Beachhouse at the Moana

Honolulu $$$$ *****
This was my first time having brunch at the Beachhouse and, as usual, I had to compare it to my all-time favorite, Plumeria Beach House at the Kahala Hotel. The service was efficient, but not as warm as it could have been. Unlike at Plumeria, which is literally a few steps from Kahala Beach, the Beachhouse offers merely a stunning but distant view of the blue Pacific Ocean (you only see the ocean, not the beach as well). However, I am being much too picky, just because I can.
I ordered a latte and french toast. The french toast was perfect - perhaps the best I've ever had. Great texture, just enough crisp but softer in the middle, full of cinnamon flavor, and the syrup was delicious. My latte was another story. I don't have particularly high standards for coffee, so when I say that my coffee was not good, that really says something. Perhaps I should have just gotten a plain coffee instead of a latte because I had to add so much cream and sugar to it anyway.
Regardless, the Beachhouse is still a wonderful restaurant, perhaps on the same level as Orchids at Halekulani (both of which are one step below Plumeria, of course). I look forward to returning.
Beachhouse at the Moana (Waikiki)
2365 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815-2943

Cafe Broder

Portland $$ *****
This may be my new favorite restaurant in Portland. Maybe. Broder is a Swedish cafe located on adorable Clinton, a street that I definitely need to explore more this year. Like at most good restaurants in Portland, you'll have to write your name on a list and wait for your name to be called. Once called, you'll be taken into a charming little room facing the kitchen (and all the cute cooks and waiters).
I ordered their specialty: Danish pancakes and a soft-boiled egg. Delicious! These are not normal pancakes. These are puffy balls, almost like malasadas without all that sugar and grease. They came with three sauces: maple syrup, jam, and lemon curd. I'm not usually a boiled egg person, but my soft-boiled egg was amazing. It came in a cute little dish and was smothered with spices. My other friends ordered scrambles, waffles, and the summer bord. Everyone was pleased. Although the sizes look small (think Japanese food - cute and organized), the food is quite filling. None of us were able to finish everything.
Broder is going to be another one of those restaurants at which I will become a regualar.
Cafe Broder (Clinton)
2508 SE Clinton St.
Portland, OR 97255
Mon-Sun 9am-3pm

Orchids

Honolulu $$$$ ****
Orchids is comparable to my favorite restaurant, Plumeria Beach House. Of course I'm biased (loyal, sentimental, etc.), so I still prefer Plumeria, but Orchids is pretty good.
Just like Plumeria Beach House, Orchids is located at Oahu's other 4-star hotel, Halekulani. It's an open-air, secluded beachfront restaurant facing Waikiki beach. Unlike Plumeria's unobstructed view of Kahala beach, the view at Orchids sadly has a little bush and railing that slightly block the beach, unless you are very tall (which I cannot speak for).
I ordered the corned beef hash and poached eggs. Both were perfect; it was the bland potatoes that were kind of a disappointment. I ordered rye bread, but the waiter gave me something else. When he finally told me they were out of rye bread, I told him I'll take sourdough instead. Well, guess what -- he had given me sourdough already. Hm. That was pure luck, man.
Service was good (Mariposa had better), and the atmosphere was relaxed -- exactly what you want when dining here on a lazy morning. All in all, if Plumeria Beach House suddenly shut down, I would probably start brunching at Orchids. However, since it doesn't look like that's happening any day soon, Plumeria remains my favorite restaurant in Hawaii.
Orchids at Halekulani (Waikiki)
2199 Kalia Rd
Honolulu, HI 96815
Breakfast: Mon-Sat 7:30am-11am
Lunch: Mon-Sat 11:30am-2pm
Dinner: daily 6pm-10pm
Brunch: Sunday buffet 9:30am-2:30pm

Screendoor Restaurant

Portland $$ *****
This is a lively Southern restaurant in the southeast. My friend and I came here for brunch on Saturday. According to online reviews, the food is great but the wait is long, so we expected to be waiting for about 45 minutes. Nope- after only about 5 minutes, we were seated right by the window.Screendoor is crowded, and crowded for a good reason. To start off, we ordered the biscuits and hot chocolate. The service is kind of slow, but I guess that's what to expect when the restaurant is packed. These were the best biscuits I've ever tasted! Warm, soft, with sugar on the top, and it comes with apple butter. I ordered my usual brunch: eggs, bacon, roasted potatoes, and toast. The eggs and bacon weren't as good as Gracie's or Mother's, but the potatoes were delicious. The best part was the portions: they were HUGE! My friend had ordered the banana french toast, which came with 4 slices, and she had only been able to eat one! I brought home over half of my meal for leftovers.
Since Screendoor is a Southern restaurant, there are some pretty interesting dishes, such as the fried chicken and waffle and, of course, grits. When you come, try to come with a small party so you're seated quickly.

