Friendly and welcoming staff and such a great ambiance. Our server was very knowledgeable of the food and recommended outstanding dishes. From the beginning to the end very happy. The baba ghanoush, the short ribs stew, the roasted eggplant risotto, and the mushroom orecchiette was so very delicious. To end the night was hands down my absolute favorite was the ricotta fritters for dessert Thank you lady Elaine! read more

Lady Elaine completely blew us away. My best friend and I are always trying somewhere new together, and after so many places, I could not help but share our experience. What we loved most about Lady Elaine was how genuine everything felt. Great food aside, the staff and overall atmosphere made it feel like a place people truly enjoy being in. It crazy how effortlessly they balanced both quality food and ambience. Usually it feels like you have to sacrifice one for the other, but Lady Elaine somehow nailed both. The food was beautiful, fresh, comforting, and full of flavor -- the kind of meal you keep thinking about after you leave. We loved sharing the Mediterranean-inspired dishes, the portions, gave us the chance to try a little bit of the menu together, and left our stomachs quite content. They were also kind enough to bring out a few complimentary items for us to try while we waited for our ordered dishes, which was very thoughtful. We got to try the Chermoula Shrimp, enjoyed little glasses of limoncello as a sweet treat after dinner, and they even brought out pita bread so we could soak up the sauce from the meatballs -- honestly too good to leave behind. Add a couple glasses of wine, great conversation, and such a genuine atmosphere, and it honestly turned into one of our favorite dining experiences we've had. We left already knowing this would be one of many visits to come. Such a special little gem. *Parking: Parking was a bit packed around 07:30pm but we were able to get a spot within 5 mins. *Total For 2 Glasses of Wine, Cauliflower Dish, Meatballs, and Risotto -- around $85 dollars subtotal. Not including the complimentary food items we received but included with our generous tip for stellar service. read more

Lady Elaine - Left: Sumac Cauliflower Right: Bolognese Meatballs - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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A cute place in Manoa that's great for big parties and has many vegetarian option. On food alone, though, the owner's other restaurant two doors down, Little Plum, is better. We came with a party of 6 on a weekday and made reservations the day of without issue, but it was busy and lively when we arrived. We shared everything family style as they recommend, and ordered a good portion of the menu. Our favorites were the mushroom orecchiette, heirloom carrots, and charred cabbage. The blistered tomato rigatoni was definitely a skip (just mediocre tomato sauce on pasta with no blistered tomatoes - easily something that could be made at home). Nothing was bad, but most dishes weren't especially mind blowing and again, Little Plum is much better. Overall this place is decent and easy for big groups but won't be one of my go-to spots in the marketplace. read more

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Had a girls night and wanted to try a new spot. We made a reservation online and got our table immediately after checking in. The decor and transformation of the space is great - it has a modern feel and the attention to details makes the place upscale. For food, we started with warm bread and babaganoush. A great start to the meal - or maybe we were just hungry. For our mains, we shared the charred cabbage - recommended by our waitress - and the chermoula shrimp. I would say the standout was definitely the shrimp - very flavorful and savory. I'd definitely be back for it! Their drinks were also tasty - I got an espresso martini. I love that they have "tiny tinis" which are mini sized martini cocktails as well - super fun and the glass is so cute! This is a great date night or nice dinner spot if you're looking for Mediterranean food. read more

Lady Elaine - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My friend and I went to Lady Elaine for dinner one night. It was partially because Little Plum was booked full, so we decided to try lady Elaine knowing we could make a resi. We got a few dishes to share and a couple glasses of wine and it was a perfect girls' night out. I like Manoa marketplace for it's easy parking and convenience of being in the heart of Manoa. Lady Elaine is a relatively new restaurant. I remember when it was a Japanese buffet a long time ago. I think it was some other things before it became lady Elaine. The menu is a nice size, not too big and not too small and there is a variety of different kinds of foods, perfectly fusiony for people who are indecisive and want to try different things. Haha. The inside is nicely decorated and on a week night, it was surprisingly crowded inside. The service was great, too. While I like eating family style and sharing dishes, idk if this is a place to go if you want your own food. The portions are a bit small, which makes it better for sharing. I tried the orange wine which was interesting haha. They have other interesting drink options too. I'd be back :) especially because I heard they dropped prices. read more

