Duke's Malibu

so I don't really go out and dine that much usually because I can be notoriously cheap when it comes to food, and I hate putting effort into dressing up, looking presentable, and driving out. but sometimes I do go out and eat at a nice place, and when I do, the results can be pretty pleasing. this morning I went to Duke's in Malibu, a restaurant participating in the DineLA promotion. it is merely twenty miles from USC, just up the Pacific Coast Highway, but when you are in the restaurant you seem to be in an entirely different location. Duke's prides itself on its Hawaiian food and its spectacular view, and every place in the restaurant gives you a gleaming, unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean, complete with sailboats, pelicans, and crashing surf on the shore.


the restaurant is a tribute to the late Duke Kahanamoku - famed surfer, swimmer, and Hawai'ian legend. the menu boasts a Hawaiian twist to typical food - lots of pineapple and mango influences on fish entres. we got the brunch buffet, which is an all-you-can-eat free for all of breakfast enticements. there were browned potatoes, eggs benedict, island eggs benedict, Hawaiian cerviche (which I encourage everyone to try, it was my favorite option), lox and bagels, and other breakfast fare. there was also a carved meat section, where you can order roast beef or ham, though I hear that the RB was a bit dry. one third of the food area was also exclusively devoted to dessert fare - mini scones, chocolate covered strawberries, tropical fruit, cookies, bars, etc.

I would say that Duke's is an experience that can only be found in LA. supposedly celebrities frequent it, and evaluating the young fashioned people at the restaurant, I believe it. it is quite tasty, and when I go to Hawai'i in April, I'm certainly going to be wondering if Duke's was a good represtation of original island fare.