This post is long overdue and I apologize for that. I try to keep my post as current and fresh as possible. As most of you already know, I’m still somewhat new to this island. Ray and I made a bold move back in March and dropped everything just to move out here. We didn’t have internet at first, but luckily the hotel next to us did, Ray’s computer was strong enough to grab it but it was slow and he needed to get work done. He searched for places that offer free wifi and are within walking distance online at wififreespot.com. Coconut Cafe was on the list and really close so we decided to pack up our laptops and have lunch there.
The place is extremely small, not really an ideal place to work. I think there were 3 tables and all two seaters. We scan the menu and this is what we got.

Ray ordered the Seafood Mixed Sandwich, $4.99. All sandwiches are served with your choice of lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, cheese, cucumbers, carrots, mayo, and mustard. He said this sandwich didn’t taste right. The seafood tasted bad like it had been sitting there in a tuperware container for a while. I took a bite and it tasted a bit mushy. I’m not a fan of seafood sandwiches unless it’s grilled.

I couldn’t decide so of course I resorted to dessert. I got the Azukibean Shaved Ice with condensed milk, $3.99 but the condensed milk cost an extra .75. This was rather large and a little messy. It looks more exciting than it tasted.

I also forgot to mention that online it states that internet was free, which was the reason why we went there in the first place. When we got there it cost $8.00 a day. Of course we didn’t pay, that’s just ridiculous and false advertising.

View Larger Map

Coconut Cafe
2441 Kuhio Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 922-8700

Remember when we left A Taste of New York, well this is where we ended up at Cafe Laufer. After leaving A Taste of New York we were basically up for anything. We strolled the streets, scanning the menus tapped to the windows of each eatery. The cute European style decor of this place hooked us and we decided to stay for lunch.

Cafe Laufer is the kind of place where you want to say and have coffee all day but fail to do so only because you feel bad for taking up a whole table because the place is small and busy.

But this is the ideal place to take a long time friend to catch up or reminisce of the old days over some coffee, tea and a slice of cake.

Oh, decisions, decisions . . . I’ll take a tiramisu. It just seemed to fit the ambience so I went with it.

This looked better than it tasted. Don’t you hate it when that happens? Tiramisu could quite possibly be the best dessert ever when made properly. To be honest with you, I never made a tiramisu in my life but I probably have eaten more tiramisus than anyone should ever consume in their entire existence. With a palate as sensitive as mine, I’m quite sure what a good tiramisu should taste like. Tiramisu is made with ladyfingers that are kissed with a mixture of coffee, rum, and sugar. When you bite into it it should be light, but not too rich and a small hint of sweet, creamy, coffee and rum should linger on your tongue after each swallow. The ladyfingers tasted like small slices of the bottom of a dry cake. Also, I couldn’t taste any rum, which was the biggest disappointment for me. The cream was a little over the top and the whole thing was so dry. I’m not saying it was awful, I don’t think I ever had tiramisu that was so bad I didn’t eat. Let’s just say out of all the tiramisu I ever had, this makes it in the bottom 10. The slice cost me somewhere around $5.00.

This was my entree, Thai Satay Chicken Salad, $10.75. It was very tasty, but little bit too dry. I thought the white plate gave it a nice, clean finish.

Gourmet Sandwich, $9.85. All sandwiches are served with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and pickle. You pick your choice of filling, cheese, and bread. Ray got chicken salad filling, cheddar cheese, and french bread. He couldn’t have been happier with this plate. He said it was the perfect amount of food, they were generous with the chicken salad filling and everything was tasty.

Large Pasta Salad, 6.95. This was perfect for Shane because I don’t know anyone that loves pasta salad more than he does.

Here’s another quick story for you. So I’m taking pictures of my food and the lady next to me goes, “what are you gonna do with all those pictures,” I pause, well, it was more like hesitated to tell her that I have this food blog because she was so cute and old and if she reads my blog she’ll find words on it like, biznatch, donkey dick, whore, ass rape, need I say more? But my hesitation made it look like I was conducting a top secret, food review and of course stirred up more curiosity from not only grandma but from the surrounding tables as well. I manage to spit out, ” I write for an online food site.” And of course being old and fragile she fails to hear what I had to say and goes, “huh?” Now Ray and Shane decide to take it upon themselves to answer for me and say, “she’s a food critic.” Of course the waitress happens to be walking by just as they say that. She shuffles to the back and I’m sure tells everyone a food critic is in the building. Also, all the tables around hear I’m a food critic, some poke their heads into the conversation and say, “what’s the site called again?” with pen and paper in hand. I hesitate again and then decided it’s my food blog, I’m gonna own it, “its called cheap places to eat in oahu Hawaii dot com.” Now the waitress comes over with more soda for Ray, ask if we need anything, if she can get us anything, you know really good service.

I have to say I kinda felt like I was a celebrity. Which is funny because I know in real life I’m totally not. But if I get good service or free food for it, two words, “fuck yeah.” You got that, need me to say it again? You bet your ass I’ll take free food, good service, VIP treatment, leftovers. That’s my dream, to hop from place to place like that Samantha Brown chick in Passport To . . . on the Travel Channel or Anthony Bourdain in No Reservations. So all my loyal fans out there, go, run, tell every business owner you know to send me some free coupons, gift certificates, cookies, in the mail. I will take it with open arms and I will use it or eat it. Then I will come back and report to you exactly how it went, even if I have to be brutally honest. What can I say, I don’t know how to lie.

View Larger Map

Cafe Laufer
3565 Wai’alae Avenue 107
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 7357717

Internet and cafe, they’re just so perfect together, it had to be destiny. I think all cafe shops should offer free internet. Shane, Ray and I are all internet whores. There’s this cafe we go to called Metis and so far it’s the best internet cafe on the island. We’re totally open to trying other cafes, as long as there’s internet available. One day Ray and I grabbed our laptops and went out in search of new internet cafe. Where did we end up? Morning Brew in Kailua.

Ray ordered his usual cafe mokka, for $3.30. I couldn’t decide so of course I follow my infamous words of wisdom, “when in doubt order sugar,” and that’s exactly what I did. I ordered some brownie carmel thing. It was beautiful and would have made a decadent treat if Ray had shared with me. One thing about me is that not only do I love to eat and try other peoples food, but I also love to share my food. Hey sharing is caring and I fucking “Kea.” So when people don’t eat or even try my food, I get offended and butt hurt, like, “who the fuck do you think you are, think your better than me, better than my brownie, too good for your own good. Can’t even take a bite. Fuck you and your shitty cafe mocha. That thing probably has more calories and fat than my brownie anyway. Donkey dick,” At least that’s what I telepathically said to him, I think the message got lost somewhere in translation. My point is the brownie was too much, just over the top. After eating it all I felt like a fresh bag of shit.

Also there’s a full menu with prices that your wallet will be happy with, like a hummus bagel $3.25, organic large curry chicken salad $6.75 and Nachos $5.85.

Internet, cafe, and sugary goodness, together at last.

Mac for life baby. If only I had bought some stock in it a decade ago.

View Larger Map

Morning Brew
600Kailua Road
Kailua, HI 96734