Lady Elaine — Restaurant in Honolulu

Had dinner there last night (gf’s birthday). Spacious room, a little loud, but guests having a good time are usually a little noisy. Lively vibe, which is always a good sign. I suspect most reviewers place a higher priority on food rather than service, but I’m the opposite. Taste is very subjective, and to expect to love the food at every restaurant is somewhat unrealistic. However, great service is less subjective, and that, for me, counts more towards the overall experience. That being said, we found the food to be very good, albeit somewhat unfamiliar in taste. Nonetheless, high quality ingredients, well prepared. What left a lasting impression on us was the exemplary service. Servers (Joe and Zoe) were extremely knowledgeable about what they were serving, and their recommendations were both honest and appreciated. Zoe also made an excellent pairing recommendation to the glass of wine I ordered. The service was attentive, but not intrusive. Their timing was impeccable, allowing us to enjoy each dish (six total) without feeling rushed, and allowing us ample time between dishes. Each plate was cleared the moment we were done, and clean plates and utensils were provided immediately. We didn’t had to flag down a server for anything. Wine and water glasses were filled as needed. The staff, including Dillon/Dylan (sp?) made us feel welcome, like we have known each other for years. The service from other staff in the room was warm and sincere, always with a genuine smile. Amazing! Dusty came by our table to personally thank us, and even poured us a couple of glasses of Gevrey Chambertin, which happens to be from my fave region in France. Mahalo Dusty! Bravo, Dusty! Your team at Lady Elaine is a well-trained, like a well-oiled machine. Kudos to your management team’s leadership. We are looking forward to our next visit to your fine...

Sunny, moist, and fertile, the volcanic swath of the Manoa Valley was the breadbasket of pre-contact Oahu. So it used to drive me crazy that we couldn’t get a decent restaurant up here! Then Dusty Grable answered my prayers and opened the doors of Lady Elaine and her sister eatery, Little Plum. A spare, elegant menu hits the right notes of land and sea. I could live on the little plates of their farm-fresh vegetables alone, but then I’d miss out on the excellent protein preparations. And as for dessert … well, more than once I’ve taken Lady Elaine ricotta fritters in lemon sauce home to eat for breakfast. Sublime.

The service at both Lady Elaine and Little Plum is old-school excellent. If I had any criticism at all, it’s that it’s almost too eager at L.E. The friendly staff who open the door when you walk in and refill your water glass every few minutes clearly love their job and are still learning the fine balance between attentive and intrusive service. But the “be my neighbor” friendliness is such a breath of fresh air here, I’m willing to live with the learning curve. Especially when it leads to the many, many personal attentions we always receive when we decide to go out for dinner!

Side notes: they’re still waiting for some of their furniture and fixtures to arrive, so I can’t comment on atmosphere. Based on what they’ve done with what they have, I think it’s going to hit just the right note, but for now, the space does feel a little large and can be on the loud side.

Long review because I’m really crazy about this place & have a selfish interest in wanting it to succeed. I want to be eating ricotta lemon fritters for breakfast until...

I had the pleasure of dining here for the first time last night, and I’m so glad I did. The food was absolutely delicious full of flavor and beautifully presented. The cocktails were just as impressive and definitely did not disappoint. The service was outstanding. Our waiter was not only friendly and attentive, but also incredibly knowledgeable about the entire menu. His recommendations were spot on and really enhanced our dining experience. I also appreciated the thoughtful touches, like the small basket placed under the table for handbags such a considerate detail. One unexpected highlight was the women's restroom it’s so stylish that my friend and I couldn’t resist a quick photo shoot! What surprised me most was the value. Living in Hawaii, I’m used to paying premium prices for meals that often don’t live up to expectations. But here, the pricing was more than fair, and the quality exceeded it. Everything felt well worth it. If I had one small suggestion, it would be to adjust the lighting. When we arrived, the brightness was the first thing we noticed, and it gave the space more of a cafeteria feel. A slightly dimmer, warmer ambiance would really elevate the overall atmosphere. That said, the lighting won’t keep me from coming back I’ll definitely be...