My Birthday dinner in Oahu - where?
 

We will have a car while staying in Kapolei and are looking for a delicious restaurant with nice atmosphere. preferably outside, beach views a plus.

I think sunset is around 6 p.m. this time of year. One of my favorite dining experiences was Mama's Fish House in Maui, so something along the same lines would not be a bad suggestion.

Thanks!

La Mer............

http://www.halekulani.com/dining/

Hau Tree Lanai at New Otani in Waikiki?

I will have to agree with Littleman - the Halekulani is beautiful. I had Sunday brunch there a few years ago and it was wonderful.

sorry no real recommendation - I had a special dinner at Alan Wong's but there is no view - I just had to say that Mamma's fish house remains one of my most special dining experiences - almost 16 years ago on my honeymoon :)

Hau Tree Lanai. I took my Girlfriend there for her 60 th birthday 2 years ago and everything about it was great. Try to get there 1/2 hour before sunset as an added plus.
Enjoy
Warrsher

Foodie - wise, I agree with MomDD - Alan Wong's. It is tied with Chez Panisse as our favorite restaurant ever. There is no view, except that of the food and of your loving spouse. And that's not all bad! They know how to make it a special night, be sure to let them know you are celebrating. And get directions to get there, it is a bit confusing.

What great suggestions! I am bookmarking for our trip!

Alan Wong's. I thinks it's one of the best on the Islands. As all of the above have mentioned, it has no view, but the food is sensational. I've been there twice and by far those meals were the best I've had in my 10 years of exploring the islands and their restaurants.

Bill

I like Hau Tree Lanai as well. You are right on the beach, sitting under a canopy of knarled trees. Watching people play beach volleyball, watching the sunset, and then enjoying your meal with the lights on the surf is magical.

You can make reservations on Open Table, which is handy. I've only eaten there once, but it was lovely, and I enjoyed the food very much, although it was perhaps not outstanding.

You can get a sense of the atmosphere on their website. http://www.kaimana.com/hautreelanai.htm

One of our favorites was John Domenis (sp) - but I guess it's gone now? Had a great view looking back at Diamond Head.

The Hau Tree is a great location - and the Halekaulani is top drawer, and even close by at the Royal Hawaiian can be fun - and I believe they serve dinner out at their beachside cafe/bar?

And I think the Ala Moana has a nice view from their restaurant, and what's the one with the big Acquarium in the middle? Think it's on the Mauka (mountain) side of Kalakaua in one of the big hotels, but it's a pretty cool setting.

And while I have used Open Table here in SD - to me there is nothing like making direct phone contact with the restaurant to request a view table, check on the special offerings that night, whatnot.

BTW - next time over want to try Alan Wongs, and here's the website - but as noted - it ain't on da beach: :)

http://www.alanwongs.com/

Depends if food or setting is more important. I've only been in the bar at New Otani and seen the restaurant menu and set up (so can't vouch for the food) but the setting is fantastic. Prettiest restaurant I've seen in Waikiki.

Just returned from Hawaii a few days ago...and I'm in mourning over it! I plan on writing a trip report soon. We were on Oahu for 10 days over the holidays. Amazing trip!

We were celebrating my mom's 70th birthday and came up with the perfect solution for her birthday dinner. We made reservations at House Without A Key at the Halekaulani (or as my mom calls it "Room Without A Key" - lol!) for happy hour at 5:00. We were a large group (12 of us) and we enjoyed mai tai's while watching the sun set and listening to beautiful Hawaiian music. What a gorgeous setting it is there! We had a few appetizers along with our drinks, but nothing heavy. And then we went to Alan Wongs at 7:30 for dinner. All of us thought it was a great combination. Alan Wongs was incredible and lived up to all of the hype (none of us had ever eaten there before!) It was reminiscent of my meal at Mamas Fish House 20 years ago in Maui! Like you, we didn't want to miss eating with a view, but we still wanted Alan Wongs. I highly recommend that you can do both, if you time it right and don't mind eating a little later! It was easy to jump in cabs at the Halekaulani for the short ride over to Alan Wongs. Obama had been at Alan Wong's the night before we were there and the waiters will still buzzing with excitement. You just can't go wrong eating there!!

Good luck with your decision!

Just returned from Ohau and House Without a Key and Orchids at the Halekaulani were my absolutly favorite places to spend an evening. House Without a Key ahd Orchids share an open area between them. We went to House Without a Key for drinks at 5:30 but get there early if you want to sit in the front and hear the music and see the hula dancer. The sun sat behind the musicians and dancer as we drank our Mai Tais (which incidentally are supposed to be one of the best but I didn't care for them - should have had champagne!) The dancer is there 6 days a week and the sun sat about 6 p.m.
http://www.halekulani.com/dining/house_without_a_key/

I don't remember what time we made our reservation at Orchids but probably about 6:30. The food was absolutely delicious alltlhough a little more expensive than House Without a Key. Orchids definitely has a nicer ambiance. Our table was on the side where the entertainment was going on and so we were able to continue listening to the music and watch the dancer during dinner.. I enjoyed Orchids more than Alan Wongs. And the service was excellent. We had the Big Island Goat Cheese and Orchids salad for starters. My husband had the Opah and Pork (which he couldn't stop raving about) and I had the Onaga Orchids style (which I would tell them next time to go lightly on the oil) which was absolutely delicious.
http://www.halekulani.com/dining/orchids/

We did eat at House Without a Key and the food was very good and a little less expensive than Orchids. My husband had the ribs with raspberry bbq sauce and I had a white fish with coconut. I don't see either on the regular menu but we were there on a Tuesday night when they have the bbq fired up.

We chose not to go to Le Mer so can't comment on it.
Hua Tree is nice but Orchids was extra special for me.

The view at the Halekulani is amazing, the service impeccable and the food is terrific. You are basically sitting outside which is great. Alan Wong's is amazing, AMAZING food! You can't beat the food. Haven't been to the Hau Tree Lanai. Another place that has an amazing view and excellent food is Roy's Ewa. This is the original Roy's not the one in Waikiki. It is on the Ewa side of the Waikiki, about 20 minutes out. You'll need resercations for upstairs. Ask for a window seat and you'll see an amazing sunset. I think Roy's has the best of both. It's expensive, but you won't be paying the "hotel" costs of a resort restaurant like you will at Halekulani.

Great reviews and advice. Would suggest you check the online menus ahead of time to see what best suits your expectations, and then - you might also go by the various places for a little previw - as except for Roy's Ewa - they are all within about 10 minutes of each other.

Don't think you can go wrong at any of the places.