My friend had reservations for Mara on Monday, 5/26/25, at 1:00p. We parked on the street, since it 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. read more

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We got the recommendation to come here through IG! For starters, we ordered the Bocconcino Whipped Burrata. 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! read more

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Amazing food for Hawaii but just a tad pricey. We had 6 people and ordered the spread you see aanddd they took of the cost of the octopus and pasta but the total bill came close to $700 with 2 drinks. Parking is free w validation for 3 hours on the second floor of the building. Servers were helpful except a bit forgetful since they forgot both our Octopus and pasta until we asked. And also forgot that we came for our bday celebration even though we said it on our online reservations and also when we came in to be seated. The spread of humus tasted amazing especially the beets and barrata one. Portions were on the smaller side but we were all pretty stuffed with all that we ordered for 6 adults. Ambiance was nice as well and we sat fairly comfortably. read more

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I had a good experience at Mara. We met some friends for dinner and shared everything family style. What really stood out to me was the decor that reminded me of a summer house, the amazing service and the emphasis on seafood. It is located in the Renaissance Hotel and has options for valet or self-parking and street. If felt like we pretty much ordered the whole menu so I will point out my favorites: Trio of spreads with freshly baked pita bread, And the Octopus. While it is in the pricier side, the seafood is quality and presented nicely. Overall I would say that the food was good but nothing exceptional. read more

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If you want to dine at Mara at the Renaissance Hotel, you have only a few weeks to do so. We learned last night over dinner that the restaurant will be renamed Sera, but continue with its Mediterranean cuisine. Apparently a management company change led to the name change. We had a wonderful dining experience, which was made even better by our superstar server, Makana. Beyond her friendliness, she was totally focused on ensuring we had an amazing meal. We started with the Trio of Spreads, which was delish. The Pita was tasty, but hard to pull apart. With four of us dining, we decided to dine family style. Here's what we ordered: *Pistachio Crusted Ahi - Good *Prime NY Strip - AWESOME! *Brussels Sprouts - AWESOME! *Eggplant- Good *Caccio E Pepe - AWESOME! *Baklava - AWESOME! Mara is very proud of its craft cocktails. My wife tried the Mama Mia, which is supposedly a signature and she wasn't a fan. The huge Spanish G&T brought back memories of a restaurant I dined at in Napa last year. We had an early reservation on Friday night and the restaurant wasn't more than a quarter full. You also can't tell how many diners are simply guests at the hotel, as Mara serves as the hotel's primary restaurant. The new management company is behind the amazing CINO, where we dined at on Thursday evening. Can't wait to see the improvements they introduce at Sera! read more

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Simple Mediterranean fare at lunch. Salads, kebabs, a sandwich. The tastes are fresh and clean. Today a group of seven gathered at 11:30am. Since the offerings were few, 4 of us opted for the fresh fish plate, 2 for the prawn kebab plate, and 1 for the chicken. Everything the same except the kebab choice which included seasoned rice, pita bread, tzaziki and chopped vegetables. The star of the show was the citrus beet salad (entree portion). Salad consisted of golden and red beets, pickled red onions, mandarin oranges, and a housemade feta, shared by the table. Seasoned with a light vinegarette, black peppercorns, and cumin, I would come back for that salad alone! Service excellent as one would expect from a place of this caliber. Self parking at lunch was validated and free of charge. Located in the Renaissance Hotel on Kapiolani Blvd, the property is convenient and right across the street from Ala Moana Shopping Center. A cute little coffee shop sharing a wall. Am looking forward to trying that place soon. read more

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I have been hearing about Mara since it's opening about a year ago, and the family decided to go for my mother's 65th birthday! We were thrilled to be seated right next to the open kitchen, where we got to see dish after dish leave the cooktops and shuttle to their respective tables. Yelp had warned me that service here was a bit hit or miss, but we had several attentive servers for our table of 6 and enjoyed our tapas style dishes coming out quick and empty dishes leaving promptly. Our main server was helpful in choosing dishes to share and pick from their list of 20+ housemade cocktails. The food itself was fabulous. Every bite was fresh and well prepared. Our favorites include the Mediterranean trio, beet salad, and seafood platter, but all of the dishes were completely shareable. I thought the best bite was the beet spread from the trio, paired with a fresh hot pita, which were bottomless! The renaissance hotel hosts self parking and valet, which is validated by the restaurant. The space is on the ground floor of the hotel, which while upscale is not pretentious at all, and highly accessible for folks with assistive devices and wheels! read more

