Judy C.

I've always pass by SERA on our walks to Ala Moana and finally got a chance to check it out during our weekend staycation at the Renaissance Hotel. Wow, such a beautiful, modern restaurant, the entrance and check in with hostess is on Kapiolani side, we entered via hotel side since we came from the lobby. The staff, hostess, wait service and buffet staff were all so friendly! We were going to do the continental breakfast but after see what was available, we changed our minds and opt for breakfast buffet. I like the options of the buffet, not too much and not too little, just right. I don't like over-eating and so hard for me to resist, hehe. I loved the Japanese section of the buffet, make your own miso soup with all the toppings, nicely grilled salmon and wow, Koshikari rice was available. Breakfast meats, eggs, mini pancakes, fruits, pastries for rest. We enjoyed our breakfast, I've never Japanese breakfast of miso soup and salmon for breakfast ever. The other half mentioned you don't like to eat lunch type of food for breakfast. haha. Need to start for when we our plans to travel to Japan, hehe. For lunch, ( no photos) we got the grilled fish sandwich with fries and that was very tasty, enjoyed in our room. Perfect-Packaged nicely with napkins, utensils, ketchup and even tiny Tabasco bottle of sauce, without even asking. Next time I want to try the power lunch $30. salad, entree & drink which is available til 2:30 pm daily. Not good for take out. All in all we had a great dining experience, enjoyed breakfast buffet and lunch in our room. Great location, wonderful service and staff. Recommend, Check out SERA!

Stefanie C.

Great breakfast spot in the Ala Moana area! Sera is located inside the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa, but it's open to the public too I only got to experience their breakfast, but I ended up coming back almost every day during my stay, which says a lot. They offer a $36 buffet with a wide variety of options: eggs, breakfast meats, smoked salmon, pancakes, juices, coffee, a selection of breads, and even rice and miso soup with toppings. Everything I tried was fresh and delicious. I also ordered from the a la carte menu a couple of times, the omelette was really good, but my favorite was the avocado toast. It's served on a croissant with two poached eggs, arugula, and parmesan cheese... so good and definitely something I kept craving. Their lattes are great as well, a perfect way to start the day. Special shoutout to Jared, who took care of me every morning, and to the front desk staff as well. Everyone was genuinely kind and welcoming, which made the experience even better.

Robyn S.

This was my first time dining at Sera and was genuinely impressed with the quality of the dishes. Our party of nine shared several appetizers and the most memorable dishes for me were the ahi tartar, crispy pork belly, and crispy calamari fritto misto. There were also a lot of compliments on the hummus and crudite. For dinner, I ordered the mary's duck breast and was blown away by how crispy the skin was. The interior was tender, juicy, and there was no gamey flavor at all. It did not come with a side dish so I did order potato puree to accompany it. My other family members had ordered the pasta and steak entrees and everyone seemed very content with their dishes. For dessert, we shared the clafoutis and the servers were nice enough to bring a dessert for our birthday celebrant. The clafoutis was unique and memorable from the range of flavors that you experience with every bite. I am a huge fan of citrus so I loved the lemon confit. Our bill totaled to about $850 so this definitely a place that you would go for a splurge. As with any fine dining establishment, I didn't expect massive portion sizes but was very impressed. The only thing to note is that the parking lot is complicated to exit and enter. To get to the restaurant, we had to walk down a stairwell to get to the lobby where the restaurant was located. To get back to your car, you have to take an elevator up to one of the parking floors and exit through out of the doors to the garage. This is something to keep in mind if you're unable to get down via stairs. I hope there is a more efficient way to accommodate those with disabilities.

Amy Y.

We went on a Saturday night for dinner. Located inside Renaissance hotel next to Paris Baguette. They validate parking for free for 3 hours. Nice restaurant with a bar. The atmosphere felt calm, with dim lights. There were a couple of cons with our experience but other than that, the food is pretty good. We had the hummus & pita bread, calamari, and mushroom pasta. The food tasted great. There is no happy hour on weekends. But would want to try the HH experience on weekdays.

Marissa K.

