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    Arden Waikiki

    4.5 (113 reviews)
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    ARDEN WAIKIKI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

    Recommended Reviews - Arden Waikiki

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    Menu 4/26
    Katherine A.

    Arden has been on my radar for a couple years and I finally got to enjoy dinner this week. Signs outside grabbed my attention for their Happy Hour specials from 5:00-6:00. The restaurant is off the beaten path east of Waikiki with beautiful views of Diamond Head. The dining room and bar are upscale and lovely. Interesting local art fills the walls. We arrived without reservations and were promptly greeted and seated. Chris, our server, as super friendly and offered menu suggestions. He kept good tabs on us during our visit. I started with the Return of the Mac cocktail, at Chris' recommendation. The drink was a complex daiquiri with herbal flavors of lemongrass, jalapeño and basil oil. I liked that the drink was non sweet, but delicious. We started Happy Hour with the Hamachi Kama Tempura (yellow fin tuna). The massive piece of tuna is perfectly fried in a tempura batter and served with tender lettuce greens to make wraps. The fish was delicate and delicious and the batter is wonderfully crispy. This is at the top of my list of favorite dishes in Hawaii. The restaurant only makes a limited number each day, so you have to get there early to get one. We easily shared among three people. We also enjoyed a plate of the Blistered Shishito Peppers which was also delicious. The peppers come with a tofu dip that complements the slight heat of the peppers. We loved these peppers and would order again. My daughter and I shared a plate of the Steak Frites. The sirloin steak was perfectly cooked to a medium for us, tender and the peppercorn sauce was fabulous. The steak fries were good and the portion was generous. Finally, we tried the Tomato Salad (at Chris' recommendation) and we were blown away by the flavor. My son in law said, "why is this the best tomato that I've ever tasted?" And it was true. The tomato was bursting with flavor from the Li-Hung Mui vinaigrette. The creamy burrata was a great compliment to the tomatoes. We loved this salad and would order again. They have a kid's menu and my granddaughter ordered the Buttered Noodles, which were creamy and delicious. The food is wonderfully complex and the portions are generous. The prices are inline with the quality and deliciousness of the meal. I love Arden's and will be returning. Easily 5 stars.

    'Ohana Menu - Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke
    Jillian T.

    Have been wanting to come here for awhile, and finally found the time to do so - was not disappointed! Arden Waikiki is located towards the end of Waikiki, with free parking inside of the Lotus Honolulu Hotel lot. When you walk through the main lobby, go up the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor where a restaurant host will greet you. We made reservations beforehand and were shortly seated. A mix of four-top tables and booth/bench seating. Very open space with windows that overlook Kalakaua Avenue. The service was fantastic. The gentleman who assisted us had great energy and timing. Sharon was also amazing in that she sang us her version of 'happy birthday'. You can tell that they both really love their jobs. As for the food, we went on a weekend (Friday-Sunday) so that we could partake in the 'Ohana menu. $80 per person fixed coursed menu to which the restaurant adjusts the portion sizes to your party size. Such a great opportunity to try different dishes. You can also order off the ala carte menu if you wanted to add-on items that are not included in the 'Ohana menu. We definitely enjoyed ourselves, in that we were one of the last to leave for the night. Will definitely be back to try their other menu items!

    Marlee B.

    You can get away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki without technically leaving Waikiki just past the aquarium at this beautiful dining room. The restaurant has an open kitchen concept and offers of view of the park across the street. Who needs art on the walls when you have scenery. The foie gras is awesome. Served with an onion jam and a jelly with a nice thick toast. The ribeye cooked a perfection, no extra seasoning or toppings required. And the mushroom rice was excellent - not mushy or salty.

    Pitaya the Fool
    Sarah S.

