Lanterns Restaurant and Tavern — Restaurant in Hawaii

Friday, 7/25/2025 - We saw this little restaurant on our way to our hotel and decided to stop and try "Laterns Restaurant and Tavern". Address is 87-064 Farrington Hwy 2nd Floor, Waianae, HI 96792. They are located right across from the beach. The restaurant is in the 2nd floor. When you walk up to the entrance on the 1st floor, there is someone sitting there ready to greet you and seat you. Upon arrival....

Pros

1. I didn't see a large parking lot. Only a little one right on the front. Maybe I missed it. But we got parking right away because we came fit an early dinner.
2. the hostess was very friendly and smiley.
3. I saw a tiny bar inside.
4. there is a stage, 2 mics, and our waitress told us they do karaoke Tuesday nights.
5. the lady at the bar told us the party starts at 6pm.
6. restaurant was tiny but cute. We sat inside. Water tasted good.
7. restaurant looked clean and tidy.
8. we had the Laterns Burger. It was really good. The burger was huge! At least to us. The fries with it was good too. We shared this plate between us two and it was just enough.
9. the poke nachos plate was delicious.
10. the fried fish tacos was ok. I didn't eat it. But my friend that ordered it only ate 1. He said it was just...meh.
11. the fish sandwich was good. It was eaten up.
12. then we ordered the cookie skillet with ice cream and cheesecake with strawberries, and both were good.
13. our server was really nice and patience with us. She made sure to check on us, refill our water cups, and clean up our table when she notice we were done eating.
14. she forgot my side order of the Okinawan sweet potato puree (it's purple). I want to try something different since I'm in Hawaii. I forgot about it too after our meal!! Lol. Then I remembered. I asked her to remove it off our bill since i never got to eat it. She was so sweet, she packed me a little to go, since she forgot about it. I can say I got to try it and i really liked it. But 2 of the other people with me didn't like it
15. bathroom is outside the restaurant. Women's bathroom was clean. Had 3 stalls one sink.

Cons

1. parking lot is small. Wondering if there's stuff happening at 6pm, where would we park if it's lit. ;) 😉

Conclusion I really liked this little place. The staffs were so nice here. Foods were great in my opinion. Restaurant and bathroom clean. Id like to come here again and try their Prime Rib plate. Ambiance was nice during the day. There is music coming from the speakers. Try this restaurant when you're on this side...

First of all, disappointed doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. I got really excited seeing all their TikTok and Instagram videos and I thought hey let me come out and give it a try. First of all, the service wasn't bad but it definitely wasn't stellar. They were super understaffed. I will say the manager did walk around to check on us frequently which I appreciated. But we ordered brussel sprouts and they didn't come out until two of our other appetizers were already finished. The food itself is very meh. I got poke nachos, the brussel sprouts, the calamari bites. Honestly nothing stood out as something I would ever want to go back and get. The brussel sprouts barely had any flavor, the calamari bites were only good because of the cocktail sauce. The poking nachos were supposed to be spicy ahi but they honestly had no flavor besides mayo. I'm just really confused at what the hype is. I would honestly never go back. There's so many better places to eat that don't require a long commute. And lastly, the icing on the cake was that the chairs were super uncomfortable. They need to invest in cushions. I will say the bags are a cute alcoholic touch though But I could do without the imprints on my legs, the meh food and the...

We recently hosted a dinner of 50 people at Lanterns Restaurant and Tavern, and I can't praise this place enough! From the moment we walked in, the staff were incredibly attentive and accommodating. Organizing a large group can be challenging, but Lanterns handled it with such professionalism and ease.

The ambiance was perfect for our celebration, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made everyone feel comfortable. The food was absolutely exceptional – every dish was a delight, bursting with flavors and beautifully presented. The cocktails were outstanding. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the variety and quality of the menu.

What truly set Lanterns apart was the impeccable service. The team was efficient, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure that every guest was satisfied. Special dietary needs were handled flawlessly, and the staff’s attention to detail was impressive.

Overall, our experience at Lanterns was outstanding. If you're planning a large gathering, or just dinner for two, this is the place to go. Thank you for making our dinner...