The service was amazing with friendly staff and a comfortable, but classy atmosphere. The food is…read moreamazing, some of the most delicious dishes that are easy to share family style.

Solera is located right across the lobby on the 7th floor of the The Ritz-Carlton Residences…read moreWaikiki Beach. My husband and I stayed here for our honeymoon and decided to try Solera since we had a breakfast credit each morning. WOW is all I have to say. The food was absolutely incredible. We each got a drink--I ordered a matcha and he got a latte, and both were so good. For food, we shared the Hawaiian omelette, and they did not hold back on the meat. The service was top-notch. Our servers were attentive without being overbearing and checked in just the right amount, which always makes a difference. I would highly recommend Solera for both drinks and food--definitely worth a visit.

Took our friend here for her birthday and what a hidden gem this place was. Tucked away in the…read moreheart of Kaimuki, Carte Blanche was definitely a delightful surprise! When our party first walked in, we were a tiny bit skeptical because of the empty room (which was beautifully decorated). However as each course came out, we were blown away and didn't know how the restaurant was not way busier for a Saturday night! Each dish/course was well thought out and prepared to perfection. We were all taken by surprise in a great way. The head chef Anthony was very passionate and excited about his work and that was very refreshing! Overall a wonderful experience and we will be back!

If you're looking for Kaimuki's most romantic date night spot, look no further than Carte Blanche…read more We recently experienced their summer prix fixe menu (which changes twice a year), and it was one of those meals you remember long after the plates are cleared. The progression of dishes felt thoughtful and creative-- * Crispy Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin (the perfect starter crunch) * Soupe de Poisson (deep, comforting flavors) * Pina Colada Granita (a refreshing palate cleanser) * Pan Seared Scallops (my personal favorite--perfectly caramelized and tender) * Double Cut Rack of Lamb (succulent and cooked to perfection) * Lemon Crème Brûlée Tart (a sweet, bright finish) Every plate was elegant, well-executed, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere strikes a balance between sophisticated and welcoming. Dim lighting, intimate tables, and quiet elegance make you feel like you've stepped into a hidden gem in the middle of Kaimuki. Honestly, I felt like a celebrity dining here. Service was polished but never pretentious--our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the courses, and kept the pacing of the meal just right. For the level of creativity and execution, Carte Blanche feels like an affordable luxury in Honolulu's dining scene. Perfect for anniversaries, date nights, or anytime you want an elevated experience without flying to the mainland. Highly recommend booking a reservation--you'll want to savor every moment here.

My wife and I celebrated our babymoon here and we were both quite disappointed. I want to preface…read moreby saying I honestly do not think my wife and I are very picky eaters as we have dined at countless fine dining restaurants and typically we are quite satisfied after. However, at La Mer, I think almost every dish we just didn't like. For example, the first course was a foie gras dish with cotton candy which incorporated a sweet element with the foie gras. Not a good combination in my opinion. All of the other dishes weren't bad per se, but they weren't dishes that we felt ourselves wanting to eat or wanting to finish. I know restaurants change their menu's all the time so maybe it was just the dishes we happened to get that we didn't like. The manager did come to check in on us and we communicated how we honestly felt. They did make a very nice gesture of removing 2 of our drinks and 2 of our desserts which was appreciated. On the plus side, the restaurant sits on the 2nd floor and has great views of the ocean. The decor is also nice and the service was good. Just not our cup of tea and we personally wouldn't go back or recommend.

We had really high expectations for this restaurant given its reputation, and I will say there were…read moredefinitely some highlights - but unfortunately, the food itself was not one of them. The service was exceptional from start to finish. The staff was attentive and made us feel quite taken care of throughout the entire evening. The ambiance was also stunning - beautifully designed, intimate, and exactly what you'd hope for in a high-end dining experience in Hawaii even with the rainstorm going on outside. That said, the food was a major disappointment. We opted for the four-course meal, and while each dish was visually gorgeous, the flavors just didn't deliver. Both my partner and I found the dishes to be extremely lacking in taste, to the point where we could only manage one or two bites of each course. Ironically, the most enjoyable parts of the meal were the bread and butter and the bottle of wine. To be fair, it's possible that the menu simply didn't align with our personal flavor preferences. However, for what ended up being an $850 meal, we left feeling pretty let down by the experience.

