4. Restaurants

Michel’s

The Colony Surf,2895 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI, 96815
  • (808) 923-6552
  • Store is closed

Michel’s Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Takako F.

    People there, Robert , Eddie, and others were the Excellent!! Five Stars!! Receptionist lady who gave us a wonderful seat with Ocean/Suncset/MoonRise view was Five Stars!! Fireworks at 8:00 from Hilton is Five Stars!! Lobster bisque demonstration is Five Stars!! But the mashroom in the Lobster dish was too winely taste, two stars. Fruit on the aspragus was two stars. I have been looking for a French restarurant where serves lobster plate like a Star of Honolulu serves. I have not found one yet. If any one knows, would you kindly let me know, please? LuvLuvoxoxox Ta

    (3)

  • Jaci K.

    The service was spectacular .. The food were unbelievable. We were greeted by a manager, chase, who made us feel very welcomed. The bartender,Nate, gave us a great wine selection and picked out the perfect wine that meet our needs. I had an awesome experience thanks to chase and Nate.

    (5)

  • sasha t.

    SERVICE was the BEST EVER! my boyfriend (now husband) took me here for my 21st bday. we racked up a bill...but it was worth it. view is amazing!!! gonna sound weird..but i loved the butter. lol yes, the butter. i think there were dried tomatoes in it. idk. the poke...could have been better...not much to say about the food...i think this place is ALL about the service. call in advance!! and request a view...

    (3)

  • sue m.

    Beautiful setting, great service, quality food. Sunday brunch is a special occasion.

    (4)

  • Jerry S.

    michel's at colony's , in my opinion is the most romantic restaurant on the island, the sunset view, table side service that cozy 70's decor and no dress code rule make this restaurant special, my only minor complaint is that their strawberry jubilee flambe costs more than hy's and hy's does it better, also that strawberry foie gras forever flambe (combination of ice cream, foie gras and strawberry) is a little foreign for me, other than that, michel's is my first choice over any other restaurants in oahu

    (4)

  • Frank S.

    Most romantic restaurant on Oahu. Superb French cuisine. Escargot appetizer is world class!

    (5)

  • Erin C.

    The best thing about Michel's is definitely the view, spectacular. The decor reminded me of being in your grandparents house. I had the salmon salad which was good but for the prices I expected more. My dad had been here years back and said it wasn't what it used to be.

    (3)

  • Jean I.

    It was my first time at Michel's. My husband has been several times, but a long time ago. The amuse was a housemade veal sausage wrapped in bacon in a beautiful mushroom sauce. Tasty! The Vitello tonnato was thin roasted veal, ahi sashimi and tuna sauce with arugula and pesto. Delicious and kind of new world. At the same time we had the foie gras - very old world - can't go wrong. Followed it up with a prawn and abalone pasta on angel hair. The lilikoi seeds brightened up the dish and made it unusual. Tangy and crunchy. We then shared a rack of lamb - traditional and delicious. I would have to say this was a fabulous dining experience. A combination of old and new world food in a stunning atmosphere on Kaimana beach. The service was exceptional by Philip, Robert and Robert. The music was great - Jeff Peterson. When a baby started getting fussy, he played a lullaby! Definitely go here at sunset. Just definitely go!

    (4)

  • jen K.

    This is solemnly a review for the hostess. Let's just say that the hostess that I talked to about requesting for the ocean view for one of my best friends birthday for her FIRST time at michel's totally ruined mine and the birthday girl's experience in other ways. I initially made a reservation for Sunday brunch through yelp and I requested for a nice ocean view for a party of five. I called michels to double check to make sure that the party will be seated at the ocean view. When I called, the hostess sounded adamant about my request and all she said was "I can request it but it's not guaranteed". Are you serious? It was nothing like she can try to squeeze us in or she can try her best to put is in the ocean view... If this is the attitude of a hostess at a five star restaurant, then she might as well work at mcdonalds instead. And when Sunday came, little did we know, if we hadn't known someone at michels, We would've been placed by the wall when I specifically asked to be places by the ocean. If this so called restaurant is a five star restaurant, then they should be accommodating to guests' needs. My first impression about this place was disappointing and this will probably be my last time here. It's crazy how that one phone call led me to huge disappointment. Besides the rude customer service I received from the hostess, the food was also not that impressive. It's nothing out of the ordinary. The ocean view we had was epic (sarcastic). Michels is known for having a nice ocean view. Yup, some nice view of half naked not so fit people walking around in their bathing suits. I know several other places with way better views... One star for our server, trent for being accommodating to our needs. The servers were very attentive to our needs. It's too bad that the hostess ruined my experience here. I always believe that first impression you get of a restaurant is from a hostess and she definitely ruined it for me. Perhaps they should retrain her about customer service or maybe that the management just doesn't care about accommodating to guests needs at all and only cater to people who spend money.

