Perfection: The one word that describes our dining experience here at La Mer French Restaurant at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki. I will say this everyone, if there is one place in Hawaii where you want to experience a meal of a lifetime, it is right here. It's been almost four days since we've eaten here and I'm still in awe and can't get over how great this place is from the food to the service and ambiance La Mer has is all and then some. It all starts from the moment you walk in as they mention your name and welcome you to their dining room. As we got sat, a glass of complimentary champagne is poured at your table and that's when you know this evening is starting on the right note. What really impressed me about this place is how they address you by your last name. It really makes you feel real important to them and makes me feel like I belong here and not in some stuffy place. What a really nice touch. Our server Mark introduces himself and goes over the menu with us and let's us know what's good to eat and how flexible the menu is in terms of ordering. What scares me about fine dining restaurants is that most of them only have a set menu that you can order but here at La Mer you can order any way you want and that's great so that everyone can eat what they prefer. I love how they work in three man teams here at La Mer and let's just say they work very harmoniously together and run like a fine tuned machine. Service here was very unpretentious and were there whenever we needed anything. We were approached by Manager Steve who touched base with us time and time again to see how everything was throughout the evening. Classy simply classy. As for the food here, let's just say everything thing we ate here at La Mer was a Home Run. From the Amusebouche to the Freshly made breads served table-side it was like a fairytale come true. What blew me away was having our own butter dish which had a dome over it. The highlights of our meal were.... Lobster Bisque,Shellfish Mousse, Shaved Truffle Roasted Scallop,Cuttlefish Leaf,Orange Scented Caviar Butter( OMG this was so so good) Poached Lobster,Molokai Sweet Potato Gnocchi,Chorizo Cream Sauce ( Another mind blowing dish ) Mango and Vegetable Ratatouille King Crab ( My wife loved it ) Kampachi Ceviche with Ginger Caviar Fennel Sphere Filet of Beef with Foie Gras Pommes Soufflé (What can you say about Filet and Foie Gras? Those Pommes Soufflé were delicious!!! ) Abalone with Smoked Bacon Cream Roasted Lamb Lemon Olive Oil Marmalade Now I have to sat this, Soufflés here at La Mer is a dessert I highly recommend because you don't see this type of desserts too often. Isn't it ironic that all four of us ordered Soufflés? As for the Soufflés here at La Mer? It's the best Soufflé I have had here in Hawaii. I love that the Soufflé is served with Chocolate Powder and three kinds of sauces served on the side (Coconut,Key Lime, and Banana Cream Sauce) I love the Banana Cream Sauce the best with a touch of Chocolate Powder. The Soufflés were a perfect way to end this spectacular evening. But it doesn't end there. They give you Mignardise to indulge in towards the end of your meal and they also give you a box of Chocolates with Sea Salt to take home with you as well. In ending, I just want to say that the staff at La Mer from old timers Alex,Jason,Steve,Kevin,Lawrence,Mark and others I wish I mention if I only knew their names are the driving force and the reason why this is the only Five Diamond Rated Restaurant here on Oahu. And what made this evening a very memorable one was having the Chef de Cuisine come out to our table to greet us and thank us for coming . Our guests from Japan were blown away. All I can say is that coming here to the Halekulani Hotel is always a treat for me and my wife as we love spending our anniversary here each and every year when we have the time and the reason why we do is because of the fantastic staff they have here from Aulani the MOD to the Valet Boys Danny,Ben and others and to Mel at House Without a Key. Coming here really makes us feel like royalty. We might not have much but the staff at Halekulani makes us feel like we are King and Queen for a day. To the staff at La Mer, thank you all once again for an evening I will never forget. read more

