We figured if Don Ho was put his name on a restaurant, then it must good. After all, doesn't Don Ho's name just say Hawaii. Or so was our theory. So, on our way home from Pearl Harbor on a Sunday morning, we decided to pull into the Market Place at The Aloha Tower and give it a try.
Don Ho's advertises one of the best Sunday brunches on the island. We found the bistro in the back of the marketplace on a prime waterfront location. The place with filled with tables of local families, and we took this as a very good sign. The place is exactly what you would expect: lots of tropical decor and lots and lots and lots of photos of Don Ho. (No ego here!)
We had two options, buffet or menu service. I incorrectly chose the buffet. The buffet wasn't anything to write to the mainland about; it was a pretty basic luau buffet. It had kahula pork, prime rib, some type of fish, and salad. The dessert table was full of cakes and pies and was pretty destroyed. This buffet is more about quantity than quality. The people who picked the buffet were filling their plates a mile high. I found it pretty basic and even a little bland. Patrick had the best meal at our table, the Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and kahula pork. The real winner was what everyone else in the restaurant seemed to be ordering - moko loco, bowls of rice topped with ground beef, egg, and brown gravy. I know it sounds disgusting, but it's a traditional Hawaiian breakfast and very tasty. It looked great here.
At night they have entertainment, and again I would hope that Don Ho would pick some up-and-coming stars to play here. (But then I was wrong about the food.) The bar did look fun, and this could be a fun night spot with good cocktails, music, and the harbor lights. It has potential.
I may not go out of my way to eat here; however, if you are near the Aloha Tower and want a meal, it's a good option for this area. The view was great, and I have to admit that they make a mean mai tai.