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Brent's Restaurant & Delicatessen - CLOSED
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Brent's Restaurant & Delicatessen
Review Highlights
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"did I mention the corned beef sandwich and coleslaw." In 4 reviews -
"The meat is excellent (I always get pastrami." In 9 reviews -
"Freindly staff we came late and still welcomes us." In 3 reviews
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Edmund L.
HI
11/29/2010
I did not know this place has been closed down for almost a year. Now that I have discovered this, I AM ENRAGED!!!!!!!!!!! There is absolutely no other place on the island to get this type of food. EERRRRR!!!! After the demise of that Jewish place in Manoa and now this place, all hope is lost.
-the food here is absolutely great. the sandwiches from pastrami to corned beef is excellent. the coleslaw they pair with it makes it feel like a complete homely reunion in your tummy.
-this place was quality and they did what they specialized in to their best. the owner was from LA where there is a huge Jewish population where they don't skimp on their sandwiches and they don't settle for mediocre quality and he had a good restaurant there as well.
-they sold their meats by the pound and you could sit in or take out. the workers were quite friendly and even if you asked for takeout, they wouldn't mind if you found a seat somewhere and just ate your meal there.
-did I mention the corned beef sandwich and coleslaw? the baklava they serve is actually pretty good too. they have a big breakfast crowd and every time I have been there, the place has been brimming with activity of happy looking customers.
-the only place that calls themselves a "deli" and actually had gourmet meat sandwiched like pastrami and corned beef. too many other places here have the word "deli" attached to their name and sell nothing of the sort. the word "delicatessen" implies that cold cuts and such meats are sold in the shop but nowhere honors that but this place.
to the owner of the best and only authentic jewish style corned beef sandwich, RIP. sad to see this place go -
Review from Jainnie J.
Colorado Springs, CO
5/26/2008
I also like Brent's. This place can be bustling, but everyone is always really nice, the cooks are jammin' behind the counter, and people always seem to be enjoying their onolicious meals.
I've enjoyed the Eggs Benedict, the Spanish-style omelette, Gabrielle's Country Omelette, Bruschetta (can't remember the exact name), Waffles, and big slab o' ham (which is not the name, but how it looked to me...mmmmm). Their deli sandwiches, which I have not tried yet, are HUGE! They offer an extensive selection for both breakfast and lunch, and serve breakfast ALL DAY.
They are tucked around the corner from Long's in Kailua, next door to Goodwill. -
Review from Russel M.
10/31/2009
Mile High Pastrami Sandwich was above average.
The best is still in LA at Langer's.
Everything else at Brent's was good. Recommended. -
Review from Mark Y.
12/3/2009
Went here for breakfast a couple of times, the first time was good, second time, not so good. Both times we came late morning so it wasn't too crowded. I hear it does get packed in the morning hours though.
I should point out that the place isn't visible from the street so it might be hard to find the first time you go there. It's kind of in back of the building, on the side, if that makes any sense.
The first time, I had the Loco Moco which was a huge portion, but what actually made it huge was the amount of rice. Way too much rice in comparison to the hamburger patties. I'm japanese with a big appetite and love my rice but I actually left some on the plate it was so much. The gravy and the eggs were OK.
My friend had the Beef brisket sandwich with cole slaw. He said the meat tasted good and wasn't too fatty. The cole slaw, he said, was average.
We also got an order of blintzes to share, I'd say you could skip these. The farmer's cheese that it was filled with didn't have that crumbly texture and tasted more like plain cream cheese from the supermarket.
The second visit, my friend had the Pastrami sandwich which he said wasn't as good as the brisket. The portion of meat looked kind of small too compared to how much came with the brisket sandwich.
I had a Southwest omelette with an order of potatoes. The omelette was overcooked unfortunately and was dry but the potatoes were even worse. I think they were cooked in a big batch early in the morning and sat under a warmer or something. We ate near noon so by the time I got my hands on them, they were like leather, pretty much inedible. The waitress did offer to exchange them for some fries or rice but the omelette was filling enough.
Overall, I guess the food is OK, nothing really outstanding though. Some good things going for it is it has a huge menu, and they also serve free home made pickles. I'm not a pickle person so didn't try any but my friend said they were good. -
Review from Joj o.