La Mer - Happy to be dining at the best French Restaurant in Hawaii - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is the last review of my "All Things Paris" tribute this week. La Mer is the beacon of fine dining on Oahu. As a young girl, I remember hearing about this illustrious hideaway: $38 salads, the dress code, the impeccable service. Decades rolled by, and I couldn't justify spending $200 per person "in my own backyard". It had to be for quite the special occasion. The mystere of what laid behind closed doors always tickled my cerebrum, but never enough to commit to a reservation. Finally, on my 33rd year, I decided to take my husband here for our first wedding anniversary. I've been to some exquisite restaurants in France, and I had concerns of being disappointed. The dress code was quite the allure. Jacket and tie for men, Gowns for women? Hmm. I imagined a scene from Titanic by the Victorian clock staircase where dames were sensually sipping champagne with satin gloves, the men in black tuxes staring lovingly into their lady's eyes. I'll be honest, my expectations may have been unrealistically high. While La Mer has breathtaking views of Diamond Head and Waikiki, the restaurant itself is dated. An amalgamation of woods, hints of gold, Polynesian patterns, and rattan accents, the dining room is vast and eerily quiet. The main area was shockingly empty, especially at 7pm on a Sunday. I imagine that in its hey-day, this restaurant was the talk of the town, and the privilege to even eat here must have been the brag of the century. Today, however, it seemed like their reputation superceded the actual experience. I wore a sleeveless dress and still felt warm. No air conditioning. My husband was sweating like crazy under his jacket. And we were seated to face the grassy lawn instead of each other which didn't do much for the ambiance. If this restaurant did not rely so heavily on its ocean views, how would the ratings fare? Food for thought, let's continue... Our server was extremely cordial and deserved a five-star review for his willingness to please. However, when we asked for a picture of the both of us, we were escorted to the lanai and were told to model into different "prom poses"--you know what I'm talking about: "Hold her from behind. Tracy, come a little forward. Kiss her on the cheek. Look at each other. Okay smile!" It was cute, but a bit odd. The shift work of "sit at this angle" for the view and "pose like this" felt like we were high school students on a first date with our parents, giving me even more of an outdated feeling. After reviewing the menu, we both decided to order the four course meal: I chose the shrimp app, foie gras, red snapper, and chocolate dessert. I gotta say that the foie gras was the BEST FOIE GRAS I HAVE EVER EATEN. Caramelized to perfection and seismic in taste, I could not comprehend how the chef packed so much flavor into each molten bite. The shrimp was refreshing with the cucumber jelly and turmeric vinaigrette, but nothing that knocked my socks off. The snapper was moist and the fennel mousseline aided to bring the flesh to life with a savory, umami texture. Dessert was a Tainori chocolate mousse that had pleasant notes of hazelnut and banana, but nothing that left a signature impression on my taste buds. The food is exceptional in quality and kind, and the Chef demonstrates great passion in his dishes. However, one must look at the entire picture as a whole to ascertain their overall dining experience. I appreciated what La Mer had to offer-- they demonstrated, without question, their willingness to serve. However, I feel that the restaurant may be stuck in an era of twenty years past. Renovate the dining area to complement the high-society, modern foodie, and you will get my complete nod of approval. read more

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La Mer at the Halekulani is Hawaii's only restaurant to be awarded a five-star designation by Forbes Travel Guide. It is fine dining at its fanciest with a dress code and age restriction to boot. Guests must be at least 8 years old and that's fine by me. My wonderful friends took me there for an unforgettable birthday celebration. As soon as we arrived and were greeted by the hostess, we were treated with the utmost level of service. We were there to celebrate so we started off with a bottle of champagne. Cheers! La Mer offers three menus: a tasting menu for the entire table or separate 3 course ($110) and 4 course ($145) menus, customizable to your preference. They are so accommodating that you can freely switch any of the menu items. I went with a 3 course meal and started off with a delicious and filling lobster bisque. For my entrée I selected the opakapaka with squid ink ravioli. Amazing! For dessert, there was no question I was going to have the souffle that came with Makaya dark chocolate chips and a trio of sauces at my disposal: coconut, mango, and spiced rum. It was seriously the best soufflé I have ever had. After a second bottle of champagne, we continued our girl talk into the night. The wonderful thing about La Mer is the ambience. Although it is a fancy restaurant, it's not stuffy and you are surrounded by guests having a good time. La Mer is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion with good friends and family. It made for a very memorable birthday celebration and I would definitely recommend adding it to your must go list of restaurants. By far, La Mer is my favorite among other great restaurants like Le Bistro and Michel's. La Mer is located above the Orchids restaurant and serves dinner daily from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. They are available for private luncheon receptions and have 2 private dining options: a private dining room facing the ocean offers elegant dining for up to 16 guests and the Salon du Vin which can accommodate up to 22 guests. read more

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11/10 to this wonderful gem in Hawaii. From the moment you walk through the door, you are being catered to with immaculate service and attentiveness. You are assigned multiple waiters, and they do a wonderful job explaining the varying delicious options available at the restaurant. Every bite was sensational and brought me back to my childhood growing up in France. We ate here for our anniversary, and it will be one we never forget! read more

Dining at La Mer is truly a 5 star experience. From the ambience, to the service, to of course the food, it's definitely one to remember. My boyfriend had made reservations prior to our Hawaii trip, in case they would be full as we weren't sure what to expect but the night we went wasn't busy at all. The restaurant itself is located at the Halekulani hotel which in itself is beautiful and we're hoping to stay there sometime in the future. Upon entering there is a plaque that states that the restaurant is one of the finest dining restaurants in the world. We had a look at the menu but decided to go with the servers recommendation of the tasting menu. It's definitely on the pricier side but it was worth it. We weren't sure how filling it would be as sometimes fine dining restaurants the portions can be quite small but we were actually unable to finish the 6 course tasting menu. We ended up being too full at the cheese course but thoroughly enjoyed each meal. The presentation for each dish was absolutely amazing and even the cheese was brought out on a cart and explanations given for each. We were seated next to the balcony which allowed the beautiful music playing outside to entertain us during our dinner. Absolutely amazing experience from beginning to end! read more

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My birthday dinner @ La Mer!! We had such a memorable experience with an amazing ocean view and great services. Definitely La Mer became our special restaurant!! Here is my choices of 4 courses tonight; * Seared Foie Gras, Exotic Garnish with Pineapple Coulis My be loved Foie Gras, Big piece and perfect match with Pineapple!! * Roasted Duck Fillet, Apple and Calvados Marmalade, "Marco Polo" Pepper Sauce - Amazing!! * Veal Core with Mustard Cabbage, Golden Beet Mousseline, Balsamic Reduction - Perfect prepared veal was silky texture and delicious!! * Cheese Charriot Served variety of cheese. I enjoyed them all with my Cabernet. read more

