The other day local news outlets broke news that Alan Wong would be closing one of his restaurants. The Pineapple Room closing brings an end to the Chef’s sole casual dining restaurant.
Alan Wong
For those of you that aren’t familiar with him, Alan Wong a local celebrity chef. He is a founding member of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement, and probably one of its most well known members. Over the years, Wong has cooked for many dignitaries and appeared on TV shows like Top Chef and No Reservations.
It is thanks to Wong and the other members of the HRC movement that Hawaii is the vibrant dining destination it is today. Wong, a graduate of the famed Kapiolani Community College’s culinary arts program has been a mentor to many of Hawaii’s rising chefs. In fact, newer restaurants like MW Restaurant in Honolulu, are owned by Alan Wong alumni. And it was often the Pineapple Room that gave these rising chefs their chance to grow and shine. After all, the restaurant was created to give Wong’s rising staff experience in running their own restaurant.
Pineapple Room
In the beginning, the Pineapple Room was fairly similar to Alan Wong’s main King Street location. There was an ala carte menu, as well as a prix fixe menu. In fact, I remember enjoying Alan Wong’s famous ginger crusted onaga and butter poached lobster with ginger-scallion oil a the location. It was, for a while, the go-to choice for birthday dinners at the Harada household when I was growing up. And over the years the restaurant evolved, as any restaurant should.
For a while now, though, the Pineapple Room has eschewed its fine dining origins. The focus has instead shifted to more comfort food offerings. Today, the menu is comprised of dishes like the Furikake Crusted Salmon with Ochazuke Risotto, Fish & Chips, and loco moco, among others. Even the tasting menu is a simple affair with a salad, the previously mentioned salmon, a new york steak, and a dessert. Nothing fancy, just simple favorites.
Closure
But it seems like Pineapple Room has finally run its course. The restaurant will be closing its doors for good on July 29, 2017. In a letter posted on the restaurants website, no specific reason for the closure is given. Rather, Wong simply states that the decision to close was an amicable one made with their partner Macy’s. It’s worth nothing that the store has no plans to fill the vacated space at this time.
Pineapple Room Closing Final Thoughts
I like Alan Wong and used to enjoy dining at the Pineapple Room. But, I must say, this closure isn’t surprising to me. In my opinion, the restaurant has been on a long, slow, downward spiral. The last time I dined there for a business lunch, I was sorely disappointed. At the time I had ordered a loco moco with a temperature of medium (hey its ground beef not a steak). And to my surprise, the beef patty was so overcooked, it was dry and crumbly. The seasoning of the dish as a whole was pretty off too, and the plate looked like it should have been thrown out years ago. To me, the quality was an embarrassment, and I never returned since then.
Nevertheless, it is sad to see the restaurant go. Once upon a time, I did like the Pineapple Room very much. It was the location of a number of family dinners, a Valentine’s Day double date for Mrs. Island Miler and I, and a number of other just because meals.
A few years ago, I had the Loco Moco at the Pineapple Room, and thought it was dry, as well (though I did like the smoke flavor and char that you didn’t get with any other Loco Moco on the island). I did not go back after that, as there are a lot more casual dining destinations on Oahu that I found more satisfying. Still, sad to see it go.
Totally agree with you, Steve. There are so many other places in the area that are similar in nature, that it’s hard to justify dining at the Pineapple Room when they can’t even get a simple burger patty correct. In fact, I think you’ll like the Loco Moco at Roy’s Eating House at the International Market Place (lunch only). It’s grilled, so it has that char too. I’m not really a fan of Roy Yamaguchi’s restaurants, but Eating House I do like. My other loco moco favorite is at Big City Diner, which is also grilled, though the place is much more casual and much lower cost.