I find it slightly humorous that Waikiki's famous ...

I find it slightly humorous that Waikiki's famous Royal Hawaiian Hotel which is aptly named "The Pink Palace" (as it is painted in pastel pink) names its premier restaurant Azure.

Despite the conflicting contrast of colour names (but the Pink Palace does overlook the azure blue Pacific Ocean) - Azure is a wonderful Waikiki beachfront restaurant specialising in fresh seafood locally caught and bought daily from the fishing boats that come into Honolulu's fish auction each morning.

Azure is set in a pleasant oceanfront space. Outside, under the veranda, you can dine outside right next to the sands of Waikiki in a lavish cushioned cabana with a view of the beach and Diamond Head (but you will pay for the privilege). Inside it's like entering a plantation mansion that has been blended with a touch of the Moroccan - white columns, polished floorboards and Arabian-style lamps that sit on the benches, bar and tables. Azure - cabana service

I've dined at Azure a couple of times over the years, once without a booking but I was able to sit at the wooden bar when reassured that we would still get full service and the full menu.

I get a little awkward sitting at the bar to dine. In Australia I find that you tend to get treated as an inferior as you are a walk in without a reservation. But thankfully it's different in the good 'ol US of A. You aren't stateless - you're still a welcomed guest (and we were joined by others).

Barman, Robert, was most welcoming and accommodating and was able to make some suggestions that proved to be spot on and without a doubt his advice contributed to Azure being one of the top dining experiences I've had on Oahu.

The menu concentrates on seafood with local Hawaiian tropical influences (and a little fusion) and choosing such is perfect for the setting and the dining experience. It is balanced by some meat selections with a five-course tasting menu (that features both seafood and meat).

The tasting menu was tempting but after a day in the sun we shared a salad and had a main course each.

Robert brought us a basket of mixed fresh bread with house-made butter sprinkled with pink Hawaiian sea salt as well as some crab dip while we eyed the main menu.



My wife and I had to have fish so we decided to choose one of the local "catches of the day" (the opakapaka which is a pink snapper) and had it simply cooked - that is seared. I could choose two sides and decided upon the oven roasted Twin Bridges asparagus and wok charred Ho Farms long bean with soy and garlic. It was a nice piece of fillet that was heat roasted and served with a white wine herb and lemon caper sauce. A classic.

My wife can never resist scallops and ordered the seared Hawaiian yellow fin Ahi and Hokkaido Scallop with an "eight spice" blend, sake braised spinach, prosciutto wrapped enoki mushrooms all in a port wine buerre sauce. The spice is basically a Cajun-style blackened spice for the fish. It was pan fried and surrounded with plump scallops wrapped mushrooms and spinach. It all sat on a the rich wine sauce. Spicy with a rustic richness, the tuna was seared perfectly allowing its raw pinkness to shine through.

Azure is a wonderful restaurant set in an ocean-front icon and offers innovative dishes with quality and service expected of a top notch establishment.