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Delicious spot in Honolulu and great for groups or a nice dinner for two. The staff were friendly and attentive. Menu had something for everyone and a lot of flavorful dishes. My only complaint is I wished the server was a bit more honest about the portion sizes...they're huge and we ordered way too much Favorite dishes were Grilled Octopus (mezze), Whipped Burrata (spread), Brussels Sprouts (side), and Kabocha (side). I'm still dreaming about that Whipped Burrata dish and how it incorporated the roasted beets. So so good and the unlimited pita bread too! read more

Mara - Grilled octopus - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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A stand out in the Kapiolani Corridor jungle. The area was slated many, many years ago for renewel. Slowly but surely, the Kapiolani corridor is being developed. Over the last couple of years I didn't even notice a condominium hotel complex going up on the property just ewa of the Keeaumoku/Kapiolani corner. As others have said, you enter from either Makaloa street or Kapiolani blvd. You can valet or self park on the second floor. Pay attention to pillar signs designating the self parking stalls. They are generally the first stalls you see on the makai end of the second floor. With Mara validation you get three free hours. There is an elevator to the first floor on the makai-ewa corner of the parking area that will take you to Kapiolani Blvd. Just exit the door on the ground floor and turn to your left as you face the street. Mara will be on your left through a glass door. This first opportunity was with former colleagues from work, we met there for breakfast on the weekend. Mara is located on the first floor of the Renaissance Hotel. The restaurant is not large, but quite actually spacious. Very clean, friendly servers. My review is of course based on the dish I had, which was Shakshuka. A baked egg, chick peas and urfa greek yogurt dish with a tomato sauce type base. It is served with freshly made pita bread, straight from their oven. A most unusual breakfast, but a delicious and filling dish. This dish is definitely worth sharing. Breakfast options are more what is typical of what one would expect for breakfast. We saw many diners ordering egg/meat breakfast plates- they looked good. This first experience with Mara was a winner and will definitely be back to try their lunch and dinner offerings. read more

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We ate at Mara with a party of four with a 6:45 reservation on 01/20/2025. This was my first time at this restaurant, located in the Renaissance Hotel. Overall, our service was great. We had a very attentive server, as well as a in training server, and there were no complaints about service The atmosphere is nice, and it is as dressy or casual as you want it to be. Our table started with the tasting trio which included Hummus, Tzatziki and Burrata. It was so yummy. For my entree, I had the scallops prepared Moroccan style, which was a generous portion for the price (particularly in Hawaii). I also had some of the sprouts, which was shared by the table. Overall, I give this experience a 5 out of 5, and I would return again. read more

Mara - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Went to Mara for a special holiday meal with family. First off the food was delicious! There was not one thing we did not enjoy. The bad, as many other reviewers have mentioned, is the service. We had to wave down our server a few times for water, to remind him of orders, and finally to order dessert and get the bill. The scallops were surprisingly small for the price, but others were well sized. It was very odd. Great food but overall the experience was pretty meh, so likely would not be back. read more

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1/5 service 5/5 food 2/5 price We had the pleasure of trying Mara's Mediterranean brunch menu, and it was a flavorful journey! For just $46, the prefix brunch menu offers an appetizer, main, and dessert--a fantastic deal that left us absolutely stuffed. Here's what we tried: Appetizers: Beef kibbeh nayeh (so fresh and flavorful) and abi crudo (delicate and bright). Mains: Shakshuka (perfectly spiced and hearty) and a crispy, satisfying fish sandwich. Desserts: Greek yogurt soft serve--tangy, creamy, and the perfect end to the meal. We also couldn't resist the tasting trio to sample even more! While the service was a bit slow (likely due to understaffing), the quality of the food made up for it. If you're considering a visit, the prefix menu is definitely the way to go for value. Otherwise, be prepared for higher prices with the à la carte options. Worth it for a flavorful Mediterranean experience! read more

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Where to start because all of it was absolutely amazing from the ambiance to the food to the service. Park in the hotel parking and parking is validated. Entrance to hostess stand is near the hotel entrance. It's quite a cozy waiting area with plenty of seating. The high top booth my friend and I sat at was quite comfortable, very chic and mid century meets contemporary. Our server gave great recommendations. Between two people we had plenty of food, actually more than enough and needed many to go boxes. We came during brunch time on a weekend. The menu changes depending on the time of the day you go. I am all for a good mocktail. Hands down be returning even though this place is a bit pricey. It's perfect for a date night or lunch date with a friend. read more

Mara - Dip trio - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Mara serves up one of the best Mediterranean dishes in town. The are located in the Renaissance Hotel & Spa. I love the ambiance and décor. Five star service with a smile. Our server made recommendations, frequently checked on us, and was friendly. You must order the tasting trio. It comes with hummus, tzatziki, and burrata. Both the shrimp linguine and the Mara burger were good. Parking options are valet, self garage park or street parking which is free after 5pm. Mara is a place to go to for an outstanding dining experience or to simply enjoy a cocktail. read more

