I love the high noon tea at the Halekulani Hotel. Service excellent, ambiance excellent, food quality is superb. I make it a must for high noon tea when I'm in town . I highly recommend it . read more

Orchids - High noon tea menu /selection of fine teas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Orchids at the Halekulani Hotel has the best Sunday brunch buffet hands down! The facility itself is absolutely beautiful and well-cared for. Orchids has that lovely subtle modern look that includes an open air lanai with views of the Waikiki beach and Diamond Head. Orchids offers a huge selection to choose for their buffet brunch. They have stations for made-to-order omelets, sushi station, king crab legs and shrimp, salads, custom ramen bowl, carving table for prime rib, beef brisket, leg of leg, roasted pork and ham, breakfast pastries, and desserts. There is almost nothing that you can't find in this buffet offering, but you will find quickly that your eyes will be bigger than your stomach! All the food was absolutely delicious, well-prepared and presented. Service was very welcoming, friendly and first class. The wait staff was always there to pickup your plates and the tray that you brought your food to the table in a fairly prompt manner. They are also available to order and bring from the kitchen your eggs benedict, waffle/pancakes, and soups of the day that are not available at the buffet stations. They will pretty much accommodate your every need. Orchids is definitely well worth the visit and price for an enjoyable Sunday brunch buffet. read more

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We decided to visit our wedding venue for our anniversary. Three types of bread was served with olives, butter, and balsamic vinegar/olive oil. My husband and son really enjoyed their entrees, but my cioppino was a bit bland. The coffee tiramisu was surprisingly presented in a spherical shape with a gold garnish. The young staff members were very friendly and courteous. Thank you to Jet for offering to take photos of our family!! read more

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We came here for Sunday brunch buffet. We had a large party, so they sat us in a separate dining area from the main area. This was nice as it gave us a more private setting to be with family. Service was very attentive and friendly. The buffet was heavy in seafood and meat. The first area of the buffet has a small salad table and the rest is all seafood. Sushi, hand rolls, poke, and sashimi station, and oysters, crab, and cured salmon. This area was disappointing as they only had 1 salad option. The section section of the meats were more appealing. It had flank steak, roast beet, prime rib, roast pork, and turkey. The prime rib was the best. It was salty and the medium rare portion was cooked perfectly. Tender and juicy. It didn't need the as jus sauce, but the creamy horseradish sauce as a good accompaniment. Of the desserts, they had a chocolate raspberry cake that was divine. A two layered caked with chocolate mirror glaze over the chocolate cream layer and raspberry gelee layer. Every bite was just pure happiness. I'm not sure if I'd come back as I only enjoyed the meat courses, but it was a nice family meal together. read more

Attended Sunday brunch. Service was incredible. Views were spectacular. Food was fresh and prepared well. Quite expensive, but worth it in my opinion. read more

Orchids - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came here for the Sunday buffet brunch. The seafood section was really delicious with a wide selection of sashimi and poke. The prime rib was also very delectable although the other meats were a little dry, like the roasted brisket. The lechon was juicy but you'd probably have to get there at opening to get the crispy skin. By the time I got to it, the skin was cold and rubbery. The seafood was ok. The king crab legs were frozen, then thawed and the shell was really rubbery so it was difficult to crack. I really enjoyed the choco creme puffs for dessert. The ramen station was also very good. All and all, very satisfied with this place. Would love to come back again. read more

I can see why this place gets many 5 star reviews. They certainly would have from me, BUT they didn't quite measure up tonight. Atmosphere, food, and presentation are all 5 star. Have to deduct for the self important attitude by one of my servers. This place assigned two servers to look after you. That's fine.... however it took about 10-12 minutes after we were seated for ANYONE to come to my table. We were on the verge of getting up to leave. Then the attitude from one of our servers was supercilious and patronizing. Aside from that, everyone was fine, but value for what was spent is borderline. But this is a "fine dining" experience. read more

