Overview
It's a long journey from the laneways of Melbourne to the coastal highways of Hawaii. Or at least it used to be. But come Thursday, May 4 the tropical vibes and fresh flavours of the Pacific archipelago will wash over the CBD with the opening of Hana on Little Collins Street
The latest venture from The Meatball and Wine Bar owner Matteo Bruno, Hana is billed as a raw seafood and cocktail bar, and takes its name from the scenic Road to Hana on the island of Maui. "It's sort of the equivalent to the Great Ocean Road," explains Bruno. "It traverses through mountainous jungle before it opens up to the coastline, and lands at a little town called Hana. It's that journey, that adventure, that inspired me to pursue this restaurant."
The kitchen will be manned by Hawaiian-born chef Mario Manabe, who has devised a menu that will showcase Australian seafood. According to Bruno, standout options include tuna with watermelon, coconut and lime, and kingfish with jalapeño and lemon ice. He also highlights a pair of cooked dishes, in the grilled lobster tail with shiitake mushrooms and cardamom and carrot puree, and the katsu-style pork shank with apple and cabbage.
The lunch menu includes a number of poke salads, featuring salmon, charred tuna and kingfish with citrus, watercress and snow peas. For dessert you can feast on pineapple and rum tart as well as frozen chocolate haupia, a traditional Hawaiian dessert made with coconut milk. Although dishes look technically complex, the kitchen utilises subtle touches to "elevate the natural product".
As for the drinks list, the bar boasts eight signature cocktails named after Hawaiian beaches or waterfalls on the way to Hana. The Twin Falls Junglebird combines rum and Campari with lime and fresh pineapple, while the Tequila Hoki is a mix of tequila, mezcal, ginger, lime and mint. We'd also be remiss not to mention the Honolua Bay Sharknado, a dark rum, Cointreau, orgeat, passionfruit and citrus concoction served in a vessel that looks an awful lot like the head of a shark. A number of Hana's cocktails can also be upgraded to a 'volcano', which are designed to be shared between two and four people.
"We want you to feel like you're on a bit of a holiday when you turn up," says Bruno. "Especially coming into winter. We'll have the heater on, the candles on, so you can sit back with a piña colada in your hand and relax."
Hana will open on Thursday, May 4 at 212 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. For more information, visit hanarestaurant.com.au.