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There was just so much amazing things going on here - I just don't know where to start. When we first walked up to La Mer, my first reaction was - its so quite 0__0" I honestly don't go to fine dining often so I probably don't act appropriately or think how other people think. So bare with me here :) The décor was lovely. The lighting was very dim, giving a more romantic, upscale feel to it. The staff was very professional and on top of things. The food was amazing. Beautifully presented (although the lighting was dark hard it was hard to capture a good photo). Of course we wanted to try as much as possible, so we decided to go with two 4-course meals and basically share it with each other. Another way we decided to make this experience more spectacular was by doing the wine pairing. I mean why not take the opportunity to try wines I will probably never try on my own!~ THE GRUB: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-mer-honolulu-2?select=FvL9k2oZZUpcOkwy4o62BQ#FvL9k2oZZUpcOkwy4o62BQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-mer-honolulu-2?select=bA-BDD3Z5LC76rA3eO0e5A#bA-BDD3Z5LC76rA3eO0e5A http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-mer-honolulu-2?select=Qs_E7PiDLF7NcMLjZZEH-A#ZXjsQ438o94b82xoAMyyIQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-mer-honolulu-2?select=Qs_E7PiDLF7NcMLjZZEH-A#Qs_E7PiDLF7NcMLjZZEH-A read more

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Can't really add more to all of the other Yelp reviews, except that this has to be the best fine dining experience I've been too. I thought Fiola in DC and Daniel in NYC was so good, no other place can top that. Well this place has! The best service I've had with four people attending to our needs. Good pacing was spot on, waiter very informative and sincerely so nice. Felt like royalty ($250 per person). We decided to do a four course menu where you can choose appetizer (or two) choice of fish and/or meat and dessert. With the amuse buche, gratis dessert nibblers, and honeymoon cake, and delicious bread (and that butter!!), felt like a 6 course dinner. Every dish we had was divine. Foie gras, duck breast, lamb, lobster bisque, Hawaiian pink snapper, red snapper, and even the desserts were spot on. Very romantic feel with awesome table spacing overlooking the beach (there is quite humidity sitting next to open doors though). Highly recommend this place for special occasions. read more

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Great Service, Junk Food. There, I said it...to a top notch restaurant. Your service is impeccable, but your food just doesn't match. I should've read my review from 2009 before booking this place to celebrate my birthday. The chef here seriously needs Cooking 101...I'm sorry, but it just doesn't suit my palate. And it's not just the vegetarian course that I got that was junk, but the people that I went with also thought their seafood / meat was nothing up to the Halekulani standards. We all agreed that the food was WAY better at Kahala's Hoku's. But of course the service at Hoku's is terrible. So yah...it's a toss up, do you want service or quality food? In my case, I'd much rather have quality food if I'm spending bank to eat. Yelp 365 Challenge #205/365 read more

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When entering La Mer, the restaurant was quite quiet. If you make reservations make sure you request a table by the ledge overlooking the hotel area and ocean. We had the tasting menu, which started with a cauliflower amuse-bouche that was pretty flavorful and I thought the rest of our dinner would follow suite. Boy was I wrong. First course: foie gras with shiitake mushroom- We thought the foie gras was pretty average, nothing about it struck me as above average. Second course: abalone with basil and zucchini- The hubby is not a fan of abalone and think there isn't a lot of flavor from it, but the plate was better than the foie gras. I love abalone and thought the dish was ok. I only wish there was a bit more flavor. Third course: lobster tail with vegetables: the plating was a bit busy and sloppy. The lobster was slightly over cooked and the vegetables weren't very good. Fourth course: filet of prime beef with foie gras- the beef wasn't very tender nor flavorful. My fourth course was the pork cheeks. I didn't care for the red wine sauce. Also, the pork cheeks weren't tender enough. Fifth course: cheese and prosciutto: it's a slice of cheese melted on a plate with prosciutto thrown on. Know what happens when cheese hardens on a plate? Next! Sixth course: hazelnut cake, tomato flake ice cream, caramel corn and lemon verbena tea- the hubby didn't like it. I thought this dish was interesting when you mixed everything together. Seventh course: coconut mint sponge, white honey, rhubarb and micro fennel. - the prettiest plate of the bunch, looks like a coconut that you break into. Wished it tasted like it looked. Overall impression: the plating was sloppy and some dishes looked like the plate was WAY too big for the portion. Overall the food was flavorless and for the prices I paid, I expected more. Had dinner at Shokudo the next night, quarter of the price with 5x the flavor..but that's another review ;) I'd give them 2-1/2 star for the great customer service. The waiters were very attentive throughout the course of our meal. read more