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We came for the Sunday brunch and Orchids delivered the classic brunch buffet experience. They had honey ham, brisket, prime rib, whole roasted pig, and turkey at the carving station. There was a ramen bar, a very well provisioned seafood station with crab, oysters, sushi, sashimi, and poke. There's salads of every kind and deserts of all sorts. We also ordered eggs Benedict and waffles from the staff. I think there was also an omelette station, but I was so full. Service is understated elegance in a nice outdoor venue. read more

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It's has a nice atmosphere and delicious food. The service is great too. I love the seat by the lawn and listen to the waves. I went there for breakfast with my husband. I had Loco Moco ($32). The gravy was delicious on big beef patty. My husband said he'll be ordering this one next time. My husband ordered Corned Beef Hash ($28). It came with eggs and sausage. He enjoyed it but he liked my Loco Moco better. When we were walking out, the restaurant was setting up for Sunday Brunch. It looked gorgeous. So many mini desserts (that's what came in to my eyes and got my heart), pastries, various delicious looking and smelling meats, beautiful and colorful vegetables, sushi and sashimi ... Etc... It was heaven. Too bad we weren't there to eat brunch. read more

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Booked this place weeks in advance because of the good reviews. Once we arrived, I was turned down because I was wearing a tank top :(. They were nice enough to let me borrow a Hawaiian shirt while I dined. Food is definitely high quality but if you are looking for variety this place is lacking. They have roast pork, prime rib, poke, sashimi, salad, oysters, a few hot items and a dessert bar. They focus on a few things that taste great but I wish they was just a tad more items to tickle my belly. read more

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We had our wedding dinner reception here and it was amazing! The view was so beautiful with diamond head in the background. I was a bit nervous about the pre fixed menu but everything was delicious and at the end they gave us a complimentary dessert saying congratulations. The staff was so attentive and friendly. They truly made our night special. read more

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Had lunch here and wow it was great!! I had the gnocchi for lunch and it was incredible. Will definitely be back!

Located inside the Halekulani Hotel. 4 Stars for the ambiance & service. The lacking of the 5th star was due to not much of an offering for the V-Crew. Not to say the kitchen isn't accommodating, yet with little to work with. I thought this was Asian fare, yet the range of food is Italian with a Turf & Surf twist. Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner & Weekend Brunch is offered. My Daughter got the Keahole Lobster Bisque made with Cognac Crème Fraîche & Lemongrass. Her entree was the Grilled Scallops & Black Tiger Prawns that came with Fennel Confit, Roasted Tomato, Cambray Onion & a Grilled Garlic Baguette...she was well pleased. I ordered the Roasted & Grilled Vegetables that were marinated in Rosemary & Garlic Basil Oil tossed with GF Pasta...it did what it needed to. The Attire requirements vary from casual for all dining except dinner which requires an elegant resort dress...no tank tops, beachwear, or exercise attire is permitted. Not even flip-flops. Jeff was our main Server, with assistance from Tony & Joey who made sure our glasses stayed full & the table cleared. Whether your dining inside or on the patio, you still get a beautiful view of the ocean - we had a nice view of Diamond Head. Contrary to the casual yet elegant oceanfront restaurant, the prices are very doable on anyone's budget...the overall experience is worth every dollar. read more

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We had an awesome Sunday brunch at Orchid's during our vacation in Hawaii. This was probably my favorite brunch buffet I've experienced. The selection included lots of foods I like and the quality was top notch. My favorites were the sushi/sashimi, prime rib and the coconut cake. The sushi was on par with what I'd expect from a high end restaurant. The service was great (incomparable to the buffets in Vegas for instance) and I like how the staff serves you food from behind a counter. We were given generous portions and new batches were continuously brought out. At one point we were walking by the hot shellfish and the server said to come back in 5 minutes and they would have a fresh batch for us. We were seated outside and enjoyed the setting (along with the piano player). Orchid's / Halekulani hotel sits at a beautiful location right off the water and there are some good photo spots. Next time we're back in Oahu I'd definitely return. Hope to be back soon! read more