    Wanted to go here for my bday for the past 2 years, but had a hard time making a reservation. But persistence paid off and it was worth the wait! If you were around back in the day, you might reminisce about Bobby MaGee's, the very popular restaurant where servers dressed in costumes. Arden occupies half of the same space in the Lotus Hotel, but it is still feels fairly spacious. A major perk is the free self parking in front! 5 stars for both food and service! We were greeted by Shari who discreetly serenaded me with a beautiful and sexy rendition of Happy Birthday on the DL. Our server Jade was friendly, knowledgeable and very astute at helping us order appropriately. Love that they recommend eating family style here and that we were able to sit at the one big round table (without having to eat Chinese food). With our party of 7, we got to try a number of dishes which is always fun when the food is good! Everything was well prepared with lots fresh farm to table ingredients but my favorites are starred. Compliments to Chef Jasmine who took over from the previous chef/ owner! Starters: *Hamachi Sashimi with lilikoi ponzu and shaved jalapeno- works well! Sides: *mushroom rice with brown butter, bamboo, garlic- salty, savory mix of different mushrooms Shareables: **Romaine salad (greens from Mari's Garden) cilantro avacado, goat Gouda, Mac nuts- SIMPLY DELICIOUS! **Furikake fries- additional $15 for mentaiko dip with smoked trout roe. Do it! *Fois Gras Terrine with onion jam and umeshu gelee - silky smooth spread on little toastettes **Lamb Lollipops shaved fennel~ great flavor but slightly overcooked. Next time I might order it more rare. *Braised oxtail - local udon soaks up the flavors, served with a cute bottle of chili pepper water Steamed Kona Kampachi/ coconut curry and pea tendrils Shishito peppers Teas are loose leaf and served in a French Press which was nice. I also enjoyed my zero proof Pitaya the Fool which made me smile! One little hiccup was they forgot our venison tartare, so will have to try that next time. They also have a happy hour I'd like to check out. Thanks for a lovely bday dinner! Can't wait to go back!

    Chocolate Island
    Gerry L.

    The world food tour duo stopped in at Arden, in the Lotus Hotel. Yours truly was somewhat reticent in making a reservation as my car was hit by someone in the parking lot the last time we dined here. I chose a parking space at the far end (again) and hoped for the best. This is my #1 issue with Arden and the Lotus ... parking! We started with a 2021 Melville Block M Pinot Noir ($145); it's a relatively light bodied Pinot, with red fruit and earthiness. We chose the Venison Tartare ($32) and the Foie Gras Terrine ($49) to start. The tartare was cubed, with dollops of bonito-flavored aioli, pickled shallots, and served with potato chips. The foie gras terrine was interesting ... the terrine was shaped like a block of butter, with a thin sheet of butter encapsulating the foie gras mousse. It was served with squares of thick-sliced toast, and two containers, one containing an onion jam, the other housing Umeshu gelee. The foie gras spread like butter ... think "meat butter". I liked the onion jam more than the plum wine jelly; the latter was very subtle in flavor. We chose Lamb Lollipops ($54), Braised Oxtail ($54), and Mushroom Rice ($32) for our main course. The lamb was very mild, served on whipped Chevre, with shaved fennel, nuts and seeds. The oxtail was delicious; it came with curly udon, peanuts, cilantro, and a plastic bottle of chili pepper vinegar. I do not like udon, but this version won me over ... chewy and flavorful. The rice was chock full of pieces of Shiitake, Maitake, Oyster Mushroom, crispy garlic, and brown butter. This, and the oxtail were my favorite dishes. We ended our meal with a Chocolate Island dessert with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream ($20) and an Americano ($6). The dessert was disappointing (to me); it wasn't special, based upon its price. We enjoyed our time at Arden ... The place was empty when we arrived and packed when we left. Service from Kirka (GM & Wine Director) and Christopher was fine but slackened as the evening wore on. We think they need more staff. My car was unscathed ... thank goodness. I'll give Arden a rating of 4+ and a conditional recommendation. I think some of the dishes need to be improved, visually. Choose wisely and you will enjoy your time at Arden.

    Shishito peppers - delicious sauce
    Annie S.

