are categorized in the book.) Recommended restaurants are highlighted by an symbol. 

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Hanohano Room
2255 Kalakaua Ave. • 922-4422
Even if the food weren't great, this would be a compelling restaurant for one reason: It has one of the grandest views in all Waikiki. You're on the 30th floor overlooking half of Waikiki, and a giant glass wall is your gateway to the scene. And the view is still jaw-dropping once the night consumes Waikiki, because the warmth of the sun is replaced by the lights of the city. The service is good, though we have experienced some snobbery from waiters. Food is seafood and steak with mostly good results. Reservations are recommended, and collared shirts and long pants are requested for men and resort wear for women. At the Sheraton Waikiki. $35-$60 for dinner.


Kuhio Beach Grill
2552 Kalakaua Ave. • 921-5171
Let’s see...Pancakes for over $13, toast is $2.25, omelettes for $16 or a breakfast buffet for $21. Must be right on the beach, right? No! Despite the name, the restaurant is essentially in a hole. You can't see diddly from here except people's legs as they're walking by. You'd be hard pressed to find a worse choice for breakfast in Waikiki given the ridiculous prices. Dinner is steak and seafood for $20-$40. At the Waikiki Beach Marriott.


Shorebird Beach Broiler
2169 Kalia Rd. • 922-2887
The sort of place many people are looking for. Excellent location next to a beach without getting hosed on the price. Railing tables are especially good (since you can almost hang your hand onto the sand), but even tables farther back take good advantage of the view. The breakfast buffet is a bargain at $12. Dinner is steak and fish served rare...very rare...OK, raw. You cook it yourself on their enormous grill. Salad included. If you don't feel like cooking (or want to eat from the railing tables), you can order off the lunch menu at dinner, which is sandwiches, burgers, fish and chips, or fish tacos. $12 for breakfast, $9-$15 for lunch, $15-$26 for dinner. At the Outrigger Reef Hotel at Kalia Road and Beachwalk.


Tiki's
2570 Kalakaua Ave. • 923-8454
Their trademark is the retro-Hawaiian decor--sort of a '50s look. The food's so-so; not great, not bad, but they tend to over-salt things. Fresh fish, sandwiches, pasta, fish tacos, short ribs, fish and chips, and burgers at lunch. Add prime rib, steak and shrimp at dinner. Some tables have nice views of the Kapahulu Ponds across the street. Try the coconut butterscotch bread pudding. Decent at lunch, a touch better at dinner. $10-$20 for lunch, $10-$30 for dinner. At the corner of Kalakaua and Paoakalani at the Waikiki Beach Hotel.


Run Sushi & Ramen
2552 Kalakaua Ave. • 923-1700
Sushi's fairly cheap and...tastes fairly cheap. You sit next to a conveyer belt and grab what you like. Tempura and other dishes for non-sushi lovers. Service is fast, even when ordering off the menu. But the quality of the ingredients doesn't seem impressive. Hey, if you're walking by, we won't dissuade you--just don't walk too far for a meal here. On Kalakaua at Ohua Street at the Marriott Waikiki Beach, ground level. $6-$15 for lunch.


Bistro at Century Center
1750 Kalakaua Ave. • 943-6500
Fine dining restaurants sometimes have attitude--but not here. The atmosphere is extremely relaxing and elegant; service is impeccable. The food is outstanding, and, most surprising, portions are more than fair. Sure, it's expensive, but you don't leave feeling gouged. For appetizers consider the diver scallops or the eggplant--both fantastic. Their Steak Diane is incredible, as is the osso bucco--falling off the bone and wonderful. Lamb, duck, venison, steak and fish. This is one of the best restaurants in Honolulu and one we happily re-review as often as the budget allows. $35-$60. When you make reservations, ask for a table not near the piano--we prefer the booths. Just outside of Waikiki at Kalakaua and Kapiolani. Parking below. Collared shirts and long pants requested. Reservations required.


