I personally love the House Without a Key. It's where we've gone to eat many, many nights. with guests in town. When I was drinking man, I tossed back countless potent Mai Tais mixed up at this oceanfront restaurant on the grounds of the posh Halekulani Hotel. But I had noticed a bit more frazzle in the service at this venerable gem. We had been served well by our regular waiters but in some instances newbies and rush nights translated into service that was a bit more indifferent. I was surprised, however, to read Honolulu Star-Bulletin food critic Nadine Kam wallop the House Without A Key for awful service -- so bad that she left no tip. Whoa. True, Kam was there on barbecue night, a biweekly twilight fest which can be a total zoo.

My burgers there have been fine, not remarkable, but in such a lovely setting a completely acceptable palate pleaser. I now need to go back to see what's up. But if what she writes is true, so very, very sad -- the Halekulani has long had some of the best service in the islands. Perhaps this part of the reason why the hotel's ranking fell 19 places in the 2007 Conde Nast Traveler best hotel rankings. Regardless, the Halekulani stii has some of the best service and most sumptuous rooms in the islands.

Related Posts: Halekulani's Lewers Lounge Makes Esquire Top Bars List

—Alex, 07/17/07