Three Different Meals, Three Different Experiences
Dear Polite Traveler,
During our stay at the Hilton
Waikiki Beach Hotel (review), we decided to try the food at M.A.C. 24/7, as it typically receives excellent reviews. It is
a casual restaurant with a full bar, inside the hotel, but also accessible from
the street by a separate entrance. It is
well-known in Hawaii as one where you can find a stack of pancakes about the
size of a hubcap and their competitions to eat multiple stacks. Not sure I could eat more than one myself,
though.
They are also known for
reasonably priced, enormous meals.
Although not typically appealing to me, as I’m a light eater, I do enjoy
sharing
a good meal with hubby. So...to M.A.C we
went. The meals were, well,
inconsistent.
Note: Follow CDC and county guidelines when
visiting. Always wear your face mask
when in public.
The
Good
Our first meal was pretty
good. We shared a mushroom burger and
fries. The burger was cooked perfectly,
and not dry like so many others. The bun
was a toasted brioche—yum. The fries
were crisp “side-winder fries”, not at all oily, and salted perfectly. I couldn’t get enough. The only downside were the mushrooms. There
were three measly pieces. In my opinion,
a mushroom burger should include an
overabundance of these fungi. What
follows is the description directly from the menu:
Mushroom Swiss Burger
8 oz. wagyu
beef patty, grilled onions, sautéed mushrooms, Vermont swiss cheese, lettuce,
tomato, island baked brioche bun. $19.00
The
Uh... What?
So, one night we decided to
forgo our free appetizers (learn about the free
food in this post) to enjoy a full meal.
Knowing how large these meals could be, I suggested sharing again. Nevertheless, hubby
wanted the full meal. Full describes the
results exactly.
I chose the Caesar Salad. However, Hubby wanted to make sure I had enough to eat and added grilled chicken. Fine. I thought at the time.
Simply Mixed Greens
local spring mix, hamakua tomato wedges, cucumber, red onion, carrots, mushrooms $11+chicken breast $6.00
The salad wasn’t too bad but
had little flavor, tomatoes were flavorless, and the added chicken was dry and
cold. I felt it was a waste of calories.
We both thought the “Pacific Rim Style Braised Beef” might be interesting, especially after discussing it with the waiter. He stated the seasoning is a specialty of the chef, hence the “Pacific Rim” in the title. I was excited to try it.
Pacific
Rim Style Braised Beef
fork-tender,
demi-yaki sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed island vegetables. $25.00
Imagine my surprise when a humongous chunk of beef—four inches square x two inches thick—covered with
generic brown gravy arrived on the plate surrounded by mashed potatoes and over-cooked
veggies. Darn. Where was the “demi-yaki sauce”? The meat
was cooked to perfection, but the flavor wasn’t any better than a budding-home
chef’s attempt at cooking pot roast.
Double darn.
The beverages were pretty darn good.
For our lunch, we both chose
iced tea. It was especially good—nice
and dark with deep flavor. We chose wine
for dinner, which was a great choice.
The wine list was pedestrian but good for an average diner. My Edna Valley Chardonnay, $9 a glass, was
the best white wine in the entire hotel, which is unfortunate. M.A.C. was the only place to get it. My hubby
chose Bridlewood Cabernet Sauvignon, $11 a glass. It was amazing. Bridlewood is a favorite that never
disappoints.
Will
we return?
Even though our experiences
were mixed, we will return. M.A.C. has
many dishes that work well. However, as
is true with many restaurants, there are good days and bad days. We experienced both. Next time will be better and there is a good
reason for that viewpoint. Check out
this post to find out why.
Please share your experiences.
Hotel Review: Hilton Garden Inn
Waikiki
Hotel Room Review: Hilton Garden Inn
in Waikiki Room #1435
Activity Review: Fun Activities in
Honolulu 2020
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