Steve says: Cream Pot Is A Hidden Gem In Waikiki

Tucked away at the corner of Ala Wai and Niu Street in the Hawaiian Monarch Hotel is the most charming breakfast and brunch restaurant in Waikiki. Cream Pot has been around since 2008, and still remains a popular spot for tourists and locals. It’s French inspired food with a touch of Asian flare, and European-style decor that deserves just as much attention as the food.
From the outside, the adorable white garden arbor trellis with the restaurant’s name on it easily garners attention. As you walk thru this main entrance, it’s like you’re transported to a French countryside home. Walk up the stairs to a shaded outdoor patio with a sliding glass door leading into the restaurant where more unique decor awaits you.
There are rustic tiled floors and wooden tables with fanciful wire-backed cushioned chairs. In the center is a long communal table that’s perfect for large groups or a party of two. The chairs are spaced evenly so the possibility of sitting next to a total stranger isn’t awkward. Against the white stucco walls are lace curtains nicely draped and pulled back allowing a good amount of natural light into the restaurant. Each table is adorned with tiny fresh flowers, and hanging on the walls are a collection of small vintage pots and pans as well as other cute knickknacks.

This place is easily accessible for tourists staying at the hotel because the second entrance is in the lobby as you step out of the elevators. Long waits are common here, so it’s best to go when they first open early in the morning or make reservations. My Wife and I decided to go on the 4th of July. We thought that it wouldn’t be as crowded as some other restaurants for the holiday, but we still waited about 45 minutes for a table to open up. When we were finally seated, we didn’t get our menus right away. But eventually a female waitress/hostess brought them and apologized for the wait.
I started off with the Cream Pot Blend Iced Coffee & Creme ($3.75). It’s a Vietnamese style coffee, so I already expected this drink to be on the stronger side. The sweetness of the creme on top helped to balance out the bitterness of the coffee somewhat. I would have actually preferred a bigger glass for the price I paid though.
Their menu consists of mostly crepes, Belgian waffles, French toast, baked eggs, French rolled omelets and variations of eggs benedict. They also have daily specials and combos written on a chalkboard outside and hanging on the wall inside the restaurant. I love the cute laminated picture menu that accompanies the regular menu because it comes in handy if you aren’t quite sure what to order.
I decided to get the Fresh Maui Strawberries Belgian Waffles ($11.50). It’s four pieces of waffles over fresh strawberry coulis with homemade vanilla custard cream, strawberry slices and powdered sugar on top. This dish arrived to our table at room temperature, which seems to be a common issue here due to where the food is actually made, but I’ll get into more about that later. I think if it came out hot from the waffle iron, then I would have enjoyed this more. I found the strawberry coulis to be a bit watery and seemed to get absorbed by the waffles, leaving them a little soggy. If the coulis had a more syrupy consistency, then I think this dish would be better.

My Wife really liked the Maguro Eggs Benedict ($14.50) that she ordered. It’s definitely not what you would expect eggs benedict to be. They call it that simply because of how it’s made. Instead of the usual English muffins, rice cakes are created to form the bottom, which are then topped with avocado, poached eggs, shiso, daikon sprouts and slices of fresh, sashimi-style maguro. The orange miso shoyu sauce served with it is completely different from traditional Hollandaise. Also included on the plate is a nice mixed green salad. If you’re looking for a more Japanese-style breakfast, then this would be a good choice.

I’d say the highlight of our meal was the Bacon Baked Eggs ($11.00) that we got to share. I’ve never had anything like it before. This delectable dish was simply to die for! It’s two baked eggs that have fully cooked whites and soft runny yolks placed over maple-cured baked bacon, potatoes and caramelized onions with mustard sauce. All of the ingredients practically melt in your mouth and go perfectly with the crunchy baguettes that it’s served with. The fact that this was served piping hot made it taste even better. I think the baked eggs over the rest of the ingredients helped to keep the heat inside the bowl. My only complaint about this entree would be that they should offer more than just three toasted baguettes.

Now let me get back to the issue of the food temperature and preparation. There is a small area inside where drinks are prepped, but the food is actually cooked in a kitchen located a floor above the restaurant. The wait staff have to go up and down the stairs to fetch orders, so the food doesn’t arrive to your table as hot as it should be. Even though the plates are covered, this doesn’t seem to help keep the food hot enough. Service can be affected by the kitchen location too. There are about 3-4 wait staff who try to move quickly to bring orders, but if you need coffee refills or the check, then you might find yourself waiting a bit.
Cream Pot is open for breakfast and brunch daily from 6:30am to 2:30pm, closed on Tuesdays. They have 2-hour parking available at the hotel for $4.00 with validation. Try to make a note of the time on your ticket because if the wait is long, then going over the 2-hours is possible, and you may have to pay extra for parking. That’s a problem we almost ran into. Despite the possible wait times, I think the unique and sophisticated menu as well as the homey atmosphere here is worth checking out this hidden gem in Waikiki.