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Mara Mediterranean Restaurant opened in March 2024, with the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa opening in the Kapi'olani corridor. Within a few months, this new restaurant won the prestigious 2024 Hale 'Aina Silver Award for Best Mediterranean Cuisine by late August. We've had Mara Mediterranean Restaurant on our radar since its signage went up along the Kapi'olani corridor across from the former space of one of our favorite dim sum houses, Yung Yee Kee. Our friend and realtor, who we usually keep in touch with but haven't seen for over 6 months, invited us to meet with her. She left the meeting destination open, so I excitedly chose Mara and made a reservation through the OpenTable dining reservation app. I perused Mara's various menus on the OpenTable app as they offer breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert. In addition, Mara posted about their bar, bar bites, and beverage menus. However, I zeroed in on the Lunch Menu since we agreed to meet after 1 PM. When the three of us met, we each selected our prix fixe ($34 pp) Mediterranean Lunch, which includes your choice of Mediterranean dip or spread with flatbread, main course (sandwich, salad w/grilled kebab, or grilled kebab w/flatbread), and Greek soft serve with your choice of topping(s). FOOD: -Flatbread with Mediterranean dip or spread: My husband chose the hummus, generously drizzled with olive oil and topped with roasted eggplant and crispy chickpeas. I chose the whipped burrata in roasted beet spread and topped with walnuts and pomegranate molasses. Each flatbread was served freshly baked and hot from the oven. The bread was airy, delicious, and enough to mop up every spot of dip without stuffing ourselves before our meals were delivered. -8 oz Mara Burger: Served on a toasted brioche bun, our friend requested her burger to be done medium-rare or about 130° F-135° F, and indeed, she received a perfectly done burger. She asked for French Fries instead of her usual lighter salad choice. She showed us her burger, and I was impressed by the slab or slice of Feta cheese. The slice of cheese was unlike the more aged, briny, and crumbly Feta we're used to seeing and tasting. Instead, the cheese was compact, smooth, and mild-tasting. Crunchy Jidori Chicken Sandwich: I ordered this fried chicken sandwich, which was also served in a toasted brioche bun and with Greek salad. The crunchy, well-breaded, boneless Jidori chicken piece was tender, moist, and tasty. A spicy-sweet drizzle of Turkish Aleppo Hot Pepper Honey enhanced the flavors without distracting from the crunchy crust surrounding the boneless chicken piece. Additional crispy crunchiness and tongue-cooling came from the Athenian slaw and the Greek salad. -Phyllo-Crusted Snapper Sandwich: Because my husband and I agreed to share sandwiches, he ordered this baked phyllo-crusted fish sandwich. Surprisingly, my husband, who I call a "fried food fiend," said he was more in the mood for eating seafood anyway. The crisp baked phyllo-crusted fish fillet was sandwiched between a toasted tender brioche bun. The buns were spread with caper aïoli to compliment the fish and the Athenian slaw dressed in citronette sauce brought additional texture and flavors to the sandwich. We ended our meals with a dish of Greek Yogurt soft serve that was smooth, creamy, and mildly sour. My husband and our friend chose the Baklava Crumble topping whereas I selected the sour cherry. This dessert made for a wonderful finish to our lunch meal. Since we ordered different sandwiches and shared among ourselves, we returned several weeks later with my eldest sister where I ordered the Mara Burger since I was impressed seeing our friend's order and my husband chose the Crunchy Jidori Chicken sandwich. Although the lunch menu seems limited to only three or four items per category, we think their prix fixe Mediterranean Lunch is generously portioned, tasty, and is the best value. Service was professional and attentive. We've returned to enjoy lunch here a couple of times since this dine and look forward to enjoying their more seafood-forward dinner menu. read more

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Since its opening earlier this year, Mara has consistently been a great option for meeting up with friends or having a date night. Located in the new Renaissance hotel, Mara serves up Mediterranean island inspired food in a bright, chic, well decorated space. The cocktail menu offers a variety of signature drinks, where taste and presentation are spot on or get a wine recommendation from the in-house sommelier. Happy hour is in the bar, 4-5pm Monday - Friday with live music on Friday nights. My favorite time to visit though is for dinner. Shareable plates of fresh seafood, colorful dip trio with fresh baked bread (a must!!), and heartier entrees. I haven't had a dish here that I didn't love. Besides one poor experience at brunch, the service is typically fantastic- Friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable on the menu and with suggestions. Parking options now include valet for $10 with validation or 3 hours free for self parking. read more

