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Sweet Treats Perfect for Sharing

Columns Jus' Desserts

May 5, 2013

Story By: Nicole Monton | Photos by: Lawrence Tabudlo

Since 1998, Big City Diner has been serving up tasty dishes that never skimp on the portions, which makes it a great place for family-style eating with those closest to you.

And those big portions apply to everything on the menu, yes, even the desserts.

Big City Diner’s Big Brownie Bubbies Pie ($7.49) is a mountain of a dessert with two pieces of fresh brownie that’s topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and macadamia nuts.

“This is our big brownie, and it’s been with us a long time,” explains senior executive chef Dennis Franks. “We’ve added roasted macadamia nuts, and most of the time you can’t go wrong with a fresh brownie and ice cream.”

This great pairing of sweetness makes this dish one of the restaurant’s most popular, especially among chocoholics.

“It’s filling and fudgey,” Franks continues. “It’s a whole lot of chocolate.”

Mama’s Bread Pudding ($4.99; $7.49 ala mode) is the perfect comfort food created with local flavors.

“It’s a custard-base bread pudding with roasted macadamia nuts on top,” says Franks. “And we made a haupia cream sauce that balances the flavors, and it’s picked up really well. It’s another best-seller.”

And because of the dish’s popularity, Big City Diner has added it to the breakfast menu (along with link sausage and bacon).

“The bread pudding is really nice with the caramel drizzle on top,” Franks continues. “It’s always satisfying.”

Because of the sheer amount of dessert you get, Franks recommends sharing.

“Especially after eating one of our meals, I don’t think a normal person can finish it,” he says. “A little bit of sweet is good, it’s a nice sharing dessert.”

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and Big City Diner has got the perfect meal for your mamas. Rounding out the three Mother’s Day specials is Fresh Strawberry Cake Ala Mode ($6.99), which features fresh California strawberries atop Big City Diner’s homemade soda cake served with Bubbies’ vanilla bean ice cream.

Franks says that the ice cream makes all the difference in Big City Diner’s desserts.

“That is something people have mentioned, it’s not the same without Bubbies,” he says.

So patrons of Big City Diner can get the best of both worlds — great dessert staples such as bread pudding and brownies plus a heaping scoop of Bubbies ice cream.

Life really doesn’t get any better than that.

Big City Diner

Various locations (call or check bigcitydinerhawaii.com)
487-8588 (catering)
738-8855 (Kaimuki)
263-8880 (Kailua)
591-8891 (Ward)
678-8868 (Waipio)
487-8188 (Pearlridge)
Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-midnight

Honolulu, HI 96816

Kailua, HI 96734

Ward Farmers Market: Tropic's Diner, Honolulu, HI 96814

Waipahu, HI 96797

Pearlridge Center, Aiea, HI 96701

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