Downtown’s finest dishes

Take a departure from the usual downtown bustle and transport yourself to HASR Bistro’s cozy North Pauahi Street abode.

There, restauranteur Terry Kakazu and executive chef Rodney Uyehara, who coown the eatery together, have created a luxuriously relaxed atmosphere and a menu that boasts some seriously delicious eats.

During its lunch service, HASR offers a Greek Salad with Grilled Salmon ($17). Salad greens are topped with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and feta cheese. It is accompanied with salmon that has been marinated in olive oil and garlic, and seasoned with fresh pepper and salt before it is grilled. Diners also may choose to have a balsamic reduction added to the dish.

For dinner, indulge in the restaurant’s Grilled Australian Lamb Rack ($36).

The dish features a half rack of lamb that is marinated in a pomegranate sauce. It is served with whipped mashed potatoes that have been prepared with cream and butter. The dish also is served with ratatouille — which features bright flavors of yellow and green zucchini that have been sauteed with diced Japanese eggplant, tomatoes and onions — and a tomato sauce and garlic.

Another dish to tempt your taste buds is the Chinatown Pork Chop Chop ($26). The dish features a thick cut of pork chop, which is cooked with two methods to enhance the flavors while preserving its tender qualities. It is served with an Asian-style barbecue sauce, as well as mashed potatoes and sauteed broccolini.

The restaurant, which features an extensive selection of wines, also invites diners to stop in at Kakazu’s HASR Wine Co. next door.

“The great thing about this restaurant is that the wine store is an additional benefit for the wine list. You can buy your own bottle and bring it in,” says Uyehara.

Up next for HASR is creating space upstairs into a deli that offers freshly baked bread, scones, sandwiches, pastries and more. And mark your calendar and make a reservation for its upcoming brunch for Father’s Day.

HASR Bistro

31 N. Pauahi St., Honolulu
533-4277
Lunch: Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Dinner: Tuesday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m. (Last seating 9:30 p.m.)
Tapas: Tuesday-Saturday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.