Honolulu, HI
5/20/2008
I'm going to be the only dissenter so far, but I really like Brent's, and so does everybody I know who's been there. I haven't experienced any of the problems of past reviewers. It can be a little slow, but the wait staff and front desk were very nice every time. No complaints about the (men's) bathroom.
As for the food, this is the only place I've found here in HI where you can get an honest-to-goodness, real deli sandwich. I've been drawn in to a few places in town that have delicatessen in their names, only to be disappointed to find no deli, but Chinese/Japanese/Polynesian food (wtf?). Brent's is an authentic Jewish deli, and it's awesome.
The bread is fresh, and tastes great. The meat is excellent (I always get pastrami). The pickles are as good as any deli I've been too. The potato latkes are wicked good. The potato salad is simple, and tastes good. ~$10 for a sandwich seems like a lot, but for the quantity (a solid 1.5-2" of meat), and quality, you really can't get any better. I pay ~7-8 for a deli sandwich back home, so I figure add in an "eating in Hawai'i" fee, and the sandwich is priced just right.
Sandwiches I've gotten, and loved:
Regular pastrami on rye.
New York Sky High - Pastrami (or corned beef or brisket), coleslaw, Russian dressing. Sort of a modified Reuben.
Whenever I come over Kailua side, I make sure to stop by Brent's. Except Mondays. They're closed on Mondays.
They also sell their meats by the pound, and their sides in containers. -
Review from Bethany N.
Honolulu, HI
12/13/2009
Their food is good but you can only get certain things on certain days, i.e., clam chowder on Fridays. I came specifically one day for biscuits and gravy but alas, they'd already run out. If you make it on the correct day before they're sold out of whatever your query is it's great but sometimes it sucks when you have your heart set on something and don't get it.
I really enjoyed the Reuben I had here as well.
Pregnant women beware: there are buckets of homemade pickles set out on the tables. Can we say disaster? -
Review from Christopher C.
Kaneohe, HI
9/11/2009
Visit: 9/6/09 - Lunch. Had Pastrami Sandwich and denver omelet.
Pastrami Sandwich was really good today. I was really hungry so the size looked small. Fries that came with, were perfect.
Denver Omelet was really good too.
Service was good because we came late. 1:55pm they almost closed on us.
Price were good. We spent around $20 or so dollars for the 2 of us.
I will come back. -
Review from Keoki H.
Kaneohe, HI
1/21/2009
2 stars almost got 1 star but they not horrible just not worth it.
Hate to be one of the lone complainers but I just don't see why the high reviews. Lines to await seating are short I have never been more than 2 families deep but still wait to be seated at open tables that I can see.
This because the waitress scatter past you like they don't see you so you wait to be seated until they seem to realize they need to seat you.
The waitress scattering around without getting much accomplished leads to poor service at the table. Again one of my favorite complaints in my reviews "your everywhere except filling my coffee cup". I starting to think not filling my coffee cup is a ploy to save money. Here I believe it's basicily because the waitress just don't have themselves organized.
They do have a long menu your bound to find something you like. But eh the food just okay and the place is a little pricey but it is Kailua town.
I have eaten breakfast a couple times and I rate this a tad pricey and just okay.
I have eaten lunch a couple times and they call themselves a Deli??????? eh!! their sandwiches does not even come close to a true Deli and Arby's piles on more meat on their sandwiches.
I would not suggest kid's I don't think they can maintain with the wait unless you can satisfy them with the free pickle chunks on the table to munch on awaiting your order.
High point, Yes they have free pickle chuncks to munch on.
May I suggest Time's Coffee Shop out in Temple Valley mall.
Koa Pancake house in Kaneohe or Navy Exchange (PX) outer shopping area. -
Review from Papaya M.
Kailua, HI
1/6/2009
A nice breakfast/brunch place in Kailua that is an alternative to the long lines nearby.
I've enjoyed LATKES here a lot, they are so yummy and filling.
The SANDWICHES are huge on the meat - share with a friend who has a smaller appetite.
The OMLETTES are really good - a problem is often which one to pick!