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Who's Lady Elaine? It's one of the characters on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood! Maybe a little random to some. I just remembered the red Neighborhood Trolley. Those of us who did watch it probably can't remember anymore lol. Lady Elaine is located in the Manoa Marketplace - around and behind Safeway. There's a decent amount of parking, which can fill up. I believe the concept of Lady Elaine is neighborhood, and you feel that before you even walk in the front door! A cheerful host opened the door before we even came in. Nice touch! That welcoming vibe does set the tone. The inside is quite spacious with an open kitchen and bar, and large dining room with spaced out tables. Small details such as baskets to put on the floor for purses and bags, items for children to keep busy, changing of plates, making sure the food comes out at certain times, and etc. really enhances the dining experience - even though this more of a casual restaurant. The menu is Mediterranean with a very nice variety of meats, seafood, vegetables, pasta, and etc. Prices are very reasonable. The Chicken Tenders (yes, can order from the Keiki section for adult consumption) were good. Nicely breaded and fried, large and tender, and seasoned enoigh. The fries were the best! Nicely seasoned, crispy, and potatoey. Bread and Butter was okay. Bread crust was on the toothsome and dry side and it was not warmed enough. Butter spread was good. Light and herbaceous. Warmed Olives were really good. Might've been the best dish of the meal! I'm going to start warming my olives at home from now on! Adding some olive oil and dressing added a rich savory element balancing out the sourness. The Sumac Cauliflower was decent. Wish it was more on the warmer side. Sumac brought a nice brightness and tanginess. Pickled onions were really good. The Chermoula Shrimp was good. Similar to the previous dish, I wish it was just a bit more warm, especially the couscous. The flavors were bright and slightly acidic from the sun dried tomatoes. The extra large shrimp were cooked very well. Plump and tender. The Herb Lamb was pretty good. The char was amazing! That was the first thing I noticed. The lamb was cooked very well. Tender, juicy, and nicely seasoned. The broccolini also had a nice char and tasty. The chunky tomato sauce was good. Wish that was charred too! But overall, the dish could've been more herbaceous to match the name. Ended the meal with the Coconut Whipped Panna Cotta. The consistency was almost yogurt like. Creamy and smooth, and not too sweet with a nice coconut flavor. Overall, it was a good meal. The food was all prepared and seasoned well. Enjoyed all the dishes. Some could've been more warmed up for a better experience. The service was excellent. Very bright friendly and attentive servers. Nice atmosphere. Love the openness with an open view of the kitchen stations. The menu has a nice variety that changes each season, and the prices for food are very reasonable. I'll definitely come back to try more things! read more

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Enjoyed our lunch my first time at Lady Elaine! All of the flavors were really good. Service was amazing. I think my friend had like 6 refills on her iced tea because the servers just kept bringing them! Really enjoyed all of the tastes I had from my friends' dishes. Everything was flavorful, tasted fresh, worked well. Very savory and unctuous. The 2 mushroom dishes had the best flavors, in my opinion. The restaurant is cute and had lots of room. There's something on the menu for everyone, I think. My only negative-ish comment is that we all thought the portions were a bit small. So you can keep that in mind as you order and consider your options / budget. But I hope to revisit soon! read more

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An unexpected, unpretentious dining experience. Came on a recommendation of a local Manoa resident, and was not disappointed. The service was great and food delicious! I have an unusual food allergy to caraway seeds...and the waitress caught it in my pasta order thank goodness. Appetizers were good, baba ghanush, bread/butter but could have passed this. The charred napa cabbage was a hit. Then we shared all our mains-duck (ok), short rib stew (very good), lemon chicken skewers ( very good and moist) and lamb chops (excellent) which each had different and delicious vegetables included! This hit the mark for me on value, quantity and quality. Will definitely be back! Reservations recommended as they do fill up! read more

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The service here is impeccable. Absolutely amazing and they are attentive. I came here during lunch and we ordered a spread of food to share. Let's talk appetizers. The Caesar salad was a classic dish with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese on top. 4.5/5 The warm pita and humus was a huge hit for me. 5/5 The risotto was great. The grains were the right texture where it wasn't too hard or mushy. We added shrimp to it for an extra fee and it was worth it. We also ordered 3 chicken skewers on the side. Perfectly seasoned. The catch of the day is a dish I would return for time and time again. The fish was tender and I really enjoyed the seasonings. A perfect dish. 5/5 The burger and fries were a comfort food. I must say, the fries are outstanding. There are a variety of 2 people and group seating/table set ups. The interior is well decorated and inviting. read more

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It was love at first bite with Lady Elaine! This restaurant is a combination of lovely and trendy. You walk in and are embraced with the warm lighting, twinkling hanging lights, cute decor- almost as if you're walking into Lady Elaine's very sophisticated home. First of all, the service here is great. The waiters are super friendly and, since it was our first time, gave us great recommendations and explained the menu thoroughly, which is always a plus for me. Their menu is great to share- they have many different appetizers and entrees that are perfect for family style dining. My friend and I ended up getting the: Charred Tahini Cabbage Bolognese Meatballs with a side of Pita Roasted Eggplant Risotto Ricotta Fritters OMG. The food here is impeccable. The charred tahini cabbage was light and a great take on a "salad" if you're in the mood for some greens. The meatballs were super tasty and came with a lot of sauce that was perfect to dip the pita in. but the star of the night for me was the roasted eggplant risotto. I am now a lover of eggplant. I mean seriously, I love my steak, chicken, etc, but when I tell you I did NOT miss having any meat, I mean it! This risotto was savory, rich, and just downright delicious. Please do yourself a favor and try it. And for the dessert, their ricotta fritters were also great, but next time I think I'll try the panna cotta since I felt they were a little too dense for me. All in all, this is a restaurant you can come back to many times and always get something new and tasty, not to mention they have many different cocktails to try too! I will definitely be back, and I can't wait until then! read more