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We came to eat at this place because i checked the reviews and it was good. Service is definitely very slow and not organised. The food was good and fresh and we tried to make best of it. But everything was ruined after we asked for the bill. Our bill was almost 500 USD and we gave international visa card to pay for it (which we have been using without any problems even for higher amounts) But The worst experience was at the end . The bank which this place is using has a limit for fraud protection on their end so we couldn't pay for our bill for the whole amount. We spent about 1.5 hours trying to pay our bill. At the end the Manager had to break our bill in 6 different transactions blaming that it's our bank and card has a limit when our card had no limit. Nice dinner turned into reality the worst experience for us and we left with a stress and a headache. Not even water or dessert was offered for their bad service and fault with the bank. Not the experience you expect when you come to enjoy your dinner with guests and spending so much! Everything was ruined! read more

There's no better start to a fabulous vacation then having a kick ass first dinner. As usual, I researched it and La Mer kept coming up as one of the best restaurants in Waikiki. So naturally... Hubby and I each did the three course tasting menu. For our first course, we shared the sampler. We should never have ordered so much food but the menu had some pretty exciting offerings and we just couldn't really decide. Highlights for me: scallop bisque and the fish tartare prepared three ways. In the end I could barely touch my dessert. How sad is that. It was truly a piece of art (see pics). I forced myself anyway and then felt extremely ill for the duration of the evening. It's been a long time since I felt SO full. Excellent service albeit a little stuffy at times. When I made my reservation I requested a corner table with a view. Our table was perfect - ocean view with a nice light breeze. The bill was high. Higher than expected but definitely worth every penny. Hubby confided in me that he felt like the overall experience easily rivaled French Laundry. Though that sounds sacrilegious to me, I have to admit that the level of service, quality of ingredients and complexity of the dishes were pretty darn close. If I were handing out Michelin Stars I would have no problem with the 2 verging on 3 level. If you're a true foodie and don't mind a little food snobbery, go to La Mer. You will not be disappointed. It was definitely a memorable evening. read more

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This place was wonderful. Highly recommend this place. Excellent evening for our 30th anniversary.

My friend had his birthday dinner here. The food was very good and at times excellent. The service was excellent. It was cute because our server had a strong local accent but the staff was obviously instructed to use the French pronunciation. The combination of pidgin and pseudo-French was unique and charming. My socks weren't blown off but the entire evening was pleasant and enjoyable. read more

La Mer - My favorite! Patê - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We have been coming to five-star, 3-Michelin star, La Mer, for many years and it's always been wonderful. The atmosphere, service, and food is exemplary in every way. We came to Hawaii in December to celebrate my husband's birthday and La Mer was perfect in every way. We look forward to coming back in 2022. Each dish was timed perfectly and there was never a wait or delay between the courses. The explanations and info of each dish was clear and concise. The plating and food presentation was superb. read more

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If you know of a better service experience, please let me know. I simply can't imagine service getting any better than what you'll enjoy at La Mer. This was my second visit, and it was just as incredible as the first time I went two years ago. Both times, I ordered the Menu Degustatio - dish after dish of deliciousness. If you choose not to do wine pairing, you'll be happy to know that the drinks are fantastic. I love a good Manhattan, and theirs is one of the best I've ever had. And that's really saying a lot. Now, about the views. From the second floor, where the restaurant is located, you'll overlook the ocean and listen to waves crashing. TIP: amazing photo ops at sunset, and the staff is more than happy to take the picture. Speaking of the staff, the service from start to finish is beyond world class. Like I said at the start of this review, if you know anyplace better, please, please, please let me know. read more

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Jacket NOT required anymore for men; long sleeved dress shirt OR jacket...now onto the review now that you don't have to feel so stuffy in that dusty sport coat you were thinking of pulling out I really can't figure out how many stars to give this place because some of dinner was total 5-stars and some of it was more like 2-3 stars. So based on that fact, I knocked down a star. But it's really a 5-star dining experience when you put it all together. Service was attentive but not well informed. Kind of stuffy too. But we had a team serving us. Had a table that had an ocean view, except it had a huge post in the middle of it. We ordered the degustation menu but I made the substitution that I love lobster but don't eat fish or other seafoods. The waiter clarified that and said sure that's fine. with the champagne: finger food thing with maui onion lobster au gratin: yummy; little too cheesy lobster salad: but it came with salmon. which i believe is a FISH; it was a little confusing since I told the waiter I didn't eat fish. foie gras two ways: pan seared and terrine. huge let down. The foie gras was not a good piece of foie gras to start with and it was over cooked. The terrine was ok but it really need something like a small piece of pineapple to complement it. lobster with watercress sauce: wonderfully cooked lobster tail. rich flavors in the lobster. didn't care for the watercress sauce but it didn't matter since the lobster was so good duck: probably my favorite dish of the nice. simple, elegantly flavored. perfectly cooked on the medium rare side. veal cheeks with ravioli (nicoise): i think i just don't like veal cheeks but it was an interesting dish. rich sauces; a little overpowering. the ravioli was delicious though. I could have had a bowl of that alone. lime gelee: not my thing. the lime made my mouth pucker like flounder the fish cheese plate: like usual, smells like one big fart. but i think it was a good selection. I said i didn't eat cheese but if they had fruits I'd take that. So I got the little fruit decorations. Hmm, not what I expected. souffle or the chocolate mousse with hibiscus flower: after seeing the table next to me get this huge souffle, I asked one of our servers there about it and then substituted my dessert with the chocolate souffle. not that popular a dish but i don't know why because it was light, fluffy and incredibly tasty. it had almost a cotton candy sugary outside, but a soft and rich inside. the chocolate wasn't overpowering. i just wish it came with vanilla ice cream. the dessert from the degustation was this chocolate mousse wrapped up with a hibiscus flower. beautiful presentation with the champagne sauce they pour tableside. mignardises: well there are supposed to be some after dinner treats, but we never got any. So yeah, i think it could be a 5 star experience but ours had some flaws so I can't give it 5 right now. I don't know if I'll be back because at 165, it is pricey for what you get. And it's not my favorite meal in Hawaii. But it's worth a try. Maybe I'll go back just for the souffle! read more

