March Restaurant of The Month : The Honu
This week will mark the 6th anniversary of one of our team’s favorite places to eat, drink and socialize in Dunedin, The Honu Restaurant and Tiki Bar. We love it so much that we held our annual year-end company meeting at their outdoor Tiki Bar area last year. Located right off of Main at 516 Grant Street in Downtown Dunedin, Florida you can discover this relaxing getaway. Not only is the restaurant great but the owner’s are even cooler, meet Kimberly and Lisa Platt. READ TO THE END FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.
Kimberly grew up in Chicago and spent her summers in Michigan on her grandparents’ farm. She learned a lot about fresh food and country living, even being taught how to skin a cow. Her grandfather was the State Meat Inspector of Michigan and Kimberly went on to work for her parents’ Food Safety Business for 12 years. When Kimberly’s position with the company was eliminated, she took some time in Hawaii to find herself and search for her calling. She decided to attend Culinary School and become a restaurateur. Kimberly has such a passion for food that she wears it on her sleeve, and I mean literally. She rocks a super cool tattoo designed from colorful pics of fruits and veggies that reads “BE NICE TO FOOD” on her forearm. That’s passion!
Kimberly and Lisa became good friends over 16 years ago while bartending and waiting tables together at a small Italian Restaurant here in Pinellas County. Kimberly admits she had a little crush on Lisa for a long time but the timing was just never really right. One day, Lisa called to tell Kimberly that she was returning from serving in the US Army abroad in Germany. At this time, Kimberly and Lisa decided to give the relationship a true shot at love.They chose to meet in Paris and had their first date atop the Eiffel tower. That’s what I call a recipe for romance!
The Honu, a.k.a. “ The Turtle '' in Hawaiian, is a name that evolved from Kimberly and Lisa’s food truck & Taco shack on Indian Rock’s Beach, Charlie Tulum’s Dos Tacos. They named it after Charlie Tulum. Charlie is a sea turtle that made its way from Tulum, Mexico to its current residence on Indian Rocks Beach, Florida by way of a shirt pocket. Charlie was unharmed and very loved as Lisa is also a certified vet tech. She has a passion for animals, especially dogs, which makes working in Dog-edin even better.
One of the original designs for the logo.
The Food at The Honu is incredibly Delicious! The Honu gets fresh fish straight from Hawaii that arrives at the restaurant in less than 48 hrs. Now that’s fresh. Kimberly and Lisa actually visited the fish facility in Hawaii and spoke to how amazingly clean and sanitary it is. They truly care about the quality of the food they’re serving. Ono, also known as Wahoo, was being delivered on the day we were conducting our interview. In the Hawaiian language ‘Ono with the okina means delicious so you can only imagine the taste of the fish it’s name originates from. It’s a MUST TRY. The Dos Tacos on the menu, from the famous Charlie Tulum’s Dos Tacos days, are another fan favorite. If you want something off the beaten path then I highly recommend the Fire Dancing Plate or the Pupu Platter. No matter what you choose, you won’t be disappointed! Remember, This is Tiki Style and Hawaiian food, not your typical American cuisine. Live a little and explore the menu for all of the unique options available.
The Honu is transforming Downtown Dunedin into a tropical island where everyone is encouraged to embrace the true meaning of Polynesian Tiki Lifestyle. It’s like taking a day trip to the Hawaiian Islands without having to travel! When we asked Kimberly what the Tiki lifestyle meant to her, she replied “ It's escapism. It's getting away.” Tiki Bars have the ability to transform anywhere into an escape from reality.
The Honu is open Wednesday through Sunday with live music every day. Ladies night, also known as ukulele nights, are always on Thursdays. On the second Sunday of the Month The Honu hosts a drum circle and the first Wednesday of the Month is women's drum circle night, so only women are allowed to attend. Other events coming up include, Fire dancers and hula girls on March 12th weekend with roasting a full pig, street vendors, and much more. Another fun event hosted by The Honu is Luscious Ladies which also consists of a Ladies Drum Circle. This is a ladies-night event in April on Wednesday, the date is TBA. Connect on Facebook for the event details.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - COMING VERY SOON TO THE HONU RESTAURANT AND TIKI BAR:
“Ka - Pakele” Rum Bar. Dunedin’s first and only true Rum Bar gets the name from the Hawaiian language which means “ The Escape”. Lisa is a rum aficionado who has compiled an amazing collection of rums from around the world to serve to her friends and customers. You can even catch her guest bartending from time to time. Lisa is currently pursuing a certification as a Rummelier. The chill vibes, drinks and great people will make you go from stressing about life and using technology to leaning your head back and soaking up the island vibes. Tiki living is a lifestyle and could be embraced anywhere. We are lucky that Kimberly and Lisa have brought this lifestyle they love so much to Dunedin. Hope to see you all at The Honu soon!
