With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, lovebirds will be looking to celebrate at their favorite restaurant.
Here are a few places around town offering special menus for the occasion (this post will be updated as new menus come in):
{ Oahu }
Alan Wong’s
1857 S. King Street #208
Menu available Feb. 14 and 15, 5-10 p.m.
Five courses: Appetizer trio (smoked salmon, Hawaiian kampachi kombujime, Kualoa farm oyster); Alaskan king crab roll wrapped in nori with truffle bouillabaisse; seared North Shore farm tilapia in black bean port wine sauce; Maui Cattle Company rib steak with herb-mustard crust; chocolate dobash with macadamia crunch, lime sherbet
$95 prix fixe, $145 with wine pairings
Reserve online or by phone at (808) 949-2526.
Azure
The Royal Hawaiian
Menu available Feb. 14, 5:30-9 p.m.
Four courses: Kampachi sashimi with hearts of palm salad; Blue Point oysters gratin with pork belly and braised spinach; choice of Hawaii rancher’s filet of beef, Jerusalem artichoke, alii mushrooms, sweet corn and truffle Madeira sauce, Colorado lamb chops, basil potato, Brussels sprouts, roasted Maui carrots and pomegranate jus, or citrus-scented butter poached Kona lobster with butternut squash gnocchi, peas, kale and baby heirloom tomato; raspberry mousse and sabayon in joconde sponge cake, Champagne gelée accent and citrus gelato
$125 prix fixe, $170 with wine pairings
For reservations, call (808) 921-4600. [website]
Beachhouse at the Moana
Moana Surfrider Hotel
Menus available Feb. 14, 5:30-6:45 p.m. (first seating), 7-9:30 p.m. (second seating)
Four or six courses, depending on seating time: Chilled Kusshi oyster, lemon, chili peppers, watermelon*; avocado, quinoa, local greens, pomegranate, yellowfin ahi tuna; Alaskan king crab, tarragon, corn, blood orange*; breast of Muscovy duck, celery root, fennel, sesame, strawberry; braised tenderloin of beef, shallot herbed polenta, blistered tomatos, corn relish; red velvet cake, lilikoi, alaea caramel, spiced red wine berries
$79 first seating, $99 second seating
For reservations, call (808) 921-4600. [website]
Hoku’s
The Kahala Hotel and Resort
Menu available Feb. 13-15, 5:30-10 p.m.
Five courses: Ahi tartare amuse bouche with crispy won tons, jalapeno, ginger, shiitake and white soy; Dungeness crab cake with asparagus crab salad and lobster creme caviar; raspberry walnut salad with ‘Nalo greens, honey glazed walnuts, roasted baby beets, heirloom tomato, avocado; grilled filet mignon with Yukon Gold morel mashed potatoes, cipollini onions, pancetta pinot noir sauce, Hoku’s spiced blend roasted broccolini; flourless dark chocolate cake with Kula strawberry confit, almond caramel tuille, pistachio gelato
$90, $125 with wine pairings
Reserve online or by phone at (808) 739-8760.
Japengo
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa
Menu available Feb. 13, 14 and 15, 5:30-10 p.m.
Four courses: Chilled oyster and caviar shooter with toasted bonito ponzu, chili oil, negi; Japengo chirashi with hamachi, maguro, spicy crab, unagi, ikura; choice of sous vide filet mignon with foie gras or Dungeness crab with lobster tail orzotto; dessert buffet
$96 prix fixe, wine pairings available for purchase by the glass or bottle, free parking
Reserve online or by phone at (808) 237-6180.
Michel’s at the Colony Surf
2895 Kalakaua Avenue
Menu available Feb. 14, 5-10 p.m.
