Haleiwa Joe's At Haiku Gardens

So here's the thing... this is NOT the original Haleiwa Joe's-- shocker right?! You'll have to go to Haleiwa for that but I'm not sure that even historic Haleiwa Town is a match for the amazing setting of this little tucked away treasure.



Pluses:

Excellent Prime Rib-- really, really good. They only make a set amount each evening and when they run out they are, well... out. So go early if you are even thinking you might want this dish, and let your server know before your toosh even touches the aloha print seat cushion, (trust me they won't find it odd in the least as they are used to running back to the kitchen to try to reserve that last cut of meat before anyone else gets their tip counting hands on it). =) In truth we've always found the service amazing and once you square away your piece of prime rib you would have to be wound up tighter than, well... something wound up really tight, to not just sit back and enjoy the amazing ambiance.



This dimly lit restaurant is wide open and overlooks beautiful gardens complete with giant banyan trees, a gazebo, koi ponds and a short, (although sometimes muddy), walking trail. If you go early and don't mind a short uphill climb take a camera, (you'll be sure to get amazing family photos in this lush setting), and stroll down in to the gardens.



Their burgers and fries are surprisingly rockstar good, although, strangely, you can only order them if you are sitting at the bar or if you have little ones with you and are ordering them for them. (They don't however stop you from stealing bites of your son's burgers and from passing their fries around the table like Christmas candy).



Do the Sunday Brunch. If you want to have the yummiest fried ahi and prime rib and Caesar salad and omelets made to order and fresh fruit and... Sunday brunch is the way to go. And yes it's that very same prime rib except thinly cut just for you.



Save room for dessert. Just sayin'. Really.



Less than Pluses:

So there are no real negatives here, but...

They never, EVER take reservations so good luck with that. If you have a large group they kinda sorta try to help ya out but, kinda sorta don't too-- ya know? Really the wait isn't bad and as I said if you go early you can enjoy the gardens, (they close at sunset for obvious reasons, which, by obvious I mean, when you see the hill you have to walk up to get back out of them you'll think-- Ahhh, definitely don't wanna have to do that in the dark)



The prices are a bit high. This is a special occasion sort of a place for sure.



And there are limited walls, it's very open air"ish" so be prepared that during hot muggy termite season nights you will be sitting in hot muggy termite season air. =)

Nice atmosphere when the weather isn't muggy outside. the food is good but they always run out of things like prime rib, lobster. that's very disappointing when you have your heart set on those items. service is not always the best.