I recently went to Lewers Lounge at Halekūlani for a two-night-only collaboration the lounge hosted with Milady’s and Clover Club, two trendy New York City cocktail bars. During the event, we got to try several dishes from the Lounge’s revamped food menu — and those spicy crab rolls have been on my mind ever since.
Lewers Lounge recently updated its menu to include four new dishes, according to executive chef Christian Testa.
“These new dishes were inspired by flavors I love and the idea of bringing people together,” he says. “They’re easy to share, full of flavor and made with the best ingredients. Whether it’s the spicy crab roll, the croquette or the tzatziki pani puri with caviar, there’s something fun and special for everyone.”
The croquettes ($25) include light bechamel, ham, red bell peppers and Campari tomato coulis, while crudites and hummus ($29) feature hummus, Upstate Farms vegetables and taro chips. The tzatziki pani puri caviar ($125) is the most luxe addition to the menu, and comprises Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, dill, pani puri and 30 grams of Malossol caviar.
Keep in mind the spicy crab roll is not sushi. This features petite pieces of toasted brioche, crab, mayo, cucumber, celery and chili sauce. It’s like the crab version of a lobster roll — buttery and indulgent, but also refreshing with the crunchy cucumber and celery. These bite-sized indulgences are absolutely addictive, and it’ll be hard to stop at one.
Customers now have the option of ordering either the charcuterie board — Italian meats and marinated olives — or the fromage, which comprises an artisan cheese board, honey and housemade chutney. In the past, the charcuterie board included cheese; now, the boards are separate, so customers can choose based on their preferences.
This cheese board came with four different cheeses — manchego, truffle pecorino, fontina and aged Parmigianno-Reggiano. It’s a tantalizing mix of textures and flavors; I especially enjoyed the nutty Manchego and the pecorino’s truffle flavor.
The poke has been on the menu for a while, but it’s a staple. The shoyu ‘ahi poke always tastes fresh and is served with crispy housemade rice furikake chips.
While the sliders featured during the Lewers Lounge takeover was a special dish created just for the event, customers who enjoyed the savory sliders can look forward to the Lewers burger ($34). The Prime burger comes with bacon, tomato, lettuce, onions and American or Swiss cheese, along with fries.
Pro tip: You can upgrade the fries to truffle fries for an additional $4; they’re sure to please any truffle afficionado.
CONTACT
Lewers Lounge
Halekūlani
2199 Kalia Road, Honolulu
808-518-2019
halekulani.com/dining/lewers-lounge
Open 7 p.m.-midnight Sundays-Mondays, 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
