My friend had reservations for Mara on Monday, 5/26/25, at 1:00p. We parked on the street, since…read moreit was Memorial Day and it was free. If you want, they have valet service. Mara is located on the first floor of the Renaissance Hotel. Turn right as you enter through the glass doors. We were seated promptly and given our menus. The carafe of water on the table was a nice touch with the matching glasses that created a blue hue with the water in it. It set the ambiance of the Mediterranean Sea. My friend ordered the MAMMA MIA Cocktail composed of Meili Vodka, Strawberry, Basil, Honey, Greek Yogurt and she enjoyed it. Next, my friend ordered the WHIPPED BURRATA Roasted Beets, Walnuts, Pomegranate Molasses. The beets were flavorful as we paired it with the savory cheese and pita bread that accompanied it. This dish was delicately sweet and the walnuts created an even balance to the velvety beets. My friend ordered the PHYLLO-CRUSTED SNAPPER SANDWICH Caper Aioli, Athenian Slaw, Citronette. She enjoyed the crunchiness of the batter and the juiciness of the fish. The accompaniments also made her dish shine. I ordered the Grilled Kebabs Chicken plate with rice. This came with ZA'ATAR FLATBREAD Tzatziki, Cucumber & Tomato Shirazi. The 2 skewers of chicken breast had the charred flavor that paired well with the flatbread, rice, and Tzaziki. The cucumber and tomato added a cool crunch. Lastly, we wanted to try the dessert. We ordered the GREEK YOGURT SOFT SERVE fully loaded. The toppings included: Baklava Crumble, Sour Cherry, Olive Oil & Sea Salt, and Honey. The soft serve was creamy and tangy and perfectly balanced. The toppings such as the Baklava crumble had a buttery crunch. The Sour Cherry had a bold tart punch that blended with the creaminess of the soft serve. The drizzle of the Olive Oil and Sea Salt tingled my tastebuds. Finally, the honey tied everything together with its golden sweetness that lingered on my palate. This dessert was fabulous, rich and decadent, a standout in my opinion. This was my favorite part of the meal. Also, our server Phoebe G. made our experience at Mara so enjoyable. She would always check up on us and make sure we were taken care of. We will indeed return to Mara to experience excellent customer service and delightful Mediterranean flavors.

We got the recommendation to come here through IG! For starters, we ordered the Bocconcino Whipped…read moreBurrata. My husband ordered the Grilled Day Boat Scallops and I ordered the Greek Salad with a side of Brussels Sprouts for our entrees. The Bocconcino Whipped Burrata was a recommendation from our waitress and this was my favorite dish! So thankful she recommended it. I have never had anything like it before. The dip is made from roasted beets, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses. Because it was whipped, the texture was so light. It was perfect. The Greek Salad and Brussels Sprouts were only ok. I did not expect there to be as many tomatoes as there were and I wasn't really a fan of it for the price. My husband enjoyed the scallops and he recommends giving it a try. TLDR: definitely get the Bocconcino Whipped Burrata!

Tried Istanbul Hawaii for the first time and it did not disappoint. The food was absolutely…read moreterrific--everything we ordered was packed with flavor, fresh, and clearly made with care. You can really tell there's authenticity behind the menu. What stood out just as much as the food was the service. Since it was our first time, we weren't super familiar with Turkish dishes, but our server was amazing at walking us through the menu. They explained everything in a way that made it easy to understand and gave great recommendations, which made the whole experience feel comfortable and fun instead of overwhelming. Overall, such a great dining experience--delicious food, welcoming atmosphere, and top-notch service. Definitely a place I'd come back to and recommend to anyone looking to try something an out of their comfort zone.

Great food and great service! Everything tasted and looked great!…read more The fish and meze platter were very tasty. I would get again!

I really like this place, It's fresh, it's many options,…read moreit's easy accessibility into healthier eating in a food court, and the service was very kind today. Stopped in for a regular salad, mixed greens as the foundation, with delicious hummus, a trio of veggies, eggs, and cucumber. For protein I opted for a seasoned chicken that was very tasty, steak, kebab and other options looked great as well. Also comes with grilled veggies if you choose and a piece of pita bread. I had the nice dude drizzle some Tzaziki sauce on it for 20 bucks, I got a meal for two. Will be by again to try some other bowls.

Prices have gone up to $20.67 total and now they charge extra for entree which used to be included…read more Ordered a regular plate and was charged an extra $1.75 for entree.

As usual this casual Mediterranean restaurant did not disappoint us when we ordered got the family…read moretonight. Food. We really like the supergyro. The lemon-eggdrop (avogolemono) soup was good and spinach pie (spanikopita) excellent tonight. We are glad to have this restaurant near us. Service : Carry out order was correct and on time. Staff are pleasant. Location : conveniently located in enchanted lake area of Kailua. Big parking lot.