Blast from the past! Have not been to Duc's Bistro in maybe... 10 years? maybe more!!!! I…read moreremember well the food being outstanding and the service was more than what I had then expected.... Here is my story: Located in the same place for 35 years plus. Duc opened his restaurant in the 1980's. Duc's Bistro is one of the original ethnic Vietnamese restaurants who opened in the 1980's and still continues to serve our community. Do not leave without bidding aloha to Duc who today is in the kitchen with his wife who both prepares all the food. His son now runs the front of the house along with staffers who have been there for years on end. The food is French Vietnamese. Of their slim clear concise menu, my favorite is their Roast Pork and Duck Pate. While all the dishes are good, those two stand out for me. And be sure you save room for their desserts. Their dishes are prepared and served such that if you choose to dine "family style" you have definitely sat at the right Establishment. The location remains the same. First Establishment on the westside of MaunaKea and Beretania Streets. Validated parking if you can get a staff in the lot across the street from Duc's. Bright Pink and Green Neon Sign for Duc's Bistro. You cannot miss it! Full bar or $25 corkage if you bring your own wine. Soft drinks and Vietnamese Hot or Cold coffee available also. Price point is approximately $50 per head from start to finish. Plan to have a meal there! You will not be disappointed.

I walked in at 7 and they said they were closing early because they took all of their reservations…read more Pretty bad because I was looking forward to trying this place

Just finished an amazing brunch at Farmhouse. Wasn't sure when we pulled into the parking lot. I…read moremean....... We walk around the corner and we were surprised at how small the place was. Maybe 30 seats. But super cute. The server was amazing and very attentive. Started with the beignets and WOW. Got the side chocolate sauce and the jam. Both were outstanding. Melt in your mouth those beignets. Sooooo good! We shared the ham sandwich.....Amazing.......the breakfast sandwich (with candied bacon).....Amazing.....then the potatoes which were off the chart good. Like heaven. Really really good. Had the side house ketchup and the horseradish dipping sauces which were both great. Can't say enough good things about Farmhouse. It was our first time there.......but it wont be our last. Our new favorite place for sure. Limited menu but everything was the bomb.

amazing we had the Mediterranean omelette and the potato Mille-feuille with the farmhouse ketchup …read more supper yummy !!! sophisticated , delicated and tasty . we loved so much that we came back next day !!!! we will be back for sure on our next visit to Honolulu !! staff friendly and the chef thank you personally . love it

My mom flew in from Florida, and I drove an hour and a half from the North Shore just for breakfast…read moreat Mugen, and somehow it still exceeded every expectation. This place is a hidden gem. Hard to find, absolutely worth it, and honestly the crown jewel of Waikīkī. The second you walk in, you will understand. The atmosphere at Mugen is iconic. If I ever owned a restaurant, I'd want it to look exactly like this. A divine bar lined with velvet chairs, moody dark walls, glitter-flecked tables, and private event spaces separated by elegant glass partitions. Every detail feels luxurious without trying too hard. Now the breakfast... Shockingly affordable for the level of quality. Cappuccinos, lattes, and espresso drinks around $10, and every bite looked like art. We shared the smoked salmon avocado toast topped with edible flowers, sea asparagus, tomatoes cut into flower shapes, all on perfectly toasted sourdough. Then came the bananas foster french toast with syrup, whipped cream, vanilla-infused honey, and a dusting of powdered sugar. Is your mouth watering? Mine still is. Only AFTER breakfast did we ask to see the dinner menu, and immediately realized we were idiots for not planning our entire lives around coming back for dinner too. But what truly made this experience unforgettable was Koji. Kind, knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely fabulous service. After hearing us rave about the space and me saying I couldn't imagine what was hidden behind these walls, he actually connected us with Vernon from ESPACIO, who personally gave us a full tour of the property. And WOW. The hotel was renovated from 77 rooms into just 9 full-floor luxury suites, each over 2,500 square feet. Multiple bedrooms. Sweeping views of the pink Royal Hawaiian, the Duke Kahanamoku Statue, the giant banyan tree, and Diamond Head. The orchid carpet in the Diamond Suite on the 9th floor? I MUST have that in my future dream home someday. And that dragon tiled mural on the bottom of the pool? Bring your snorkel! Was I inspired to become a millionaire after this experience? Yes. Yes I was. Enjoy this place like I did. Bring your family. Tell your friends. Ask for Koji and Vernon. And tell them Crazy Katie from the North Shore sent you. All my love and aloha.

I highly recommend you try here at least once!…read more From the moment we walked we were greeted and seated promptly. The hostess and wait staff are all so friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating! The restaurant is very intimate and surprisingly not very noisy. The food is excellent. Every dish was flavorful and delicious! The lobster was cooked to perfection! The complimentary valet service is directly in front of the restaurant. The valet attendant was really nice and personable. I enjoyed talking with him while we waited for our car.

