53 by the Sea

Review summary

1. JA

   JoeyAloha

   VIP

   Hawaii

   3 reviews

   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Summary: The location is beautiful, but everything else was merely “fine”. Watch out for deceptive fees on prepurchased experiences. Very nice outdoor seating and acceptable food but nothing special for fine-ish dining and nothing I’d really recommend to anyone. My wife and I went for one of their special prepaid “prix fixe” valentines experiences. Though we had specially reserved outdoor seating months before, when we arrived, they told us it was full. After some pressing, they cleaned an outdoor table on the very nice lanai. Service was very friendly, but unlike true fine dining, we felt like we were on “their” schedule. They would interrupt our conversations to ask us things rather than sensing our pace. There was a proposed course-by-course “wine pairing”, but we learned they were only 3oz pours (and individual glasses purchased here are 5oz), just stingy compared to the 6–9oz pours most restaurants offer. So we just bought a bottle from their specials and it was fine. Lastly, we had prepaid on OpenTable for the special dinner, and their listing specifically said it included all taxes and service fees (except presumably for add-on purchases like alcohol). Yet at the end of the meal, they presented us a check with all kinds of additional kitchen fees and taxes, even on the portion we prepaid that said it was a final price inclusive of all fees. Luckily I had saved a screenshot. We inquired up the management chain, and they eventually brought us an updated bill for only the wine, which is what I would have expected. (Of course we tipped 20% on the entire total cost including the prepaid amount.) All in all, it was “fine” but nothing I’d really recommend to anyone, and the deceptive fees were a major turnoff.
   

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2. l

   lieu

   Orange County

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   The host was rude and gave my party a dirty look upon seating us at the table. Beside that, everything else was good
   

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3. C

   Charles

   Hawaii

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It's been a while since we dined here. We were celebrating our anniversary. As we entered the building, the term that resounded for me was "elegant." We were seated adjacent to what looked like a bridal dinner with a party of about ten women. I chuckled to myself because they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. However, it was loud and not aligned with my and my wife's celebratory mood. We asked our server to move outside, which he kindly accommodated. My wife was very impressed with the appetizers and meal. I particularly enjoyed the integration of Native Hawaiian starches (kalo and ulu). The ulu, in particular, was very delicious. The staff was amazing, and they were very attentive and gracious. We quietly enjoyed the Waikiki skyline at night. On our way out, we wanted a photo keepsake on the staircase, but the bridal party was in the area taking photos. Not a problem; we smiled, left, and had a wonderful evening. Mahalo!
   

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4. D

   Don

   VIP

   Hawaii

   3 reviews

   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Service and atmosphere great Wine and bread great Entree OK but overpriced Dessert below average and way overpriced
   

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5. L

   Lori

   VIP

   New York City

   15 reviews

   5.0

   15 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   My favorite restaurant in Honolulu. Service is awesome and food is great. I love sitting on the patio watching the surfers.
   

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6. M

   Michael

   Hawaii

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 1 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent food and service! Highly recommend for dinner.
   

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7. J

   Julius

   Dallas

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 1 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Beautiful restaurant and view. The food was great
   

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8. D

   Debi

   VIP

   San Francisco

   13 reviews

   5.0

   13 reviews

   Dined on 27 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Fabulous! Every was so special and the food was delicious! Kudos to To y our server who made our evening so special.
   

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9. J

   Jerjes

   Hawaii

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on 26 January 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 5

   Me and my wife went here for her birthday and we definitely felt like they placed all of the white and Asian people together and placed the black people in the back of the restaurant are food took forever to come out mean while people who ordered after us were getting their food before us. Definitely will not be going back here.
   

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10. D

    David

    VIP

    Hawaii

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 26 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Haven't been here since they opened. The cocktails, food, and service was excellent! Devin was very attentive and guided us through the menu and gave us excellent recommendations. Very knowledgeable of the food and drinks. The manager Anjela stopped by and made us feel comfortable. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone.
    

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