Came in for lunch and tried the koji marinated steak and the wagyu loco moco lunch specials -- both were SO worth it. The koji steak was incredibly tender with that perfect umami depth. You can really taste the marinade -- savory, slightly sweet, and super flavorful without being overpowering. Cooked perfectly and juicy all the way through. The wagyu loco moco was next level comfort food. The patty was rich and buttery (as wagyu should be), the gravy was silky and well-seasoned, and the egg tied everything together. Every bite was indulgent but balanced. Both lunch specials came with a fresh salad and a beverage, which made it feel like such a good value. Portion sizes were generous, and I left very satisfied but not overly stuffed. If you're looking for a solid lunch spot with elevated local flavors, this is it. Definitely coming back.

Noelle Y.

This is a very pretty restaurant. The decor is beautiful. We made reservations to come at happy hour. The menu isn't the largest but you can order from the regular menu as well. We got the mini tasting trio of spreads which was tasty. The zucchini flatbread was also good. The French fries were tasty as well. The food was good but I would try some other things if I came back again. Our server was very nice.

Grace W.

We really enjoyed dining here. The decor is bright, casual yet elegant and the atmosphere was fun and lively. All the dishes were fresh and tasty especially the salads. The toasted bread crumbs on the Caesar salad made for easy eating versus large croutons. The Hawaii farm salad was also fresh, and all the ingredients blended well. The sakura/flower-shaped beets (I think) were a creative touch. The crispy pork belly lived up to its name as it was crispy! And the crispy calamari fritto misto had a great batter and was unlike other calamari appetizers, featuring a variety of fried seafood and pepper. They were also serving a complimentary glass of wine before entering the restaurant, which they do on Fridays through Mondays for restaurant and hotel patrons.

Jill M.

In a word: fabulous! I read about Sera's happy hour (3-6, M-F) in Crave and immediately asked my friend if she wanted to meet up. We chose Wednesday because that's the day they have live music. Located in the Renaissance Hotel & Spa, Sera is a beautiful, modern Mediterranean restaurant. It used to be Mara, but it recently changed. It seems the menu is quite similar. Valet parking is free with validation which is a nice perk! We sat at the bar and ordered 2 glasses of sparkling Rose which were perfect. We also shared the burrat and pomegranate dip, the tzatiki dip, fresh pita, the lamb shepherds pie and the roasted eggplant. All were excellent. The eggplant was so good, we ordered it twice! Service was spot on: attentive but not hovering. Live music was such a nice addition. And in general, the restaurant is just beautiful to look at.

SERA is located inside the Renaissance Hotel. We are so glad bc after a long flight we had a early dinner. The food was delicious & fresh. Weather it's breakfast, lunch or dinner it did not disappoint us. And how could it, when you have two special ppl working here. Karen the matre'd is always so gracious. Roberto our server is always friendly. Both of them has a great smile. When your waiter & hostess have a beautiful smile it make the food extra special.

Kei K.

We stopped in for lunch on a stormy day, completely soaked. It was our first time here, and the place was pretty empty.3/20 Right from the start, the experience felt off. The woman at the front wasn't very welcoming and immediately asked for our name and phone number. When I said we didn't have a reservation, she just repeated that they needed it and kept staring at her computer. Not a great first impression, especially when we were standing there drenched. We ended up staying since it was pouring outside, but overall the service and food were just average. Maybe the experience is better at dinner, but based on this visit, it wasn't anything special.

Lyla D.