    (1)

  • Iwalani K.

    This was our first time to Michel's, and sadly I was disappointed. When my husband made our reservations he let them know that we were celebrating our 25th anniversary. I figured Michel's would be 25th anniversary worthy. First off, the service was slow. We waited a good amount of time for everything, from menus to entrees. My husband requested a window table at the time reservations were made, but unfortunately we didn't get that. Usually, when we dine out and let the restaurant know in advance that we are celebrating something they acknowledge the celebration, well that was not the case this evening. There were other tables celebrating some sort of special day, and were acknowledged as such. After we paid for our dinner, the manager came by our table to ask how everything was. My husband let him know that when he made the reservations he mentioned that it was our anniversary, and the manager offered to buy us a cocktail. We've already paid the check and ready to leave. If anything he should have offered to comp our desserts, but he didn't seem to give two beans about the fact that they forgot to acknowledge our special day. We would have gotten better service at Morton's or Ruth's Chris, but they didn't have the view I was hoping for and didn't get. I don't mind spending the money on good food or good service, but sadly that was not the case. Michel's crushed everything I expected of them. I doubt that I would dine there again.

    (2)

  • Sid S.

    I had never been to Michel's, but at a friend's suggestion decided to give it a try. We went for dinner on a weeknight to celebrate a birthday. We made reservations in advance - easy, no problem. You show up and valet parking is complimentary, but we always give a tip. There is some street parking outside as well but given the far walk into the Colony Surf, and the covered drop off area I think it's worth valeting. Once inside I was a little surprised by how bright it was inside. There is a beautiful ocean view and the sand is literally right outside the massive open windows. It was a great day - a little overcast and cool, but still a nice sunset. We sat at a table right next to the window Service was great - they constantly refilled our glasses and the food came just in time: not too quick, not too rushed. Time just flew by as we were sitting there. Tableside preparation of appetizers and dessert was a nice treat. The tables were a little closer together than I would have liked, and the restaurant was about 70% full. But these are minor issues. Would I go back? Definitely.

    (5)

  • Denise L.

    Michel's is waaaaaay too underrated. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND anyone who ever steps foot on Oahu to try this restaurant. I'm so grateful to have dined here for my birthday (in November) and this meal totally blew my mind. I haven't had time to write reviews lately being a college student suffering miserably during finals and I'd like to start off the New Year with a happy, positive review. (Yes, I am a dork and saving this review for a while now). Words can't even come close to describing my love for Michel's. From impeccable service, to having your meal prepared and even cooked in front of your eyes, Michel's does a fantastic job. To emphasize my point, I had my annual eye appointment back home over winter break and I HAD to recommend my optometrist to try out Michel's because her family booked tickets to visit Honolulu this summer. Okay, onto dissecting the meal I've had at Michel's: Lobster bique- creamy, delicious, fresh, you literally have it all. The sweetness and fresh quality of the lobster used in this dish is top notch. I guarantee it. **Actually, on a side note: for those concerned about spending too much $$$$ here, NO WORRIES. I assure you that your money will be well spent and your bellies will be full. Another great + about Michel's is that they don't give you small portions, you will be well fed! After the lobster bisque, I was 35% full. We had a Caesar salad, which was tossed at a cart that was rolled over to the table. AH-MAZING! Then, the main course came, I ordered lobster, but sampled everyone else's dish as well, all excellent. The BEST part was the custom birthday cake my mother had called in to see if it was possible for them to buy me one since she didn't have time to go to the bakery while flying in from CA, and the most wonderful thing was that their staff just prepared one for me. I have no idea about the cost of the cake, but it was SOOOOO GOOD! Kudos awesome pastry chef & staff! Thank you sooooo much! I couldn't have wished for anything else. Hey, and this review isn't just a 5 star review because it was the restaurant I celebrated my birthday at, but it's a 5 star review because I want to return for EVERY occasion from here on out! :)

    (5)

  • Ariana M.