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I enjoy a restaurant that serves great food. I appreciate a restaurant that provides exceptional service. Lady Elaine offers diners both which is the difference between just having a delicious meal and enjoying a phenomenal experience. It's a space where every detail feels intentional but not forced, meaningful but nonchalant. Even before the meal begins, they offer a basket for your purse so you don't have to put it on the floor or try to sling it over your chair. The airy space features modern but whimsical decor that highlights the open-air kitchen. A large, colorful mural of Mr. Rogers hints at the restaurant's namesake, Lady Elaine, a bold and irreverent character from the land of make believe. And the food bespeak its beloved namesake. There is nothing demure about the dishes, everything is extra -- extra good! I don't consume land animals (includes dairy) but their staff asks about dietary restrictions before even taking your order. And they don't make you feel guilty about it either. Some places ask and then make you feel badly about having restrictions and you get the sigh and face, "Well, shouldn't have come here, then..." NOT Lady Elaine and NOT with Kardi! If I could give her more than five stars for service, I would... She went through the whole menu guiding me through each dish which was so helpful. Then, she said they had a way of making the roasted eggplant risotto vegan. Well, sign me up!! My friend (who doesn't have restrictions), and I chose a number of share plates and she opted for the artichoke and feta appetizer too. Each dish was spectacular in its simplicity. The hummus and baba ganoush were velvety and savory. The grilled veggies were bright and perfectly cooked and seasoned. The risotto was still creamy even without the cheese. I miss having risotto so it was such a treat. (Mahalo again to Kardi for offering me this marvelous option!) My friend said the artichoke and feta skillet was very rich and decadent. And people, whatever you do here, whatever you eat, GET a side of fries. They were phenomenal. And the hostess refilled our iced tea twice (with new glasses and fresh mint) without us asking. Details and service matter here! Kardi said the vibe between lunch and dinner is like night and day, so suggested we come back for dinner. I'll definitely be bringing the hubby for a delicious date night and to try some of their craft cocktails. Also Kardi said the panna cotta is vegan, so I need to make it a point to leave room for dessert the next time. Before we left, we used the restroom and all I can say is that I recommend the restroom, ladies! I won't elaborate, so you can be surprised. But I mention it because it's an extension of Lady Elaine's thoroughness and thoughtfulness to their clients. From beginning to end, my experience at Lady Elaine was extraordinary. You don't often visit an establishment that not only cares about the plates but about the people. Lady Elaine is that kind of place and will leave you feeling not just satisfied but special. read more

Lady Elaine - Hummus and Baba Ganoush - If you can't decide, just get both! - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came here for a baby shower but I had to leave early so I didn't get to try all the food. But I already fell in love with this restaurant with the short period of time when I was there. First of all it's a cute restaurant. It's modern yet cozy. It has that nice, warm, welcoming atmosphere. Service was great. Our server was very attentive and was patient with us (you know how it is when you dine in with kids lol). They even offered us some toys. Wow! I only tried a few items on the menu; chicken tenders and fries from the keiki menu, mashed potato, potato wedges and shrimp with couscous. Everything tasted so good. I haven't been so impressed by a restaurant for a while already. I don't know how the made simple dishes like chicken tenders, fries and potato wedges taste do good! They were not overcooked or dried. The shrimp with couscous had so much flavor going on. Portions were bot big but definitely quality over quantity. Too bad I couldn't try all the food but that's a reason for me to go back then! read more

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Already a fan of Little Plum, I was excited to have dinner at its sister restaurant, Lady Elaine. Located in the Manoa Marketplace, Lady Elaine offers a modern take on Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant is spacious with a nice vibe and perfect for large groups. My friend has a gluten allergy so the server took the time to let us know what was gluten free on the menu which we appreciated. We started with the bread and butter and warm olives. For our family style dinner, we shared the crudo, cacio potatoes, heirloom carrots, charred tahini cabbage, turmeric chicken skewers, and the fresh catch. We ended with ricotta fritters and coconut whipped panna cotta. I love that the menu has so many veggie options with the carrots and cabbage being my favorites. The fresh catch was tasty as well, but I really enjoyed the turmeric chicken skewers. We had a really nice dinner and would 100% recommend. They are open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. read more

I keep forgetting to review Lady Elaine cause I've now been here a handful of times for lunch. Probably my favorite Mediterranean lunch spot until I find time to come for dinner; cause then it would probably be my favorite Mediterranean restaurant for dinner as well! So a lot of people say it looks like Mr. Rogers' neighborhood/wherever Lady Elaine lived in the make-believe land but I don't really see it?? Hahaha. The decor inside is indeed nice tho. I like the rose-colored walls and everything else seems to match well. I did notice tiny details like the yarn coasters for drinks which I don't see often if at all in restaurants. Went for lunch today. Had the Baba Ghanoush, smaller portion Romaine salad, and the Bolognese Meatball Bowl. Also had the non-alcoholic Prince Tuesday ( lilikoi. basil-honey. lemon, soda) for a drink. It was all delicious!! Staff is always really nice and they also have an impressive wine list. I need to come for dinner!! read more

