Gastronome

One of four flatbread pizzas available during happy hour

BILLS SYDNEY
280 Beach Walk, Waikiki
Phone number (808) 922-1500
website billshawaii.com

Grass Fed Junior Burger and Fries

I’ve known Bills now for quite some time — Bills Sydney, the restaurant, that is.

Our relationship admittedly got off to a rocky start. It began about two years ago when the Australia-based chain opened its first location in Waikiki. Excited and fueled by all the hype it was getting, I made it a point to go that very weekend. Alas, it was only an OK first experience. The food certainly was memorable, but it was clear Bills was still ironing out some kinks — fair for any still-new restaurant, for sure.

I returned a couple of months later and things felt markedly improved. I found myself returning again — and again and again and again. Like any good relationship, ours just needed time and commitment.

It wasn’t love at first sight, but sometime between then and now, Bills has become one of the first places I suggest when someone says they want to get together.

So I was more than thrilled when Bills invited me over this week to sample its new happy hour menu. It’s available daily from 3 to 6 p.m. — and guys, I genuinely enjoyed everything.

Avo and Tuna Poke, Pickled Shimeji, Sea Asparagus and Sesame

The Grass Fed Junior Burger and Fries renewed my appreciation for locally bred meat — this one from Molokai. Prepared with only the most basic seasonings (I’m thinking salt and pepper, here), every bite was flavorful and — for lack of a better adjective — juicy.

The Fried Calamari was tender, crispy and hot, served with a sweet chili dipping sauce, and flatbread pizzas (there are four variations on the menu to choose from) disappeared pretty quickly after arriving at the table.

Hibiscus Margarita

My surprise favorite of the evening was the restaurant’s take on poke, if only because I had my doubts about an Australian restaurant getting this local staple right, which they did. Certainly guided by local influences — with a light shoyu/sesame-based sauce and pickled shimeji mushrooms — it also included chunks of avocado, slices of onion and sea asparagus. This item also appears on Bills’ regular menu, served atop brown rice like a poke bowl, so I expect I will be eating this again sometime very soon.

Then there are, of course, the drink specials. I sampled the Hibiscus Margarita, a sweet and tangy cocktail that made me actually enjoy the tequila I was drinking. Also available, and for $6 only, was a Blue Hawaii and Traditional 1953 Mai Tai, the latter of which I’ve had before and plan on ordering when I stop in at Bills again this weekend for brunch.

Know this about Bills: The food is good, yes, but even better? The atmosphere it provides. An open, expansive and breezy room makes it feel comfortable. I’ve never felt rushed or in a hurry there. Everything moves at a languid pace — perfect for catching up or simply hanging out with friends.

FOOD TO DRINK: NICE TO MEET YOU TEA HOUSE

There’s a new bubble tea spot that recently opened up at Nimitz Center, and it is a delight.

Nice To Meet You Tea House offers pretty much the same menu you’d expect from any bubble tea place at this point. I ordered my usual — jasmine peach tea — and opted for lychee jellies since they don’t have my usual rainbow jelly addition. It proved fortuitous, though, because this lychee “jelly” was more like lychee nata de coco. Chewier than rainbow jellies, nata de coco is made with coconut water, which I’ve heard is healthy because of the fiber it provides and it’s low in fat. (My grandma uses nata de coco in her fruit salads, and I’ve also seen it used in halo-halo, if you’re still scratching your head.)

The interior is charming and surprisingly expansive, with several seating areas large enough to fit anywhere from 10-12 people.

It’s certainly not a new idea to include games for patrons to amuse themselves with, but Nice To Meet You Tea House did offer one I haven’t seen in quite some time: Crocodile Dentist. You know, the one where you take turns pushing down the crocodile’s teeth until someone inevitably loses because the mouth shuts close.

Ah, memories.