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Enjoyed Brunch at Orchids in the Halekulani hotel in Waikiki. Seated in the lanai area was pleasant. The menu has a good selection from meat to seafood items. Leave room for dessert as the selections are delicious. The waitstaff was on point and we felt watched over in a good way. Have been here many times and have only felt relaxed and happy. Don't forget to stroll around the hotel due to its beautiful design. The bathrooms have bidets of course. The jewelry store and logo store have great gifts and momentos from $ to $$$$$. read more

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12/30/24 we felt fortunate we snagged reservations for New Year's Eve. However we didn't think there was a special menu (we weren't thinking). But, they never told us when we made the reservation. Generally we love orchids because the service is impeccable and the food is always beautiful and tasty. The only reason I gave 4 stars was because we had sticker shock on the price. Yikes. We will definitely go back to orchids but maybe not on a holiday. read more

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Beautiful location and delicious food. Service was amazing and all the staff are so friendly and attentive. We ordered the short rib ravioli and the seafood tagliatelle, the Orchid Mai Tai, and another cocktail I dont recall.. their coconut cake was also very good. Definitely recommend for the vibes and good food. Their beachfront outdoor seating has gorgeous views. A true luxurious Hawaii experience. read more

Orchids - Short rib ravioli - so good! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Went to celebrate a birthday. Nice seating for dinner with great view of the setting sun and a peak of Diamond Head in the other direction, the tables are spaced out comfortably. Bonus, could hear the live Hawaiian music from the grass court in the middle. Great service. Nice presentation of food, had the grilled octopus. Birthday person got a free haupia cake. 4 hour free parking with validation so enough time to visit the jazz lounge after dinner. One thing to note, the Friday night fireworks are not visible at all from the hotel grounds. They have nice Christmas light trees and decorations up in the center court for anyone looking for photo ops. read more

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Brunch buffet has it all! The classic American breakfast to freshly made to order sushi. Finishing the meal off with all the desserts-Haupia was so yummy. The dining area opens out to a lawn view facing the beach. read more

I loved going to Orchids for years for their Sunday brunch, but they unfortunately just haven't really figured out how to get back to the same quality since the pandemic. The food selection is a bit odd and there seems to be a lot of portion control now (not sure if it's a cost reduction effort or what). The quality of the food is fine, though not particularly special. There are also items in the menu as part of the brunch that you now have to request from a server, and it ends up being an annoying process because it takes a while to get attention for your order (sort of defeats the purpose of a buffet). That all being said, the atmosphere is still great and it's a nice venue for a family brunch - i think you are really paying for that nowadays, more than the food. I'd much prefer to go to the brunch at the Kahala Hotel at Plumeria - equally nice venue and better food! read more

First off, it was windy, so the curtains were closed. We were bummed to not be able to dine with ocean views, but it was understandable. The ambiance of the restaurant was still quite nice. Lobster bisque was a crowd favorite at our table. There's also a complimentary basket of bread that was heavenly. The tartar could have used a little longer marinating. Mushroom risotto was divine. Beef check was good but would have liked more pearl onions & carrots. No complaints about the veal. The hapuupuu was nice and the asparagus flan was so unique and a pleasant surprise. We finished off with the gelato which was fine. read more