Hungry Lion
1613 Nuuanu Ave. • 536-1188
Imagine dining under the descendants of the first two banyan trees brought to Hawai'i. At this long-time greasy spoon, you dine so far below them that you sit next to the roots. A large, misshapen pillar near the door actually houses the roots of the behemoth trees on the roof. Combine this history with the ambiance of a 24-hour truck stop cafe, and you've got the Hungry Lion. The food isn't great, but it's cheap and filling. $5-$15 all day. At Nuuanu and School St. in the Nuuanu Shopping Plaza.


Ryan's
1200 Ala Moana Blvd. • 591-9132
Very popular with Honolulu office workers. They have 24 beers on tap, tons of good pupus (appetizers) and a menu of seafood, pasta, ribs, pizza and salads. Add to this a vast drink and spirit list and a happenin' feel, and you have a perfect pau hana (after work) place. Some items are unusual (like the excellent grilled raviolis), but a few are disappointing. Only occasional bad service brings 'em down. Upstairs at Ward Centre on Auahi and Ward, a few minutes drive from Waikiki. $12-$25 for lunch and dinner. Free parking in garage.


Payao
500 Ala Moana Blvd. • 521-3511
Disappointing Thai food served by an uncaring staff. Hmm, makes it hard to justify driving to Restaurant Row at Ala Moana and Punchbowl Street. It's also uncharacteristically unkempt for a Thai restaurant. $10-$15 for lunch, $10-$20 for dinner.


Willows
901 Hausten St. • 952–9200
Old-time O'ahu visitors may be familiar with Willows. It goes back to 1944, when Waikiki was a sleepy, fairly unknown place that had few dining options. The natural springs on the property were incorporated into a beautiful pool. In the '90s it closed and later reopened under different management. Today its pond and waterfall have been cement-lined, and the menu is all buffet. But if you're looking to slip (just slightly) out of Waikiki and want a fairly good buffet with local-style flavors such as lau lau, kalua pig, curries and teri chicken, the Willows still works pretty well. The atmosphere is relaxing and peaceful. It's tucked away in a residential neighborhood. From Ala Wai Boulevard take McCully, right on Kapiolani, left on Hausten. $17 for the lunch buffet (more on weekends), $28 for dinner.


Dave's Ice Cream
41-1537 Hwy. • 259-0356
Treat--Pretty good locally made ice cream. Love the sweet potato ice cream. They also have changing local flavors like mango, haupia and lychee. In Waimanalo Town Center on Hwy 72 in Waimanalo. $2-$5. They also have other locations.


Lucy's Grill n' Bar
33 Aulike St. • 230-8188
American--Definitely one of Kailua's better restaurants. The menu is fish, pizza, steak, ribs and duck. They call it Hawai'i regional cuisine. We've liked just about everything we've tried here--the Mongolian bbq ribs, fresh fish, prawns, etc. And the desserts have all been winners. (Love the lemon bars.) Hmm, I guess they simply know how to cook. One ding is that we've occasionally gotten entrees that weren't completely hot. It can get noisy inside, so consider an outdoor table. Reservations recommended. In Kailua on Aulike Street. From the Kailua Road and Kuulei Road intersection, go toward the ocean on Kuulei and turn left on Aulike. Park in the garage. $20-$30 for dinner.


Hale'iwa Joe's Seafood Grill
46-336 Haiku Rd. • 247–6671
American--Located in a lush garden setting at Haiku Gardens, it's nice to do a pre-meal stroll in the garden and pond area if you arrive before sunset. In fact, we strongly recommend getting there for an early dinner (they open at 5:30 p.m.) since the view of the Ko'olau Mountains is so exquisite in the afternoon. (Plus, the garden setting might bring flying bugs later in the evening.) We like the tables near the railing the best. The food is generally very good. Try the wonderful Thai calamari for an appetizer. Dinner is steak and seafood, plus ribs, pork chops (excellent) and sometimes lobster. The decor includes lots of attractive koa wood. Service can be slow at times, and they don't take reservations. $20-$40 for dinner. From Hwy 830 (Kamehameha Hwy) turn toward the mountain onto Haiku Road near the Windward Mall. You'll see it on the left a while after Haiku Road crosses Hwy 83.