It might be hard to define Don Ho – the restaurant is named after a Hawaiian musician, but the food leans Mediterranean. Still, a meal at Don Ho promises plenty of fun; the tropical-clad space is lined with large palms, mismatched furnishes, and fauna-themed wallpaper.
Before heading inside, grab an aperitif from its new Tiny Bubbles Bar. The cosy drinking spot has a fizzy menu dedicated to all things bubbly – champagne, cocktails, and natural wines. Try the zesty Oh Daisy Spritz! ($20), mixed with Solerno blood orange liqueur, ginger beer, grapefruit, Prosecco; or the South Side Spritz ($20) with Hendrick’s gin, Prosecco, cucumber, lemon juice, and soda. Concoctions here skew sweet and refreshing and provide a perfect accompaniment to the smoke-heavy sharing plates.
To sample what Don Ho has to offer, split a few small plates between friends. Highlights include the crispy eggplant ($16) and braised beef cheeks ($24) with truffled potato puree. Equally enticing is the orzo pasta ($16), tossed with truffle coulis and king mushroom; and charred octopus ($24) spiced with walnut and harissa pesto. The wood oven from the open kitchen also spews out smoke-kissed vegetables – and even fruit – that are worth a try. Cauliflower ($14) gets texture from its blackened tips and sliced almonds, while roasted watermelon ($14) sees a compressed disc of juicy fruit, slick with a salty marinade.