La Mer - chocolate souffle. goodness. yummy. heaven. - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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One of the best restaurants on the island with great views of the ocean. Special menus and food pairings are always spot on.

I have to admit that I have never been disappointed with any of the establishments in Halekulani Hotel. Overall, this hotel aims to please and, while you may never notice it from the main streets, it hides most of the gems of Waikiki. Outside of the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton Moana, hotels with nostalgic appeal because they take you back to another time in Hawai'i's history, the Halekulani is best place to head to if you are looking for a magical dining and drinking experience. You don't have to take my word for it. Just take a walk around AND make sure that your walk ENDS with Lewer's Lounge. La Mer, is another one of the many gems in Halekulani. Prepare yourself for prices that may break your bank BUT the experience IS worth it. They staff aim to give your the highest quality service and the cuisine is incomparable. Most recently, we celebrated an anniversary La Mer. When we shared that I was also pregnant, the chef took the time to explain how each dish would be prepared, since there is a great deal of seafood, just to reassure me of the safety but also to ensure I was making the best choice. Every person we interacted with in this restaurant was knowledgable, experienced, and professional. Since my husband didn't finish the bottle of champagne before the restaurants closing time, the waiter reserved a table for us at Lewer's Lounge and escorted us there, where we spent the rest of our evening there. read more

The atmosphere of which this restaurant sits on is very unique and provides for a very intimate and serene setting. Get a view by the window and you will not be disappointed. Its beautiful as it overlooks the beach. A French cuisine restaurant the fine dining experience was very good and I loved the lobster bisque as it was very flavorful. Try the alcoholic beverages as well and see what they can recommend for you. read more

Words do not describe how perfect this place was from the time we stepped foot into the restaurant until we left. Hubs wanted to go to a nice restaurant for our 1 year wedding anniversary and this was top notch. This is a classy place so dress code is enforced. For woman is evening wear and men is slacks, dress shoes and collared shirt/or jacket. It started with the staff addressing us as Mr and Mrs Cholewka even tho we looked young to them but not once did we ever get the judgmental look. We were seated in the most perfect spot on a bench next to each other overlooking the ocean/beach which was absolutely beautiful. The restaurant was covered in different types of roses giving it a romantic atmosphere. Our waters and drinks all came out quick and our water glasses were never empty. We had 2 servers which were Chip and Dan and they both were fun and knowledgeable and explained everything to us and made our dinner very enjoyable and Dan also loves to make sure we have a memorable experience and loves to take our pictures for us. We decided to try the Chef's 7 course menu and hubs choose some wine paring with some of the dish. It started with comp bread and butter to start and everything flowed after. All the plates came out so beautiful it was sad to eat it but it all tasted so so good. It was about 15 mins after the plates were taken away once we finished eating and new silverware were put down after every course then the next course was brought out which left enough time to let our food settle and to savor the flavors until the next course. Every single dish all had different flavor profiles but all tasted amazing. On top of the dessert on the chef menu, we also got a special anniversary dessert on the house. So our 7 course became like a 10 course with an intro to the appetizer, amuse-bouche and a free dessert and an after dinner mignardises sweets to end the night. The restaurant gave us the special menu as a souvenir, a rose, chocolate covered Mac nut that is painted in volcano pop rocks candy powder that brings you back to your childhood,a full stomach and an amazing and memorable night to remember. Everyone should try this restaurant at least once. read more