    A wonderful meal to celebrate my parents 40th wedding anniversary! Our server was awesome in recommending the best dishes to share and helped with the quantity also. We did get a little bit of everything and every bite was delicious. I would return for another meal in a heart beat. That being said, let's begin. To start we had hamachi crudo, salad, tomato & burrata, and shishito peppers. They had all different flavors and were all around delicious. The shishito peppers had a very delicious dip on the side. For entrees we chose the blackened tuna, rib eye steak, coconut curry and mushroom rice. All were, again, delicious!! Whatever the sauce was on the side of ribeye, chef's kiss! We wouldn't stop talking about that after dinner. Oh cocktails are awesome, strong and tasted good. Not sweet, which we prefer. Applause to the restaurant and staff, we'd love to return during our next visit to the island.

    Cindy L.

    SMOKED AHI POKE 4 smoky, refreshing, flavorful; Seaweed, Avocado; Sweet Potato Chips, too hard STEAMED KONA KANPACHI 5 Coconut Curry, Pea Tendrils, flaky, juicy, flavorful BRAISED OXTAIL 4 Udon, Peanuts, Cilantro, Chili Pepper Vinegar; oxtail was juicy, tender, but too plain

    Fish
    Tanya D.

    This place was recommended by a local so we had to try it. Everything we had was so delicious!! All the flavors paired so well with one another. Both entrees - oxtail & fish w/curry - were amazing! I couldn't decide which I liked better. They were so different and both so good. The hamachi and furikake fries were great too. The drinks were just OK. They missed the mark with me, but everything else was fabulous (including the amazing service!!)

    Cauliflower
    Cailean C.

    This restaurant was amazing! For the price, which is in the medium range, you get the best of both worlds with a fancy dining experience for low cost. The food itself was so ono. We had the cauliflower as an appetizer which was surprisingly very good. I normally don't like hummus but the cauliflower was on a bed of hummus which complimented it well. The other dish we had was the oxtail which was fantastic and a good amount of food to share between 2 people. Parking is free on the street or inside the hotel.

    Ice cream
    Sara L.

    Tried Arden Waikiki after a friend recommended it, and I'm glad I did. The restaurant is located on the 2nd Floor of the Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head hotel, near Kaimana beach. Unfortunately, the elevator wasn't working that day, so we walked up about 12 steps to the restaurant and the staff kindly assisted my dad who walks with a cane. Complimentary parking is available for restaurant guests in the hotel lot, which is rare in Waikiki. This area of the neighborhood is also less crowded and calmer, slightly separate from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. My family ordered the roasted cauliflower in jalapeño ulu hummus, steamed Kona kampachi in a coconut curry sauce, braised oxtail on udon, lamb lollipops, and a side of roasted Brussels sprouts and mushroom rice. All the food was delicious and operations generous. Highlights were the cauliflower which has a surprising deep slow roasted nutty flavor, enhanced by the spicy hummus and addictingly crunchy chickpeas; and the braised oxtail which was hearty and rich and accompanied by delightfully chewy handmade udon. I would also definitely recommend drizzling some chili oil on this dish. It is served alongside the oxtail and really enhances the flavors. For a drink, I got the lychee martini with rambutan puree which was tart, sweet and made me a new martini fan. For dessert, the restaurant kindly gave us a complimentary scoop of very chocolatey ice cream with a candle in it, so we could sing happy birthday.

    Brownie bar (8.5/10) - banana jam and chocolate mousse
    Asaiahsen A.

    First timers! We were celebrating my other half's birthday and was excited to try their menu. Our host greeted us warmly and even sang happy birthday! We were promptly sat at a window seat with a great view of kapiolani park. They were offering two different tasting menus with 4-5 courses. We decided to go Ala carte because we wanted to try so much different things. Our server was knowledgeable and patient going over all the menus and her personal favorites. For cocktails I tried the Thai fighter which was the only tequila cocktail that had herb infused tequila and a savory but slightly sweet flavor of tomatoes. 9/10. I also tried the Mac-nut espresso martini which was slightly strong in a good way and had a nice velvet texture from the Mac nutwashed vodka. For food, our standouts were the venison tartare, hamachi sashimi, lamb lollipops, and foie gras terrine! But everything we had was amazing and had no complaints about the quality or creativity of flavors. We were genuinely impressed with food and definitely want to comeback to try different dishes! The ambiance was quiet but warm and had a great view outside of the restaurant and of the open kitchen as well. We only wish we had something to help celebrate his birthday, but other than that everything was amazing and the service was top notch!