Several months ago, when my eldest brother-in-law planned a visit with several other relatives from Los Angeles to celebrate a milestone birthday and Thanksgiving Day in Hawai'i, he left his taste buds in my hands. I knew that he, as most of our relatives, gravitates toward Italian and Mediterranean cuisines for dinner, so this year I chose Sera since we had an excellent lunch there. I made the reservation through my handy OpenTable dining reservation app for seven people a month in advance. After providing directions to the restaurant and the parking garage, we shared our car with one relative, and the other four arrived in their rental car. This was the first time we had ever parked at the Renaissance Kapi'olani hotel/residential condominium, and we were shocked by the sharp turn up to a very steep incline into their garage. Still, the parking stalls were wide, and there were ample open spaces. After exiting the parking garage elevator, we noticed the RESTAURANT VALIDATION instructions on the parking validation kiosk, which instructed us to hold onto our parking tickets during dine-in, have the restaurant issue validation, and insert the validated tickets at the exit gate when leaving. Our table started with the Tasting Trio ($28, hummus, tzatziki, and burrata) and a Charcuterie Board ($38) to nosh on while sipping our wine, which my brother-in-law brought. Although we've dined at Sera for lunch, this was our first dinner experience. Our impressions of preparation, presentation, food quality, and value of the appetizers, entrées, side dishes, and desserts were phenomenal. The sommelier and server (Shalei) were attentive, friendly, and professional. Both my brother-in-law and I ordered the Lamb Tagine $55, which was authentically served in a tagine pot. The Morrocan braised and roasted lamb was tender, cooked to perfection, flavorful and not gamey-tasting. It's savory, slightly sweet and earthy sauce featured cumin, cinnamon (?), paprika, ginger (?), carrots, potatoes, marinated olives, and possibly honey or fruit. Atop the earthy stew was a sprinkling of the fragrant Egyptian, condiment, macadamia dukkah (macadamias, lemon zest, sesame seeds, and coriander). The stew was served with a bowl of turmeric rice. The stew was warming, comforting, and filling. My husband ordered the grilled Kona Kanpachi $45 which came with a zucchini and fennel salad, salsa verde, preserved lemon vinaigrette. The soft yet firm, succulent Kanpachi flakes were buttery-tasting. Its "simple" preparation showcased the fish steak. Other outstanding dishes were the Chicken Cacciatore $38 which had a beautifully balanced sauce of savoriness, acidity, earthiness, robustness. Also, the Grilled Spanish Octopus $33, Spaghetti Bolognese $32, and Braised Short Rib $50 all deserve mention as my relatives raved about them. We celebrated the "Birthday Boys" with frozen Greek yogurt as it was the least food coma causing dessert. I chose the sour cherries topping while others selected baklava crumbles or the olive oil and sea salt. Our party enjoyed the food flavors and presentation, quality, service, and ambiance which pushed my review rating to 5-stars.

Tracy K.

"We're just getting started." Those were the words our waitress said as our large group remarked on the beautiful dishes displayed by the kitchen. How I love a good tease. I've been wanting to try Sera when it was originally Mara in May. Since then, I've enjoyed their special events room and main dining space. Sera is Mediterranean fare, elevated. Presentation is spot on for both food and beverage. Try a cocktail (or mocktail) and get ready to take a pic. Same with their trio of dip appetizer. Flavors are bold but balanced. The price can be tricky to nail down per person. For a Linguine Frutti di Mare, the price was around $40 but came with a great assortment of seafood including mussels, clams, lobster and shrimp. However, a New York Steak easily tipped into the $70 ball park. Dessert was delicious- pavlova, baklava, and the birds nest kunefe were all winners. Save room for these delights. The restaurant will cover the valet fee but please tip your driver.

Vince N.

We were staying at the Renaissance Honolulu and the spouse wanted a quick breakfast, so we ordered room service. Turns out, Sera, the hotel's main restaurant, supplies the food & beverage, not the hotel's kitchen like in most places. IN ROOM DINING MENU: A handful of pricey selections for B/L/D from 7am till 9pm. Nothing overnight. FOOD: Two Eggs Any Style The plate came with a choice of meat, in which he chose Portuguese sausage, also crispy potatoes and wheat toast. It's actually a hefty portion with the sides, but should be for the price. He also wanted a bowl of fruits which they did, off-menu. Unfortunately, there were no condiments (salt/pepper), no utensils and no napkins included. Luckily our room was equipped with silverware but of course not with condiments regardless of it having a kitchenette. We ordered this again the next day and asked for condiments, but still no utensils included again. Chicken Club Sandwich Not stated on the menu, this was served warm and toasted, with a big side of crispy fries. Comically enough, utensils came with this dish. SERVICE: Food was delivered in about 15 minutes in a takeout bag, not a room service tray. TIP: You cannot order off the In Room Dining menu inside the restaurant. OVERALL: Good food and portion sizes. Make sure to ask for condiments and utensils.