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.

La Mer was the most beautiful place to celebrate my birthday! From the moment we arrived, the…read moreservice was impeccable and made the evening feel incredibly special. The ocean views were absolutely stunning, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable celebration. One of our favorite touches was the variety of bread rolls to choose from, all freshly baked at the Halekulani bakery. Paired with their specialty butter, it was such a lovely complement to the meal. For my entrée, I ordered the Filet de Boeuf, which was cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. We also enjoyed a variety of desserts, and every single one was exceptional. The combination of outstanding service, breathtaking views, and incredible food made this a birthday dinner I'll never forget. We loved everything and can't wait to return!

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.

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

Absolutely phenomenal…read more Little spot off the beaten path near Ala Moana. Small and cozy. Small menu, but everything is homemade. The best eggs I've ever had. Wonderful service too. Perhaps the best breakfast of my life.

Girls brunch and we found ourselves at Farmhouse Cafe. It's a small restaurant and there are…read morehightops and tables and tables out front. This is a great spot to hangout and catch up with friends, as your order is made to order, and there is a slower pace in this spot. I ordered the ham and cheese croissant, and we ordered the potatoes for the table. Those taters were crispy and soft all at the same time, and they went quickly! We had a short 10 minute wait when we arrived, and parking is in back of the building and is valet (they have one of those car elevators for parking stalls). It was a cute spot, great company, and enjoyable food.

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.

The experience at Mugen was magical ambience! From the valet person out front, to the lovely…read morehostess, wine sommelier Douglas, our server Shari, the other great people, Eduardo & unique name, Jahdi, made it memorable. I also thank hotel manger Vernon & manger Debbie!! THANK YOU!! Each utensil, 1 of a kind cocktails, bread & puzzle made spreads, gorgeous plating, chef well put together dishes, waygu beef tartare, Regiis Ova Ossetra Caviar, maine lobster, molokai venison, kona kampachi, scallops, maui beets, marrunga lamb, shima aji, toriyama a5 waygu, to 3 secret desserts and a surprise!! The sapphire tasting set is the way to go I say!! Comes with Chef's Seasonal Nigiri!! OMGOSH!!

5/5 We did the…read morePetite Course Experience on a recent evening and it absolutely delivered, romantic, upscale, and unlike anything else we've experienced here in Hawaii. My husband went with the Beef Selection ($88) and while everything was beautifully executed, the standout was hands-down the Kiawe Filet Mignon; perfectly cooked and full of smoky, rich flavor. The Pincho with Local Papaya & Prosciutto was the one dish that didn't quite land for him personally, but that's a minor note in an otherwise stellar meal. Dessert was a Purple Sweet Potato Mont Blanc served with Cashew Vanilla Ice Cream and Macadamia Nut Crumble; creative and indulgent. loved every course. The Charcoal-Battered Heart of Palm was a showstopper; such a unique preparation. The Local Veggie Pesto Pasta was comforting and fresh at the same time. My only minor critique mirrors my husband's on dessert; the Purple Sweet Potato Mont Blanc was lovely, but one bite of the sweet potato element was plenty for me. The ice cream and crumble though? Could have had a whole bowl of that. The seating window (we did the 5:30 seating) felt intimate and unhurried. If you're looking for a special occasion dinner or just want to treat yourself to something truly elevated, this is it.

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

Our first visit to Michel's was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the valet…read moreattendant was friendly and welcoming, setting the tone for a wonderful evening. We were seated at a beautiful table overlooking the ocean, providing the perfect setting to enjoy the sunset. Our server was warm, professional, and attentive throughout the evening. She introduced herself, presented the drink menu, and after we ordered a bottle of Evian and a ginger beer, we were served Lovash bread and pesto butter. She carefully explained the menu and reviewed the evening's specials before our meal began. The lobster bisque, prepared tableside, was both entertaining and delicious. My crusted onion soup was equally outstanding. Between courses, we were served a refreshing sorbet intermezzo. For the main course, I enjoyed the filet mignon with lobster tail, both cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. My guest couldn't stop talking about how incredible the Duck à l'Orange was. We finished the evening with Michel's famous chocolate soufflé, which was the perfect ending to an outstanding meal. From the impeccable service and elegant ambiance to the breathtaking ocean views and spectacular sunset, Michel's exceeded our expectations in every way. It was a memorable dining experience, and we look forward to returning.

I have been coming to Michels for over 50 years. My family ate there on occasion when we lived…read morethere and I always try to visit every time I come to the island. I came with a party of 9 and it was delicious as always. However this time I noticed there was very little lobster in the bisque and it tasted different (and not in a good way). The broth was brown and not the normal creamy pinkish color. They have also executed the cardinal sin for me. They are charging for refills of cokes and tea. A classy restaurant like this charging you $8 to refill your tea class just becomes gouging. A glass of iced tea probably cost the restaurant 8 cents to make. So petty!!! The ambiance is spectacular. The food was great minus the bisque. It is expensive and the view alone is one of the most spectacular on the island as it is if you are sitting on the beach watching the sunset. They just took it too far with the drinks. I still like the food but I will not be returning simply due to the refill fiasco. It makes me feel like they are taking advantage of me. I hope that markup on your non alcoholic drinks were worth it. You just lost a loyal customer of 50 years.

Knuckle Sandwiches, Black-eyed peas, Haymaker Hash, and Hawaiian Punch Martinis are my faves…read more Don't forget the skewered shoulder roast!

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.