Downtown

I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately I was a little let down by the value of the $ 14 sandwich I ordered…
Now don’t get me wrong, they had some really tasty looking sandwiches and dishes on the menu (I was literally debating between the ahi sandwich and the italian meat panini for the longest time) but the prices for sit-​down were pretty high…
I ended up getting the Ahi sandwich which was not by any means terrible… BUT
It was cut in fours. Okay, I understand if you are feeding a child but I’m a 24 year old adult… it almost made it harder to eat and share since the ahi and avocado were sliding all over the place…
Also, the service WAS slow… Not that you didn’t know that (from about half the other Unilocal reviews). How hard is it to dip a ladel in a pot and put some soup in a bowl? Our waitress got nicer as the meal progressed but boy was she grumpy when she first came by. Maybe it was just me? Maybe since I was hungry I was just being impatient…
All in all, I kinda felt that the food was okayyy. Kinda like how I felt after eating at Town… I mean I am rating Downtown off of one dish… but still.
On a happier note, it was my first UYE! Nice finally meeting you Lori I, Grant S and seeing some familiar faces, Emi and Thomas! Definitely need to come more of these events!
Unilocal 365: ²³⁴⁄₃₆₅

Like Petula Clark’s famous song, «Downtown,» she sings:
Downtown, things’ll be great when you’re
Downtown, no finer place for sure,
Downtown, everything’s waiting for youuuuu…
(For you youngsters who don’t know what I’m talking about, Google it)
Hmm, I wish she was singing about the restaurant instead…
I know they’re closing soon, so maybe that could explain my lackluster experience at Downtown.
First, the food. I ordered the Italian cured meats, mizuna, and… provolone cheese, I believe… sandwich. It was a white cheese. =P And it was delicious. There were only about 2 slices of meat in the sandwich, but it was enough! I usually find italian meat a little dried out due to the type of sausage used, but it was so flavorful, juicy and delicious! The bread was absolutely perfect as well. Nice crunch on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. The mizuna was an added treat that gave a little additional flavor to the sandwich without overwhelming it. It was a perfect sandwich.
…and that’s where I stand on the good.
The service was… allllllright… I know the server is in her last days there, but there just seemed to be no heart. Many things we asked for seemed to be an inconvenience. I know we came in as a large group who ordered at different times… but seriously. It was the final days. How many more times would she have to accommodate to that? Even most of our water glasses ran empty after a while. I’ve been to some dirty hole in the wall-​like places that are ON. THE. BALL about refilling water. You just shouldn’t have to ask.
The side salad with my sandwich was kind of a joke. Almost as if I should have been looking for hidden cameras and then someone would pop out saying «We got YOU!» and then showers me in baby greens and romaine. Sadly, that didn’t happen (but how awesome would that be though).
Finally, and this is nothing that effects my star rating for them…
…but why name a restaurant Downtown… that’s located in downtown? Do you know how hard that is to Google? =P
Anyways, nice lunch organized by Emi H.!! It was my first UYE and def won’t be my last. All who went are an incredible source of tasty information and it was nice to meet all of you who went today!

I guess all the Unilocalers already knows that this restaurant is closing 09÷15÷12.
I really liked their Ahi Sandwiches. I will miss their food.

DISAPPOINTING! We went here with my family for lunch at 12:30p and the braised chicken was already GONE! If you’re going to put it on your lunch menu, it should be available for lunch! Also, what’s up with the side salad that comes with the lunch… a few pieces of lettuce DOES NOT a side salad make! SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE!
Side note, I just noticed that DT is closing, so I’m guessing they just don’t give a rat’s ass about food or service! :)

Too bad this place is going to close down in Sept…
The service here was very good. The server was patient and spoke slowly when going over the menu. Staff was frequently coming around to replenish our water.
I had the seared ahi club sandwich which contained bacon, avocado, wasabi sauce… Ummm, I wasn’t feeling the sandwich. It sounded good on paper but taste-​wise, it missed.
I had the panna cotta for dessert while my co-​worker had the pecan blondie (chocolateless brownie). Both desserts were a clear hit! I was surprisingly impressed with how good they were following the OK sandwich…

Noooooo, just read that downtown @ HISAM is closing September 15, waaaah!