Centrally located on the second floor at 413 Seaside Ave, Honolulu (above Zigu), natuRe waikiki is…read morenot just a restaurant, it is a dining experience. My daughter and I visited for the first time last night and I can say it is well deserving of its award winning status. Parking is located at the Hyatt Centric garage (validated) or on the street which can be a bit trickier. We ubered in. When we arrived at the time of our reservation, we were promptly greeted and seated at the chef's counter by Travis, the maître d'. natuRe waikiki offers a 6-course tasting menu with a Plant-Based Vegan option in the dining room and on the Chef's Counter and an a la carte menu at the bar. My daughter had the regular tasting menu with a few pescatarian substitutions and I had the vegan option. Being at the Chef's Counter, we were able to view Chef Yosuke Masaki (and interact with him) and observe his counter parts diligently work with precision and passion to create each plate. They used fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create dishes with French, Japanese, and Hawaiian influences. Each plate was uniquely delicious and uniquely artistically created. We were in awe as they meticulously plated each dish using tweezers. Presentation was nothing short of impressive. When each piece of edible artwork was placed in front of us, Travis or his counterpart, explained the dish, often times with a mini action which added to the beauty of the presentation esp the opening of the smoked dishes (Celery Root & Kaffir Lime). Everything had the"wow" factor but my standouts (Aina Tasting Menu, Vegan) were the Panipuri & Corn Fritto (cool in temperature, amazingly smooth in texture with pops of corn bits, lite and refreshing), Charcoal-Battered Heart of Palm (designed to look like lava rocks plated on real lava rocks), and the French Onion Soup Gratin (Super creative and fun! Soup placed back into the original onion which was used as the bowl. The entire onion with the exception of the skin was edible and absolutely delicious.). The highlight for my daughter (Hale Tasting Menu) was the Abalone Risotto. Much to our surprise, we were stuffed by the time the last plate was presented. The portions looked small but the satiety factor was deceiving. We felt the value of the experience far outweighed the cost. Kudos to Executive Chef Nae Ogawa (who was not present), Chef Masaki (who was a part of curating the menu), Travis and everyone else at natuRe waikiki for a creating a memorable dining experience. We loved our visit and look forward to visiting again. We also hope to one day experience natuRe tokyo.

A thoughtful tasting menu from a Hale ʻAina award-winning chef, with highs and a few misses…read more The standout of the night was the abalone steamed in sake over green curry risotto. Absolutely dreamy!! The abalone steamed with Sake was beautifully tender, and the green curry risotto absolutely knocked it outta da park!!! The squid with cauliflower dashi foam was another strong dish. The squid was incredibly tender, and the dashi sea foam was light, airy, and full of subtle umami. A great example of the chef's precision. Overall, the cooking shows a clear command of refined, "chefy" techniques The turnip mousse with caviar and olive oil , served in a coupe-style glass, was elegant in presentation but didn't quite deliver in balance. The turnip mousse was a bit too dominant and overpowered the caviar. The mushroom duxelles ravioli stuffed with mascarpone and ricotta also fell short. The pasta was undercooked to the point of chewiness . Firmer than expected for my taste even for al dente. It definitely distracted from delicate stuffing The chicken and mushroom reduction sauce definitely carried the dish, bringing depth of flavor. From a service standpoint, one moment stood out. When asked how the ravioli was, I gave honest feedback and was told that's how the chef intended it to be. That showed lack of grace for fine dining and didn't land well. If you're going to ask for feedback, don't be dismissive and defensive of the feedback. Also worth noting: after a $600 dinner for two, we asked for espresso at the end of the meal and were told the machine had already been turned off because they were closed. It's hard to take a "fine dining" restaurant seriously, when that happens. Overall, there's a lot of skill and thoughtful technique here, with some genuinely standout dishes . But also a few inconsistencies that keep it from being a top-tier experience. Happy Eating!! 38

Incredible. That doesn't even cover our dinner but it's a word to start. We arrived at Michel's and…read morewere taken to a window side table where we could see the last dregs of the sunset. Then given lavash bread with butter - the butter had herbs and was delicious. Our server Stewart came and introduced himself. Guys if you go ask for Stewart he is so knowledgeable not only about the menu but he's the head sommelier. He suggested a perfect red Zinfandel that was light and dry. Then the food ... he suggested the escargot and the lobster bisque to start. Snails ... never did I think snails! But holy moly clearly I've been missing out - and ask him how the locals eat escargot ... divine! The lobster bisque was my least favorite part of the meal and anywhere else it would've been the high light! Our meals - I had the blackened ahi - literally melted in my mouth with the perfect wine- full bodied but not overly heavy. My husband has their special which was a veal and scallops with gnocchi entree and he said it's the best veal he's had - and was also suggested a great cocktail to pair with it. Now if that wasn't enough the dessert - we were there on our honeymoon so chef made us a special dessert off the fly a berry tapioca pudding and then the chocolate soufflé - it's a must don't even think about anything else ... and of course Stewart hit it out the park with dessert wine he recommended. We also had an asparagus compache as a starting dish the chef made off the cuff as he does every night - something different just for the guests. And we were given a lemon sorbet palette cleanser. Now Stewart was by far the best part of the service but all the servers and staff were attentive and friendly. I cannot say this enough there are no words to describe how incredibly perfect our meal was and we will be sure to return.