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the best Espresso martini on this island! And I tried alot! The espresso martini is a dessert that has a very special topping that is unique to this martini (adding a little suprise for you). I really liked the dessert strawberries pavlova. The strawberries and sauce is great with the sugar meringue. The meringue is a bit hard and doesnʻt break easily. Order: Pistachio crusted ahi. Itʻs a winner! Rib-eye steaks: Go to a steak house Service: excellent. They took back the medium rare steak to cook to medium well as ordered. No complaints. Good service. Ambiance: It can get loud. The lighting is good. Nit too dark and not too bright. Comfortable. read more

A couple of girlfriends and I went for a mom's night out and we had the best time with amazing food and service. It happened to be restaurant week also so we got to have the full Mara experience for a great deal. Their cocktails were exceptional and the warm cozy ambiance just enhanced our dining experience. The mezcal horchata cocktail was our fave! Their soft serve desserts were not our cup of tea but everything else blew us away. The trio hummus dip, with all of their salads, and steak perfectly cooked to medium rare... Wow and yum! Our server was so passionate about the food and had great suggestions. Definitely will be going back for a date night with the hubby! read more

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Went here for a weekend dinner with a friend one Saturday evening and loved the overall experience. All in all I would recommend this place if you are looking for exceptional Mediterranean seafood cuisine with a fabulous wine selection. Here is my take. Dinner was excellent, appetizers was filling. However, the pita bread I'd be careful by not in taking too much prior to your dinner entree. Nothing was disappointing and everything was full with flavors. I must have been in a good mood by trying out my wine recommendation. A server suggested a French wine and I was in that YOLO mentality. All I can say it was delicious and definitely a unique experience here I can definitely go here again for drinks and if seafood is my craving. Our server Abel was so enthusiastic and he lived up to our expectations. Came to check on us man, many times and was very vocal in recommending certain side dishes as well. Environment was loud and lively, remember it's a new restaurant in town and a weekend night. Just like many well decorated contemporary yet casual theme restaurants, this one had a huge wine cellar displayed at one end of the restaurant. Experience was good in my opinion and I think this is more of a special occasion restaurant. Prices are above average like in other places & no concerns. read more

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Mara is the perfect blend of high-end ambiance and a vibey, inviting atmosphere. From the moment we walked in, everything felt upscale yet relaxed. We were seating at their private room which hosts a wall of wines which sparked the room. We started with the tasting trio, featuring fresh pita with three types of spreads (hummus, tzatziki, and burrata). Each one was delicious and made the perfect opener. We also tried the Mara zucchini chips, which were wonderfully crispy and paired well with the tzatziki. For my main, I ordered the 8oz Mara burger. It was huge, juicy, and came with a unique twist thanks to the feta cheese. The burger and fries combo was spot-on, though they offer a side salad option too. Lastly, for desert I got their soft serve Greek yogurt which was the perfect ending to the meal. It was light and definitely was enough to not keep you bloated. Very flavorful and topped with baklava crumbs. The service was top-notch, with attentive staff who ensured our food arrived hot and in a timely manner. Mara's attention to detail in both service and food quality really set it apart. It's a great place to host a party or gathering at their private room. I'll definitely be back to dine in at their regular seating. read more

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This is the first time we've tried Mara. It's a new restaurant located downtown Honolulu. It's location at the Renaissance Hotel & Spa. If you pull up in their driveway. You can self park or do the prepaid valet parking, which is $10 plus tax. That will be charged on your bill at the restaurant. My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary, so I wanted to try something new and special. I heard about their three course brunch, made reservations on yelp and made our way over. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. A large wrap around the bar, booths and tables. We were greeted with smiles, and "may I help you". We were seated right away. Our server name was Danny. Danny was informative friendly and a great service. Mara has a few menus, a brunch menu, a regular menu and a kids menu. We wanted to try the three course meal. Please note: You can't mention match, so after we ordered our 3 courses, we ordered something off other menus as well. My husband ended up ordering the Greek salad, The coconut French toast, and the chocolate cake with caramel ice cream. I ordered the avocado toast, mushroom pizza, and sorbet trio. Off the regular menu we tried the hummus sampler. And off the children's menu we ordered the eggs, sausage, and potato plate . The hummus, trio platter was our favorite, we felt like we were back in the middle east. The fresh bread was a homemade and the hummus was out of this world. The Greek salad was refreshing, with feta tomatoes, purple onion, olives, and capers. The avocado toast had a nice twist was savory and sour, very tasty. My mushroom pizza was fresh with a dollop of fresh whipped cheese. It wasn't my favorite, but it was my husband's Favorite and the Coconut French toast with lily Koi syrup, was my favorite. My sorbet, was so refreshing and a Perfect trio. My husband, chocolate cake melted in your mouth and the ice cream was a perfect match. We wanted to taste everything out, and that we did. our server was kind enough to make togo boxes for us. The Food came out quickly, the ambience was earthy and chic. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner date. We will be back. read more

