A repast to break your fast

An array of breakfast items.

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day. But in the masterful hands of chef Nico Chaize of Nico’s Kailua, it becomes a feast, infused with spectacular flavors and textures, to be enjoyed in a delightful setting.

Located at the Aikahi Park end of North Kalaheo Avenue, Nico’s Kailua opened in 2017, initially offering only lunch and dinner. About a year ago, the popular restaurant added Sunday brunch to its offerings, similar to its brunch service at Nico’s Upstairs in Honolulu. The addition was a roaring success.

“The response from our customers has inspired us to expand our menu to include breakfast, with some exclusive items you won’t get at our restaurants in town,” says chef Chaize.

With 125 seats in a dining room that overlooks the scenic Kawainui Canal, the Kailua restaurant is a lovely place to eat breakfast. Here, you’ll find instant classics like the Paniolo Omelette ($15.95), with braised pork belly, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes, finished with spicy Kilauea ranchero sauce and served with rosemary herbed potatoes, and Nico’s Fried Rice ($10), with diced Portuguese sausage, ham, fish cake, green onions, yellow onions, sriracha, soy sauce and a variety of secret spices, topped with an egg cooked any way you like.

Then there’s French Toast with a twist ($10.95), which begins with two thick cuts of Kaneohe Bakery sweet bread, housemade signature egg batter, and a sizzling hot grill.

French Toast ($10.95)

“We stuff it with blueberry cream cheese, slice it nicely, fan it out and end the creation by drizzling blueberry sauce on the top,” says executive chef Norman Soderberg.

Return to Nico’s for dinner and you’ll find full-service torchlight dining, with an array of creative nightly specials, an eclectic assortment of fresh seafood, and live entertainment six nights a week.