Located at the “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” Azure Waikīkī is known for its beachfront views and fine dining experience in a relaxed setting.
Earlier this summer, the eatery launched a new five-course tasting menu, created by chef de cuisine Jose Reyes. The tasting menu is available from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays. It’s $145 per person, with an optional wine pairing ($65) available.
Each course features several options for diners to choose from. The first course includes a choice of sikil pak, heart of palm vichyssoise, or green salad.
The heart of palm vichyssoise is a French cold soup that includes rock and king crab meat, corn and a Parmesan crisp. It’s refreshing and creamy, and its chilled nature makes it the perfect starter on a warm summer evening.
The green salad with balsamic vinaigrette is made with locally sourced vegetables, along with sea asparagus and chunks of Sweet Land Farm goat cheese.
We’re told sikil pak is an ancient Mayan dish; this version features a dip consisting of ground, roasted pumpkin seeds and tomato, which is served with plantain chips and crudite.
The second course includes a choice of seasonal vegetarian poke, Kauaʻi shrimp poke, scallop tataki cebiche and oyster.
The scallop cebiche is ideal if you want something that’s both refreshing with a hint of spice. The tender scallops are served with aged daikon, black garlic aioli, plantain chips and a yuzu chili emulsion. The yuzu gives the dish a bright citrus flavor, and there’s some heat from the aji Amarillo chilies.
Kumamoto oysters were featured during our visit, but the oyster selection rotates. The petite, sweet oysters were served with green aguachile, wasabi tobiko, ogo and sea asparagus.
It’s difficult to make a selection for the third course because all three options sounded amazing — risotto with tartare of lobster and cured egg yolk, mushroom risotto, and seafood pasta.
We opted for the risotto with lobster; the lobster can be eaten on its own or scooped into the risotto to enhance its umami flavor. If you love shellfish, you won’t be disappointed. The risotto boasts a soft, creamy, slightly chewy texture.
The seafood pasta was probably my favorite dish of the evening. The pasta is stuffed with shrimp and lobster, accented with fresh Hokkaido uni and ikura, and is topped with a rich seafood sauce. The pasta was nicely cooked and the ikura’s smoky flavor is balanced nicely by the creamy uni.
Overall, the dish is chockful of indulgent flavors, but the portion size is perfect and prevents it from being overly rich.
The entrée course features a choice of lobster with guava-macadamia nut sauce and green hollandaise, fish with sauteed vegetables, aged beef with red wine sauce and fondant potatoes, lamb with avocado leaf chimichurri and misoyaki daikon steak.
Onaga was the featured fish of the day; we’re told kampachi had been previously featured, but onaga and opakapaka were included more recently.
The onaga is served with a flavorful sauce veracruz — made with fresh tomato and garlic — fresh olive gel, roasted broccoli and lomi lomi opae. The latter is a mix of tomatoes, onions and dried shrimp. The fish also comes with a side of Nanatsuboshi rice.
The aged beef features a prime aged filet served with fondant potatoes, red wine sauce, squash puree and blistered cherry tomatoes. The filet is ultra tender, and that red wine sauce is so flavorful. Use all the veggies and potatoes to mop up every last drop.
For dessert, choose from a faux abalone with haupia mousse and matcha, Waialua chocolate bar, sweet tamal with goat caramel sauce and popcorn ice cream, and red wine flan with fresh berries.
If you want something indulgent, the Waialua chocolate bar is a must. It features a chocolate financier — cremeux and chocolate cake — topped with orange whipped cream and hazelnut crunch.
The chocolate base itself is rich, but its sweetness is tempered by the orange whipped cream. It’s reminiscent of eating a chocolate-covered orange but in candy bar form, with the perfect crunch at the end from the hazelnut topping.
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CONTACT
Azure Waikīkī
The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikīkī
2259 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu
808-931-8642
Azurewaikiki.com
Open 5-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
