The Hideout At The Laylow

A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S HOUSE SPECIAL: AHI POKE ($16)

Kick your feet up, sit back and relax at the comfortable and chic Hideout restaurant and bar within Waikiki’s The Laylow hotel.

“The space kind of speaks for itself,” begins Hideout’s general manager Ben Buckley. “It’s super relaxing, low key and very chill. We like it to be a place where everyone comes together with friends and family dining on food to be shared amongst everybody, having fun and listening to good music, having good drinks and good conversation.”

Hideout’s vast open lanai, on the second floor of the hotel, features a spread of comfy couches and lounge chairs along with decorative sand areas and a warming fire pit for the cooler Hawaiian nights. Venture in under the covering, and a full bar with tantalizing drinks and service awaits, and even further in is a charming dining area with a view of it all.

Once guests pick out their spot of choice, a dive into the menu is to follow and its offerings are grand.

“The food cuisine is called modern hapa-Hawaiian, so the chef does a mix of modern American cuisine but uses Asian influence as well,” continues Buckley. “At the end of the day, we try to create something for everyone.”

Buckley shares that the crispy pork belly is a staple appetizer, while the rice bowls come in as a close second because of their generous portions. In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner, make a pit stop to this eatery on Sundays for a winning brunch meal — can you say bottomless mimosas? Plus, stop in for Hideout’s brunch with a side of shopping. Every other month for just one Sunday, an event featuring local vendors from across Hawaii is held — the next event is slated for April 14.

Hideout’s goal is to provide high-quality food and special experiences to its customers. The restaurant and bar fulfills this goal every Friday and Saturday night by bringing in a DJ to fill the air with groovy tunes.

“We have a beautiful space, so we like to make sure that the food is colorful and the drinks are colorful,” concludes Buckley.

Goddess in the Garden ($17)

This purple drink is a tantalizing sipper that transforms into a pretty pink color when mixed with its liquid citrus partner.

Please your palate

The poke is packed with avocado puree, furikake and jalapenos that general manager Ben Buckley says is a nice balance of sweet, savory and spicy.

Awesome sauce

House-made yuzu aioli and ponzu sauces are a welcomed pair, as the aioli provides a slightly creamy taste and the ponzu dominates with a light, crisp and refreshing citrus flavor.

Taste the rainbow

Executive chef Bryan Byard is a true trendsetter within the culinary world, as he came up with the idea of using vibrant prawn crackers to add crisp texture to the dish.

Ocean fresh

As a part of Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants, Hideout makes it a point to be as eco-conscious as possible and that includes using sustainable, local and fresh fish, like the ahi in this bowl.