Cafe Lani Hawaii

A Closer Look At This Week’s House Special: Healthy Green Salad Set ($23)

If you look to one corner of Cafe Lani Hawaii, you’ll see an area fit for the perfect picnic, with bench seating and an open window that brings in natural sunlight. In the mid-section of the bakery and restaurant, the scene is set up like a forest with wood detailing and tall tree-like configurations positioned around tables. Toward the back, patrons find themselves right at home with a cozy, pillow-laden layout, including the frame of a house as the backdrop.

And while the thoughtful and gorgeous design — which Cafe Lani already has received two awards for — is hard to overlook, there are a multitude of other details that make this still-new establishment extra special.

A good place to start is with the restaurant’s reasonable prices and unlimited amount of freshly baked breads served at your table. With over 20 different varieties, ranging from flaky croissants to bacon breads, master bakery chef Akiko Morimoto crafts unmatched goods, including the new fall selections of Sweet Potato Bread and Chestnut Danish. (Expect seasonal dishes at Cafe Lani every three months, showcasing the very best ingredients of that specific time of year.) Also enjoy the restaurant’s gourmet parfaits, as well as its trendy siphon coffee, which uses 100 percent Kau Coffee (free refill offered).

The eatery is happy to introduce new permanent menu items, including various pizzas, omelet rice options, appetizers and even specialty sets, or set meals. One delicious set worth highlighting is Healthy Green Salad Set, which showcases a little bit of everything that Cafe Lani has to offer, from fresh ingredients to Italian-inspired recipes with Japanese flair.

Eat Your Greens
The salad is the main feature and includes greens, various veggies, quinoa and crispy, fried lotus roots — plus your choice of Japanese dressing (wasabi-based) or light balsamic vinaigrette.

Time For Pie!
This set comes with a small pizza made from Lani bread (much like French bread) and features tangy tomato sauce and various cheeses.

Getting Cheesy
The small shrimp gratin highlights a light cream sauce that Cafe Lani is best known for.

A Cup Of Happiness
Customers may choose from clam chowder (pictured) or French onion soup. The chowder boasts a light texture with smoky and bold ocean flavors.

Cafe Lani Hawaii

Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu
955-5599

Daily, breakfast: 6:30-10 a.m.; lunch and dinner: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.