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I chose Mara for my birthday dinner and was excited to check it out. It's located in the Renaissance Hotel and you can either self-park (3hrs validated) or valet ($10 fee). There are a couple of entrances to the restaurant; one through the hotel and another off the street. The restaurant is gorgeous and atmosphere is high energy. Definitely makes for a fun time. Our service started off great. We ordered drinks, a couple tasting trios, zucchini chips, fries, and octopus to share. The tasting trio was super delicious and I really enjoyed the octopus as well. My favorite was the hand-cut linguine futtie di Mar(a) that came with prawns and uni. My friends brought a birthday cake and that's when the service took a downturn. The restaurant has a $5 cake cutting fee per person which was fine, but they were very slow to allow us to cut the cake ourselves (even though we were paying the fee) and slow to bring out the plates and cutlery. Not a big deal, but it tarnished the great experience a little bit. read more

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Decided to get the same order and it was different (inconsistent) again. I ordered the chicken kebab with the papaya fattoush. The 1st time I had it, it was really good, the 2nd time it was even better, the 3rd time it was a complete letdown, and this time it was almost there but the dressing was different! Usually its like a pressed olive vinaigrette where you can really taste the flavor of the olives and see olives, its a bit thick. Today it was watery and citrusy with NO olives. Here is a suggestion: If you run out of ingredients, don't try to change it up. Let the customer know that you're out of the dressing and offer up an alternative. I'm going to have to change up my order the next time. We had zucchini chips for appetizer. Lunch for 2 came out to $102.00 with tax/tip, this was for the zucchini, 2 chicken kebab orders, and one coffee. Our server was very attentive. read more

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Mara Restaurant and Bar is a place to try Mediterranean food. The menu is simple, yet each item is elaborate in its own way. Like the Hokkaido Sea Urchin, it's light and refreshing. To the grilled octopus, it's tender, smokey, and a salty sea taste. The service from Paige and the other staff members was excellent. Accommodating, friendly, attentive, and quick. Michael at the bar knows his drink knowledge. He's friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Interior is clean and organized with indoor or outdoor seating. Payment Cash or card Parking Street, metered, mall, or valet read more

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We'd heard good things about Mara along with strong yelp reviews and we had an open Sunday so of course we had to give them a try. Located in the Renaissance on Kapiolani Blvd across from Ala Moana, there location is ideal with free self park with validation or discounted valet. The Great: Great wine list and a couple of their Mediterranean inspired dishes we ordered were great. We really enjoyed the grilled octopus and the Hummus dip. We also loved the fresh pita that the staff will replenish throughout your meal should you need more of that pillowy goodness. Service was also outstanding throughout our meal. The Good: Loved the sharing concept/family style offerings and the edamame falafel was good, we loved the kahuku corn. Mix and match your courses for a fun evening. The Okay: One of the dishes was a bit of a miss for us, we ordered the grilled stuffed calamari prepared Moroccan style that just tasted under seasoned. The Calamari was somewhat tough and the stuffing was dry and didn't carry a lot of flavor. Perhaps it would have been better prepared using the Greek island style instead. Nicely plated, good portions, it just lacked flavor. Overall: Convenient location, awesome staff, great wine, and nice mix of dishes made for a fun evening. They do put on wine tasting dinners which we are looking forward to attending in the future. read more

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Dinner in Honolulu, Hawaii... We've heard lots of good things about Mara, but had never been... Yet... I made reservations online. Their system alerted me about the upcoming dinner prior to our appointment... which is very efficient! PARKING: Go up the ramp for Renaissance Hotel/Sky Ala Moana and get a parking ticket. The restaurant will validate for 3 free hours. I would have had to pay $18 without validation! I caught the elevator to the ground level, went outside, and walked from Sky Ala Moana Condominium to the Renaissance Hotel. The 2 buildings share the same driveway. Kelsie was our bubbly, personable server. I asked her if anyone told her that she reminded them of an actress... She said yes, but no one connected her with Anna Kendrick. Haha... Kelsie was very intuitive , helpful, animated, and knowledgeable! FIVE STARS because of her! We ordered the Tasting Trio to share. It was excellent! The pita bread was warm, soft, and tasty with the hummus (garlicky... my favorite), burrata (on the sweet side), and tzatziki (tart and refreshing). I also got the monchong (fish) - pomfret, prepared acqua pazza. I thought that the red tomato base would make a more stunning photo. However, the sauce was spicy for me. I took a few bites of the crisp edges of the fish and gave up. I told Kelsie that I was full because she noticed that I had stopped eating. She brought a box for me to take my leftovers home. Overall, it was a great experience. I would have never found this relatively new restaurant in a hotel. Thank goodness for Yelp and those who post photos and write reviews! Thank you! read more

