The Fat Greek: How did he get fat?

The Fat Greek is just a block from the beach next to the Hilton. It is a great place for a meal that won't weigh you down. Nope, no food coma for us! The plating generally matched the menu pictures and the portions were perfect for our light lunch appetite. Nothing on the menu, in fact, suggested a cause for their mascot's obesity. Maybe he sneaks out for some KFC when no one is looking.

Mira had "Falafel & Tuna" and I had the Greek Salad with Calamari, which leads me to just a few suggestions: The tuna could have used an upgrade: I don't mind canned tuna, but albacore blended with some chopped olive and basil would have been an easy improvement over the mushy tuna salad used here. As for the "Greek" salad: a tablespoon of crumbled feta does not bestow nationality. The body of the salad was romaine, 2 lonely cherry tomatoes, and 2 equally lonely kalamata olives. While fresh, I thought it lacked a little imagination. When I think of Greek flavors, I think of hard-hitting aromatics like dill, oregano, onion and fennel paired with olive oil and lots of large-cut tomatoes and cucumber in a salad. Finally, the calamari batter needed just a touch of flavor, like  a pinch of white pepper, cinnamon, or even just some sea salt. The food wasn't bad, but it was just a wee bit short of what I'd hoped.

The breeze carries through the second floor dining area well, which I really enjoyed, and the windows allow for a bit of people-watching. I had to duck a bit because I was backed up to a plaster bust of Nero, but forward posture just brought me closer to my food.

I have this...compulsion. I always try the tiramisu. I love coffee, and I love chocolate, and I used to make tiramisu for my girlfriends. The Fat Greek's tiramisu was soft frozen and mounted on a hard piece of pita, garnished with a bit of fruit and honey. It was good! The pita wasn't really edible: too hard and dry. Replacing the pita with a phyllo dough pastry would have been my move, but that's only my prejudice against inedible garnishes.

It wasn't a bad meal overall, but the $30 tab for a light lunch will probably keep me from going back.

Image: Tiramisu we got at The Fat Greek is dwarfed by the fork. How did the Greek ever get fat?

Honolulu Burger Company

Image: The Kalua Pig we got from Honolulu Burger Company

Mira and I went to Honolulu Burger Company on the recommendation of a friend, and I'm pleased to say it was worth the trip to satisfy our burger jones. The burgers are unique and delicious, and priced about where you'd expect for premium burgers. One caveat; fries aren't included. Bucking the burger shop tradition, fries (normal or sweet-potato) will bump up the bottom line on your premium-burger bill. The only combo on the menu is the kid's meal, so try to find a kid to stand next to you when you order it, for appearance's sake.

HBC's location is a bit distant from tourist land, but only a block or so from Honolulu University. The walls are crowded with surfing pics and restaurant reviews, and the tables are cornered together in a way that makes elbowing the guy behind you a real possibility as you maneuver a sandwich into your mouth.

Maneuver is the word, though. The sandwiches at HBC are stacked high on buns that won't dissolve or collapse. Mira had the Korean Bang Burger and I had the Kalua Pig Burger. The Korean had kimchi, shredded kalbi pork, and red pepper paste, and was better than any burger for sale in Korea (North or South, take your pick). The Kalua Pig was like a luau in my mouth, with shredded roast pork and pineapple salsa. Luckily the house original BBQ sauce was already on the table.  With fruits and veggies on both and whole wheat buns, we pretended it was a balanced meal, but a good local beer would have rounded it off perfectly.

Image: The Korean Bang we got at Honolulu Burger Company