    SIMPLY BREATHTAKING! I have to say this is one of the best dinners I have ever had! The food tasted great, the view was beautiful and the service here was fantastic. Our server for the evening was Amber. I love how much this restaurant caters to you during your meal. They do so many little things, but it really does add up! When we were seated at our table, our server gave my boyfriend a black napkin and I a white one so lent would not get on our clothes. WOW! The second thing I noticed was when I mentioned it was kind of cold because of the ocean breeze; Amber was so kind as offered me a shawl. Talk about amazing service and consideration to the people who come here. As for budget, this restaurant is definitely not cheap. So don't come here balling on a budget guys :P Come here for that special occasion =) The Grub. Fresh Oysters - Comes with shallot vinaigrette and cocktail sauce. I have to say these are probably the BEST oysters I have ever had. Each one was so clean and delish! Steak Tartar - Raw steak made tableside!! I never had tableside anything! So for me this was a real treat ;D Ocean Bounty - Grilled mahi mahi, oyster Rockefeller, blackened ahi, lobster tail, and caledonian and abalone. The Rockefeller was BOMB! Island Seafood Cioppino - Island onaga, salmon, lobster, scallops, squid, prawns, clams and mussels! OH and it also comes with garlic bread! GREAT FOR DIPPING! Really wanted to try the chocolate soufflé, but was so full =(

    (5)

  • Cindy P.

    This dinner was a meeting so I only had 4 choices for my entrees. I typically pick something that I like as a side, not necessarily for the entree. I chose a steak with mashed potatoes and gnocchi. The steak had some strange spice on top. I did not eat it. The mashed potatoes were not very flavorful. There was one gnocchi on top of sweet mashed potatoes (again they were not flavored enough). This is not what I expect from a restaurant with the reputation of Michele's. I stopped at a fast food restaurant on the way home.

    (3)

  • Chris B.

    Service was impeccable. Super attentive service without hovering. Had the Caesar salad..not hot on min order is for two @$36 sort of steep but was delicious. Had the porterhouse was cooked perfectly. Loved the intermezzo star fruit sorbet. View and atmosphere were stunningly beautiful. Truffled mac and cheese was delicious! Parchment seafood dish was ok. On the pricey side but it is Hawaii. One observation with the exception of us everyoneappearedto be celebrating a birthday, an indication that locals perceive it to bea perfect place for a special occasion

    (5)

  • Mika N.

    I took my parents for their 50th anniversary celebrations last week. We got the table right by the window around 6:30 pm and experienced the most amazing sunset. The table service there was top notch, excellent wine selections, and food was outstanding. I had lamb chops, which my friend lives in Honolulu highly recommended, and it certainly made me very happy. My parents shared Michel's Ocean Bounty, which looked awesome and yes, it was a lot of seafood to concur. Michel's is definitely a special-occasion type of restaurant. Elegant. romantic and pricy, but worth every penny for your special moments extra memorable.

    (5)

  • Cin T.