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The service here is extraordinary. Yes, the food is excellent--the ingredients and preparation, technique, attention to detail ... all of it beautiful. But the service is on another level. And it's not as of I'm comparing this to chains; no, even contrasting La Mer to high pedigree places such as French Laundry in Yountville, etc. I'd say without hesitation that La Mer is much much better. Everyone was incredibly attentive without hovering, solicitous not pompous, inquiring without being questioning. What I especially loved is how everyone manages the art of being warm and friendly with the casual and informal Hawaiian vibe but with an incredible level of hospitality and graciousness. Whatever training these guys got, however much education ... it all paid off in spades because I can never hope to have this level of manners :-) We went for my "birweek," and boy did they ever help me celebrate! We were seated at the edge of the ocean, as if we were at the edge of the world, waves almost lapping at our feet. E began with an amuse Boucher of panna cotta with caviar garnish and vichyssoise. It was like velvet. They came around several times with a selection of breads, ranging from French baguette rolls to mushroom bread, with room temperature butter. The first course blew my mind: a cucumber gelee with cilantro sorbet and edible flowers with mache. The sorbet was explosive, with concentrated flavors--I have no words ... and words don't often fail me. The second course was a Chilean sea bass, poached with edamame. A silken thing of beauty, cooked perfectly tender and served with a lemon grass beurre blanc. The third course was a lamb preparation, done two ways, so flavorful with a reduction of eggplant, among other things. Instead of The final dessert course, we opted for the cheese cart, from which we chose several things we wanted to try, including epoisses, brilliant savarin, a goats and sheeps milk, a Roquefort, and a mimolette. After which they trotted out a birthday dessert with a candle--so so sweet. Along with mignardeses. And as if all that wasn't enough, they bring out a beautiful cloth little bag with a red rose and two little cartons of sweets. It's the little touches, e.g. bringing out a little stool for my purse. Those restaurant is not cheap but well worth it, especially for a special occasion. They have two menus to choose from: their degustation menu and regular prix fixe plus you can add different price point and type of caviar service. They're flexible so that if you want to substitute one thing for another, as we did dessert for cheese, you can do that. We had several servers and I neglected to get all of their names ... because I'm hard of hearing and everyone wears masks, it was especially hard to get their names, but one of our main waiters was Randall and he was as genteel and kind as could be. I cannot recommend this highly enough it's a once in a lifetime experience, and btw, just in case you think judging from my photos, that you'll go hungry or that this is molecular gastronomy, it is not! You will get more than enough to eat, it's real robust incredibly tasty food with a view and service to match the caliber. read more

You have your restaurants and then you have La Mer! They have the best of the best in service, a beautiful presentation of their dishes and the delightful ambiance is top notch. However the food is a bit bland, maybe it's the way French food is supposed to be prepared. No that can't be, I've been in France a few times. Use opentable on your iphone to reserve your dinner experience. Four free hours valet parking, remember to tips those hard working guys. read more

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Had a wonderful time here with dear friends at my own pre-wedding dinner. The food was phenomenal and the service was top notch. Yes, I booked a large room so I'd expect some level of catering but the staff were so attentive that it exceeded those expectations. We had five charming, well-spoken servers who kept the wine pouring, the food coming, and the laughter going. I will always remember this place fondly! read more

La Mer - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We came here to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. We were greeted immediately and sat immediately and the host, server, and manager came by to wish us a happy anniversary. I liked the stool provided to me to rest my purse on. That was a nice touch. We went with the longer course tasting menu and started with a cocktail followed by a bottle of wine. My cocktail came with a rose in it - another nice touch. The amuse was refreshing and the pop of the caviar in each bite made it fun to eat. The brioche and sourdough bread was the best and I especially liked the tomato butter. The crouton was the hero of the amuse. The fois gras dish was good. I had never had a cold fois gras fish before - true terrine was really yummy and playful with the popcorn. The scallop dish was really great. It looked like it was covered in a layer of pasta but that was actually a thin slice of squid. The whole dish was phenomenal but the lobster broth was straight fire! The lobster dish with the chorizo notes and chorizo nuggets was really great too. It's like every dish kept getting better and better. The filet was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth with the seared fois gras. The truffle potatoes were a freaking dream come true. How much does it cost them to make one pot? Probably like $1000 with all that truffle in there. By the time the cheese course came I was quite full. But the "cheese chariot" as they called it was probably one of my favorites- I felt like a kid in a candy store. I think between the two of us we tried a little bit of every cheese! The pineapple granita was delightful and refreshing and a perfect cleanser before dessert. I got the textures of chocolate dessert which was insanely delicious but I was so full I could only manage a few bites. My husband got the pineapple soufflé and that was light and fluffy and eggy and delightful. It was risen so high and came with different sauces to add to each bite. We received a complimentary cake with a chip in it that read "Happy Anniversary". I actually preferred the cake for dessert since it was light and airy and had a fruity sauce. The little treats that came after they wrapped up for us and sent us on our way with chocolate covered macadamia nuts as a gift. The service was pleasant - meal had a good pace to it, everyone was friendly and attentive and informed. It didn't feel stuffy or pretentious at all. Oh and the views - we saw a beautiful sunset right on the water and we had live music from the garden down below. This dinner was one for "the books" as they say. Very memorable indeed. read more

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My husband and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary here and it was spectacular. It was truly an experience of being waited on. All the servers in like tuxes and addressing you by name. We had reservations just before sunset and had an amazing view of the water as well as Diamondhead. The menu is a bit intimidating, frankly due to prices. This place is not cheap. We love to eat out, but this kind of splurge for us is definitely for special occasions only. We both had the 4 course with no overlap so we could maximize variety. I love carpaccio so I had to try the scallop one. It was great. With the toppings, it was a good balance of flavors. The chorizo foam was a bit weird, my husband did not like it. The duck was excellent. My husband's lobster was succulent.. Cost an extra 20? On top though. The desserts were plentiful. I had the souffle, then there were chocolates, and celebratory cake, etc. We were a stuffed to the brim. They even give you a gift bag of little chocolates. We got macadamia nut covered chocolate and pop rocks... Sounds crazy but delicious. I would buy them. Tip and all, we were probably close to $500. If I was gonna spend that much, this is definitely one of the places to do it. read more

