Some people are chronic procrastinators, and when it comes to Valentine’s Day lack of proper planning can make or break the night’s romance. We thought we would do a last minute roundup of spots that still may have openings for dinner, so you can save face while showing a big heart and a big wallet.
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
DK Kodama’s Waikiki outpost of his popular Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar has just a few slots left.
After all, who can resist the taste-tempting menu chef has put together for February 14? There are no set menus, as all dishes are offered a la carte that night, but there are a few specials available just for that night, making this a must visit spot. The Lover’s Bites includes 6 pieces of fresh ahi sashimi rolled with spicy crab ($24.95) and accented with sea asparagus, pickled cucumber, red tobiko, and an ancho ghost pepper glaze for a racy starter. Three entrees include a shichimi seared fresh island ahi ($40) with roasted tomato nage, braised daikon and watercress; a Sous Vide of Duck Breast ($42) with fig gastrique, foie gras croquette, and porcini jus; and a Lover’s Sushi Combo ($41.95) with California Roll with red tobiko & sashimi trio (ahi, hamachi, and salmon served with kizami wasabi). Then, for dessert, a Chocolate Peanut Butter Brulee ($10) will have you caught in a love triangle with Chef Cherie’s Red Velvet Cake ($12) finished with cream cheese frosting, fresh berries, and some Haagen Dazs chocolate ice cream.
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar >> Get a special offer!
Location : 2552 Kalakaua Ave.
Waikiki Beach Marriott 3rd Floor
Reservations : (808) 931-6286
Dine-In : 5:30pm – 9:30pm daily
Margotto Hawaii
As if chocolates on Valentine’s were not enough of an aphrodisiac, consider a meal featuring winter black truffles from Perigord, France at Margotto Hawaii. For Valentine’s Day, a special 12-course degustation features delectable dishes such as kombu-cured sea bream carpaccio, wagyu tartare with sea urchin, sweet shrimp and caviar tart, mushroom tart, egg toast with Port wine reduction, garlic sauteed Spanish mackerel with green onions, spinach puree, burrata cheese and saffron risotto, snow crab tagliolini, duck and foie gras with berry sauce, chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream, and cream puff for $200 plus the price of truffles. Plus, the owner Robert will be sharing some of his private stash of dessert wine to end the night on a sweet note. While the restaurant may be fully committed on February 14, there are openings available on February 13 and 15.
Margotto Hawaii
514 Piikoi Street, Honolulu, HI
Phone: (808) 592-8500
Business hours: Sun-Sat, 5:00 – 10:30pm
MW Restaurant
MW Restaurant, the popular local restaurant operated by the husband and wife duo, is open for dine-in on Valentine’s Day. The special four-course dinner for two ($300) starts with Wade Ueoka’s Regiis Ova caviar with OK Farm egg, and a wasabi koji sauce. Feelings of amour intensify with a seafood salad ahi, oyster, kampachi, crab, and shrimp, and a surf and turf of Brandt Beef beef tenderloin with Kona lobster and sauce Bearnaise. Seal the deal with a trio of sweet treats crafted by Michelle Karr-Ueoka.
MW Restaurant
888 Kapiolani Blvd. 2F, Honolulu, HI
Phone: (808) 955-6505
Business hours: [Lunch, take out only] Tue-Fri, 11:00am – 2:00pm; [Dinner] Mon-Sat, 5:00 – 9:00pm
Fusion Café + Wine
Kaimuki’s new hotspot, a café by day and Champagne bar by evening, is featuring a special pop-up concept by Chef Rian Lee on February 14. The two different dine-in experiences include: 1) “Bubbly Pairing” featuring two glasses of Champagne with a snack pairing, and 2) a four-course dinner showcasing three savory courses and a dessert for $85, featuring culinary inspirations by Chef Rian Lee, to be offered with wine pairings for a supplemental price. The menu will consist of:
First Course
Duo of Oysters on the half shell
OR
Beef Tartare with crostini
Second Course
Burrata Salad – vine-ripened tomato, sea asparagus, white balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil
OR
Fusion Salad – butter lettuce, roasted beets, orange supreme, baby fennel, sweet basil, creamy truffle dressing
Main Course
Filet Mignon with Porto Demi Glace – Yukon Gold whipped potatoes. sauteed French green beans
OR
Sea Scallop over Linguine – lemon butter white wine sauce
Dessert Course
Coconut Panna Cotta – calamansi curd, pineapple, Thai basil
OR
Chocolate Tart – roasted brown rice, caramel, pecan
Reservations are still available, and just for Valentine’s Day, the eatery has extended hours with seating times at 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, or 7:00 p.m. And for those ladies wanting to just make it an all-girl outing for Galentine’s instead of Valentine’s, this may be the spot.
Fusion Café + Wine
3457 Waialae Avenue #102, Honolulu, HI
Phone: (808) 675-6091
Business hours: Mon-Sat, 8:00am – 3:00pm
PAI Honolulu
Those preferring a quieter evening at home may be thrilled to know that PAI Honolulu has a special Valentine’s Day culinary kit featuring a lobster cioppino with whole lobster tails, jumbo shrimp, mussels, and bay scallops. Add fresh baked herbed focaccia with goat cheese mousse, fresh farmer’s salad, and a dark chocolate molten fudge brownie with salted caramel for $200, and you have a perfect meal that you may be able to take all the credit for…at least the reheat. Pickup is on Valentine’s Day after 2:30pm.
PAI Honolulu
55 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI
Phone: (808) 744-2531
Business hours: Thu-Sat, 5:00 – 10:00pm
Holey Grail Donuts
The purveyor of taro-based donuts fried in coconut oil is offering a charming alternative to chocolates with its Valentine’s Day Tasting Box ($18). The weekly rotating box features these four different flavors: Strawberry Fields (local strawberry, matcha) with a heart design, Theobroma (cacao nibs, vanilla sugar rolled), Love Potion (lavender, lemon, cracked pepper), and Chocolate Crunch (Lydgate Farms chocolate &, nibs). The Cupid’s 9-pack box ($36) includes 5 Strawberry Fields donuts with the heart design, and 4 Chocolate Crunch donuts. Besides the amazing flavors, the presentation is visually appealing as well. These donuts are available from now until Wednesday, February 14.
Holey Grail Donuts
1001 Queen Street, Honolulu, HI
Phone: (808) 482-0311
Business hours: Sun-Thu, 7:00am – 7:00pm; Fri & Sat, 7:00am – 9:00pm
Haawi
Haawi is a retail shop specializing in comfortable loungewear and underwear featuring meaningful phrases in Hawaiian on the waistline.
Since this sounds like an appropriate gift for after a night out to a romantic dinner, the store is offering a special gift-wrapping campaign from now until February 14. Those making a purchase of comfortable T-shirts or boxers, which women may wear by the way, may also opt to purchase an ecologically-friendly marche bag. If they do, they will have the option of a complimentary Valentine’s-themed gift wrap for that follow-up gift at the end of the night.
Haawi >> Get a special offer!
Locations: Sheraton Waikiki: 2255 Kalakaua Ave.
Hours: 10am – 9pm daily
Phone: (808) 773-7055
So while it is not too late (yet), consider acting fast on these available opportunities. After all, everyone wants a happily ever after in their story, especially on Valentine’s Day.
