SO BAD, BUT SO GOOD

There are seven days before it's time to make New Year's resolutions that are sure to include eating healthier. So how about one last greasy, deep-fried, calorie-rich hurrah? We have a few suggestions for a pre-resolution binge.

THE COUNTER BURGER

Patties come in three sizes — 1/3-pound, 2/3-pound and a whopping 1-pound behemoth — and even the smallest of the bunch is big ($8.95-$13.95). Go all the way and pile the burger high with mayo, lots of cheese, fried onions, bacon, a fried egg ... you get the idea.

The Counter, Kahala Mall, 4211 Wai'alae Ave., 739-5100

DEEP-FRIED CHICKEN SKIN

At Tanabe's Superette, you get fried chicken, hold the chicken. Because everyone knows the best part of fried chicken is the extra-crispy skin, and Tanabe's deep-fried chicken skin ($2.50) is splendidly sinful.

Tanabe's Superette, 934 Ke'eaumoku St., 949-8301

SHORT RIB LOCO MOCO

At Kanpai Bar & Grill, the loco moco gets taken to a whole new calorie-laden level with the short-rib loco moco that combines rice, slow-braised short ribs, a fried egg, a scoop of mac salad and tons of brown gravy ($12).

Kanpai Bar & Grill, 404 Ward Ave., 593-9202

BIG KAHUNA'S MEAT LOVER'S PIZZA

This giant pie is a meat pizza on steroids — it comes topped with seven kinds of meat: pepperoni, bacon, kalua pork, Italian sausage, ham, Portuguese sausage and slow-roasted brisket ($19.95). Um, could we get that with Spam?

Big Kahuna Pizza, 550 Paiea St., 833-5588

ISLAND ENOTECA

Famed Island chef Donato Loperfido has done it again ó he's opened a restaurant that people can't help but crow about. His latest culinary endeavor is Sapori Enoteca/Birreria, an Italian-style enoteca that specializes in tapas, beer and hard-to-find wines. Having recently closed his two other restaurants, Pasta & Basta and Elua (which he co-owned with chef Philippe Padovani), Loperfido wasted no time in turning the 'Elua space in the Uraku Towers on Kapi'olani Boulevard into a classy, but comfy, late-night dining spot.
And if the word about town can be trusted (and we have good reason to believe it can), Sapori is the next best thing in the Honolulu dining scape.

SMALL BITES

THAT'S A WRAP

At the new eatery Wraps & Rolls (Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 535-9727) the motto is "local favorites, but a little healthier." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. The takeout counter wraps up all kinds of summer rolls filled with everything from turkey breast to crab to smoked salmon ó and all of it is light and lean.

FOOD NEWS

Chef James Matsukawa, who was featured in a Dec. 11 TGIF review of new Kaimukí restaurant Umi no Sachi, has since left the restaurant. The restaurant is temporarily closed, but plans to reopen.
Ka Restaurant & Lounge, the latest culinary-slash-nightclub addition to the Ward Centre complex, will hold its grand opening from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. tomorrow. Ka, whose menu is described as "local fusion," is located in the former E&O Trading Co. space. Though the lounge has been operating for about two weeks, the restaurant part of the endeavor is just getting started. The grand-opening party includes complimentary pupu.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa's Ciao Mein restaurant (2424 Kaläkaua Ave, 'Ewa Tower, third floor) is now offering a special holiday menu, available through Wednesday. The menu includes clay pot steamed scallops; chicken broth with lobster won tons; lobster and shrimp ravioli with roma tomato concasse; osso bucco; prime sirloin with extra-virgin olive oil, garlic and herbs, as well as a hazelnut-infused pot de creme with white-chocolate ginger ice cream. The menu is $55 per person. Reservations can be made by calling 237-6140.
Ocean House, in the Outrigger Reef Hotel (2169 Kalia Road), is best known for its sunset dinners, but it now serves breakfast (7-11 a.m. Monday-Saturday) and Sunday brunch (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) too. Call 923-2277 for reservations.