Orchids at the Halekulani (Honolulu, HI)
written by TimUT78. Last Updated 6/20/07 20:16 [Hawaiian]

Found inside the magnificent Halekulani Hotel is the beachfront restaurant, Orchids. My friends and I went for a late night dinner. We were seated in the patio-area where we could see and hear the waves crashing in--it was very relaxing environment.

I had the fixed price meal which came with a salad, entree, dessert, and coffee or tea. The salad came with lettuce, sliced Maui onions, tomatoes, and a vinegrette. It was a rather simple salad, but the combination of these ingredients wasvery delicious. I chose the Seafood Variation "Orchids" for my main entree which had a generous portion of scallops, shrimp, risotto, and a lobster tail. Each piece of seafood was grilled to perfection and was accompanied well by the hearty risotto.

I also ordered a Tataki Beef Carpaccio which melted in my mouth. The truffle and basil oils were perfect accompaniments to this appetizer. Another appetizer I ordered was the Variation of Island Fish which gave three types of sashimi including the Hawaiian staple: poke. Each piece of fish tasted very flavorful and fresh.

Since I went with a group, we each ordered a different dessert. I ordered their signature coconut cake which was very sweet and moist. It had just the right amount of coconut. I was most impressed with their creme brulee which had a unique topping of pecans carmelized along with the sugar. It was definitely not your run-of-the-mill creme brulee.

If you are looking for an elegant dining experience with a great view and none of the pretentiousness found in similar establishments, I highly recommend Orchids at the Halekulani Hotel. It has a casual, relaxing atmosphere you would expect to find in a paradise resort. I found that the appetizers were a bit on the high end, but the Chef's dinner menu was well worth the price, especially when I saw the steak option!

Food: 9/10, Service 8/10, Ambience 10/10