What a gorgeous restaurant!! We went for a friend's milestone birthday and it did not disappoint! Its located in The Halekulani hotel on Waikiki Beach so we walked from our hotel. It shares an outdoor space with the hotel's other restaurant "House without a Key," which had live Hawaiian music and elegant hula dance-- a treat we were not expecting but really enjoyed! We were able to catch an amazing sunset, and enjoy the view of Diamond Head.We made our reservation for our party of 10 ahead of time, and they let me know they could accommodate a vegetarian guest. The first arrived with a bread basket, which included focaccia, white bread, olive bread-- and came with dipping oil, balsamic, herb butter, and some olives. There are 5 vegetarian appetizers, we went with the Roast beet salad (colorful and bright), Burrata (creamy yum), and Eggplant Parmesan (definitely the chef's take on eggplant parm. It's not what you'd typically picture but the flavor was superb). For vegetarian mid course, we ordered Cacio e Pepe (which was just perfect) and Asparagus Truffle Tortelli (looks like a ravioli, stuffed with asparagus puree topped with truffle shavings. It was good but I like the first pasta better personally). For a vegetarian side, we ordered the goat cheese mashed potatoes, it came unusually late, as most had finished their Mains, but was cheesy and lovely. There is no vegetarian/vegan Main listed on the menu but the waiter offered me the Chef's Grilled Vegetable plate (vegan, gluten free)-- it was well cooked, well seasoned and a generous variety. They brought the birthday person a slice if their famous coconut cake-- it was a fluffy sweet delight. They also brought us complimentary olive oil mini cakes (one for each of us!)-- a lovely dessert bite. read more

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Setting/Venue Beautiful Service exceeded expectations you dont see as well done anywhere else Ambiance -unmatched by anyplace on Waikiki Beach, ocean, Diamond Head, beautiful setting with music and hula, clean and classic Value= here is where it starts to let down, very small portions but same as any other high end restaurant Food- Good but for the price just ok, was imaginative. one bad thing was reported after the fact, if we had reported during dinner it would have been corrected but we didnt complain there read more

The world food tour duo made a return visit to Orchids. It has been just over a year since we last visited and our expectation was that management addressed the shortcomings we identified in Nov2021. Yes, the wine book is back! It took me a while to select a wine ... I was happy to see a wide variety of inexpensive to expensive wines. I selected a 2018 Vosne-Romanee from Bouchard Pere & Fils; not the best of Vosne-Romanee, but not priced like the best. It was slightly soft with the scent of red fruit. We ordered the Bone-Marrow "Onaga" Crudo and the Asparagus Piedmontese for appetizers. I'm still puzzled by the "onaga" reference; it was very good marrow, served with thin slices of toasted garlic bread. My tablemate had hers on the focaccia from the bread basket. The Asparagus Piedmontese was fabulous ... The 24mo aged Parmesan foam, shaved truffle and puff pastry was "to die for". We savored every bit of the Parmesan / truffle foam using bread to wipe the dish clean. We had Mushroom Risotto, Braised Beef Cheek and Veal Loin Scallopini for our mains. The risotto was complex; Porcini dust, a nice piece of foie gras, truffle oil, slices of mushroom and truffle oil made for an intoxicating aroma. The presentation of the Braised Beef Cheek was interesting; it was covered with potato foam so one had to dig into the dish to find the tender pieces of beef cheek, carrots and brussel sprouts. The Veal Loin Scallopini reminded me of liver (and I love liver); three slices of loin with pieces of roasted potato, and a garlic / wine jus. In retrospect, we should have chosen another dish ... everything we ordered was delicious but all entrees were varying shades of brown. As a result, our plates looked very one note. What you see and smell is almost as important as what you taste ... perhaps we'll select more wisely next time. We ended our meal by sharing the Tiramisu and I had two cups of coffee ... No French Press but each cup was excellent. The Tiramisu was more a chocolate bombe than the traditional style; presentation was a 10 but I missed the coffee soaked lady fingers, Mascarpone cheese and cocoa powder. What did we think? Orchids is back to where it was prior to COVID ... Hurrah! Now, if they would bring back the opakapaka; it would be perfect! read more

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I dined here for lunch as part of a large group of 26. Due to the size of our party we were given a set menu consisting of salad, choice of veal or sea bass (I chose the veal), and their signature coconut cake. Everything on this set menu was awesome. The iced tea was very refreshing, our assortment of bread along with the condiments were very good. The salad was very tasty and fresh. My veal was perfectly cooked and satisfying. Those in my party who had the sea bass said it was delicious. Our coconut cake was light and delicious. Our servers were impeccable. We all had a great time. The view of the ocean spectacular. Great lunch. Hope to come back as a smaller group so we can enjoy an ala carte menu. read more