    I've only been to Michel's for dinners and pau hana drinks (their table-side STEAK TARTARE is a must-order! I always ask for extra hot sauce and Worcestershire), but this last visit was to check out their Sunday Brunch with a friend. Sunday Brunch is held every 1st Sunday of the month, with reservations being avail from 10am-1pm. Their menu changes every month. Their monthly brunch menu is just a 3 course prix-fixe meal: $48 for adults and $24 for children. - Choice of appetizer (6 items), main entree (6 items) and dessert (2 items): - Comes with complimentary champagne, coffee or juice. FRESH OYSTERS w/a shallot vinaigrette & cocktail sauce: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… You get 5 plump and juicy oysters. The accompanying 2 sauces were blah, so ask for shoyu and tabasco instead!! -The shallot vinaigrette needed more acid. I didn't get much vinegar or zing from it at all. -The cocktail sauce was too sweet and absent of horseradish. It also could've used a touch of salt. CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP w/cheese crostini: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… A simple, yet delicious soup full of umami flavor. I loved that it wasn't overpowered with heavy cream, a mistake that lots of chefs make with any cream-based soups or bisques. SALMON SAINT JACQUES: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… I couldn't help but just gawk at this dish when it arrived, it was a beautiful plate of food. Unfortunately, my pic didn't capture it well as I'd hoped. 2 thin fillet of salmon were layered w/thinly sliced scallops and a velvety scallop mousse. It was then placed under the broiler, giving it a nice caramelized crust and sheen. The moist and delicate salmon meshed really well w/the perfectly cooked scallops. The delicious scallop mousse on top successfully tied the whole dish together. The Dill Vin Blanc (dill and white wine) & buerre rouge (aka "red butter sauce" made from red wine) sauces complimented the seafood really well and didn't overpower one another. MADRAS SEAFOOD CURRY CREPES: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… The crepe filling consisted of Blue crab, Kona crab, rock shrimp & fish - all perfectly cooked. With the variety of seafood used, it was like getting a taste of the ocean all in one delicious bite. However, the Coconut Saffron Curry tasted more like a coconut cream sauce. The sauce was definitely the weak part of this dish. I didn't taste any saffron, I barely tasted any curry in it. BIG ISLAND "GOAT CHEESE" CHEESECAKE yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… I don't like sweets, but given that it was a prix-fixe menu, I picked the one that was more savory. The cheesecake was topped off with a pineapple-mango chutney and drizzled w/a creme anglaise. The fresh fruits on that accompanied this cheesecake helped in toning down the intense taste of the goat cheese. Yeah, not a fan of goat cheese. BAILEY'S TIRAMISU: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… This was my favorite out of the 2 desserts. The sponge cake was gently soaked in Baileys and layered with chocolate ganache & lightly-whipped mascarpone cheese. I LOVED the very slightly-salted layer of macadamia nuts on the outside. More chocolate ganache is drizzled on the side for dipping. This menu was from July 1st (can you tell I'm a bit behind on my reviews?). -It's a bit blurry, but you'll get the jist of it if you squint hard enough. Lol, sorry! yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… Whether it be for dinner, 'just drinks' or brunch, Michel's has never disappointed me and my friends when it comes to service and taste. If only they had a happy hour, then it would be a 5 stars in my book.

    (4)

  • Kristen K.

    This place is amazing, so this will be a short & sweet and matter of fact review. Went there years ago....that's where I had escargot for the first time and before I had taken a liking to wine (I was young, give me a break) Went there again a few weeks ago and was blown away. I got taken there for my birthday this year....I had the nicest time EVER. The view was breathtaking....we had one of the best tables in the restaurant. Service/bar was impeccable. 10 stars. Dinner was AMAZING: of course I needed escargot (hands down THE best on the island, in my opinion), and yellowfin ahi tartare. Split a island salad (dressing was really good). THEN onto the REALLY good stuff....the entrees. I got the Ocean Bounty....Grilled mahi, oyster rockefeller, blackened ahi, Tristan lobster tail, a couple huge prawns, and Kona baby abalone which was served over risotto in the abalone shell...but the winner ended up being the special of the night, which was amazing. Foie gras over venison medallions served with risotto and green beans. It was so rich, every bite felt almost sinful. It was to die for. Our server helped select wines for each course and they paired perfectly with each dish. For dessert, a birthday cheesecake came out, and by then I was just too full for much else, although we had wanted to try the foie gras strawberry flambe dessert (guess we'll just have to go again!) We got some after dinner drinks instead...they make damn good choco espresso martinis. This is no rush-and-go spot....we were there for nearly 4 hours...hence why this is one of the most romantic restaurants on the island and one of my ultimate favorites. Top notch service, beachfront location, and all-around an amazing dining experience.

