You know, true local girl at heart, I love to eat. But being a single mom, I can't afford the most high-end type of places that many of my colleagues rave about. For me, its about value, convenience, and most importantly, taste. Since I normally cook at home, when I go out, I want to be able to find the next best thing to home cooking. Well, I can say I've found that... at a golf course?
Yes, you read right. Since November of 2002, brothers Mel and Alonzo Abrazado took over the Mililani Golf Club Restaurant, located on the grounds fronting the Mililani Golf Course.
Both brothers came to the table with no prior restaurant background. The food, menu selections, and everything is based on one thing... "Its all by taste," said Mel.
Alonzo Abrazado, co-owner of Mililani Golf Club Restaurant,
is well-known for his meat and fish excellency.
A retired flight attendant, Mel and his brother, Alonzo, figured that they would bridge their strengths and make the Mililani Golf Club Restaurant something that it had never been before - warm and welcome to golfers and non golfers.
The restaurant overlooks a beautiful view of the golf course
Another goal? Offer an array of food that you could only find at home. Well, all I can say is that they've gone overboard. The food is not only finger-licking, broke da mouth, tastes like Grandma's - ONOLICIOUS, but its also reasonable, and served hot, made to order.
Their pancit is so tasty and part of it has a lot to do with its ultra fresh ingredients
Head Chef of Filipino Foods, Filemon Garong, takes his time to purchase fresh
produce from open markets to ensure its freshness and variety. He goes to
purchase produce as often as its needed and won't buy something if the freshness
is not to his highest liking.
As I've done these reviews, I've found that its hard to find places that truly prepares things to order.
And here's Chef Garong's final product!
You get your food in two minutes and most times, if you're like me, you're ecstatic. In our on the move all the time lifestyles, we think that getting a fresh meal in two minutes just isn't a possibility. Well, it is.
Honestly, the best Sari Sari I've ever had.
The vegetable selection, soup broth and freshness was unbeatable
I guess that's why honestly, without knowing it, the first time I ever dined at the restaurant, I thought, okay, (in a typical American sense) after five minutes, where's my food? All I can say, is that every minute I waited for my meal, it was EXTREMELY worth it.
Signature Hawaii Beef Steak Plate
From their signature Hawaiian Beef Steak plate that melts in your mouth with Alonzo's secret sauce and preparation technique, to their signature Filipino dishes to their "kanak attack" breakfast foods and more, I was very impressed with the taste of all of the food that I've ever tried at the Golf Club Restaurant.
Daily Specials
When someone claims they can cook authentic "cultural" dishes that I've grown up accustomed to eating, I expect the most mouth-watering, homemade tasting dish. Anything less is a waste of my time and money.
Menu board
Needless to say, the Filipino (and non-Filipino foods, for that matter) were not only filling (they give a LOOOOOT of food there) as well as very authentic and extremely tasty. As a major food critic, nothing I can say would better endorse the homemade style of their food other than you going there. I can assure you that you will NOT be disappointed.
One of their specialties is their Waffle Delight dessert. A huge Belgian waffle, topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, fresh strawberries and whipped cream, this is something to surely get me off-track with my 2006 Resolutions! Light but sinfully tasty, there aren't many occasions where I don't have the urge to stop by and order one of these. There's nothing like it anywhere that I've tried, especially with the waffle's batter so homemade and not so "mass production" tasting.
Waffle delight
Another specialty at Mililani Golf Club Restaurant is their assortment of fresh fish.
Fish Specials
Alonzo brought his love of seafood to the restaurant, by offering diners selections of fresh poke and other cuts of fresh, high grade fish to local catches that we see in fancy restaurants at high prices but mediocre on our taste buds.
Poke selection
Of course you'll find your local favorites there. Oxtail soup (which, by the way, is way better than many places who even SPECIALIZE in oxtail soup). There is less fat on the meat, and tons of meat included in the soup, with a broth that is too good to mention.
Oxtail Soup
They also offer sizzling hamburger steak, garlic roast pork with gravy, and your traditional saimin and won ton mins. Their menu is so diverse yet so appealing that most times, to avoid confusion, I end up ordering the same things over and over.
Even their potato salad has a signature flair with spaghetti noodles
But after trying several different new things, I can say that their menu is very well-represented in the photos I've included with this article.
Fried Pata: There's no explanation for this except that you've got to try it.
So for the goals set forth by Mel and Alonzo (to bridge golfers and non golfers, and make all diners feel comfortable and satisfied with their entire dining experience), I think they can definitely say they have gone far beyond accomplishing what they first set out to do.
The whole staff at Mililani Golf Club Restaurant are helpful with all smiles
So whether it's home-cooked Filipino food you're craving, a mouth watering dessert, breakfast, or a light lunch, give your stomach a little "FORE!" to prepare itself for the delectable feast it is about to partake in. If you have a little bit of time, the wait is well worth it.
Mel Abrazado, Co-owner, pictured with a few of their friendly staff
Breakfast, lunch or dinner prepared just for you, at any time of day, I highly recommend you stopping by to check it out. Enjoy!