Gotta say this is becoming one of my favs in Kailua. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Looks…read morelike a family run business. Atmosphere is nice. A few stucco columns and beams and a fountain in the center of the informal dining area. There's no table service - go to the cashier and order. The gyro can't be beat. Compliment this with a greek salad, add hummus and pita and you got yourself one heck of a meal. Tried the balaclava for the first time and I have to admit that it's the best I've ever eaten. So tasty... a hint of cinnamon which I love. I love that they serve it with a small yet ample serving of honey. There's no alcohol served here but BYOB is accepted. Price is great for the quality of food prepared and served here. Best thing is don't just believe me... I'm someone you don't know, but try out yourself. By the way Yamas isn't a Japanese word or a shot cut to the owners Japanese name. It's a Greek like saying "cheers," or " to our health!" So my reviews aren't only my opinion on cuisine but it's also educational.

Da Spot always hits The Spot for us. It's comfort food when we're in the mood for take out. But…read morethis is not your average take out. Every dish is exceptional! And they offer lots of different options. I love that they always have vegetarian and pescatarian dishes. Our go-to are the veggie curry and coconut fish plates. You order at the counter and get to pick an entree and a starch. The saffron rice is spot on! And the plate comes with a generous side of greens with your choice of their house-made dressings. You can also upgrade with salads from their cold bar. Speaking of cold bar, I usually grab a couple containers of salads for home lunches later in the week. I don't have to cook, and I like looking forward to what's in lunch bag. Plus it's all healthy eats so bonus that it's good for my body. Seriously you can't go wrong! Grab a couple sides while you're there. Prices are very reasonable and servings are generous. You always feel like you get your money's worth. And if you want something lighter, they make fresh and delicious smoothies. You can also eat there. They have a spacious area with abundant seating, so it's a great place for groups too. They do fabulous catering! We've enjoyed their food at several parties. Their catering menus are very extensive, so you can definitely find something for everyone in your Ohana. Vegan and gluten free options are available. They have set menus but can customize for your tastes and budget. Da Spot is a great neighborhood joint. Family-run and operated, so you're supporting small business. I'd highly recommend them for both take-out and catering. Try them out. You won't be disappointed!

Broke da mouth, not da wallet at Da Spot! A mini plate with…read moregenerous portions for $9! A steal!! A mini plate comes with two scoops of rice, salad and an entree. Probably had about 5 pieces of chicken thighs. Definitely filling, feels like a regular sized plate anywhere else. Affordable, helps out the university students in the area. Many entrees with proteins choosing from chicken, tofu, fish and lamb. The mango salad dressing is good. You could also ask for hot sauce. The plates, açaí bowls and smoothies are also good! Friendly staff, many table seating areas and live music every Wednesday. I always leave satisfied!

They have online ordering now where you can use your credit card!!!!! They have new printed placard…read moremenus (no more whiteboard). Also they're open for dine in again for the first time since Covid! You still need to order wayyy ahead of time (about an hour) online bc they are super busy and with good reason! Their food is the most consistently tasty - love their fish souvlaki and their salad dressing is the best! Their hummus and baba ghanoush are very garlicky and delicious. Love this place and gonna order more regularly since I don't need to go to the atm anymore before I pick up

Still one of my favorite places to grab a bite. Olive Tree remains my go-to for Greek/Mediterranean…read morefood on island. Ownership recently changed hands to a longtime employee. They've made some great updates such as now accepting credit cards, offering online ordering, and updating the menu board. Oh and they're finally open again for dine in! (It was closed since Covid.) Best of all, the food hasn't changed. Same recipes, same flavors, same consistency that keeps me coming back. I'd list my favorites, but honestly you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Highly recommend as always!

Ordered the gyro sandwich with fries and a drink. The sandwich was delicious. This place never…read moredisappoints.

Just delicious and made to order. Cousin Debbie has been taking about Leo's for years. But today…read morewas the first time I ate there and it was delicious. Lots of meat, lots of lettuce and onions, Greek sauce on a soft tasty pita bread! We ordered the set meal that included French Fries with a tasty salted seasoning, and a drink! For $15.00 a deal. Try it out tell me how satisfied you are after. Thanks Leo I'll be back.

