Nico's Pier 38 - Honolulu, HI

I don't know what Guy was doing here. Nico's was not a diner, a drive-in or a dive. It was still a cool place. Nico's also has a fresh market. They are located in the industrial end of Honolulu across the street from the water on Pier 38.  This is Hawaii, so the view is still a 10 compared to almost everywhere else in the country.

They had a live band playing Hawaiian music and a swanky bar in the middle of the place. Even though you ordered at the counter then took a buzzer back to your table, this was no dive.

I got the mahi-mahi sandwich with the salad. The salad was a nice mix of fresh garden greens with an aioli sauce. Wow, we'll done! It's usually hard to get me that excited about a salad. The fish sandwich was equally good. I added a bit of soy sauce to spice it up a bit.

I would give Nico's an 8.5 because the food was great but it didn't fit the DDD model.


Nicos's Pier 38
1133 N. Nimitz Hwy
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 540-1377
www.nicospier38.com

Sophia's Place - Albuquerque, NM

My first thought was that this restaurant was kind of expensive.  I had Sophia's salad with chicken then the Panecota desert.  

They served bread which was lightly grilled sourdough.  Grilled asparagus really fresh and snappy. The tomato was a farmer fresh and deep red right through.  Very nice!  This was not ripened in the warehouse produce! A Healthy triple-d, how about that?

Pane cotta was strawberry and creamy. It was really delicious.   

Sophia's really looks like a dive on the outside, so it's within the triple-d scope.

Nice outdoor seating under a metal patio cover with the paint peeling.  I didn't care.  None of my photos came out, so you'll just have to go and see for yourself.

I would rate Sophia's a 9.0 on my own triple-d scale.

Sophia's Place
6313 4th St NW
North Valley/Los Ranchos
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 345-3935