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Mara-velous... MARA Restaurant & Bar is the latest newbie to open and is on the ground floor in the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa which is located right on Kapiolani Blvd right across from Ala Moana Center and been hearing great feedback it went to the top of my wishlist which didn't last very long as Nadine C got reservations for us and here we go! Since it was a Sunday street parking was free and I found one immediately outside their front door thinking I had to do a search I arrived quite early so I took advanced to wait in their lobby area which is very nice and spacious and is another entrance besides their front door. After checking in the host she got our seats which was right beside the open kitchen I was how packed it was as there were many celebrations but our server Kelsie was just amazing with her bubbly personality connected with us in many ways as if we were old friends she was very professional and helpful and is something that can't be taught and is just how you are. We started with the "Tasting Trio" which combined all three speeds of Hummus, Greek Yogurt Tzatziki (my favorite) and Bocconcini Whipped Burrata along with two huge warm baked Pitas the whipped burrata was more sweet and the hummus was perfectly smooth and delicious but I just loved the Greek Yogurt Tzatziki as it was just refreshing and burst with flavor and the pita was the perfect vessel to scoop it all up. The entree we both decided on fish where it was nice as you choose the fish and selected your sauce (Acqua Pizza, Moroccan or Greek "Island Style") and since I enjoyed the Greek Yogurt Tzatziki so much I decided to have my Monchong the Greek "Island Style" which was Lemon & Olive Oil, Oregano and Parsley. Though the presentation won't impress you immediately as my sauce was in this cute fish and it was so light and flavorful I was in love. The fish was grilled perfectly not charred but had enough crispiness to soak up all the yummy sauce as nothing was left on the plate and thoroughly enjoyed my experience here and wonderful food is better with a friend and I'm so happy to have enjoyed it here. Thank you! read more

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Came for dinner and had the dip sampler to start off. My favorite was the tzatziki dip but the buratta beet dip was also really good. We shared the octopus which was super soft and really meaty. Good texture and was served with really big beans. We also had the fish and I liked how you can customize how you want it cooked. Only thing that I will critique on is that it can be a bit pricey for the size of the portion. I loved the pita bread that came with the dips though, and hot tip, it's unlimited! Would love to come during lunch to try their lunch menu. They validate parking in the hotel too! The elevator situation is a little confusing but take the one that leads to the hotel! read more

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It is a beautiful restaurant and one hopes that it is just as inviting to the palate. Always busy since it is located by the hotel lobby and downtown Honolulu across the Ala Moana shopping center. We opted for breakfast here. The papaya with macadamia nut butter and granola was yummy but a tad sweet. Did love that the papaya was ripe. The chocolate danish is really two mini pain au chocolat. The boursin omelette really lacked favor, not sure what was missing. The side of bacon was a bit too greasy and burnt to eat. I am usually a fan of the restaurants within a Marriott and this one was such a disappointment. We called the restaurant directly for room service and waited almost an hour before discovering they cancelled our order without notice. No apology or acknowledgment. Ended up having to go in person to place an order since we would not get through and waited another period before our food arrived cold. Perhaps dining in person would have warranted better service but to me, whether it is take out or dine in, service should be the standard either way. read more

I've been wanting to try this Mediterranean restaurant in the new Renaissance Hotel. I was finally able to come for lunch with a friend. They have a brunch option in addition to small bites on the weekends. This place is really pretty and modern. We ordered the pita with the different spreads. Burrata cheese, hummus, and tzatziki. The pita was nice and hot and all the dips were delicious! I especially enjoyed the tzatziki and the burrata. For our mains, I ordered the burger which is topped with a giant piece of Feta cheese, side salad, a side of the lemon potatoes and we shared the zucchini fries. Everything was delicious! The zucchini fries were light and airy and very flavorful. My friend ordered the flatbread pizza with eggplant. She really enjoyed it! The service was also excellent. I am so happy to have a good quality restaurant in town! Valet parking at the Renaissance Hotel. read more