Four courses: Duo of Scottish smoked salmon and bay shrimp amuse bouche; creamy abalone and wild mushroom chowder; choice of Big Island beef carpaccio with roasted black garlic, pesto and lemon-caper vinaigrette or warm Maine lobster salad, asparagus custard, lemon-lime vinaigrette or Pacific oysters freshly shucked or baked Rockefeller style; choice of bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin with pineapple-rhubarb chutney, terrine of Hudson Valley foie gras and roasted garlic mashed potatoes or grilled fresh island mahi mahi with angel hair pasta, grilled market vegetables, tomato coulis, macadamia nut lemon butter; choice of white chocolate mascarpone cheesecake or Belgian dark chocolate strawberry coupe with Amaretto and toasted almonds.
$150
Reserve online or by phone at (808) 923-6552.
North Shore Kula Grille
Turtle Bay Resort
Feb. 14, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Sweetheart Buffet: Parker Ranch’s Paniolo Cattle company five-peppercorn prime rib, merlot reduction and creamy horseradish; chopped spinach salad; Caesar salad; Hamakua tomato salad; Pupukea green salad with assorted toppings and condiments; shrimp cocktail; sauteed island mahi mahi; macadamia nut crusted rack of New Zealand lamb chops; steamed snow crab legs; jumbo sea scallops with dill cream sauce; “twice baked” au gratin potatoes; maple cured bacon and onion macaroni and cheese; creamed spinach with Parmesan crust; Key lime pie; carrot cake; chocolate covered strawberries; vanilla bean bread pudding
$68
Reserve on OpenTable by Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. to be automatically entered to win two free buffets for that night. Runner-up prizes include 50 percent off buffets for two (1st runner-up) and a bottle of sparkling wine (2nd runner-up), or reserve by phone at (808) 447-6632.
Paakai
Turtle Bay Resort
Feb. 14, 5:30-10 p.m.
Four courses: Kona Maine lobster bisque; local honey, cream goat cheese, peppercorns, Pupukea greens, tomato, onion; choice of Paniolo Cattle Company bone-in New York steak or grilled island snapper with crab, Cognac sauce and steamed bok choi; Waialua chocolate pot de crème and strawberries
$85, $105 with wine pairings
Reserve online or by phone at (808) 447-6632
Plumeria Beach House
The Kahala Hotel and Resort
Feb. 13-14, 5:30-10 p.m.
Buffet: Selection includes baby spinach with arugula, strawberries and goat cheese, artichoke and asparagus salad, Cajun shrimp and bowtie pasta, namasu with crab meat, garlic roasted salmon and tofu; ahi and tako poke, shrimp cocktail, fresh oysters on half shells, ahi sashimi, wok-fried eggplant, sushi, tofu with bonito flakes, assorted cheese board; creamy truffled potato leek soup, Ho Farms tomato gazpacho; rosemary salt-crusted prime rib of beef with au jus and creamy horseradish; sauteed catch with saffron tomato stew, herb-roasted boneless leg of lamb, baked oysters with casino butter, assorted seafood with lobster cioppino, steamed snow crab with crispy garlic butter; raspberry white chocolate tart, dark chocolate caramel tart, lilikoi mousse cake, guava chiffon cake, almond opera cake, dulce de leche cream puffs, Kula strawberry cheesecake, macadamia nut brownies and blondies, chocolate chip Kahala bread pudding [full menu here]
$75, $37.50 children ages 6-12
Reserve online.
Roy’s Hawaii Kai
6600 Kalanianaole Highway
Menu available Feb. 14, 5-9:30 p.m.
Five courses: Kampachi usuzukuri with jalapeno ponzu; cauliflower bisque; seared dayboat scallop with hearts of palm; choice of 14 entree options (sous vide maple leaf duck breast; crispy whole fried Big Island moi; iron-seared misoyaki butterfish; Roy’s original Hawaiian blackened ahi; smoked 16 oz. prime ribeye steak; braised five-cheese Provencal-crusted lamb shanks; compilation of Kauai shrimp, dayboat scallops, mini crab cakes; olive oil herb grilled salmon; honey mustard grilled beef short ribs; whole split Maine lobster stuffed with jumbo lump crab; steamed whole Big Island moi; roasted macadamia nut Hawaiian mahi mahi; Provencal crusted sous vide half roaster chicken; garlic buttered head-on Kauai prawns); dessert TBD
$60-$90 depending on entree
Reserve online or by phone at (808) 396-7697.
