Duke's on Sunday

Southern California conjures up thoughts of sun-drenched beaches, palm trees and surfers in search of the perfect wave.  There is also the promise of the good life, lived at your own pace, surrounded by good friends, good food and great stories.  Duke’s may be a Hawaiian based restaurant, but Duke’s Malibu encompasses this California dreaming.

Duke’s is nestled along the PCH and the ocean, with spectacular views from Point Dume down to Palos Verdes.  There is street parking along the PCH but why bother when you can valet.   Once inside, the smells from the kitchen floated on the breeze as we walked past a thatched roof decor on our way to the table.  The place was full but it was easy to accommodate the 15 of us who traveled to Malibu to celebrate Greg, a fellow foodie’s, birthday.

Birthday Boy

Even though we were there for the brunch buffet the service was impeccable, coffee was always being filled and the mimosas and bloody marys continuously flowed to our table by a genuinely happy wait staff, who can blame them considering their office.  Between trips to the buffet we watched dolphins leap out of the water and surfers clad in wetsuits catch waves.  Along with the typical brunch fare of scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes, the buffet offered the freshest fruit along with authentic Hawaiian cuisine.  The Tahitian Ceviche and Hawaiian Poke made for a great first pass.

The second trip required a stop at the omelet station where choices included shrimp and crab among your usual favorites.  The savory omelet contrasted well with the sweet waffle covered in amoretto, coconut cream and blueberries.  Although completely full, a final trip through the line was needed to have some more of the Kalua Pork, a traditional dish of smoked meat and cabbage.  As we shared stories about our first encounter with the birthday boy we were graced with a huge slice of macadamia nut ice cream, on top of a chocolate cookie crust, smothered in chocolate fudge and whipped cream, known as Hula Pie. It's actually better than it sounds, much like the California Life we Live.