This was one of the best dining experiences we've had in Hawaii and will be back for more. The…read moreservice was exceptional from start to finish. The staff remembered our names and struck the perfect balance between being attentive and giving us space to enjoy the evening. The waterfront views are nice and make for a perfect date night setting. Everything we ordered was fantastic, but the seafood platter truly stood out. It was easily the best seafood platter we've had to date and worth every penny. I rarely order dessert, but I'm glad we did here. The soufflé was incredible and the perfect way to end the meal. Between the food, service, and atmosphere, this is a place we'll definitely be returning to. Absolutely recommend! Note: if you want seaside seatings, you have to book months in advance.

At Margotto, they made it rain--rain shaved truffles. While they have other menu items, they are…read moreknown for their seasonal truffle menus and having well priced truffles which they source themselves from Italy. Under Chef Shiori Okuya, their tasting menu, was a nice way to experience the French-Japanese flavors of the restaurant. First we chose the amount of truffle we wanted for our meal. Then those truffles were shaved over multiple elegant appetizers; a Pot-au-Feu soup; a lobster fish course; oyster pasta; duck for our main; in Asian-style, a comforting rice bowl to end the savory courses; and finally even the dessert. Henry was an amazing server with flair and passion for the menu and we even took a little bit of truffle home to enjoy on soft scrambled eggs the next day. If you want to experience another side of Margotto, there is also Margotto E Baciare in Japan.

Though prone to hyperbole, please let me assure you that I am dead serious when I say I would give…read moreMargotto 10 stars if that were an option. I'm quite fortunate to have had many amazing dining experiences, more than a few of them of the fine-dining-persuasion and Margotto shook me to my core. Unforgettable and completely unlike anything I've had before. It's incredibly unassuming from the outside--like a secret or a speak-easy--elegant and understated on the inside. The staff are all so warm and welcoming and you'll want for nothing the entire time you're dining. It's a coordinated dance of service. Arrive hungry and ready to spoil yourself! Opt for The Grand Degustation and get the 15 grams of truffles. This is not the time to be stingy! In fact, you really need to get the Caviar Monaka and a glass of champagne to start--the crispy wafer is a nutty delight and a perfect compliment to little fishy pearls. THEN you can move onto the ten course meal. And since I'm telling you what to do, you'd be entirely remiss to skip the wine pairing. Chuck Furuya is a demigod with a palate that is twenty-seven steps ahead of us mere mortals. The wines on their own practically sing in their glasses but when paired with each dish? The transformation of flavors? Absolutely unreal. Let us not forget about the truffles. They're fruity and earthy and succulent, without being heavy or overbearing in any way. You WILL feel spoiled and you deserve it! If I lived here, this would be my go-to special occasion restaurant, no question. You must try it for yourself.

First time going to el Cielo, and it did not disappoint!…read more The food was great - most of the menu appears to be tapas style appetizers, so we got a bunch as well as a paella dish. Our favorites were the paella - it was lemony, bright, and had a generous amount of meat. The empanadas were also delicious and came with a homemade chimichurri sauce. We got these butterfish fritters (can't remember their name, oops) that came with a saffron aioli. The chicken liver mousse was tasty as well. While the pan con tomate was good, we got the plain one, and should have gotten it with ham! A lot of the food is served with airy, light, crusty homemade baguettes. The wine list is nice, mostly wines from Spain! I tried the Albarino and it was delicious. It is located on Lewers street, and has some nice iron wrought gates. We opted to sit on their outdoor patio, which had a lovely fountain and vibe going. Parking is kinda tricky - there's a lot in the back of the restaurant but it was full for us, so we street parked.

What a great experience we had tonight, celebrating our anniversary in Honolulu. We ordered the…read morepâté, beet salad, and octopus for starters. All were outstanding. I don't like pâté (my wife) but I'm now a fan. The grilled octopus was heavenly, like a steak, but more delicate. Our final main was the seafood Paella. Amazing. Tip: scrape that disk to get the burned bits of rice on the side. It really brings out the flavor. Service-wise - our server was amazing. Always there, but never intrusive. Thank you for a great meal, and great experience!