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Yay for this hot gem! Located at the ground floor of the new Renaissance Hotel with validated valet $10 for 3 hours or free self parking, not far from Ala Moana Center. Trendy restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating as well as spacious bar seating. Friendly service and delicious food! Love the tasting trio with their three flavorful dips Hummus, Tzatziki, and Burrata. The trio comes with 2 tasty, warm seasoned flatbreads. Unique stuffed calamari with ground meat and rice prepared Greek island style. Calamari is perfectly cooked not overdone at all. For dessert, our waitress recommended the "FRESH FARMERS CHEESE KÜNEFE with Macadamia Nuts, Orange Blossom, Roasted Grapes" but I don't like goat/sheep cheese so we opted for the popular "YUZU LEMON CREAM PAVLOVA with Strawberry - Rose Water, Strawberry Guava Sorbet" and it was yummy! There's a giant meringue on top that you crack open to get to the creamy interior. The sweet meringue balanced well with the slightly tart strawberries. Fun ending to a delicious dinner. Recommend making reservations via OpenTable especially for weekend. read more

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While it was intended to be an early dinner engagement, it turned into a heavy appetizer meal at the bar. Why? My dining partner and I got there early (say 15 minute early). I don't understand but it must be part of Mara's protocol that you are NOT seated prior to your reservation time. As a result, we sat at the bar and took advantage of Mara's Happy Hour Menu for food and drink. By the time they came for us we had ordered or beverage and appetizers that moving seats made no sense for us. That said, this review is based on a heavy appetizer bar type meal, not a dinner. The menu is sleek and since appetizers were on our mind, it was even easier to order. We had the Trio Sampler, Smoked Octopus, Mara's version of beef carpaccio (sorry, I don't know/can't remember the menu name for this dish) and do NOT LET ME FORGET- the Trio Sampler came with home baked Pita Bread. Of all, the pita bread was the best. Try to get an order of pita bread to go. You will not regret it. I will go back one day day for a regular meal and I won't go before my reservation time so I don't end up with the bar AGAIN. The entire bar staff proved above par on everything. They were friendly, polite and efficient. Nuff said read more

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Limited seatings... staff seems overwhelmed and to be attentive to only few tables/people. Lots of outdoor light, ambiance is quite noisy as they were quite busy. Food was a bit underwhelming, zucchini chips were soggy, the Mara Burger was great though! Cooked perfectly, fries were hot. Server checked in twice with us after received our food to make sure everything was good. Mom got the snapper fish burger and it was a bit tough the meat. I love the ambiance, the rest felt a bit underwhelming compared to the last time. Valet parking $10, self parking is free though read more

Food: 11/10. We got the tasting trio and the burger with feta cheese and fries. That freshly baked pita bread was the star of the show. Never had anything like it, it was so warm and fluffy and the server invited us to see how it was cooked by looking through the open kitchen. Each dip had its own unique taste and it was flavorful. The burger was also very delicious, well seasoned patty with that block of feta cheese and their fries were hot and crispy. Service: Our server was nice, checked out waters and kept our table clean at all times. She was so friendly and she gave us a good run down on the cocktail menu and some recommendations. Ambiance: Modern, simple and chic. It's a great place to wind down after work. Happy hour is only available in the lounge and bar area so be mindful of that, it can get busy. We'll be back again for sure. The hotel is also a great place to stay at. read more

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If you're looking for delicious Mediterranean food and a great ambience, then I would highly recommend Mara. The service can be better because it is a hit or miss depending on who your server is. I still continue to go because I enjoy their food! read more

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Mara is a new restaurant near Ala Moana on Kapiolani Blvd in the Renaissance Hotel. The backside is Makaloa St by Walmart. The restaurant provide you complimentary 3 hour valet parking with validation which is nice and just need to tip the valet person or there are street parking available on Makaloa St. The entrance is from Kapiolani Blvd and exit on Makaloa St. you can easily walk through from the Makaloa St. I didn't realized there was a residential condominium on the Ewa side and the hotel was on the other tower. As you enter the hotel entrance from the valet area, the hotel front desk is to the far left and the restaurant is to the right toward the Kapiolani Blvd. It was packed with people at the bar area and found out there was an office party. Our table was had a view of Kapiolani Blvd through the sheer curtains at the farthest end of the restaurant. There was a middle section but we were furthest from the noise but still too loud for my friend and I. There were a mix of locals and hotel guests dining by us. My friend met me here to celebrate my birthday and it was our first time here. We had a personable waitress. She helped with the menu since there were so many selections and items we were not be too familiar with Mediterranean cuisine. I tried their ginger beer and my friend had cocktail. We ordered the pomegranate glazed lamb shank with couscous and Fish catch at Market price-Kapachi, egggplant and Grilled Papaya Fattoush! This was a good refreshing salad to get. The pomegranate glazed lamb was delivered with a clay dome cover and it was so Soft that we didn't need a knife. It just fell off the bone easily with a fork! The fish was moist and eggplant was not bad. For my complimentary birthday dessert, I chose the Farmer Market Cheese Kunefe and my friend ordered Manoa Chocolate Sokolatina. They were different but divine. Dinner was great although it can be a bit pricey unless for special occasion. The waitress suggested coming here for lunch too because it's a whole different menu. They have pizzas, sandwiches, and even a lunch prefix menu. It's during the weekday but I think I like the weekend brunch prefix menu offering better. I just have to come back and even try the Happy hour! read more

