Review of Senia Restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii
Dining at the chef’s counter at Senia Restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii, was definitely one of the highlights of our trip back in January. My fiancé and I have birthdays two days apart, so I took on the challenge of finding some of the best restaurants in Honolulu for our festivities. I’m not going to lie, I think I hit the jackpot choosing Senia for my birthday dinner! From the moment we sat down at the chef’s counter, we immediately felt welcomed. It was a very comfortable environment and we all (including our dining neighbors) became very good friends for the next three and a half hours.
The tasting menu outline was typical of what you would find in California, however, the Hawaiian influence on each dish really made this dinner stand out. The flavors of Hawaii make my tastebuds very, very happy. And yes, we have fresh fish galore living in Southern California, but there’s just something about fresh fish from Hawaii. It’s on another level.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a birthday card signed by everyone in the kitchen and the sommelier didn’t waste any time offering us a celebratory glass of champagne. Yes, please! It’s always a great start to any restaurant experience when your celebrations are acknowledged. I like to feel special, ok??
Unfortunately, Chef (and owner) Anthony Rush was out of town during our tasting, but between the sommelier and the manager, we had excellent conversation and service. They both did a great job filling in, however it obviously would have been nice to see Chef Anthony in action.
The food overall was very enjoyable. The standouts for me were the premier white sturgeon caviar with sunkchoke and the foie gras with honey, chestnut, and cranberry. I am very aware I’m a basic bitch. I could have easily eaten two more of each of these dishes. As for the wine pairing, it couldn’t have been more spot-on. I enjoyed every single glass of wine that was served and that’s pretty rare for me. After our meal, I decided to “revisit” the Lionel Faury “Les Ribaudes”, Saint-Joseph Blanc, FR 2022 as a nightcap. I mean, what could go wrong ordering yet another glass of wine after a full pairing and port? Unfortunately, as history will show, it is predicted I will never learn my lesson on that one.
Senia Honolulu Photos
If you’re looking for fine dining in Honolulu, Hawaii, look no further than Senia. The relaxed yet attentive atmosphere, the classic dishes with a Hawaiian twist, and the killer wine list made for a very fun and delicious birthday dinner. If you want to get a seat at the chef’s counter like we did, I highly recommend making reservations as soon as they release as these seats get booked quickly. Check out their website for more reservation information.
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