I like sitting outside, but I am willing to shussh away a bird here and there.
The downside is nothing seems "healthy" and the oil is not spared - so don't plan on any other big meals that day! -
Review from Kristen C.
Waipahu, HI
12/28/2009
Drove from the other side of the island just to get here before it finally closes. We were even lucky that it opened on a monday when they usually dont but since its the last week of service its not a surprise. Upon arriving at round 11, the place wasnt too crowded with a few open tables here and there. Being its last week and all I was expecting it to be really crowded but I guess since it was a monday, not too many people knew it was going to be open. Oh well, either way, good for us since we didnt have to wait.
The service was a bit slow but when we finally ordered, my dad and I got hot pastrami sandwiches with coleslaw ($10.50 each) and my sis got the half turkey sandwich with a cup of soup of the day (chicken w/ rice) with french fries ($7.50 + .95 extra to sub fries). After our order was placed the waitress brought us a small tub of pickles. Just a little while after our finally arrived. Since I LOVE pastrami sandwiches I was expecting something really great, especially for $10+, but it was just a-ok. Nothing really spectacular but it was still good. It would have been better if the pastrami was hot like it says but it was only warm. There were no dressings on the sandwich, just meat, but there was deli some mustard on the table along with jalapeno and regular tabasco. The also ran out of coleslaw so they gave us potato salad, I wish they had told us beforehand though because I wanted to try the 3 bean salad instead, o wells. My dad is also a pastrami lover and he likes the more fatty and more marinated type of pastrami so this did really do it for him. Service was a bit slow in getting the bill and some takeout boxes but overall i'm still glad that I got to try Brent's before they close. Too bad I didnt go there before because their other menu items sound pretty good too. -
Review from Nick Y.
Kailua, HI
Updated - 12/15/2009
Scheduled to close on 12/31/09. Damn. Now where will I get my Reuben Burger (a reuben with an additional 1/4lb burger patty)? Whole Foods? I doubt it.
Listed in: Windward Brunch
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/12/2009
$9.75 Meatloaf Loco Moco...so big...couldn't finish. Need...sleep...now. Read more »
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Review from sita l.
Honolulu, HI
4/5/2009
Rueben sandwhich. That's it for me. Love the service. Waitresses are great and very patient and friendly. Sorry, I know, limited experience, but I will drive from town to pick one of these puppies up!!
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Review from carol l.
5/5/2009
Great east coast style deli! the corn beef rueben rocks have it with the potatoe salad! MMMmmm guud!! Freindly staff we came late and still welcomes us!!
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Review from Nani S.
Kailua, HI
2/10/2009
I've tried all the popular Kailua breakfast places. I go to Brent's when I want variety. Their menu is extensive! I've never tried an omelet I didn't love there. Reminds me of a New York style deli.
Listed in: Best Breakfast in Kailua
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Review from Nikki M.
New York, NY
12/4/2008
Macadamia nut pancakes are fabulous!! I would love to try something else but everytime we go I succumb to the usual. Service is hit or miss, but what place isn't? Who cares, at the very worst you have to gaze out the huge windows at the abundant palm trees and revel in the nearby ocean air for a little longer- Im sure you'll live.
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Review from Rob G.
1/12/2010
Love the food, hate the fact that they run out of stuff so early. We made it for a late lunch (arrived about 1:15, waited for 30 minutes for a seat) and they were out of pastrami and roast beef by the time we got our orders in. What we did get was really tasty though. I sure hope that someone is able to take over the business from the previous owners!
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Review from Charlie D.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2005
Frequently hear the manager screaming at his employees, the waitstaff will let you wait until you have grown grey hair. The food causes a need for Tums.....
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Review from Sara C.
Montour Falls, NY
1/4/2009
Love Brent's for brunch!! If room can sit outside, huge omelet menu (like, we have to go every Sunday for the next 6 months to get them all - working on it - then there's the rest of the menu, yum!), good service, and the waitresses don't give the side-eye if you have special orders. Food hasn't taken long for us, but we have the Sunday paper to read while we wait, so... thumbs up from me! Lunch menu looks awesome too, but haven't tried yet.