Orchids - Balsamic vinegar, butter, olives to go with bread basket - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I came here for a nice, fancy dinner, and might I say, the view of the sunset was something straight from a magazine. The atmosphere was gorgeous, and the decor and furnishing really elevated the space. The service was amazing. The waiters that served us were all delightful. They were respectful and super patient when we were deciding our orders. The food was honestly just alright considering the price. I got a mango mint mocktail which was super sweet and freshly squeezed. The starter bread was average, but the garlic ones were pretty good. For appetizers, we got the house salad and the hamachi. The salad was just a plain boring salad, but the hamachi was a light and delicate fish that was filled with flavor. For entrees, I got the short rib ravioli -- small portion size but packed with flavor and was surprisingly very filling. Honestly, the overall taste of the sauce on top of the ravioli wasn't my favorite, but the short rib was so tender and juicy that it brought up my rating for the dish. I also tried the keahole lobster tagliatelle -- not that great but eatable. The grilled scallops on the other hand were so delicious (I recommend!). And lastly, the Mediterranean branzino was just ok. For dessert, we got the tiramisu and their signature coconut cake which is a must-try for me. The cake was so light and not too sweet, a perfect end to your meal. The tiramisu had an unique presentation, but just tasted like a regular tiramisu. Great place if you are willing to spend a good amount of money on pretty good food and a beautiful view. read more

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Its outstanding service, the amazing food presentation in a prime location made this a 5-star experience. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner. We selected one of the pre fixed meals, [Big Island goat cheese salad, tomato soup, Hapuupuu sea bass] along with the seafood medley and amazing short rib ravioli. We finished the evening with their signature coconut cake. read more

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Orchids has amazing atmosphere, I recommend reservations just before sunset. The food is super delicious and a great date location. read more

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As a big group, we came to this restaurant for a celebratory dinner after a very busy medical conference. We were advised to attend this restaurant by a dear colleague who is a world class food affacionado. After several courses, suffice to say that you will not be disappointed with the quality and overall presentation. Every dish is completed with a special attention to detail. The fish has carefully drizzled sauté sauce across the top, the bread comes nicely sliced and coupled with delicious olive oil, and the dressing on any dish does not overcome the actual food (in terms of taste and supply). There is ample seating available and there's live entertainment outdoors on most nights. Situated right on the beach, the location is excellent and noteworthy. read more

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Wow, this place is amazing. Celebrated another birthday dinner for the husband and of course, everything was amazing. The restaurant is beautiful, service was on point and staff was all amazing and attentive. The whole Hawaiin right when you walk in. We had a 6:00 pm dinner reservations. Sun had already set but still beautiful. Seated partial inside and outside. Menu of course was greasy. The offer the tasting menu, pre fixe as well as a la carte. Everything on the menu is exceptional. Menu does change seasonally, don't quote on that I believe. Lobster bisque, amazing as always. The seafood medley, wow. Good big chunks of seafood. It's is a bit fancy so portion is limited. But we always leave full. Seafood is locally fresh and sourced which is amazing. And of course you have to make room for their famous coconut cake. Breakfast and lunch is also served but we've been here for their dinners. Always a stop we have to make whenever we're in town. read more

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Orchids was the venue of choice for lunch today. Love that they allow self parking. My vehicle is not valet worthy so very thankful for the option. From the hostess who greeted us and showed us to our table to the piano man and every single staff, everyone was professional and efficient. Halekulani knows how to run a restaurant! The menu was excellent! It was hard to chose, most everything was something you would want to eat! There were four options for fish! The entree I chose was the misoyaki butterfish(black cod) was amazing! When it arrived I thought it was a small portion but in truth the portion was spot on. It comes with white rice and broccolini and a stalk of delicate pickled ginger. I had the tomato soup for a starter. It was elegantly presented and delicious. For dessert I chose to pair Earl grey tea with the panna cotta. This is no ordinary panna cotta! It had so many elements. Lemoncello shaved ice, meringue swirls, dabs of fruit compote and the star, the panna cotta. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an exquisite experience. read more

