Here’s a Kaaawa flashback to 1952 for this Throwback Thursday.
In this photo, I’m sitting on the front lawn of the Crouching Lion, a restaurant my dad had just recently opened. The photo is dated: August 6, 1952. I was 11 days short of my 5th birthday.
My dad was 92 when I sat down and asked him to tell me about converting a former private home into the Crouching Lion. You can read his whole version, but here’s a teaser.
We set up a nice little kitchen. We put in tables and chairs for four people each, total seating about 60 in the living room and dining room, with a huge fireplace on one end, and it created an atmosphere that we weren’t very accustomed to in Hawaii. It made a very very nice setting.
We arranged to get a chef who was from Ireland, Joe Sheridan, and we had menus set up. We had Aggie Kellett, one of the women from the [Waikiki] Surf Club, come in as hostess and manager. So we had the chef in the kitchen, a gal in the dining room to greet the guests, and it was set up pretty much as a chafing dish-type food service from the cart to the table with fancy chafing dishes, ladles, and things of that nature.
We served luncheon and dinners. It was all specialty food. The dinners were all candle lit tables with tablecloths.Joe Sheridan, the first chef, was quite colorful with his white coat and his high crown chef’s hat working the dining room as well as the kitchen.
Carl Reber, who was manager of the Commercial Club, asked if there was any possible chance of him getting work out there. When Joe decided he was going to leave, Carl was given the job and he seemed to enjoy it.
It was outstanding, but not the point where there were a lot of people (chuckle).
We were told we were about 10 years too soon because round the island travel was not too heavy, and the attempt to get the cars to stop wasn’t too successful.
And even today, in 2014, the business has never taken off. It’s been through a series of owners over the years, and was on the market again not too long ago.
The property was offered to my dad for $85,000 back around 1954. I imagine it is now worth millions, although it seems like it has been a money pit.
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Very interesting, Mr. Ian. That’s a good story.
Shortly after it opened, my oldest sister — quite publicly separated from her estranged husband –agreed to meet with him to talk over their problems quietly at the Crouching Lion over dinner. They picked the spot not for its romantic setting but because their chances of being seen by anyone who would recognized them were considered nil at such a far off location.
It was a very special place to go. We moved here in 1963 and made a point of taking people to the Crouching Lion restaurant. And now, cannot remember the last time we were there. Beautiful location. Delighted to learn that your dad started it, Ian.
Since I was a townie and there was only the Pali Hwy., I never made it to the Crouching Lion in my youth and then only drove past it when I was a young adult. However, it is part of my memories and so I thank you once again for a trip down memory lane. Really enjoy your photos from the past and the recorded recollections of your mom and dad. Much mahalo, Ian.
Although way later in the history of the Crouching Lion restaurant, my memories are with the Slavonic steak served table side. Unfortunately as ownerships changed hands so did the food quality and preparation. My last Slavonic years ago was covered in raw garlic. Aloha Ian and Maeda, kenny
Your father left his footprints in a lot of places. He chose a beautiful location and excellent concept. I haven’t been in a while but driving past there have been tourist buses which doesn’t bode for fine dining. Also there was a marvelous art store that last seemed to have changed owners and was peddling bricabrac.
Someday someone will make it one of the iconic places to dine on Oahu and the dream will come full circle.