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"Elegant. Classy. Regal. Excellent. Five-Star!" This describes La Mer, one of the top fine-dining restaurants on Oahu. According to Halekulani's website, La Mer is the only one of its kind to receive a five-star designation by Forbes Travel Guide! Impressive. In addition, its breathtaking setting, excellent service and intricate menu make it one of Honolulu's best. La Mer is truly fit for royalty. I had the honor of celebrating my last three birthdays here. Located on the grounds of the gorgeous Halekulani Hotel, La Mer sits on the second floor above Orchids Restaurant. As soon as you walk into the restaurant, you will see the breathtaking views of the iconic Diamond Head and Waikiki beaches. It is truly a sight to see. The interior is decorated with pure elegance. Most tables line the windows, which overlook either Diamond Head or the pristine ocean. This year, we had the privilege of dining at the corner table facing Diamond Head. We arrived around 6 pm, which was the perfect time to watch the sunset. The view from our table was breathtaking! We were also able to enjoy the beautiful music of the popular band, Kapena, who were singing downstairs at the House Without A Key. First off, the service at La Mer was excellent. The first thing our waiter did was introduce himself. His name was Lawrence and he was very formal and attentive. I work in the service industry and can recognize skilled workers. Lawrence was the most proper waiter I've ever met. Truly a "class act." Lawrence and his staff of three or four waiters were all polite and hard-working. Thank you to the entire staff (hostesses, bartenders) for your five-star service. As our first glass of champagne was being poured, Lawrence began explaining the intricate and extensive menu. La Mer is a French restaurant with some island influences. I'll be honest, the menu was confusing. There was 9-course set meal but the entire table had to order it. Another option was to create your own 3 or 4 coursed meal. My Mom and I decided to order the 3-course dinner while my boyfriend ordered the 5-course meal. We choose different appetizers and main entrees but I will highlight those we really enjoyed. Entree Choices: ***Caviar d'Aquiteine - Caviar served with Potato Blinis and traditional garnishes. This dish was simply divine! I don't eat caviar very often so this was a treat for me. The three is us shared a portion (it comes in two sizes). **Huître en Gelée de Poivrons...- Poached Oyster, red bell pepper gelée and caviar grains, light shell cream. Beautiful presentation. Loved the flavors of the oysters and the light shell cream. **Saint-Jacques Rôti.......- Roasted Scallop, Cuttlefish Leaf, Orange-scented caviar butter sauce. Our waiter recommended this to us. I love scallops and this dish was a delicacy! Delicious. **Bisque de Homard.. - Lobster Bisque, Shellfish Mousse, Shaved Truffle. Yum. All of my favorites in one dish. The shellfish mousse was interesting and different but the shaved truffle was the best part of this dish. **Crevette Rafraîchi....- Shrimp Tumeric Vinaigrette, Japanese Cucumber Jelly. Another beautiful and colorful dish. The cucumber jelly was different but tasty. Glad we ordered it. **Agneau Pochè au Lait et Aromates.....- Lamb Marinated and Poached in Milk Garlic Cream, Eggplant Caviar, Raisin Juice, Thai Lamb Jus. My Mom said this is one of the best lamb dishes she had ever eaten! I don't eat lamb but I take her word. **Homard, Gnocchi de Basilic - Poached Lobster, Basil Gnocchi, Zucchini Mousseline, Coconut Essence Sauce. Delicious! This was my main entree and I loved it. The best of the night! The lobster was cooked to perfection, and I loved the basil gnocchi! The zucchini mousse was light and went perfect with the flavors of the dish. A culinary masterpiece! Dessert Choices: **Flan de Semoule....- Flan, Pear Sorbet, Candied Peach, Violet Cream and Hazelnut. Beautiful dish and equally tasty! **Soufflé Vanilla à Garnir par Vos Soins - Hawaiian Vanilla Soufflé, Coconuts Nibs, Chocolate and Salted Caramel Sauces. This was my dessert. I only had room for a few bites but it was decadent and unforgettable! **Mousse de Chocolate "Illanka" - Chocolate Mousse, Cherry Marshmallow, Pistachio Anglaise, Beetroot Sponge. This is a chocolate lovers dream! I was surprised at the table with a beautiful chocolate cake made by the La Mer chefs. It was so pretty!! We were stuffed from dinner and didn't have room to taste it, so they wrapped it up for me to take home. Even the wrapping was impeccable! We loved everything we ordered! I liked that most of the sauces were poured at the table and left on the side for us to add to our liking. French food tends to be rich for me, so I thought having the sauces on the side was a great idea. My birthday dinner at La Mer was one of the best yet. All my expectations were exceeded. I felt like a princess the entire evening! Thank you to the staff for such an unforgettable night!! read more