    Front
    Andy F.

    **This review is for the Valentine's Day set menu** Choosing a Valentine's Day dinner spot has become harder with so many choices now. Arden Waikīkī was one of my last discoveries and was lucky enough to get a reservation in while on the waitlist. Arden Waikīkī is located in the Lotus Honolulu Hotel--formerly Diamond Head Grill in the W Hotel. There's FREE self parking in the lot, which is amazing in itself. The website and past Yelp reviews noted valet only, but that's not the case anymore. The restaurant is inside the hotel. Take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd level. Inside is quite wide open and spacious with a bar and lounge area near the front and dining area after. Depending on where your table is located, your view is Kapiolani Park, so if you want the Diamond Head view, you can request a table near the window. The Valentine's Day set menu was $98.00, which was an amazing (and the best) deal compared to the many other restaurants that were all $100+. This was essentially a $196 meal for two. The Valentine's Day special drink was a Banana Bread Old Fashioned. It sounded interesting! This came with a thin slice of a crisped banana bread, and oh this was delicious and went incredibly well with the old fashioned. The flavors were very well balanced between sweet and bitter with the right amount of bourbon. I wish the ice block was smaller though! I went through the drink too fast! We started with the Oysters on the Half Shell with Rosé Shave Ice and Mignonette. The oysters were Shigoku oysters from Washington State, and they were delicious! Sweet, clean, fresh, with a slight brine. The rosé shave ice added a nice hint of berry and citrus flavors while the mignonette added a touch of tartness and tanginess. Definitely a nice bite and a nice start. A total of 6 oysters came. Next was the Hamachi Sashimi with beetroot slices shaped like a rose with Shiso leaves. I wouldn't have guessed the combination of beets with hamachi would work, but it did! The hamachi was fresh and sliced well. It wasn't as rich and buttery, but more so light and delicate. The beets had a slight bittersweet flavor. It needed bit more shoyu for me to bring everything together. The portion was a little small for two people. It looked like it was for one, maybe? The Big Island Veal Bone Marrow was good. But it was odd to have 3 pieces of marrow with 4 pieces of bread. Is this right? The bread was toasted too much--too hard, and had too many holes, so it was very messy and a lot of oil went through. The miso paste on top was flavorful and along with the pickled onions helped cut through the rich marrow. For the main dish, the surf and turf, 16 ounce USDA Prime Ribeye and Kauai Prawns with fried brussel sprouts. The ribeye was very well cooked to a medium rare. It was an excellent char taste and aroma, and the meat was tender and juicy. It was a little under seasoned for me, but still acceptable. The prawns were perfectly cooked! Firm, fresh, sweet, and clean. The brussel sprouts were very good. Light and crispy. This was most seasoned item on the plate! Dessert was a lychee sorbet with fresh raspberries, rose and raspberry jelly, and these little sweet tubular crackers (that looks a lot like dried bean curd sticks). The sorbet was amazing! It was creamy and with good lychee flavor. A nice ending to the meal. Overall, a very nice Valentine's Day dinner. The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and prepared and handled very well. What I really appreciated and enjoyed is that each dish really let the ingredients shine and show how well they complement one another. There was hardly any wait time for each dish to come after one was finished. Our server, Josiah, was great. Very friendly, very attentive, and very informative. He made us feel welcomed and comfortable. Most of the staff we interacted with were very friendly. I liked the openness of the restaurant. I wish they had bigger windows to enjoy more of the view. Definitely a nice place to chill, relax, and have a meal. Will come again!