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Review from David G.
Honolulu, HI
8/11/2009
I have been to Brents only a few times and overall the place isn't really that good. The food is OK I guess, but coupled with the fact that service is slow and the place is beyond dirty I would recommend going somewhere else. Brent's deli items are also not that good. They try to be a New York style deli offering traditional East Coast fare, but they come up short with their quality as well as their execution. I think with so many other quality restaurants in Hawaii you can do much better than to eat at Brent's... Sorry...
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Review from Spleen T.
Honolulu, HI
6/14/2009
Best sandwich I've had since NYC. Pastrami, corned beef on rye - the addition of swiss, tomato, and Russian dressing was an interesting touch. Pastrami was nice and juicy, the rye was wonderfully soft. Everything that I would want from a deli. Coleslaw wasn't bad either!
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Review from Joel S.
Washington, DC
7/24/2009
Been coming here for years. Great food, convenient location, average service, a bit pricey. Just had the #14 omelette: shrimp, bacon, cream cheese and guacamole: delicious! But costing $12.
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Review from Elyssa X.
Honolulu, HI
8/11/2009
If you like pancakes, NOTHING beats their Macadamia and Coconut pancakes with Coconut syrup! Priced right at $7 too!
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Review from Jenn C.
Austin, TX
9/5/2009
I haven't tried the any of the breakfast food, but the sandwiches are great, especially any of the varieties/twists on a reuben. The corned beef and pastrami and both excellent as are the potato and mac salad. The sandwiches are a little pricy at $10-11, but they come with a choice of salad and they really do load on the meat. My favorite sandwich place on Oahu.
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Review from Stuart R.
Honolulu, HI
3/28/2009
The perfect spot for breakfast or lunch, great service, wonderful real deli food and moderate prices. Go for a great brunch on your way home from church or a great lunch on your way to the beach. FREE Dill pickles on every table!
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Review from S n J O.
Kaneohe, HI
7/23/2009
We liked the ruebens!
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Review from mako h.
Honolulu, HI
6/29/2008
What a bummer Sunday breakfast,,, kimo's had a line 2 miles long so on recommendations from a friend we scooted over to Brents. It was fairly busy but there was 3 tables with no one at them that was ready for the next group, still we waited for 15 minutes, other ppl came and sat right down at tables outside (a couple inside moved from a 2 seater to a 4 seater right in front of us) finally got seated and orders taken, the pancakes was very good (mac/coconut) My order came with rice (I ordered hash brown) so the waitress took it back and started argueing with the chef, everyone in there could hear it but no one seemed to flitch so I guess it's an everyday thing here, after about 2 minutes of argueing my plate arrives, (I should have taken the rice afterall, the hash brown sucked big time) I ordered eggs portagee sausage and hash browns $10 (i was hoping for a little better for a 10 buck plate of eggs) sausage sucked and was overdone (Govea's would have been much better) and the hash,,, well lets say ,, way to thick and still full of oil, which puddled up in the plate as time went on. Wife got these wrap things, with cream cheese inside and strawberry preserve to dip in, discusting, she took 2 bites and gave it to our own little personal garbage disposal and she couldn't even eat it, (yikes that's a first). The waitress that served us at least was ok and give her "props" for fighting the chef on my behalf.... DEFINETLY will NEVER be going here again,,, next time i'll take a book so waiting @ Kimo's won't seem so long
Listed in: Businesses that really suck!!
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Review from Gwen S.
Honolulu, HI
3/17/2008
I used to have a restaurant review book that included a rating for restrooms. This place would get the lowest rating, indicated by a cracked toilet icon. One time we went there and the cold water tap in the restroom was broken. The water coming out of the hot water tap was scalding -- amazing that no one sued them! Then we started noticing how dirty everything was -- tables, glasses, etc. The restaurant inspectors should drag themselves away from Sekiya's to look at Brent's.
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Review from KaimukiMan H.
Honolulu, HI
3/21/2010
they are indeed closed. a friend wanted to go there, i called to check the hours and got a disconnect message. went on line to find out they closed at the end of the year. now there is no place to go on Oahu for a real pastrami sandwhich.
