Romano's Macaroni Grill opening tomorrow

[aline]

I have been to a macaroni grill on the mainland,really poor imitation of Italian food with a high price.Dont feel bad you are not missing a thing.Let Kona have it

[macuu222]

They had a soft opening Friday and Saturday last weekend for friends, family and special guests so that the new staff could iron out the kinks. It was reported that the food was surprisingly good for a chain restaurant as was the service. Prices were very reasonable. The menu was pretty heavily chicken..but had a little bit of everything including rib eye steak, fresh local fish and salads and a complete bar.

Guess I should try it out! Who knows...I may just like it.

[Cathi]

There are some places open in Hilo after 8 pm, if you are ready for "local" food, Nori's(1 am), Osaka, Miyos, Cronies(?)okay-more mainland, but open. Kuhio Grill and the list goes on. I agree, it would be great if we had more places open later, but do we really want more restaurants that look like we are living somewhere else? I appreciate any and all new businesses to Hawaii-our own business depends on it-but at what sacrifice? I am 4th generation big islander and was a local kid "pining" for McDs-goodness the first one now sits where the YMCA and one of the oldest churches in Hilo stood....AND like other posters on this thread pointed out, no one can make a company open its doors where there is no heavy traffic to support it.

[rasman]

Why do we want to look like the mainland or Oahu or Kona? Why do I hear so many people who move here say things like; " I love it here, if only they had a Trader Joes or a Circuit City"? Please! What we need to do is help to support existing local business and /help promote new local businesses that will retain our island's ( at least Hilo side) uniquness. Uniquness is what brings the tourism dollars that Lingle and the Chamber of Commerce are so caught up in.
Not that tourism should be our main focus, but like Pilago said, if we make Hawaii Island a great place to live for ourselves, people will want to come and check it out. This must include a strong, sustainable economy. The more "outside" businesses we bring in, the further we'll be from such a scenario.

[missydog1]

Waikoloa looks more and more all the time like San Diego suburbs (or somewhere where the houses are stucco and the roofs aren't tin) ... and I hate it. The new "island style" isn't island style at all; it's pseudo-island style.

I don't at all yearn for more chain restaurants Hilo side.
OTOH, the fast food franchise blight is so bad here, it couldn't get much worse.

[Bob Orts]

quote:

---

Originally posted by rasman

Why do we want to look like the mainland or Oahu or Kona? Why do I hear so many people who move here say things like; " I love it here, if only they had a Trader Joes or a Circuit City"?

---

Because they didn't fall in love with this Hawaii, they fell in love with their mainland version of Hawaii. Think about this, nobody wants a reduction of development in an area until after they have developed and they have what they want from development.

[Devany]

AMEN AMEN AMEN! You are both so right. It is sad but true. I may miss the Trader Joe's value wines... but nothing can compare with the Hilo Farmer's Market! Nor with the sunrises over Hilo Bay... or being able to grow your own ANYTHING for very little cost. Hawaiian Style should be the ONLY style on the BI. Oahu can have all of the commerce and glitter and Kona can HAVE Macaroni Grill. Gross.[B)]

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com


Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

Devany Vickery-Davidson
East Bay Potters
www.eastbaypotters.com

[Loretta]

I must disagree with certain posters on this thread. Some of us enjoy a chain restuarant and shopping at some of the big box stores. Some of us NEED the cost savings that go along with these establishments. Some of us have been here for quite a few years and the cuteness and charm of old town Hilo has worn off to some degree. We just want to go into town and get what we need at reasonable prices and hope that what we need that week is available...in other words...that the shelves are not bare!! And, not everything can be grown here. Much of the produce available here is of inferior quality, especially if you should possibly want something that cannot be grown locally. After you have lived here for awhile you will see what I am talking about.

One of the funny things I noticed this week....I need some new shorts for every day living. There are NO shorts for sale at Macy's right now. Macy's buyers have decided that what we need here in Hawaii right now is velour type warm-up suits, sweaters and woolen capes etc. I do not need these....I need shorts. Walmart is also carrying the winter type clothes right now. It is all very frustrating to say the least. Previously to living here I never shopped for clothing at Walmart....but now it is one of the only options.

I for one am looking forward to trying the new Macaroni Grill over in Kona. I also had a great time on my trip over there a couple of weeks ago visiting the new Petco store with my dogs. And, I cannot wait for the new Target to open in Hilo. Just my 2 cents worth!!

[macuu222]

Loretta...I agree with you 100%. There are some things that are a necessity that local stores do not carry. And the competition among larger chain stores lowers our prices and helps many of us make ends meet.

I love living in Hawaii but I also love eating out and would like to see new places to try regardless if they are a local or a chain restaurant. Variety is the spice in life and just makes living here that much more pleasurable for me.

[Guest]

I can honestly say that I have not shopped at Macy's even once since it opened in Hilo!

There is not one thing in there that I would consider a necessity!

Now my wife on the other hand... Guess it's a female thing

-------
My Blog