    Mushroom rice

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    2 days ago

    Nice food and environment. Chris and other workers are very friendly and informative.

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    absolutely amazing! such wonderful service, ambiance and food. one of the most welcoming and attentive staff i've ever experienced in hawaii

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    Awesome Ambience, Amazing Staff, and Delicious Food/Desserts. Great for Events, Celebrations, Romantic Dining, or Trying a New Restaurant

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    Ask the Community - Arden Waikiki

    The Curb Kaimuki

    The Curb Kaimuki

    4.5
    (514 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    curb...idk about you bro. i'm gonna be a bit harsh since they market themselves as specialty and…read morealso i am a picky over- caffeinated brat. first location - LITERALLY on the curb of some small strip. funny looking decor, try to find the pic of the abg. that means asian baby girl by the way. service was fast and nice especially since we came 10 minutes before closing. cortado was okay. tad bit overextracted. decent amount of brightness, some chocolate notes that are masked by the bitterness. idk if this was their recipe today but i saw a piece of paper saying 18g in 30 g out. that ratio is unfortunately not working for me! not sure if they pulled too long or this was just a crappy ristretto . however milk was steamed well! the matcha latte belongs on the curb, homeless depressed and broke. tastes like cow milk and not the lush greenery of japan. at least it was hand whisked but WOW did they just like whisk green milk powder or what?? UGHHH i really wanted to like this place too. maybe i'm just more sensitive to espresso right now since i'm on my deriod

    Coffee, baked goods, upbeat music, and if you're looking for something a little more 5pm, they have…read morewine wall. Menu is straightforward (very appreciated). Matcha, chai, espresso, they have something for everyone. Cup sizes in English, Prices are average. Ordered an iced dirty chai w/ oat milk and iced latte w/ Mac nut syrup & regular milk. Satisfying & delish! Small Parking lot located at the backside of the storefront. Side note -- they have a bulletin board inside where they have all kine info/businesses posted up. Enjoyed looking through it. Service was warm & friendly. Barista made great suggestions based off of my ordering and it didn't disappoint. Overall, a great place to try!

    Photos
    Maloof Wine
    Maloof Wine
    The shop
    The shop
    8th and Waialae

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    8th and Waialae
    Mezzo Bistro & Bar

    Mezzo Bistro & Bar

    4.6
    (170 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Came for pre dinner drink and snack…read more Got the litchitini - very yum, recommend. We also got the escargot. I loved it. One of the best escargots I've had. We sat at the bar. And came in right when they opened. Had to wait a little while they set up but they quickly took our drink order and started making them. Our bartender was super friendly and kind. I recommend. Would come again if in the area and looking for drinks and some food. If the rest of their menu is as wonderful as the escargot, this place is a gem.

    Grazie... There's…read morenothing more I enjoy than to hangout with my besties and as I secretly had my eye on Mezzo and Italian Restaurant and bar which is located on the lower level of Market City Shopping Center can be almost missed as the entrance is quite simple with a neon sign and not much more though the simplicity does end there. Walking in I do love the slight dimly lit vibe as it gives me the feeling of relaxation and escape though it's not dark but just a calmness as we were taken to our table the staff is very nice and welcoming. Their menu offerings as I enjoyed a unique twist like Crostini Al Porcini which is a crostini topped with mozzarella and mushrooms was a fresh bite as some of the arugula that is topped off gave it a nice bite. The Rib Eye steak which I still dream about which we asked to be sliced for us was done perfectly and the Demi sauce was very delicate yet so flavorful and what a hearty bite along with our Caesar salad a classic that you just can't go wrong. I've also had the Puttanesca which was delicious as the linguine cooked just right scooped up all the sauce and yes this was two different nights but enjoyed just a wonderfully as I'm so grateful to have thoughtful friends I'm so thankful for, thank you Terry K and Nadine C as Mezzo was a wonderful place to escape. Cheers my friends as I'm beyond happy for these moments as hearty and amazing as the food is here so are the memories. Thank you!