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So happy Lady Elaine added more options to their menu. I recently visited and tried their Chermoula Shrimp Couscous and Roasted Eggplant Risotto. The shrimp couscous was herby and quite salty, but the shrimp were nice and tender. While the risotto was bold, smoky, and creamy. The portions are modest for the price, but the service was fast and friendly and the seating spacious. read more

Lady Elaine - Chermoula Shrimp Couscous - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Plenty of free uncovered parking in Manoa Marketplace, located behind the Safeway. If any of you watched Mr Rogers' Neighborhood then this place is named after the iconic outspoken Lady Elaine in King Friday's kingdom. It's a large-ish bright and open concept design to give you that neighborhood vibe. Large painting of Mr Rogers ties it all together near the open kitchen and across the small bar. We were there on a Saturday night with reservations made for 8:00 pm and the place was busy. A smiling hostess sat us next to the kitchen so we could see all the action. They have mostly round tables with chairs and half booths. The bar has about 10 seats and in the corner near restrooms. Menu had delightful cocktails - I had the cosmo and she had the manhattan- with nibbles and interesting main dishes. It even had a "Neighborhood of Make Believe" section for non-alcoholic drinks that sounded refreshing with cutest names. A young man named Acesen (sp?) was very sweet and professional taking our drink orders and returning right away with them to take our orders. The meal was delicious and perfectly prepared. Started with sharing the romaine salad which look different as it was smothered with herb breadcrumbs but extremely tasty and went well with the warm olives we ordered on the side. The shrimp polenta was awesome as recommended by Acesen and we also had the hen in wood bowl which my friend loved but had a little too much cheese for me. We had ordered bread and butter on the side which was a perfect complement and the bread was kinda crusty and filling. There are only two desserts and neither were chocolate or ice cream so we declined, but next time will try the panna cota or ricotta fritters because I didn't realize that 100% of the sales goes to the culinary team, which is nice. It was my friend's birthday so a cute little tray bearing two delicate glasses of limoncino were brought with happy birthday written in chocolate! Mahalo Acesen! The bill was amazingly reasonable and not at all what I expected to pay. Friendly prices to boot! We enjoyed ourselves very much with Lady Elaine and shall return. read more

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We came here for my wife's birthday and had a wonderful dinner here. Service was outstanding, almost too good in the sense that we never had a chance to need anything because our server was always there in an instant before we could ask haha. We ordered meatballs, a mushroom pasta, a duck dish, some house pickles, and some wonderful breadshop bread. The dishes were all excellent, I would have been totally happy with this meal in New York or San Francisco, it was really well thought out and balanced. If I really had to nitpick and find one tiny issue, I'd say maybe the portugeuse sausage cassoulet was a bit rich to be paired with the duck?? But oh my gosh they prepared the duck perfectly, I'd order it again haha. I like that they served breadshop bread, which I consider the best bread bakery that I know of in Oahu. We actually ended up ordering two loaves as my somewhat picky daughter pretty much ate a whole loaf by herself. The inside was very comfortable and welcoming. It was near christmas so all the christmas decorations were up. Parking was easy to find, food came out pretty fast, and we thoroughly enjoyed everything. read more

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We came here at soon as they opened for lunch (brunch?) and were immediately surprised by how spacious and open the restaurant is. It's beautiful, clean, modern, and the various art pieces create a cozy, warm atmosphere. The service was also impeccable; the server explained menu items, had great recommendations, and even gave each of us a small basket to place our bags in, instead of on the floor! Little details like that make a difference. The food was also delicious. A few of my favorites: baba ghanoush, romaine salad, fries, short rib bowl, meatball bowl and mashed potatoes, roasted eggplant risotto, and the mushroom orecchiette. Hahahaha, I realize that most of everything we ordered, and to be totally honest, everything really was delicious. The lunch portions are on the smaller side, so if you're super hungry, make sure you order a few appetizers and a salad. You won't be disappointed. All the dishes were executed well and the timing was all perfect, too. Highly recommend making a reservation and trying out Lady Elaine for a casual meal or a date! read more

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When a friend suggested Lady Elaine for dinner, I didn't know what to expect based on the classy-sounding name. I had only later realized upon entering the restaurant that it was a reference to the iconic character from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and so was I pleasantly surprised to see that this is a Mr. Rogers-themed restaurant, an experience which tugged at my nostalgic heart: I bawled my eyes out at the end of Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018). With themed restaurants, one might be wary of gimmicks which may be leaned upon at the cost of quality (looking at the large portrait of Mr. Rogers which might nostalgia-bait me into enjoying my meal), but the service and food here were very good, even from the moment we were waiting for our table! We were given glasses of water and an opportunity to glance at the menu before being seated. The menu feels incredibly intentional and well-curated. The menu itself was so chic in presentation, that I wanted to take one home, but I guess they reuse them. For our group of three, we ordered turmeric chicken skewers, Chermoula shrimp couscous, hen of the woods, and for dessert the coconut whipped panna cotta, all to share. I also opted for the mocktail Prince Tuesday, which was bright and refreshing. The food was all very tasty (we had clean plates for every round). I was especially pleased by the hen of the woods, a menu item I had not seen before elsewhere. The restaurant is beautiful and tasteful. I would come back here for date night, or otherwise with any loved ones. read more

