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Upscale Dining
| Elegance on the North Shore! Hawaiian Sea Bass with cannellini ban cassoulet, spinach, and roasted Big Island tomato from Twenty One Degrees North. |  |
The restaurants in this section are all upscale, fine-dining-type experiences. Being that this is Hawaii, though, you won’t need a jacket and tie - A collared shirt works just as well. The fine restaurants listed under the Upscale Steak Houses section are very similar in cost, atmosphere, and even menus, but they are specialized enough to merit their own section. Pretty much, both cover quality steaks and fresh seafood, basically.
Again, this is Hawaii, so you may find a sprinkling of local items such as seared ahi, Waimanalo greens, and other island products, but your classic upscale dishes, such as caviar, smoked salmon, beef Wellington, and steak Diane, all take center stage. Needless to say, prices are steep, but if you want classic fine dining, this section is a good bet.
Da Big Boy’z: Now that Nick's Fishmarket and Aaron's have suddenly closed, try DH Grill for modern elegance and 21 Degrees North if you're out on the North shore.
Diamond Head Grill. 2885 Kalakaua Ave. at the W Hotel. 922-3734. Breakfast and dinner daily, bar to 2am. Parking at hotel. Prices: $$$$. Map. DHG has gone through several chef changes for some reason, from an up-and-coming young local boy to a French-inspired chef from a 5-star restaurant. Current chef Mariano Lalica is a local boy with experience in several top-level Pacific Rim restaurants on the island and also in San Francisco. He has trained under French and Italian chefs, and here presents quality steak and seafood choices such as a classic seafood bouillabaisse, grilled steak Madison, and veal shank Cassoulet. The W bar, located in the restaurant and open until 2am, is one of the hippest, most sophisticated bars on the island. Both offer nice views of Diamond Head and Waikiki.
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Can't get upscale without a good foie gras, and Twenty One Degrees North Does not disappoint! |
21 Degrees North. A Closer Look. 57-091 Kamehameha Hwy. at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore. 293-8811. Dinner nightly except closed on Sunday and Monday. Parking at hotel. Prices: $$$$. Map. If you mosey on over to the Turtle Bay Hotel on the North Shore, there sits the more upscale ambience of 21 Degrees North. You’ll find such elegant dishes as seared diver scallops with Osetra caviar, lobster bisque, braised Kona lobster with Arborio risotto, and duck breast with spiced duck sausage and lentils. Easily the most upscale spot out in the country.