    Photos
    More seating
    More seating
    Foie Gras
    Foie Gras
    Shrimp pasta in white wine cream sauce

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    Shrimp pasta in white wine cream sauce
    El Cielo

    El Cielo

    4.6
    (261 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    Review 33 (2026) We…read morelove El Cielo. This was the third time to come and eat. The first time we came, we didn't know what to order for Spain Foods. I have no idea of any menu. We ordered Seafood Paella, Mushrooms appetizer. The second time we added different menu. Seafood Paella, added Shrimp Ajillo with fresh homemade bread, Arugula beets salad. The third time ( this time ) we added another different menu. The more we come, the more we can try new menu and enjoy new tastes. Honestly El Cielo, all menu we tried even wine and draft beers, were top class, I love to nominate as the best restaurant in Hawaii. I am so glad I found the great restaurant, I was seeking for. Prices were not bad, as inflation everything costs are so expensive nowadays. Everywhere!! Their services are great too. If I live close by I would go El Cielo once or twice a week. Thank you so much. I will love to come back soon again.

    Better than I expected.... Waikiki? I expected it to be expensive, touristy and overhyped. And yes,…read moreit is pricey and touristy. But the food is solidly good... I really enjoyed the octopus. Not too soft. It came with a nice chew and sat on a bed of thinly sliced potatoes. I could've eaten the whole dish by myself...No sharing next time. The egg custard was light, with a hint of bacon flavor. It was served in the shell in a high heeled shoe dish. So cute! The entrées were a bit of a different story... I ordered the pork shoulder at first and the waiter recommended it be done, medium rare. I have to say I am no longer a fan of bloody meat so I asked for it to be done medium. Honestly, it arrived and to my palate was a bit tasteless.... given that it was almost $60 I thought twice but was encouraged to send it back. The waiter was accommodating and I ordered the lamb chops instead. Two thick sliced lamb chops arrived about 15 minutes later and were a perfect medium served on a bed of potato and sweet potato. I really enjoyed this.... I like my lamb chops usually grilled, juicy and fatty. These were refined, trimmed of the fat and beautifully plated. I'd like to try the paella next time and more of the appetizers. Really good choice of fancy little cocktails also. I would reserve the back room for sure next time. That room has high ceilings and feels elevated. The front room where we sat was OK. I'd also opt for the outside seating area on a breezy evening... Otherwise it can be rather humid in the summer. Overall, excellent service and delicious food offerings. A bit pricey to be expected given the area.

    Photos
    Gorgeous setting
    Gorgeous setting
    Octopus ala Gallega
    Octopus ala Gallega
    Custom Negro Truffle and Mushroom Paella

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    Custom Negro Truffle and Mushroom Paella
    Hideout

    Hideout

    4.2
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Great service and yummy food... Tucked away at the Laylow…read morehotel, is a chill restaurant with fun Hawaiian vibes. We started our vacation with dinner at the Hideout, and upon entering you could immediately hear live music. We received a warm welcome, and brought over to our booth where our server Kai was quick to greet us. We ordered cocktails (I don't remember the name of mine. It's something spritz, and my husband tried the banana bread old fashioned) and we shared the appetizer platter (brussel sprouts with pork belly, kalua pork egg rolls, poke tacos, and edamame)to share. We also ordered the garlic shrimp dumplings. Everything was super tasty. Lots of other items on the menu that I want to try during another visit to the island.