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Lunch. Service: Excellent. Ambiance: Love Mr. Rogers vibe. Open area and can be loud. Wished rhe had High Tea time (hint). Perfect setting for it. Party of 3 and ordered family style for all to share. There was nothing we didnʻt like. Soup du jour- Canʻt remember the name but it had mushrooms. I do remember wishing I ordered my own to get more! Bana Ghanoush- Perfectly seasoned. Asked for more bread to sop it up. Mushroom Orechoette- Not mind-blowing but a perfect match with all the other dishes. Warm Olives- I am now hooked to warming my olives from now on. Turmeric Chicken Bowl- Tasty! Not too heavily spiced. Good amount of chicken ratio to veggies. You can order this as a single dish and get full. Keep in mind, we are sharing amo g 3 people. Roasted Local Vegetables: Same veggies in chicken bowl. Farmers market was happening right outside. Ricotta Fritters- Nice crusty outside and super hot pillowy inside. Cut it in half first! read more

The world food tour duo resumed their visits to interesting restaurants on Oahu ... This time it was Lady Elaine in Manoa Marketplace. The space used to be a Japanese restaurant for many years ... the décor is minimalistic ... We asked to be seated by the glass wall as the place filled quickly and the noise level could be considered energetic. We started with a bottle of 2017 Scherrer Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($126) and Bread & Butter ($6). The wine was deep purple, with notes of black currant, chocolate and earthiness. The bread came with a herb butter but each slice was already buttered ... I loved the bread! We wanted the Hen of the Woods appetizer, but it was out, as was the Brussels Sprouts ... We ended up with the Heirloom Carrots ($12) and the Sumac Cauliflower ($12). The very dark carrots came with a honey, paprika and parsley scented yogurt ... They were delicious! The cauliflower was less successful, IMO. The menu listed hummus, garlic, and pickled onion ... I liked the latter, but the sumac dusting was subtle, and the hummus and garlic were too subtle for my palate. Our entrees were Herb Lamb ($38) and Duck ($28). The lamb was topped with a tomato chutney and served with Broccolini. The lamb was flavorful but somewhat tough. Slices of duck breast was served with a side of bean and Portuguese sausage cassoulet and sauteed kale ... I wanted more cassoulet. We ended our meal with the Ricotta Fritters ($12) and a French Press coffee ($8). The ricotta was very subdued ... The dish reminded me of round beignets. Our meal was reasonably priced and service by Sierra was fine. A little fine tuning of the entrees would have increased our satisfaction ... As it stands, a rating of 4 (recommended). read more

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Nice spot in Manoa Marketplace Service is excellent and welcoming. They also have toys for the kids and baskets for your bags which is a nice touch. They serve dishes family style. Definitely good quality food. Portion size are just right, but if expecting to be stuffed, you'd have to go elsewhere. My favorite was Hen of the Woods. The eggplant risotto was also the highlight. read more

Lady Elaine - Eggplant Risotto - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wife and I came here this past Thursday night for dinner. It was our first time for us and I have wanted to try it for a while as I had heard Dusty is involved with it. It was pretty good neighborhood restaurant. Great to have this place in Manoa. Our waitress and waiter were friendly and helpful. Food was pretty good. We both like garlic and the mushroom orecchiette was excellent for us. Could be too strong for people that are not garlic lovers. The short rib stew was really good too. The baba ghanoush was silky smooth. Overall, the seasoning of the food were on point. It was busy that night with a couple of larger parties. So it was on a louder side . We will definitely have to try their other restaurant soon. Another plus is free parking and lots of spaces. PS: restroom was nicely done. read more

Lady Elaine - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Lady Elaine is an absolute must-visit! The Mediterranean-style food and service are both outstanding. If you're dining with friends, I highly recommend ordering a bunch of dishes and going "family style." When we did that, the staff even changed out our plates and place settings for each course -- appetizers, entrée, and dessert. WOW -- talk about service! For the ladies, you'll love the thoughtful touch -- they provide a small basket for your handbag so it doesn't have to sit on the floor or hang from your chair. Such amazing attention to detail! Located in Manoa Marketplace, parking is easy and free. Perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner with friends. read more

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Why dine out? When food prices are at an all time high and everyone is busy, why spend the time to have a nice meal? The experience. And that is what Lady Elaine is...a pleasurable experience. From the time you enter, until the time you leave, you are graciously treated to a dinner where you are completely taken care of. Your server, the waitstaff, and the the bar area are quick to help and serve you. Our primary waitstaff person was Isabel. She was able to easily break down the menu, and point out the favorites. Service was not rushed, but attentive. Waitstaff around the restaurant all waited on us at one point or another...whether it was filling beverages, serving dishes, or taking them away. Tyler and Joe were our favorite bar attendants. Their product knowledge was incredible, as well as their hospitality. Even though we were seated in the restaurant, they came over and helped us all night long when we had 'drink and bar questions'. We have forgotten what customer service and hospitality feels like. We are used to shuttered businesses and high wait times due to staff shortages. At Lady Elaine, you feel like an actual guest....a VIP. This is place you can come and receive professional and warm service...take a deep breath and relax. We were offered cocktails...and they seemed adventurous. After consulting the waitstaff, we bravely ordered. The cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic were delicious...so much so that we had more than one! The food can be categorized as simple elegance. You could tell the kitchen was emphasizing high quality ingredients without trying to do too much. Dishes here are not overly wild or over sauced. You could actually taste the ingredients without the components being overseasoned. If I had to pick out a standout dish it would be the beef cheeks. This was so melt in your mouth...and amazing We will be back to Lady Elaine to try more dishes...and more cocktails! read more