The Nook Neighborhood Bistro
1035 University Avenue #105
Menu available 6-9 p.m.
Four courses: Choice of seafood trio (chilled Kauai Shrimp and yuzukosho vinaigrette, seared scallop and salmon roe, butterfish foie gras en croute and balsamic reduction) or fromage trio (Spanish manchego and rosemary honey, fresh mozzarella eggplant napoleon and balsamic reduction, brie, fig and walnut preserves); choice of house-made linguini with roasted beet and chevre or king trumpet mushroom risotto with Pecorino; choice of butterfish, tamarind blood orange glaze and herb citrus jasmine rice or ribeye with chocolate mole and dauphinois potatoes or pork shank with caramelized apples and roasted heirloom carrots; pavlova with passion fruit sorbet and coconut rolled ganache
$65, BYOB
Reservations are required by calling (808) 942-2222 or via email.
The Pig and the Lady
83 N. King Street
Menu available Feb. 13 and 14, seating times 5:30, 6, 7:30, 8 and 9 p.m.
Five courses: Seasonal vegetables, tomato ice, yuzu kosho salsa verde, tofu garlic emulsion; chitarra with uni butter, meyer lemon, white truffle oil, chicken cracklings; New York striploin with black garlic miso, marinated maitake, onion tataki, wasabi greens; hot pho beef broth, slow poached egg, shallots, green onions; dulce de leche cremeaux, basil cake, raspberry, cacao
$75, $115 with wine/alcohol pairings
Reservations are required. Reserve online or by phone at (808) 585-8255.
Top of Waikiki
Waikiki Business Plaza, 2270 Kalakaua Avenue
Menu available on Feb. 14, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Four courses: Slow motion egg (slow-cooked local egg, smoked pork, mushroom ragout, sweet onion foam); shrimp and snow crab claws; choice of miso-and-yuzu-glazed smoked butterfish with eggplant puree or roasted beef striploin with red-wine braised cabbage and charred broccoli puree; Baked Alaska
$55 “Early Lover’s Special” 4:30-5:30 p.m., $75 regular with additional wine and cocktail pairing for $20
Reservations are required by calling (808) 923-3877.
{ Maui }
Gerard’s Restaurant
174 Lahainaluna Road, 6-8 p.m.
Four courses: Choice of shiitake mushrooms in puff pastry or ahi tartare with taro chips or risotto with oyster ragout; choice of lobster bisque or baby spinach salad; choice of opakapaka with Champagne sauce or confit of duck with white beans, Virginia ham, garlic petals and Brussels sprouts or Hawaiian country filet of beef with whole grain mustard sauce, warm Maui onion jam and salsify au gratin; choice of honey profiteroles with Maui’s Best honey ice cream and hot chocolate sauce or “Dusty Road” coffee and chocolate ice cream laced with butterscotch and chocolate sauces, Chantilly cream, macadamia nuts and chocolate dust or fondant au chocolat with jasmine ice cream and raspberry coulis.
$95
Reserve online or call (808) 661-8939.
Maui Ocean Center
192 Maalaea Road, Maalaea
Menu available Feb. 14, 6-8 p.m.
Four courses: Lover’s Platter (freshly shucked oysters with lilikoi mignonette sauce, shrimp cocktail and lobster dumpling with kaffir lime oil drizzle), Nicoise salad, choice of mahi mahi stuffed with wild Pacific blue crab, filet mignon and king crab legs, vegetable “lei” or free-range chicken breast stuffed with fresh spinach and Boursin cheese on truffle butter noisette, strawberry Florentine basket with chocolate-covered strawberries, sparkling wine
$119 plus service charge and tax, aquarium will not be available for touring during dinner
Reservations are required by calling (808) 270-7088 Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.