Food RevHEU - bills Waikiki

FOOD RevHEU – BY OLENA HEU

Remember what it was like to sit there patiently
for your breakfast when you were a kid? You could hear the sizzle of the butter in the pan and smell the pancakes cooking on the griddle. Well, bills Waikiki reminds me of what it was like to be a young kid again and to look forward to
the warm, creamy, sweet yet salty taste of hot cakes on your tongue.

I ventured into Waikiki with a friend, and our goal was to eat at the new restaurant that opened last week Saturday. Last weekend a line of over a hundred people zigzagged down the sidewalk in anticipation of the world famous breakfast-cooking chef from  Australia. bills Waikiki is the first restaurant venture for the self-taught chef in America and I must thank him for coming to the islands.

bills, yes it’s supposed to be in lower case, is located next to Hard Rock Café and is two-stories tall. The downstairs is more of a grab-an-go café with coffee, pastries and other snacks. The upstairs is rustic with island touches, open air
and has a smooth island feel.

The number one recommendation everyone said to get was the ricotta hot cakes, and I am glad I did. The cakes are a very
generous portion, four stacked on top of each other served with honeycomb butter and fresh peeled banana. At first bite the cake is reminiscent of a superb French toast. The reason I say this is because a good French toast should be
creamy and custard-like in the middle with a warm center. These hotcakes are unlike any other I have tasted. I literally felt like there was a sensual, yet exciting party in my mouth. The cakes are served with real maple syrup and three
slabs of the special honeycomb butter.

Service is attentive, yet not over bearing and for just recently opening the staff is adequately trained and
knows the food well. The check comes out on a bills postcard and is attached with a paperclip which is a simple yet earth friendly touch to the unique, trendy, yet tropical urban vibe and décor. They offer partial validation at the
Bank of Hawaii Waikiki branch, but you may want to park somewhere that has better validation – like a full validation.

Long story short, just from my point of Heu – I can’t wait to go back and order the hot cakes with a side of
crispy bacon and a tall glass of orange juice.