    Stressful from the start…read more I called to inquire about parking a week prior to my rsv and was told they were sold out for the night. I mentioned that it was just a general question and i wasn't coming that night. They informed me that it's validated for two hours and it's first come first serve. After the 2 hours its $14 an hour. Getting into the valet area was stressful enough as there was a car parked right before you turn and pedestrians that walk back and forth from their main driveway entrance. I also had to wait for valet for a bit too as there was 2 other cars in front of me and probably only 2 valet on duty trying to move cars forward. Reservations can be made on open table, but there was really no point to doing that since it's open seating during happy hour times. We ended up just picking a table that was in the shade, and noticed they only have their menu by QR code which is kinda annoying. The server was pretty nice tho and he brought my dog some water mid way. Their happy hour runs from 2-6 and the menu is slightly less expensive. The food was kind of standard hotel type of food and nothing really stood out. Otherwise the vibes at the restaurant was nice and i do like that they allow dogs to join you. it seems like they have live music after a certain time. I was even more annoyed and stressed with the valet when i went to pick up my car. They literally just handed me my keys. My car was parked along the wall probably 20 steps away, but they could have at least taken out my car cause it was so hard to get out, but i guess it's nice they trust that i wont bang the car in front of back of me i guess even tho im a pretty terrible parker. at the time they didn't look as busy as when i first arrived, so i dont know why they couldn't have just done the bare minimum with just pulling out my car from the stall.

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    Bar
    Bar
    Wonton Poke Tacos are great! Especially during happy hour.
    Wonton Poke Tacos are great! Especially during happy hour.
    Citrus Swell

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    Citrus Swell
    Hau Tree

    Hau Tree

    3.9
    (1k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    Locally owned & operated

    We celebrated our friend's engagement here! It's small yet intimate. We were able to enjoy the…read moresunset and have a wonderful meal. We shared an assortment of appetizers and my the standout was the lomi hamachi - delicate fresh fish with a tomato vinaigrette. Fresh local fish ($42) - nicely seared and went well with the corn succotash. The size was quite small for the price. The menu is pricey but well worth it with the staff, food, and views.

    I'll start with the good. This restaurant is incredibly beautiful, from the ocean view to the…read moreambience and decor, and the waiting area is lovely as well. If you're going to be dining past sunset, make sure you book bar/lounge seating or outdoor seating, as for some reason the indoor seating is rather bland and sparsely decorated. It's probably pretty during the daytime, but you can't see anything out the windows past sunset. Luckily, the hostess was able to move us to lounge seating, which was really sweet of her!! We ordered the Rainbow Caviar to start and the Strozzapretti and Lamb Chops for our entrees. Unfortunately, there was a strand of blonde/white hair in the lamb chop that I only discovered once it was in my mouth, and I had to pull it out of my teeth. My sister and I both have black hair. When we first told our waitress, the only options she offered us were to refire the dish or to take it off our bill. We asked to refire it, because otherwise we would be left with only one entree. However, upon second thought, I felt it didn't make sense--why would I pay full price for a dish that initially put someone else's hair in my mouth and would now require a longer wait? When the refired dish came out, I asked the server, who was not our assigned waitress, if we would still be seeing this on our bill given the circumstances. He responded saying he's not warranted to answer those questions and promptly took our dish away again. When our waitress came back out, and we told her that the server took our dish away, she asked us why. We didn't know why either. She said she had to ask her manager. Finally, when she brought out our dish, she let us know that her manager had taken it off our bill. We said thank you and apologized for the hassle, explaining that it just feels gross to eat someone else's hair. Then, she made a comment that nobody in the kitchen has blonde hair. It felt like we suddenly had to defend ourselves. I just don't quite understand the need for that comment--whether the hair was from a chef, a server, the wait staff, or even a guest walking by, it has no bearing on the situation. A customer dining at your restaurant should never experience anyone else's hair in their food, and if they do, then it should be taken care of with respect. They shouldn't feel accused because no one in the kitchen is blonde. By the time everything was said and done, our other entree had gone cold and it was just an unhappy experience. We also saw that other diners who were celebrating something received a small surprise dessert--but we did not. To note, our waitress asked in the beginning if we were celebrating and we said yes, we were celebrating our graduations, but we did not receive any dessert. I'm not sure if this was due to the hair issue, but it felt a bit disrespectful to treat us differently than other diners. This is not to blame any one individual, and we ultimately left a 22% tip for the hassle. But I urge the management to set a policy in place for these situations--one that actually places care in the customer without all the hassle.

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    Hau Tree
    Hau Tree
    Hau Tree

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    Arden Waikiki - hawaiian - Updated July 2026

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