Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill continues legacy of food and family in Provo
-
- From L-R: Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill ownersOmai, Will and Tama Crichton pose for a photo in front of the banner dedicated to their brother Tui who passed away in 2001.
-
- Al Crichton founded Sweet’s Island Grill naming it after his wife Sweet, who is currently serving a mission at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. Al passed away in 2002 at the age of 50.
-
- Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill is located at 711 West Columbia Lane in Provo.
-
- Food is served at Sweet’s Island Grill in Provo.
-
- The menu at Sweet’s Island Grill in Provo.
-
- Celebrating the Polynesian Culture is a big part of the Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill experience.
-
- Family and longtime customers often lead graduation and marriage announcements on the walls of the restaurant.
-
- Celebrating the Polynesian Culture is a big part of the Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill experience.
-
- Celebrating the Polynesian Culture is a big part of the Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill experience.
-
- Otai drinks of various flavors are a favorite of Sweet’s customers.
Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill on Columbia Lane in Provo is more than a place to get great Polynesian food. It is a place where love and family are really the secret ingredients to its success.
The genesis of Sweet’s, as it is more commonly called, started in 1994 as the “Little Grass Shack” which was located on University Avenue. The store was opened by Al Crichton and another family member, and — according to Al’s daughter Omai who now runs the restaurant with her two brothers Will and Tama — was originally a Polynesian market that offered some hot food choices as a side business.
Then in 1996, the Little Grass Shack moved to Columbia Lane and became Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill. The first building was tiny and always packed. Word of mouth made it a very popular retreat, especially among the Provo High faithful, both students and faculty alike. Let’s just say when I was a coach at the school, a group of us frequented Sweet’s on a regular basis.
Al, and his wife Sweet who the grill is named after, always greeted us with a big smile and extra large portions. And let’s just say the normal portions are quite generous.
Al passed away at age 50 in 2002 but Sweet’s carried on with Sweet now running the restaurant with her children. Business stayed so brisk that it became evident a bigger building was needed so Sweet’s took over the building next door which still serves as its current location.
Every time I go into Sweet’s I feel much like the character Norm entering the Cheers bar as Omai and her brothers always greet me with a “Hey Coach” shout out. For the purposes of open disclosure I taught Omai and coached both Will and Tama in football and wrestling and let’s just say my affinity for the Crichton family supersedes my love for the delicious food they provide.
The death of Al wasn’t the only tragedy the Crichton family had to endure. Omai, Will and Tama had a younger brother, Tui, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 30. Tui played football at BYU and a banner of him is proudly displayed behind the counter where you order your food.
But you will see other aspects of the family atmosphere in Sweet’s. Dotting the interior walls are wedding and graduation announcements of both family members and loyal customers.
Family and family time is so important to the Crichtons that Sweet’s is a lunch only establishment opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 4 p.m. though sometimes it might close earlier if all the food sells out. I personally love the pork or Kalua Pig and I highly recommend not waiting much past 2 p.m. or risk it being gone. Even as Sweet’s stays open only five hours for the sit-down dining experience, the Crichton siblings cater everything from wedding receptions to business events.
“We have plenty of catering events on the weekends to keep us busy,” said Omai. But family and family time is always the first priority for the Crichton clan.
“Family is so important to us that we’ll close the restaurant for family stuff,” Omai added.
Sweet is serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. It was at BYU-Hawaii where Sweet and Al actually met. Sweet is Tongan and Al was of Samoan descent though Hawaii is a very important element to their family history. And though Samoa and Tonga have had their issues with each other over the centuries, that didn’t prevent a love connection between Al and Sweet.
“It is very rare (for Samoans and Tongans to get along to marry) but those two did,” said Omai.
It should be noted that some of the spirit behind Little Grass Shack remains as Omai will make and sell leis and April through early June are busy due to high school and college graduations. A memory I will treasure was a lei Sweet made for me for my last graduation ceremony as a teacher and coach at Provo High School.
“Making leis with my mother was something I have always enjoyed,” Omai said.
According to Omai, Sweet wants to do another mission so now Omai, Will and Tama are the three owners of the restaurant. For Will and Tama, their love for working at the restaurant wasn’t always there.
“It’s a lot funner when we’re getting paid instead of it being a chore,” Will said with Tama nodding in agreement. But the close-knit family have all stayed with the family business.
Everyone has their favorite dish. Yes, mine is the Kalua Pig (pork) covered with the special Sweet’s sauce. Let’s just say I love the sauce so much that beyond making Omai drown my pork, rice and noodles in it, I once ordered a large jar of it to take home. But other favorites for many are the ribs, chicken and Katsu Shrimp which can be accompanied by rice or noodles or both. But Sweet’s might be best known for its Otai drinks, which will plummet your taste buds with a sweet, fruity flavor in slushy form.
A lot of people will do takeout or delivery, but I might suggest staying inside the restaurant to eat. Enjoy the pieces of the Polynesian culture such as the wood carvings, along with the music. It seems like everyone there is always in a good mood and the ambiance is pleasant.
Again, it’s not just the food that makes Sweet’s a great place to eat. You will be immersed in Polynesian culture and embraced by the love and family behind the food that makes it such a special place.
For more information about the menu and the catering business, Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill can be found on Facebook or their web page: https://order.toasttab.com/online/sweet-s-hawaiian-grill-711-columbia-lane.
Dining