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Foodie connections. My CPA wanted to have dinner and suggested Lady Elaine, a fairly new restaurant that opened in Manoa Marketplace in December 2024. Here the establishment offers Mediterranean food with an extensive food and drink menu. The name of the restaurant is after Lady Elaine Fairchilde, the puppet character featured in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. People may have viewed Lady Elaine as quirky and maybe scary but indeed unique. Unique is how I'd describe this restaurant. I love how the restaurant is so bright and lively, with an open kitchen. There are many sections to the restaurant with a bar that also offers counter seating. There's also individual dining tables, as well as long tables for group meals, as well. I allowed my CPA to take lead as she's been here before multiple times. She ordered an array of dishes along with non-alcoholic drinks. I was impressed by the variety, quality, food presentation so much that I decided to drag my family here. Fast forward five days where I met my family here. We were impressed by an almost full house restaurant at 630pm on a weekday. It was bustling with so much foot traffic that kinda resembled the Museum Go Around and neighborhood carnival that Lady Elaine Fairchilde worked at. My family are more eaters than drinkers so we passed on beverages and opted to order a storm. I recommended dishes that stood out on the initial visit and added on a whole bunch more I didn't get to try and dishes that family members showed interest. Crowd favorites were the crudo, lamb chops, steak frites and beef cheeks. Personally, the star of the night was Hen of the Woods - lightly sautéed Maitake mushrooms with polenta. Great body, texture and the amazing flavor stole the show for me. Although I wasn't a real fan of the duck breast on my first visit, I gave it another try and this time it was executed beautifully. Cooked to perfection with such hearty, tender and succulent slices of duck breast served with kale and Portuguese sausage and beans. The salads and small plates were also impressive. The nectarine with prosciutto and cheese, beet salad, cacio potatoes and romaine salad were absolutely delicious. Shout out to the staff who clearly were busy with a full house but still made time to check up on us, removed excess plates, changed plates and silverware, refilled our waters and brought us cups of ice. Overall, thumbs up from my family where I'll be back. The restaurant was too noisy to my liking but will most likely return for an early dinner. Food was delicious and service was spectacular. read more

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I love this place! The menu is modern and veggie forward with plenty delicious protein options. Some standouts for us were the crudo, the carrots, the short ribs, hummous, and duck. I've been with family a few times and recently went as a work group- we all agreed it was the best dinner we've had in a while. The cocktails are really good and interesting without being weird and they have a board of rotating wines that has terrific finds. And in addition to all that, the servers and hosts are on it and genuinely nice. They seem to be themselves but merged with 5 star hospitality skills. A rare and fun combo that adds to our experience every time. We will be back soon. read more

Came here to celebrate hubby's bday. For a Wednesday night, it was pretty crowded. Recommend making a reservation. First time here, so we asked our server for some recommendations. Here is what we ended up with: Bread & Butter: sourced out from Breadshop in Kaimuki, so yummm. Hummus: this was a pleasant surprise. Maybe I didn't read the description for the hummus, but was pleasantly surprised when it arrived as a red pepper flavored hummus with chickpeas. Very yummy, with hint of spiciness. Mixed Green Salad: both hubby and I really liked this salad. Good portion, mild vinaigrette, and honestly simple, yet so good. Duck: This was super tasty. We had to claim this when we arrived cause they had a limited amount. I liked every part of this dish. The kale that accompanied it was amazing. Shrimp Couscous: honestly, this was my least favorite, but it's me. I thought hubby and I were gonna share like we always do, but he claimed the duck as his own. Gave only one piece to me, so he was full and couldn't take half of my shrimp dish, which is what I was expecting. Anyway, that left me with eating 4 jumbo shrimp. They were cooked and seasoned well, but it wasn't my thing. I should've ordered the bolognese meatball. Next time... Service: This was their greatest strength. I LOVE great service. I don't know how many times they refilled my water glass, but I was thirsty, and my glass was never empty. And this girl was a ninja. I barely recall seeing her. I think I saw her refill my glass once, but lemme tell you, I drank way more than two glasses. Besides the water refills, our server was great. Helpful when we ordered and touched bases with us to make sure we were doing okay. My only negative is the noise level. Lady Elaine's decor is beautiful, but it doesn't take into consideration the lack of absorption for sound. Like many other restaurants, they are so well designed visually, but have little or no things that absorb sound. So it's loud with people talking and laughing. Overall, good enough for us to go back. read more

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Ambiance is great. Food portioning is just right! I didn't leave feeling full and sluggish. Ordered the lamb (there's 3 pieces, shrimp with couscous, the salad, and fried fritters). Happy with what was recommended by the nice waitress! Make sure to make reservations. I did a walk in and had to wait an hour. read more

