Had a nice gift card, so was delighted to try et al., conveniently located across the highway from…read moreKahala Mall. I really like the premise of this family-friendly restaurant, which spotlights fresh, local ingredients, at a mid-range price point. et al. has a lot of good things going for it,
The good:
1. Well-lighted, warm-hued interior with a nice, contemporary vibe. The high ceilings, clean lines, and rounded storage vaults reminded me of Italy. Cute "local" Hawai`i touches: palaka-inspired banquette upholstery, Hawaiian-quilt design screening on the tiled floor.
-More veggie-forward than a lot of places: always good to find places that don't mask their greens with heavy sauces and treat vegetable preparation with respect. Ovo-lacto vegetarians will not starve at this place.
2. Cheerful, friendly, attentive, and efficient service. Food came out quicky. Cold things were cold; hot things hot. Water was replenished frequently.
3. Overall, we enjoyed the food! It reminded me a little of the old Mariposa at Neiman Marcus Ala Moana, in terms of menu. I appreciated the simple, clean, bright flavors that highlighted the fresh, local ingredients - no heavy-handed demi-glaces or sauces detracting from dishes. While not exceptional or innovative, et al.'s middle-of-the-road, easygoing, familiar, "safe" flavors have broad appeal, making this restaurant a smart bet for parties with non-adventurous diners.
I had the catch of the day: my opah came with an addictive, zesty mojo sauce (like a spicy chimichurri, bright with garlic, cilantro, and lime), Ho tomatoes, eggplant, and garlic rice: a winner! My fellow diner had the Kahuku Golden Tomato Malfaldine: tasty, though a bit one-note, but on the other hand, they had perfectly cooked pasta and crookneck squash.
4. While we didn't take advantage of this, the restaurant shows sensitivity to those with dietary needs/preferences. It openly states on its menu that they're willing to modify menu items, making things vegan, gluten-free, dairy free, etc.
5. Easy-peasy online reservation via Open Table.
And areas for improvement:
1. Garlic Bread: can't ask for a better foundational base than Chris Sy's Breadshop City loaf: first-rate crusty bread; there was robust garlic flavor, and fresh chives to further amplify savoriness. Unfortunately, my dining partner and I both thought it was over-buttered (couldn't really discern the miso in the miso butter) and overly salty from the cheese. That being said, I'm certain there would be diners that might've thought the seasoning and buttering was perfect: this may be a matter of taste. But $6 for a halved slice of bread? Really?! Ouch.
2. Menu labeling issues:
-Sumida Farms Watercress Salad: despite the name, the salad had barely any watercress and mostly kale. Not lacinato kale (Italian kale) either, as advertised on the description, but curly kale. If et al. listed this menu item as kale salad with watercress and didn't specify the type of kale (or hedged by saying "seasonal kale"), it would've been fine. Fortunately, we both like kale, and this was a delicious salad that was an absolute pleasure to eat, deftly dressed with housemade Green Goddess dressing, as good as it comes, fresh kale, watercress sprigs, watermelon radish slices, diced Asian pear, and Marcona almonds: savory, sweet, crunchy. The misleading advertising is problematic.
-You should let diners know via the menu description if an item is spicy. The mojo sauce on the fish was dynamite, but I'm a spice-addict, and I'd rank the heat level as medium, maybe medium-hot for most people. Diners with no/low tolerance for chiles should be warned ahead of time.
3. Might want to clean the banquette upholstery: some visible stainage.
With a few refinements, I could see et al. becoming a go-to East Honolulu destination for date night, or lunch out with the girls, or a nice but not break-the-bank special dinner out with the family.