The service was impeccable, amazing. The reason for 1 star is because I specifically asked to sit outside with a view of the ocean for sunset and I was seated inside in between 2 pillars so we couldnt see the sunset. The night began with me getting there at 610, a little early however nobody was at the hostess stand and it was empty. The hostess asked us to wait, and 90 seconds later I got a text saying table ready. Really? That started off the night on a downside, then being seated not outside where I specifically asked was strike 2. The food was amazing, aside from the lobster bisque, that was some of the worst lobster bisque Ive ever eaten and it had 2 shavings of lobster in it, so bad flavor and no meat. Thats why I took off 3 stars. The 4th star I took off was for the cost of the food in general. For $600 for 2 people thats a little over the top. I did get the tasting menu and she did get a Porterhouse for 2 however its definitely not worth the money. Weve lived in Hawaii for over 20 years and I decided to celebrate my 20th Wedding anniversary here, and I can say Ill most likely never go back. The server was amazing, the staff was great, its just being seated away from where I asked kind of just ruined everything. Id venture down to Michels at the colony surf for less money out of pocket and a better atmosphere where staff actually do what you ask read more

Make sure you request a reservation at least 2 months in advance for the Champagne Brunch! We were seated right away and then toured all the food stations. Everything was fantastic from the crawfish to the coconut cake....OMG so good! Each staff member was very nice especially our main server Eddie! He was outstanding as he had our glasses filled immediately, engaged in friendly conversation, and provided another restaurant, The Beach House to eat at on the North Shore since we were driving there the next day! The property grounds are beautiful with green grass, flowers, and the ocean view! This was such a wonderful Champagne Brunch however it is super pricey $$$$! read more

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The most amazing breakfast you will have in Waikiki. During our stay in Honolulu, we dined here twice, and wish it could've been more! The service is the best you will get on the island, everyone is so friendly and helpful. Peaceful ambiance with orchids literally everywhere, ocean front views, and possibly live music you can hear from the restaurant next door. We still reminisce about Orchids at least weekly and cannot wait for the chance to be back. read more

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Food service and ambiance- incredible Came here for breakfast- looking for something healthy; got the egg white omelette with asparagus. They accommodated my dietary restrictions and food came out exactly as I wanted as well quickly. Coffee is great. But the service - probably one of the best and most impressive experiences. They took a note to remember your name and addresses you personally; all servers and hostess. That was actually really cool. No pressure to remove you while enjoying the view and food. I never had to ask for anything since they anticipated my needs. Place was extremely relaxing. I wasn't even a hotel guest. Food prices are comparable for a Waikiki beach front restaurant. I will definitely return and highly recommend for a fine dining experience! read more

Orchids - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I can't say enough about our experience at Orchids. After a sub par dinner at another fine dining establishment, we were apprehensive to splurge on another dinner and potentially walk away feeling burned. Both of our servers, Michael and Daniel, were amazing. Daniel was exceptionally outgoing and took our photo as he shared some wonderful suggestions to make the most of our staycation away from Maui. The food was perfect and the coconut cake was itself, the icing on the cake. 10/10 read more

Orchids - Tenderloin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Located inside the Halekulani, this is a great restaurant. Causal during the day and fancier at night, this would be a nice classy place to go. Make sure you have a reservation. If you are lucky you'll get a great sunset view. The seabass was amazing, the sautéed mushrooms were out of this world good, and the dessert was so, so good! I can't remember the name but I'll post the pic. Enjoy! read more