Good place for lunch. We had sit-​down service which, as others have already pointed out, can be quite slow. My friend made reservations but we still had to wait like 10 minutes. The waitresses are pretty quick to get us water and our orders. I ordered the Italian cured meats panini which was quite good if a little bit greasy because of the melted cheese. But I really liked the meats, salami and ham I believe, with the peppers and provolone and arugala; nice flavor combination.
The food (hot) came out after like half an hour but our waters were constantly refilled, so I think it’s a kitchen problem as they are also servicing the take-​out counter. Their specials looked good, at about $ 13 – 16 and included a pork belly and their famous ahi club sandwich. I’d be curious to try these next time. I would not recommend Downtown’s table service if you are in a hurry.

Looking for a venue for a small private party? Consider Downtown. We came here for a friend’s first birthday party. The food consisted of three stations — first was the panini and quiche station, then there was the hot station which had fish, veggies, and pork, and the dessert station consisting of panna cotta, cookies, and pineapple cobbler. The pans were consistently replenished, and the wait staff was very friendly and accommodating. The food, presumably prepare by Ed Kenney and his crew at Downtown, was as good as the food that they dole out on a regular basis Monday thru Friday. Fresh, light, and locally sourced.
I don’t know how much the cost was per person, but I would definitely consider this venue for a small special event if I ever need to plan one.

I enjoy having lunch meetings at Downtown. In my humble, opinion, Downtown is reminiscent of trendy mainland style restaurants that I have frequented when traveling in DC and San Francisco.
The ambience, the cuisine and the vibe is wonderful! This contemporary café offers very healthy and organic meals. My fave is always to order the salad sampler, however my guests usually order a fish or meat entrée, of which they end up always enjoying.
The desserts divine, always fresh and delish!

OK, I admit. I’m a steak and potatoe kinda guy, so the idea of fillin’ up on organic food during my lunch hour doesn’t thrill me. That said, Downtown gets it right. Their food is really well put together, and the ambiance is fantastic. I love the walk-​up to the Hawaii State Art Museum and all its grandeur, walking past the huge columns and past the ornate decore in the vestibule. It makes me feel important (finally!).
The service is a little slow at times, and the drink refills are sparce, but I’m not going to hold that against them (other than holding back one star; uh, this is Unilocal afterall).
I recommend!

This place is one of those restaurants to take a client out to a meeting or go on a lunch date. It is hidden and if you walk too fast you might miss it. My best advice is to make reservations beforehand because it gets pretty busy during lunch. For me I made reservations 10 minutes before I got to the restaurants and they were okay with that.
We got seated and I thought the tables were pretty huge compared to tables at some other restaurants. Plenty of arm room for the big guy like me. The server was quick and swift with our menu and drinks. I ordered the ice tea for $ 2.25 and it came with free refills. It tasted like ordinary ice tea nothing really special but for $ 2.25 I better get my damn money’s worth. For my entrée I got the pan roasted chicken. When my order came out it looked pretty small and I thought I was still going to be hungry after. But nope! I was pretty full. The chicken was really good. Usually I don’t like eating chicken with white meat but this chicken was something else. It was drenched with olive oil and it came with small kine mushroom and some sort of potato that looks like a artichoke.
I really enjoyed how they use all local products even the salt!!! The service was pretty good there was only one waitress for about 15 tables and she was pretty quick. This place is pretty expensive though our bill came out to $ 50 for two people. I would probably come here again but not for a while because I need to replenish my wallet.