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First time coming here and aesthetically it's a beautiful restaurant! The parking is a bit confusing but the location isn't too bad. Service was wonderful and would want to come back to try the dinner menu read more

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Finally got to try this popular Happy Hour (4-6:00) spot which was all full when we got there at 5:15 on a Thursday. Valet parking only free with validation. Happy hour is only available at the bar and lounge. Luckily I saw my friend who was leaving so we got his seats! We got the Tasting trio of hummus, tzatziki, and straciatella spreads that come with nice poofy pieces of naan bread. It's tasty and attractive but not really filling if you're hungry. We also got the zucchini chips which were nice and crispy. A number of the cocktails looked good to me so I had a hard time deciding what to order, but ended up with the Penicillin that had a smoky scotch base. Service was friendly and informative though not always available because they were busy. read more

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Fancy restaurant with a nice ambiance. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, frequently checking in on us, which we really appreciated. Overall, it was a good experience. As for the food-it was just okay. Nothing really stood out or made me excited to come back. Considering the high prices, I'm not sure it was worth it. Maybe I'll give it another shot in the future, but I'm not in a rush to return. read more

Mara - Mediterranean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We let the "hot new restaurant" hype die down and finally went to check out their happy hour and scope it out as a potential date night spot. Service at the bar is not good. The bartenders are too overwhelmed making drinks to keep up as servers. We waited about 20 minutes while actively trying to get any of the 3 bartenders' attention but they're somehow professionals at ignoring customers who are right in front of them. The vibe is haole staff who cater to tourists bc they haven't yet realized that locals tip better lol. First of all, HH is only available at the bar top of the low lounge tables. I don't like when restaurants force people to crowd into an area when the whole place is empty just to get a lower price that is magically available when you sit in a specific location and not another... but we went early and seating was no problem. The HH menu is quite extensive and offers a good discount compared to regular price. I had no idea how BIG the portions are so we over-ordered and didn't really have room at the bar seating for everything and the food all came out quickly so we were smashed. First world problems. The kibbeh dish is raw beef! It's not like beef tartare, it's more like ground beef for the burger before it gets cooked. I thought it was pretty bad and would never order it again. It's under the "crudo" menu with the oysters so you have to read between the lines to know it's raw bc it doesn't mention it in the description. The trio of dips was delicious. The texture of the dips were all velvety smooth, using high quality ingredients and accented with other elements that gave them more texture and depth than a simple dip. The Straticella cheese is creamy and topped with walnuts sitting in a bath of whipped beets. The beets add an earthiness to the creaminess of the cheese. The hummus has fried chickpeas and diced eggplant. The tzatziki has fresh dill, chunks of cucumber and a hint of chopped tomatoes. All are blanketed in high quality olive oil. It's served with 2 GIANT pita breads (the double pocket kind so they're thicc!). That alone was enough to fill me up but we did not stop there. We got the fried zucchini chips and it was reminiscent of tempura bc the batter is so light and the chips are so thin they crunch and melt at the same time. It's on a plate of their creamy tzatziki and even tho it's a decadent choice you feel sort of healthy for eating it. The fattoush salad with grilled papaya was just ok. They use baby bibb aka manoa lettuce but it's not chopped so you have these giant leaves almost like baby lettuce wrap style so it's hard to eat how it's presented. The grilled papaya was yummy but overall the salad was plain. The fried chips were great to dunk in the dip trio. The burger was HUGE. I read 8oz and assumed it was a slider lol. We got it with fries and that was a meal in itself. The burger was actually 2 smaller slider Pattie's, the meat tasted high quality and the brioche bun was perfect except it was burnt a bit around the sides so it left too much of a charred taste. It would have been perfect if not for the burnt edges. The feta slice, pickled onions and hint of chopped lettuce added a Greek element but the taste of the burnt bun and meat overshadowed those afterthoughts. We were able to order the meat medium rare (should have ordered the bun cooked the same way!). There was a single woman at the end of the bar with a laptop and bags taking up 4 chairs who kept disappearing from her perch for long periods so I eventually snapped something at her when the bar got full and more people arrived bc she was playing "oblivious" to making space. The bar staff should have said something to her and not make me the bar etiquette police. Another tourist lady was down at the opposite end of the bar giving dirty looks (I guess thinking we were pigs for all we ordered or my hubby just looks feral). It's a weird mix of rich tourists and deal hunting locals so it's not the friendliest vibe but the food definitely compensates. read more

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