Screendoor Restaurant (Southeast)
2337 E Burnside
Portland, OR 97214
Dinner: Tue-Sat 5:30pm-10pm, Sun 5:30pm-9pm
Brunch: Sat-Sun 9am-2:30pm
~$15 for biscuits, eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast, hot chocolate

Mother's Bistro and Bar

Portland $$$ *****I was actually a little disappointed in this place - not because it was bad. On the contrary, I loved Mother's. There was so much hype around Mother's (Bill Clinton once dined here, my friends' recommendations, and online reviews), so my expectations were probably unfairly high. However, while eating there, I couldn't help but compare it to another one of my favorite brunch place, Gracie's; and I'll have to say that I prefer Gracie's.
Nevertheless, Mother's is a wonderful restaurant, and I will definitely be returning, maybe for lunch next time. I came here with a friend for brunch. I had eggs, bacon, and a hot chocolate - the same thing I always order at Gracie's.
Since I like lists, I will make one comparing Gracie's and Mother's:
Things better at GRACIE'S: hot chocolate, roast potatoes, toast, décor
Things better at MOTHER'S: eggs, location
Both had great but different atmospheres - Gracie's had a swanky Golden Age Hollywood feel to it, while Mother's had a cozy (surprise, surprise) motherly feel to it. Both were about the same price and both have reinforced my love for brunch.
Mother's Bistro and Bar (downtown)
212 SW Stark Street
Portland, OR 97204
Brunch: Tue-Fri 7am-2:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-2:30pm
Dinner: Tue-Thu 5:30pm-9:00pm, Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat 5pm-10pm
~$15 for eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes, hot chocolate

Gracie's

Portland $$$ *****
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. I've been here for brunch a few times. Gracie's is located in Hotel DeLuxe, which definitely has a Golden Age Hollywood theme going on. The restaurant is beautiful: lots of gilded gold and long curtains and mirrors. Great service, great food, and always empty (why???).
Their brunch is fantastic and a very good deal considering the service and atmosphere. I always get the eggs, bacon, potatoes, and hot chocolate. Their roasted potatoes are some of the best I've ever had- flavorful, crunchy, and mixed with yams and sweet potatoes. Their hot chocolate is also amazing (tastes a bit like Stumptown), and their toast is from Grand Central (need I say more?).Gracie's at Hotel DeLuxe (downtown)
729 SW 15th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6:30am-10:30am
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:00pm
Dinner: Daily 5:00pm-10:00pm
Brunch: Sun & Sat 8:00am-2:00pm

The Mandalay

Honolulu $$ *****How often do you eat dim sum with cloth napkins? For me, not often, which is why I love Mandalay. This is a fairly new restaurant in downtown Honolulu. The dim sum is great, and so are the regular meals if you come for dinner. Clean, elegant setting that is a nice change from the typical Chinatown restaurants. Plus, the seats are some of the comfiest chairs I have ever sat in.

The Mandalay (downtown)
1055 Alakea Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Daily 10:30 am-10pm
Dim sum served 10:30 am-5 pm

Plumeria Beach House

Honolulu $$$$ *****
This is my favorite restaurant in Hawaii - not necessarily because of the food (although, the food is great), but because of the fond memories I have of it. My family and I used to come here for many of our celebrations - Mother's Day, my going away party, Dad's birthday, etc.

Plumeria Beach House is in the Kahala Hotel, a laid-back, secluded hotel located in swanky Kahala. It's always fun driving past all the beachfront mansions to get there. Once you're at the restaurant, which is on the bottom floor of the hotel, you are given the option of sitting outside or inside. The entire restaurant is open, but you can either sit completely outside, shaded by oversized umbrellas, or inside under a roof. I always choose to sit outside, with direct views of the ocean.
I usually go for the brunch buffet, which is $30 for adults, $15 for children. The buffet is fantastic. A beautiful selection of pastries, meats (delicious bacon, sausages, pork links, ham), eggs (there is also a chef there to make any kind of omlet), pancakes, waffles, fruit, miso soup, rice, potatoes, and cereal.

The service is great and unpretentious. I have never had a bad experience here and look forward to returning this summer.

Plumeria Beach House at the Kahala Hotel & Resort (Kahala)
5000 Kahala Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816

Breakfast 6:30am-11:00am
Lunch 11:00am-5:30pm
Dinner 5:30pm-10pm
http://www.kahalaresort.com/dining/plumeria-beach-house.cfm