mac 24/7 diner

modern diner . . . be still my heart!

there's still a wee bit of jet lag to shake off but i rolled out of bed this a.m. to contribute to the island foodie scene with my take on mac 24/7. it's a modern diner which recently opened its doors at the soon to be hilton waikiki prince kuhio hotel and after reading a few reviews before we left i knew my fella and i would have to stop by and check it out.

the design is definitely not what you would expect to find in waikiki . . . chilewich placemats adorn the tables, modernist lighting fixtures add subdued warmth, and plasma televisions hang on the wall behind the bar. the menu is all about [m]odern [a]merican [c]ooking available 24 hours a day. many of the reviews have mentioned pancakes fit for andre the giant and i admit i was tempted, but i couldn't resist the biscuits and gravy once i spotted it on the menu.

biscuits + country gravy

the photo doesn't really do it justice but these were definitely the most artfully arranged biscuits & gravy that i have ever had the pleasure of being served. it looked like an entry in top chef. just the right amount of cheesy gravy goodness topped the biscuits which managed to stay crisp & soft.

my fella opted to try the pulled kalua pork sandwich. it was definitely delish but tasted more bbq-y to me. the most surprising item on the plate was a deep fried dill pickle. the portions of our dishes were just the right size to leave room for dessert which ended up being a warm macadamia nut bread pudding cupcake with vanilla custard sauce.

pulled kalua pork sandwich

all in all, we really enjoyed our meal and would definitely return. the ambiance delights my modernist heart, the wait staff was friendly, and, most important, mac 24/7's fancy diner food hit the spot.

mac 24/7 is three blocks from the zoo and, if you go, take note that the hotel offers free valet parking with validation from the restaurant.

bon appétit!