In the category of downtown lunch eateries this place gets one my higher downtown marks. But one thing: make a reservation!
Great, fresh food, with a changing selection of items. Soups are tasty, sandwiches are fresh and the salads are super fresh and light – and yes I mean light, so if you’re really hungry, the soup and salad combo might not work, nor the sandwich combo since it’s only half a sandwich. But, you might try one of the pasta dishes and boy that one sure filled me up.
For dessert they have gelato which is tasty as well. Haven’t tried the fancier desserts but one day. Lunch is usually between $ 10−20/person depending on what you order. Yes, the pasta dish is more expensive but boy was I full (the spaghetti with holes in it dish was great – with chicken).
They also have a take out counter if you didn’t make reservations and get caught waiting (my advice, don’t wait, it’ll take forever).
Service is really slow. Did I say service is SLOW. My goodness it’s slow. And if you need the check in 20 minutes, you better ask when you sit down. And then they’ll tell you the machine is broken so could you wait another 10 minutes…
It’s not exactly quiet, nor are there any private tables so if that’s what you’re looking for, try again.
Ok, that was the rain on my parade. But other than the slowness (just don’t go when you’re in a rush), I love this place for a sit down downtown lunch!
But did I say it: make a reservation. Otherwise, I’d stay away.

Here is where I would try something new, odd or all around different. Other resturants are like– no way would I pay that to try something I might not like. But as odd as some combinations sound– when you taste them at Downtown they are fresh and tasty.
Chef knows what he is doing.
One breakfast we had papaya, cucumber and something else in it– as a breakfast salad– different but reallllly tasty and I would never have thought to do that.
Otherwise– great breads, pastries, good local coffee– fresh. fresh and fresh.
He likes local, fresh and tries organic.
Always freindly– Always Aloha.
Try something new for yourself too.

I love art… and whats cooler is that I get to eat a lot of good, cheap food while I’m surrounded by it! I’ve been here twice before and was VERY satisfied with everything from the service to the food. The little restaurant is located inside the Hawaii State Art Museum… just walk in through the front entrance and keep walking straight. Its in the very back.
This place is a magnet for downtown working professionals to come and have a lunch play day with their employees. There is a big, well lit section to eat. I’ve never sat there before but I think they might have a wait service. I always take my food and go sit right in front of the shop next to the big seating area since its less noisy there.
If you’re a vegetarian, vegan or love to eat healthy, then go here. Their sandwich, soup and side apps are always different when I go, which I love because I would probably just end up eating the same thing every time I went. I think that some to all of their ingredients are local. This is a great place to get a fancy and healthy lunch when you dont have much time. They have 4 options on what type of serving you can get. But all average around $ 9 – 10. I can’t remember all 4 options, but one choice offers half sandwich/​soup/​salad/​one antipasta for only like $ 9 something. I got that option:; White Bean with Ewa Tomato & Sprouts Sandwich; Coca Farm Carrots with arugula & pesto and the Pork & Kale Soup. They serve their food in good healthy sized portions. You don’t feel ripped off.
The service is quick. I’ve never had to wait longer than 7 – 10 minutes for my order. Perhaps thats because I always end up going around 1 or 2pm when the lunch rush had died down. The employees are really nice there too.

I just finished eating there today with an old friend of mine. And, as always, this place has to be one of the better restaurants I have been to.
I have only been there at lunch, and, I think (but am not entirely sure) that it is only open during lunch. It is mostly full of business professionals who are relaxing before they get back into the office. As a result, people are rarely dressed casually, and you will probably find an occasional suit. Like I did today. Which I don’t necessarily mind.
The food is very fresh, and I am quite certain that most of the ingredients are locally grown. Today, I had a linguine dish that was tasty. It was not as great as my past chicken dish and this other veal lasagne dish, but that’s alright. I always find it a point to try something new.
The Ahi club sandwich is great, and I love the desserts. The seating is limited though, and I don’t recommend coming here if you have a short lunch break. I had an hour before I had to get back into the office, so I was pretty okay. But an hour was just right. I think an hour and 30 would be even better… but that’s a really long lunch.
Anyway:
CONS:
–possibly long wait
–changing menu (for those who enjoy the comfort of the known)
PROS:
–great food
–fresh ingredients
–changing menu (for those who like variety)
OVERALL: I RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT!

I love this place. It’s hidden in the Hawaii State Art Museum aka HISAM.
At first, I thought, where is Downtown? I’m not already in Downtown by standing at the corner of Alakea St and King St? What are people talking about?
One day, with the help of some wonderful friends, I stepped in HISAM and walked into Downtown, the restaurant. Since then, I’ve been here many times and have never been disappointed. The food is just simply, «clean». Portions are not very big, but are filling. A really great and nice place for lunch… in A/​C!!! Heck yes! That’s a rare thing in, «Downtown», Honolulu.