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My friend and I finished our Friday night at Lady Elaine, and even though they were really busy, the service was good. It was our third stop of the night, so we were just having cocktails as a nightcap. It looked to be a full house and all hands were on deck with Dylan, Tyler, Sophie and Joe behind the bar, with even Dusty making an appearance. Tyler crafted a special twist on a Manhattan called the "Stevehattan", named after my friend Steve. Creative and tasty. They did update a few items on the menu, but since we already had dinner at our 2 previous stops, that will have to wait till our next visit. Craft cocktails, good food, and great service. It's no surprise that they're busy, especially on a Friday night. read more

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Great wine selection and the food was very tasty. We came out for a holiday party with friends who eat here often so they knew all the wait staff. They were kind and attentive and were helpful in answering questions about the wines on the wall. It's a bit noisy and there seemed to be another large party there that was clapping and cheering, but overall the decor is nice and cozy. We started with the romaine salad (which was basically a Cesar salad), bread and butter, baba ganoush, hummus, potatoes, and Brussel sprouts. The Brussels were absolutely delicious with a little crispy bits. The bread and butter was also like a warm hug. We also shared chicken skewers which were juicy and tender; would definitely order again. The tuna pasta was understated but the mushrooms really help to add a little extra something. There was also lamb, meatballs, and the pot pie, which everyone else really liked, but I don't eat red meat so I didn't taste them. Will come back to try other things on the menu. read more

Located in Manoa Marketplace with ample free parking right out front. Would recommend making reservations beforehand, as this place fills up during the evening service. Lots of booth/bench and table-top seating, with ample space to move about within the establishment. The decor is cute, inside the bathrooms are cute, and they even offer you a little tableside basket to put your purse in while you dine. During service, they clear out your sharing plates and utensils, to replace them with new ones in between appetizers to entrees to desserts. Waters were consistently topped off and the servers checked frequently to see if there was anything else that we needed. As for the food, we opted for many of their specials for the evening, which did not disappoint. Though, the plate-up presentation on the beef cheeks and polenta dishes could use a little tweaking. Especially if the items are oily, and you're using a dark plate, it looks like the plate under the food item wasn't cleaned properly, but I know that's not the case. See my pictures on those two items and you'll know what I mean, not a deal breaker though because they tasted great. As for the desserts, my only commentary would be that the pineapple phyllo cake was not what I was expecting. I was anticipating light, crispy like a baklava but it was very dense and heavy. The fritters with the lilikoi glaze and the panna cotta were both delightful. All in all, for the price, service and ambiance, I would definitely come back to try out their other dishes! read more

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Everything on the menu that we ordered was very delicious! We were most impressed by the egg plant risotto. We thought it would taste just like eggplant but it was very flavorful. This visit was our first time there. Our server recommended to order at least 5 or 6 plates for two of us since portions were kind of small, in which we did. We had 6 plates & two of their most popular desserts (panna cotta & fritters). All of the staff, everyone was so attentive and positive. The restaurant and bathroom were clean. Parking was easy. I also like that they explained their restaurant name and how it's associated with Mr. Rogers on their menu/newspaper. I made a reservation in advance via Open Table, but they are also available on Resy (for Amex plat/gold card holders). I'd strongly recommend everyone to visit this restaurant! read more

It was our first time here and it was busy. Fortunately, we had reservations for 4 people at 6 pm. We were greeted warmly. The staff is very nice. The food is amazing! My favorites were the babaganoush, roasted Brussels sprouts, and duck dish! I forgot to take photos except for the menu. The place is spacious and airy. The women's bathroom is cute with a photo Lady Elaine on the door. Mr. Roger is on the men's door. One drawback is that it's very noisy and loud as others have shared. read more

Lady Elaine - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We had the most lovely lunch at Lady Elaine. The service was impeccable and the food was great. It's a Mediterranean inspired dishes. We ate family style and that's what I would recommend doing here. Just order several dishes and have yourself almost like a tasting menu. The meatballs were like my friends Nonna would make really brought back some nice memories for me. The shrimp and eggplant is another two dish. I highly recommend. It's also a great place to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries or whatever milestone you have in your life. read more

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Popped in for a few drinks and pupus before heading to dinner. The restaurant is on the first floor in Manoa market place so there's ample parking. It's very cozy looking and the waiting area looks like a lounge room for afternoon tea. The staff was very friendly and attentive even after we stated we weren't having dinner. There were a variety of cocktails and everyone enjoyed their drinks. For pupus we order the bread and butter, warm olives and crudo. Everything was very tasty but do be warned that there was a lot of oils used so if you sensitive to that just beware. Overall a nice experience and I would go back again to actually try dinner. read more

