Once a year, the staff at Lei Lei’s Bar & Grill swap their green polo shirts for some swankier threads, board a rented party bus and head to Honolulu where their bosses treat them to dinner at Morton’s and an unforgettable night on the town. Ian Buscher and Mike Neubert, the smart owners of the lively bar and grill, recognize that taking care of their staff–like having everyone sit down for a collective shift meal each night–makes for happy employees, which translates into sincerely good service.

Janine makes a mean margarita.

That is a big contributing factor in the easygoing, hospitable vibe that pervades the dining room at Lei Lei’s. Another factor, obviously, is its resort location. At any given time, some of the clientele are on vacation–and the ocean does a pretty good job at tempering stress levels for the rest of the North Shore patrons. Additionally, the open-air setting (half the rectangular bar is indoors, the other half outdoors) overlooking Turtle Bay Resort’s Palmer Course lends itself to the kind of breezy, island-style atmosphere for casual but classy eats and drinks that, before Lei Lei’s came along, was only to be found at Jameson’s or Haleiwa Joe’s.

But Lei Lei’s did come along, and the North Shore had a new hangout. As its popularity grew, and so did its cache of regulars. It’s a favorite (and convenient) watering hole for off-duty Turtle Bay staffers. It’s the unofficial after-party for the formal banquets and events at the hotel (Hawaiian Tropics pageant, anyone?). And it’s a field day for star-struck voyeurs seeking to mingle with the rich and the famous staying at the seaside cottages–Owen Wilson, Julia Roberts and Helen Hunt have all stopped in for a visit–to name a few A-Listers. This year, Lei Lei's celebrates its seventh anniversary. (Has it been seven years already?) If you're going for dinner, reservations are recommended.

Lei Lei’s Bar & Bar & Grill

Turtle Bay Resort, 57-049 Kuilima Dr., 293-2662

Getting there: Take your first left after the resort's guard shack. Don’t forget to get your parking ticket validated.
Dress Code: Resort casual, which, for locals and surfers, means their fancy slippahs.
Sightings: Owen Wilson, Helen Hunt, Julia Roberts, Kelly Slater, Jack Johnson, Andy Irons
Signature Dish: Go with the fresh catch and opt for the garlic mashed potatoes.

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