Downtown is one of those hidden gems that offers a decent menu, good food, and a comfortable atmosphere. Oh, and it is downtown which makes it an even rarer thing! That being said, I found the food to be good, but nothing stellar. The service decent, and the prices a little on the higher side. All in all, it is a decent place to go for lunch if you are downtown, but there is nothing truly stellar that keeps me coming back for more.
The menu is certainly not your local fare. It offers a great selection of salads, sandwiches, and a great array of desserts. The salads are good and healthy, but nothing really stood out for me. I’ve had better pasta salads and the pesto chicken salad was a bit heavy on the pesto (and I like pesto). The sandwiches are good, but I found the bread to be the highlight rather than the products that went in.
Service is ok, although a bit on the slower side. Granted, the food is made to order, which is a plus in my book. Yet, on the several occasions I’ve gone, it has been quite a wait. The location itself is comfortable, but given the layout, don’t expect to get a ton of privacy there.
All in all, Downtown is a cool place to grab a meal and chat with a friend. Nothing spectacular, yet nothing disappointing.

Two songs come to mind when I go here…
«Sometimes you go to where everybody knows your nammmme» and «If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands CLAP, CLAP»
I’ve become a regular here. What impressed me most about this place is not just the food, but after just the second time coming here, as I approached the counter to give my order, I was greeted with ‘Hey Justin, welcome back’. Yes, they remembered my name which made me want to give the counter lady a high five. Little things like this is what keeps me coming back for more.
The food. I usually take-​out and order the #1 with their pastrami sandwich which comes with salad and 2 side items. The side items changes up from day to day which are also very tasty. You can definitely notice the quality and freshness in each bite. I’m not sure if this is true, but I heard all of their ingredients are locally grown which I’m a huge supporter of.
Without a drink, I spend 10.21. I usually don’t have 21 cents but instead I’m forced to use a quarter leaving me with four pennies which I hate. I wish meal prices would factor in tax so the total comes to a round number. Anyways. go here, you’ll like it!

I came here to meet up with a bunch of friends, and lo and behold who walks in after we sat down? Our wonderful Unilocal Ambassador Emi H. and Her BF who most of our table knew anyway. Well being that it was the Kanu Hawaii Eat Local Challenge time and Downtown @ HISAM was one of the participants it was no surprise so many people I know showed up there for lunch.
I decided on the Ahi Club sandwich, which was made with great fresh local ingredients and was a great not too heavy lunch. several of our group also got the Opah and that looked excellent too.
I liked how the restaurant felt open and not too cramped and that the din of talking was quite low our food came within a reasonable time and our waiter was pleasant.
Parking is a bit hard for people coming from elsewhere but there is a public lot right across the street.

We had our daughter’s first bday party here and we were extremely pleased with this venue. I would give it 5 stars, but it is a bit pricey so I have to knock one star off for that. Otherwise, we couldn’t be happier!
We worked with the manager Keoni, and he was the perfect balance of «local laid-​back» and professional. He listened to our party plans, and came up with a menu that was kid-​friendly AND sophisticated enough for adults, they included many of our own personal favorites and they even paid attention to our theme (cupcakes and color) and made our buffet as colorful as can be, with THE BEST red velvet cupcakes topped with edible flowers. The food was SO good that EVERY LAST CRUMB was gone by the end of the party. It was also many guests first time at this restaurant and even at the museum, so it was a hit. People were raving about it. The setting of the restaurant was also very modern, simplistic and sophisticated, yet surprisingly kid friendly with the use of the outdoor courtyard right outside the dining area.
I’ve eaten here on many occasions prior to (and after) our daughter’s party, and I do agree with the other reviews that the servicecana sometimes be slow, and even unfriendly — well, I shouldn’t say UNfriendly, just… lacking «warmth». But most times I’ve had good service. But working with them for a party was a GREAT experience and Keoni is great.