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Long overdue review, but haven't forgotten the hospitality of Lady Elaine or our gracious Hawaiian friends who made the wise decision to visit this neighborhood restaurant to celebrate Valentine's Day. The staff might not be family to the owners, but they acted like it. I mean they greeted us warmly (that Hawaii smile) and seemed genuinely pleased to greet us, like it was their home and they wanted us to be impressed. Even at the front door Mrs. Yelper and I were already impressed! I like to pick the "star" of a meal because it's rarely what I would expect. On this occasion it was the heirloom carrots. Just a simple bunch, perfectly cooked, with a natural sweetness and served on yogurt and sprinkled with parsley. Can carrots be exotic? Now they can. My entrée was Elaine's lamp chops. Kinda small but so worth it. Like the carrots, the flavor was complex but the succulent lamb flavor still comes through all the spices. We shared crusty bread & butter and tahini cabbage...grilled cabbage? Yes sounds funky but it was crispy and, like everything else at Elaine's. perfectly seasoned. I think Elaine's chef has the season down splendidly on ALL their dishes. There's lots of places for a great meal in Hawaii. If we ever go back, I would go out of my way to return to Elaine's. read more

Lady Elaine - First lamb chops, then Mrs. Yelper. - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Service was fabulous! Our waiter was so awesome! Everyone worked together as a great team. Space is a great size. I love that the tables were spread far apart from each other. However, they need to add curtains or decor because it's very loud-- it's hard to hear the person sitting across from you! Food was okay. We tried nearly everything, as we had a large party. Prices are steep--- such as $9 bread, which was just 2 slices (cut in half so 4 pieces) , artichokes $9, carrots $14, hummus $9 (4 slices)... Portions are small enough so there's no leftovers and you'll have room for apps, entree, and dessert. Sorry, but the artichokes and olives tasted like the ones from the jar. Most of the food lacked salt or flavor. The ones that did, such as the carrots, had flavor from the herbs/spices used. read more

Lady Elaine - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Lunch in Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii... My dentist and I both hadn't been to Lady Elaine at Manoa Marketplace, so we decided to go. Located near the post office, it's a nicely decorated space with famous people like Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Saint Damien, and Frida Kahlo on the wall. The name of the restaurant, Lady Elaine, refers to a character in the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (television show). She's a "unique, self-confident, eccentric woman". Shared parking at Manoa Marketplace is free and crowded at peak times. The restaurant is situated near the post office. The interior is bright and cheerful, with a touch of country. Soft pop music was playing in the air-conditioned environment. Service was excellent. Our server was intuitive and had great timing! Our water glasses were filled frequently by another server. Thank you! I ordered the special of the day which was steak with a delicious sauce on a fluffy, grilled pita. We shared the romaine salad with anchovies and a side of French Fries. Everything was fresh and had great presentation! I appreciated the cute little pickled baby carrots on my plate! We're really happy that we dined here and would come again with friends and family! Note: The staff were exceptional - they made us feel welcomed and told us to take our time even though they were closing at 2pm for their break between lunch and dinner! read more

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We're on a quest to eat at every restaurant in Manoa Marketplace and what better excuse to eat at the fancy ones than someone's birthday! We've already dined at the delicious Little Plum, so next on the list is Little Plum's sister restaurant, Lady Elaine. We had made a reservation on Resy, but Thursday night was a bit slow for the restaurant and they had plenty of space to take us early. My partner was handed a shawl as the staff apparently expected her to get cold and a little cloth box for her purse, which was a very nice touch of service, but ya'll not here for that. You want to know what we ate and drank. We started with the Prince Tuesday mocktail, which was a well-balanced citrus drink of lilikoi, mango, with a touch of sweetness from basil honey and acid from lime. That was easy drinking and not overly punchy in terms of fruitiness, can't go wrong with that. The Breadshop's famous bread made an appearance in the bread and butter, which four slices of perfection toasted and then slathered with house made artesian butter. You get to take the butter home because it's that good. But...I still prefer the bread overall. The heirloom roasted carrots came next on a bed of yogurt sauce slightly sweetened with honey. These carrots had a great texture and came in various colors. Bonus points as we use the bread to sop up the yogurt sauce. The monchong was the catch of the day and it came crusted in herbs over cooked green lentils. The fish was firm texture, clean flavor, with the lentils providing a nutty and earthy contrast. The dish was balanced with lots of flavors that worked well together. The Pimenton Lamb arrived with three medium rare cooked lamb chops. Nice sear with a hefty amount of seasoning, over a bed of charred broccolini and romesco verde. The chops had a good balance of fat to meat and we scoured the bones for all of the deliciousness. But we couldn't leave without dessert, so we got the ricotta fritters. These were okay in that I couldn't taste the ricotta, but the lemon curd they were on was a standout with excellent flavor without being too sweet or too tart. Can I just get the lemon curd by itself? Seriously, just like a pudding bowl of that would do just fine. Put that on the menu! As it was a birthday, staff were super nice to provide us a complimentary Daniel Tiger mocktails, a yogurt based drink with cereal flavors. Even better, they didn't sing like Bucca used to. Big thanks for the drinks and even bigger thanks for not embarrassing us. Staff are efficient, polite, and refilled our waters at least a dozen times. Bathrooms are clean and spacious. Parking is not a problem as Manoa marketplace has ample amounts. Definitely worth coming back to try the duck and the drinks with actual booze, but definitely on a Friday or Saturday. read more

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