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For May's special occasions celebrations I wanted to check out a spot we haven't been to. I've heard great things about a couple buffets and decided to call for reservations at Orchids. Sunday brunch reservations were booked more than a month in advanced so keep that in mind... could've been because of Mother's day though. I looked online as well and just thought to call to be sure. I got an email confirmation of the reservation date so that was nice. I also got a call on Friday the week of as well. They were very accommodating as I needed to make changes in party size and they also let me know there was an earlier time slot available. The restaurant is located in the Halekulani Hotel and valet is validated, super convenient! From valet its a bit of a walk into the hotel lobby. It was drizzling and conveniently there were umbrellas placed near the uncovered areas. So thoughtful! When we came out to get our vehicle there were branded Halekulani water bottles waiting for us to take home. Wow lol. After checking in with the hostess we were seated right away. Def enjoyed the live pianist. As we ate it was a real treat guessing songs and humming along. Such a great compliment to go with the lovely restaurant atmosphere, beautiful view and amazing foods. The overall experience is definitely one to remember. Our waiter greeted us upon seating and took our drink orders. Waters, juices and coffees were included w/ the meal. Instead of grabbing plates at this buffet, there were trays left out to go around and pick up individual plates from each section. Fresh sashimi, poke, sushi, salads, & crab legs in one area. Saimin station w/ all the toppings. Carved meats (turkey, pork, & prime rib) w/ roasted veggies. Omelet station. And finally the dessert area. We literally enjoyed every single thing that was offered! At the end of our meal we asked one of the staff to take our picture. He was happy to show us the perfect spot and took a few right before it started to drizzle... just perfect timing. Brunch at Orchids was the best way to start the day. We will definitely be back and I highly recommend making a reservation for your next occasion ASAP. read more

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It's beautiful open air, oceanfront ambiance and extremely welcoming, hostess who delivers service befitting of the Halekulani cannot makeup for the table service and shockingly horrible food. Service errors: 1. Mains arriving before the starters are finished and a server who insist on putting them down on the table instead of taking them back to the kitchen. 2. Two servers overheard making sarcastic, jealous comments about a guest, "a hundred dollars for lunch", and rolling their eyes. Now the food. Why hire an Italian chef from Italy and not allow him to cook Italian food? Worse, what's wrong with the management team not tasting the dishes before putting them on a menu? The food is awful bordering on disgusting. A simple ball of beef tartare surrounds a large piece of very pungent gorgonzola. It is sat in a pool of green apple and celery juice. Toast points with the crust half cut off accompanies it. Raw beef in juice? Additionally, the gorgonzola completely obliterates any taste of the beef and clashes terribly with the juice. Overcooked baked Scottish salmon with a celery root puree dusted with grated parm, baby bok choy dressed with sesame oil with a huge smear of ketchup and soy BBQ sauce, absolutely repulsive. This is the single worst dish I've ever been served in a restaurant. From day old focaccia bread to an extremely salty, over reduced veal jus on the veal scaloppini, the experience is mind bogglingly bad. The only saving, the Halekulani's signature coconut cake. Completely misses the mark and totally unbefitting a home at Hawaii's most luxurious property. read more

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Orchids is worth it. If you're going to splurge on a dinner in Waikiki, this is it. PARKING Valet parking at the Halekulani resort is validated. Hooray, and thanks for not saying anything snarky about my Toyota Corolla rental as I squeeze in with those Maseratis! SERVICE The service leans toward formal but in a gracious and white-glove-style manner. They let us change tables a few times because my mom wanted the perfect location and hardly seemed ruffled. VIEW/AMBIENCE This is really what you're paying for. Get a table at sunset on the patio and enjoy both the music from House Without a Key just across the lawn, while watching the ocean. FOOD The food doesn't have to be as good as it is - usually resort restaurants with killer views can get by on mediocre food, but we were impressed. There's a lot of pride in what they make here. My mom loved it so much, we came back for lunch the next day! read more

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