American

Antonio’s New York Pizzeria

4210 Wai’alae Ave. across from Kahala Mall (737-3333). Tue.-Sat. 11:30am-8:30pm, Sun noon-7:30pm. Medium cheese pizza: $11.80. Philly cheese steak: $6.99.

You can’t get a slice at Antonio’s, but it’s still the closest you’ll get to a Brooklyn pizza joint. This is also where you’ll find the closest thing to a South Philly cheesesteak, sliced prime beef on custom-made rolls.

Bob’s B-B-Q

1366 Dillingham, Blvd. (842-3663) Mon.-Thu. 6am-10pm, Fri. & Sat. 6am-11pm, Sun. 7am-10pm, MC, V.

This carriage-house style kitchen-and-counter is no secret, and when a barbeque mixed plate ($13.25) comes heavy with barbeque-smothered baby back ribs, it’s no wonder why. The food is fresh, and there’s something for everyone.

BluWater Grill

Hawai’i Kai Shopping Center, 377 Keahole St (395-6224). Mon.-Thu. 11am-11pm; Fri. & Sat. 11am-midnight; Sun. 10am-2:30pm. Appetizers: $6.95-$14.95. Entrees: $8.95-$29.95. AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V.

Contemporary American menu runs from warm seafood dip to a New York strip steak. Aiming for that elusive sweet spot between casually chic haven and family-friendly eatery, BluWater hits the suburban bull’s eye. High points: moist wok-fried moi and the al fresco waterside tables. A hotspot for Sunday brunch.

D.K. Steakhouse

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, 2552 Kalakaua Ave. at Ohua St (931-6280). Daily 5:30-10pm. Steaks: $23.95-$32.95. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

The signature rib-eye is dry-aged for 28 days, but it’s the New York skirt that has the beefiest flavor. In a town where the best-known steakhouses are branches of mainland chains, Kodama proves he can compete with the corporate big boys, and for lower prices, too.

Chinese

Legend Seafood

Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St. at River St. (532-1868). Daily 10:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm. Dim sum: $2.85-$3.75 per plate.

Legend is Honolulu’s gold standard for dim sum. Nearly every dish is textbook perfect in preparation and freshness. Look fun stuffed with scallops melt in the mouth and minifootballs of fried mochi stuffed with dried shrimp and pork are irresistibly crisp and sticky-soft.

P.F. Chang’s

1288 Ala Moana Blvd. (596-4710). Sun.-Thu. 11am-11pm, Fri.-Sat. 11am-midnight. Entrees: $10.95-$20.95. AmEx, Disc, DC, JCB, MC, V.

The chicken lettuce cups are good, and the Mongolian beef tastes like tender teriyaki. Try the lemon pepper shrimp, which cleanly showcases its namesake flavors. Among the sweet, fruity cocktails the Asian pear mojito is a highlight. With consistently good service, this is a group-friendly place.

Shanghai Bistro

Discovery Bay Center, 1778 Ala Moana Blvd. at Hobron Ln. (955-8668). Sun.-Thu. 11:30am-10pm; Fri. & Sat. 11am-1am. Starters $3-$10. Entrees: $8-$50. AmEx, DC, Disc, JCB, MC, V.

Shanghai Bistro is wall-to-wall teak–everything, from the high-backed slatted chairs to the long bar is imported from Taiwan. The restaurant aspires to fusion fare (Peking duck burger, flash-fried ahi rolls) but generally the menu yields well-done Chinese classics (kung pao chicken, whole fried sea bass).

European

Downtown @ the HiSaM

250 Hotel St. (536-5900). Mon.-Fri. 7-11am; Mon.-Sat. 11am-2pm. Food: $4-$16. AmEx, Disc, V, MC.

Chef Ed Kenney does it again with this Mediterranean-style lunch spot. The lamb lasagna and Wingnut’s Super-Sized Salad make breaking for lunch the smartest thing you’ve done all the day.

Elua Restaurant & Wine Bar

1341 Kapi’olani Blvd. (955-ELUA). Mon.-Fri. 11:30AM-2PM; dinner served daily from 6-11PM, late night wine and cheese service Fri. & Sat. from 10PM-midnight. AmEx, Disc, MC, V.

Try both sides of the menu–the French with its rich sauces and succulent seafood and the Italian with it’s perfect pasta and down-home flavors. The pan-fried veal is divine.

Italian

Buon Amici Ristorante

3605 Wai’alae Ave. (732-5999). Daily 5:30-9pm. Pastas: $18.50-$22.50, Entrees: from $20.50. MC, V.

The restaurant strives to retain Italian-style neighborhoodiness. Fresh pastas are a standout, including classic Bolognese, papardelle with sausage and pancetta and gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce.

Pasta & Basta by Donato’s

Restaurant Row (523-9999). Mon.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri. 11am-12am, Sat. 5pm-12am. MC, V.

Donato Loperfido brings quality Italian ingredients–including house-made pastas, sausage and mozzarella–to this counter-service casual eatery. Twenty-three pastas (gnocchi gorgonzola, tagliatelle Bolognese) and an appealing array of salads, pizzas and paninis make deciding what to have a very difficult task.

Japanese & Okinawan

Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas

Restaurant Row, 500 Ala Moana Blvd. at South St. (533-4476). Nightly 5:30-9:30pm. Dishes: $6.75-$21.95. AmEx, MC, V.

You can eat tapas style, ordering an assortment of small plates (recommended) or you can go the usual starter-entree-dessert route too. There are no false moves on the menu–kampachi carpaccio, braised veal cheeks, salmon chazuke–it’s all good.

Ichiriki

510 Pi’ikoi St. (589-2299). Mon.-Thu. 5-11pm, Fri. & Sat. 5pm-midnight, Sun. 5-10pm. Entrees: $15.95-$45.95. Disc, JCB, MC, V.

This nabe restaurant offers a refreshingly civilized way to dine out. The portable burners set on each tabletop soon come ablaze when the showcase Japanese hot pots arrive in either single servings in a metal pot, or in a serving for two in a washi paper-lined basket designed to absorb fat. You cook your choice of meats, vegetables and noodles in your choice of broth.

Imanas

2626 S. King St., Diamond Head of University Ave. (941-2626). Mon.-Sat. 5-11:30pm. A la carte: $2.50-$12.50. Beef shabu-shabu: $18.50. AmEx, DC, MC, V.

Exemplary classic Tokyo-style sushi is as close as you’ll come to Sushi Sasabune in this price range. Order a parade of beautifully composed plates–grilled butterfish, seaweed salad, chilled kabocha pumpkin, shabu-shabu salad–to go with sips of sake and shochu. The sake list is short but sweet.