Restaurant: Azure
- Cuisine: Regional American
- Location:
- Pricing: $$$
- What's delicious: Everything
- Perfect for: Al-fresco dining, date night, small groups, foodies, views
...
For someone who has grown up vacationing in Oahu, my family and I
have amassed quite a number of special haunts and go-to eateries over
the years. In Kailua, we love
Island Snow for shave ice,
Saeng's for Thai, and
Buzz's Steakhouse for Mai Tai's - ahi poke - and the freshest local fish. And in Honolulu,
no trip is complete without a visit to
Tanaka of Tokyo for the best teppanyaki this side of, well, Tokyo.
Prior to spending this past Labor Day weekend in Honolulu, I realized
something: This would be my first time visiting the island without my
family in tow! With a limited number of dinner reservations to plan,
would I set one night aside to making a pilgrimage at
Tanaka of Tokyo? Or, at 35 years old, was it time for me to make my own culinary footprints and memories in this land of nostalgia?
Ultimately, I never ended up dining at
Tanaka of Tokyo. However, I'm happy to report that I corralled a pretty solid list of my
own go-to eateries. One that particularly stands out is
Azure at
The Royal Hawaiian. Not only was it the best meal of my trip - it's the best meal I've had in recent memory.
.
Amanda and I arrived at the sprawling pink resort just before 8pm - post the
Hilton Hawaiian Village's
weekly fireworks show/extravaganza (held every Friday night at 7:45PM) -
and meandered our way to the restaurant through the property's lush
courtyards and richly-appointed public spaces.
Upon arrival at
Azure, Amanda and I could not help but be
taken by the restaurant's stunning, Spanish-Moorish interior decor and
tranquil aura. With breaths taken and mouths agape, we were promptly
ushered to our lovely two-top, located merely feet from the sand of
Waikiki Beach.
Photo captured via the restaurant's website
With
menu prices on the steeper side, Amanda and I decided to gorge on the
(gratis) bountiful bread basket, split an appetizer, each order an
entree, and drink our dessert.
.
For an appetizer, we chose the
Azure Sashimi.
First, Hawaiian yellowfin ahi (tuna) was blanketed by a slice of
Japanese hamachi (of equal size). Prior to being rolled like a pseudo
burrito, a dollop of guacamole crowned the raw fish. Served as a set of
three, the sashimi sat atop a shallow pool of fragrant ginger
vinaigrette.
From the freshness and quality of each ingredient (namely the
seafood) and the overwhelming success achieved from the melange of
contrasting flavors (guacamole and ginger vinaigrette) - to the fried
pineapple frond used as a garnish - every aspect of this dish married
magnificently together, thus creating the pinnacle of culinary
perfection. It was, unquestionably, one of the best seafood dishes that
I've ever experienced.
For my entree, I chose the
"Black Magic" Spiced Moonfish (Opah).
Artfully perched atop a generous helping of
Nozawa Farms' sweet corn-pudding were two moonfish filets, liberally rubbed with the
Azure's
"Black Magic" spices. Black and white sesame seeds, micro greens
(providing for, if nothing else, a fabulous color contrast), and
ginger/sesame vinaigrette completed this gorgeous plate.
Another solid win/slam dunk for
Azure (and my taste buds)! I
was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the "Black Magic" spices did
not completely overpower the incredibly flaky, delicate fish. How that
was successfully achieved, I would
love to know!
"Amanda," I gasped, "do you realize that we've not spoken to each other
once
since our entrees arrived?" She returned my inquiry with a puzzled
gaze before looking down at her plate and smiling. "Lindsay," she
chuckled, "the conversation can wait, girl! This food is too delicious
to be interrupted!" She was right.
.
If you find yourself in Honolulu in the near future, you absolutely must pay a visit to
Azure.
Having dined all over the island, I can confidently say that this is
one of Oahu's best restaurants (and restaurant experiences) and my
personal favorite.
