La Mer- Waikiki Beach, HI
You got to be pretty awesome to be a featured restaurant here! I can choose any restaurant in the United States that just shines in all aspects from food to atmosphere to customer service. This month, I am choosing La Mer in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii.
La Mer is located in the beautiful Halekulani hotel in Waikiki Beach. This restaurant does open air, fine dining right. It is celebrated as Hawaii’s longest, consecutively ranked AAA 5 Diamond restaurant. The atmosphere is simply gorgeous. La Mer is on the second floor and the long, tall windows open to feel the beautiful ocean breeze. You can see the turquoise water and scenic mountainous and volcanic views from any table. We were lucky enough to get a table right in front of the window which felt even more intimate. You could hear the soft live Hawaiian music at the downstairs restaurant House without a Key.
From the moment you sit down, the service is top notch. The menu is a high-end French fixed price menu. You have the choice of three or four courses and can opt to do wine pairings with your courses or just get a bottle of wine from their excellent wine list. While we normally do wine pairings, we were in the mood for straight cabernet all night and opted for a bottle of the Silverado cab.
Ok, let’s talk food foodies! The servers came around with their bread baskets and offered us a bread from a variety. All of the bread was amazing, and I could not stop eating it. I had to tell myself to knock it off so i saved room for my courses! The point is, eat the awesome bread, but don’t become a bread addict. First course, I got the Raviole de Pied de porc, which is pork trotter ravioli with an artichoke veloute. Veloute is a sauce that is one of the five sauces of French cuisine that were designated the five “mother sauces” in the 19th century. The ravioli were fresh and delicious, but the sauce definitely made the dish. Perfect portion as well.
If you are a lobster fanatic, pay up and get the lobster entree. The picture displays the gorgeous presentation, and it was savory and fresh as well. We also had the roasted halibut with mussel safron cream which was really light and tasty as well.
Both dishes are fabulous, but I’m not too sure you can go wrong with entree choice! Be like the French and have your cheese platter for dessert! Great cheese selections. Also, the dessert souffle is probably the best we ever had. Hawaiian vanilla souffle with coconut nibs, jivara chocolate, and salted caramel sauces. Now that is a party in your mouth!
Customer service was excellent. All servers were friendly, professional, and explained the menu very well. La Mer is a can’t miss spot during your stay in Waikiki Beach! Make sure you get dressed up and show up at La Mer! Salute!