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My boyfriend surprised me with dinner here for our anniversary and I was blown out of the water, no pun intended. This is a very high class restaurant and neither of us had been to a place quiet this luxurious before. My boyfriend dressed in shorts and unfortunately the restaurant has a dress code of pants. They were gracious enough to lend him a pair. The food was great! Definitely French portions, but man was it filling! I'm sure the all the staff knew this was our first time at this type of restaurant, but EVERYONE was so sweet and kind in servicing us. I'm so regretful that I did not get their names as they were so wonderful...I would argue in saying they MADE our experience so great! So whoever served Raymundo Monday, Sept. 16 at 7 pm YOU ARE ANGELS! read more

My favorite was the lobster and squid ink! Be prepared to drink a lot of wine if you do the wine paring. Especially for the 7 course menu! read more

La Mer - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This has to be The Most Romantic Restaurant I have ever been to. While the hostesses up front were not the most friendly, the wait staff were incredible and more than made up for that. At first, I was a bit disappointed that we requested a table by the window and we were in the second row back, but as the night progressed our waiters kept moving us closer and closer to the window! They even gave me a little chair for my purse! haha. Our waiters were amazing from what I can remember, and I ended up having the most romantic dinner of my life there with a table right in front of French doors that gave way to a view overlooking the night ocean, palm trees and there was even a full moon when we went :-) And of course, there is the food, which was equally amazing Hawaiian inspired French cuisine. The Ono salt baked encrusted fish was to die for, and the pineapple infused foi grois was cooked perfectly! The chocolate dessert disappeared so fast I can barely remember it. Overall, the service from the wait staff was 5 star, the food I would say 4.5 star and the atmosphere/decor definitely 5 star! HIGHLY Recommend and worth every penny! read more

If your vegetarian DO NOT GO HERE!!! It's definitely not worth the price for the blah vegetarian dishes we got. First time I ever left a restaurant hungry. If you eat meat and support the destruction of our planet as well as your body...YOULL LOVE THIS PLACE! read more

I didn't enjoy La Mer. I think the restaurant location is pretty, but the employees are a little too pretentious. I've been to a few Michelin starred restaurants and La Mer definitely acts as if they have one, or three. I was vacationing from LA and went for 4th of July/birthday dinner. We had reservations but had to wait when we arrived - the restaurant wasn't busy. My boyfriend was wearing a polo but was told to wear a blazer that they lend their guests when they aren't wearing the proper attire. First of all, you cannot expect all of your guests to endure wearing a button down dress shirt in hot Honolulu weather, so I definitely think this dress code should be modified. I don't understand why he was told by the hostess to keep the blazer on for the duration of our dinner, especially when I saw other guests wearing t-shirts and when the restaurant can't even keep the place air conditioned. The windows are open to let the breeze in, but not enough to keep guests comfortable. I think our waiter noticed how turned off we were because he began to serve us many food items as "compliments of the chef". The food was alright, small servings as expected. I want to add that they didn't have a table crumber, or at least it wasn't used once while I was there. Which in my opinion is an absolute necessity of a "fancy" restaurant. Lol. But we should have gone somewhere else the moment they made us uncomfortable. If you're after a nice view and pretty plates, you won't be disappointed. But I like to base my "fancy" dining experiences off more than just that. I think I will stick to the local spots in Hawaii. read more

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La Mer was the best dining experience we had on our trip to Waikiki. Nestled in the elegant Halekaluni Hotel this restaurant offers a chef's tasting menu of 4 or 7 courses or al a carte choices. We had the duck breast with a savory and sweet deep brown gravy with a hint of orange and the lobster tail with a creamy white sauce which gently combined a delicate array of flavors. The chef started us with amuse bouche of lobster with hearts of palm. The staff are sophisticated and professional. It felt like we were in a paradise of culinary delights. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

The service and view are 2nd to none. The foods are delicious and with great presentation. It's pricey but worth it. read more

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This is the only five Diamond at 3A level Restaurant recommended by Forbes world tour guide in Honolulu. As a picky person, this food accords with all my imagination of top French food. You deserve it, too. I don't have their shares. read more

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Well, the view is great. The view has probably made them overly confident in their bland and outdated menu. Service was pretty good. But: when a dinner for 2 for the tasting menu and regular wine pairing runs $800+, you've got to do better. Can get better tasting, more creative and interesting food in almost any major city for half the price. Do better or charge less. The views are amazing. read more

Had an enjoyable 3.5 hour private dining experience for our group of 17 in Salon La Mer for my father's 80th birthday celebration. Professional, knowledgeable and attentive staff. read more

La Mer - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

How come there are only five stars when I need more! Foie gras, crab apps were beyond excellent. Entrees were lobster and sea bass. We get around, culinary, and we agreed the best lobster and Sea bass we have had. Foie gras was the best I have ever had. Say again: The Best! One of the nicest facilities you could ever eat in. See the pix. The wine list should impress those with discerning tastes, including a list of premium vintages by the glass. Service, well you really have to impress me to think about anything over 20%. They did it! So here it comes.... Al says; you gotta eat here!!! read more

La Mer - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you are looking for a very high end experience this is the place to go. Service was excellent, food was awesome, and wallet was hurting. But sometimes you need to have one of those fancy dinners. read more

Excellent food and excellent service. The tasting menus are expensive but they present good value. The wine pairing option is also very good. Reminder that there is a dress code for men. I wore a collared polo but they do require collared shirts for men. read more