Tucked inside Nordstrom Ala Moana is Ruscello, the perfect spot for date night!…read more We started with the artichoke spinach dip, which was delicious. I was expecting the usual tortilla chips, but I loved that it came with soft flatbread instead. It paired perfectly with the creamy dip and made the appetizer feel a little more special. My boyfriend ordered the French dip, and it was hearty and very filling. The portion was so generous that we had leftovers to take home. I ordered the chicken lemon pesto gnocchi. The lemon flavor was a little stronger than I expected and overpowered the pesto, but the gnocchi itself was perfectly cooked with an amazing texture that made up for it. Our server was friendly and attentive, checking on us throughout the meal to make sure we had everything we needed. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and feels a bit more upscale, though it can get a little noisy when it's busy. Overall, we had a good experience and would definitely come back. If you're looking for a nice sit-down meal while shopping at Ala Moana, Ruscello is an excellent choice.

Went to the renovated Ruscello. There is a new seating area extended into the store , close to the…read morebaby carriages. I didn't see too much of a difference in the main restaurant besides new carpeting and new seats. The menu seems smaller or maybe just printed smaller. I took pictures below. I ordered the chicken gnocchi with pesto. Yum ....still tastes wonderful....I felt it was a larger serving since I almost could not eat it all like I have done so many times in the past. It seemed weird to be given a diet coke can instead of it being served in a glass. Service was efficient and I still enjoy having meals here.

I've never been disappointed with this place. The menu since the first time I visited to my most…read morerecent visit has changed quite a bit but it still leaves a lasting impression every time. I recommend making a reservation as I saw people turned away as the night went on. Service was incredibly friendly and welcoming! I even got to chat with the bartender about his drink creative creations and it was so fun to hear the passion in his descriptions. These people really seem to like what they do and I love that. Between my date and I, we ordered two types of pasta (because if you can't decide, order both, right?!) and two sides as well as a fish dish. That lemon pasta haunts me to this day. I need to go back for more. Thursday was ladies night and all the drinks were massively discounted! I may have taken advantage of the discount and tried quite a few more cocktails than I typically would. We sat near the outside where we could people watch shoppers throughout Salt. Ambience was low light chill and elegant. If you're debating if this is a good place to take a date, do it. FYI If you have amex plat, you can use your $100 quarterly resy credit here as they are in the Resy system. Cheers

My wife and I stopped by Vein for a simple glass of wine to cap off the night... but one glass…read morequickly turned into a bottle and a couple of spectacular appetizers we couldn't resist. The artichoke karaage arrived perfectly crisp and addictive, while the grilled Spanish tako with chimichurri was tender, vibrant, and beautifully balanced. Paired with a refreshing Alverdi Pinot Grigio, every bite and sip felt thoughtful and effortlessly elegant - exactly the kind of flavors that make you slow down and savor the moment. The service and ambience were spectacular, transforming an impromptu nightcap into one of the most memorable parts of our evening. Safe to say, we'll absolutely be back.

Overall it was quite good. Cute little dine in restaurant that only has five tables. The…read morehost/server was very sweet. The prices are very affordable and good value with the amount of food that you get. We ordered a combination, beef and chicken skewer, which comes with salad and rice. The second main dish was the beef and eggplant stew which also comes with salad and rice. The salad came out first in a bowl, which was a nice touch and allowed us to eat something prior to our meal, the dressing was a tart yogurt, citrus dressing, which was nice and Bright and the vegetables were leafy greens that were fresh. The main dishes came out, not too long after the salads the Meat mixture was pretty standard, and the chicken was nicely seasoned and juicy. The eggplant and beef stew was delicious and had large chunks of eggplant along with a few cubes of tender meat. Overall, the portion size the flavor, and the quality of the food was very good, especially when compared to the price point. Our only critique was that the water given for drinking and in the rice pudding did not taste good. That might be an infrastructure or a city and county thing, but it was nearly undrinkable.

We finally tried Bar Koko! We always see this whenever we're heading to the freeway. We came on a…read moreSaturday night and parking was easy since there's a pay parking lot right behind the restaurant which was super convenient. The place itself isn't very big, but it feels cozy, and they do have a bathroom, which is always nice for a smaller spot. The menu had good options without feeling overwhelming, so ordering was pretty easy. We both got the beef and chicken combo kebab and it was so good. The meat was really flavourful and the chicken was surprisingly juicy. not dry at all. It came with rice and a side salad. This meal will fill you up! I didn't finish my rice but I had to finish the meat! 10/10!!!! I wish they had toum, though! And you gotta eat the grilled tomato! That would just make everything even better! Our friend ordered the beef and lamb shawarma and he said he loved it. We also tried the cucumber dip with pita and that was also 10/0! The pita came out warm and it paired perfectly with the dip. It wasn't busy at all when we went, just us and one other table even though it was a Saturday night. It honestly felt like a hidden gem. We'd definitely come back!