    (5)

  • Mely G.

    The ambience, view and service was excellent. Only thing is their selections on their menu was not what I expected. (Not enough variety) Overall I enjoyed it!

    (3)

  • P M.

    This place lives up to, and surpasses, the billing. Unforgettable evening, and some of the best cuisine I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Stanislava K.

    My husband and I went for our anniversary few months back. We made a reservation and I made a point of asking, what is the dress code. The nice reservation lady told me casual. So, of course, I got all dolled up. My husband, on the other hand, wore dressy slippers, for which he got scolded by the host, who made a point that next time he will not tolerate his footwear. He seated us all the way back by the live music, so his manager wouldn't see us. Btw, every guy eating there was wearing flip flops. For the starter I ordered lobster bisque soup, which was delicious and because I am not use to eat that late, as a main course I ordered their steak tartare, which I am a huge fan of. The tartare was delivered by a special "chef" who made quite an incredible ceremony out of it. She made me choose what ingredients and how much of it I wanted to be mixed in. Very nice. My husband ordered Osso Bucco. As he never had the dish before, he was shooting blind with his choice that didn't pan out. He didn't like it at all and was disappointed that he didn't go with steak instead. At the end we shared a chocolate cake that was absolute heaven. I would give it a 5 star, if the staff learns how to lighten up and treat their customers better. The service was excellent and if you stick to what you like, you won't leave disappointed.

    (4)

  • Josie C.

    Okay, I know there are a lot of other 5-star restaurants out there that are considered "oh so much better". But today I'm just reviewing Michel's without comparing it to any other restaurants. The first time I came here was during my birthday 2 years ago, which if you don't know, is on Valentines. Although I remember the food and service being exceptionally good, I was somewhat disappointed. Because of Valentines, they, along with many restaurants on this day served prefixe menus. I really dislike prefixe menus. I'm the type that wants to eat what I want, how I want, when i want. Because of valentines, our reservations was for 8pm which means no sunset view. BUT since we all know my birthday happens to be on the most religiously "sucking up day" to mankind, I''m the one who had to suck it up, look at my husband with a sweet smile and say, "Thank you honey, this is so beautiful!" Which brings us back to the present. Well, this past Monday to be exact. Since it was our anniversary, I wanted to give this place a chance to offer me something I didn't get on my birthday. Something I "wanted" to eat and a unique experience. So here we go: The top 5 reasons (there's actually more) for my 5 star review 5. Lobster Bisque: It was a a great blend of creamy and buttery. The lobster flavor was not overpowering but I was amazed to find chunks of lobster. Which carried most of the flavor. 4. Escargot: how can any fine dining establishment mess up on escargot? Michel's did not. The butter and garlic; so yummy. I wish we had more bread to dip all the sauce out. Escargot was tender; not rubbery at all. Even my husband enjoyed it and he's a very picky eater. 3. Warm seafood spinach salad: I really don't think I've tried anything like this before. Abalone juhn (not fish juhn), scallops, shrimp, mango, tomato, grapefruit (or was it a red orange), and sautéed spinach salad with a hint of lemon zest. The flavors mixed in so well with each other. And the seafood was cooked perfectly. I seriously can't stop thinking about this salad. 2. The service was top notch. Not just one waiter waited on us, it was any waiter that passed by. Checking if we're okay, refilling our drinks. I personally like to converse with our waiters when we dine anywhere because I believe it would make them feel more at ease serving me, thus giving great service in return. And I must say, some of them were very humorous, telling stories of who makes the biggest fires when making the flambés. But that certainly did not take away from their professionalism. 1. The ambience, the sunset!!! It was perfect. Being next to the beach, watching kids and families on the beach spending time, laughing, and all of a sudden, in unity, everyone just stood there, in awe, gazing at the sunset. The appreciation you feel towards something so simple, something we overlook each day. Another chance to spend time with loved ones. The fact that we made it. We made it through another day. We made through another year. Yes, this place may be underrated or even overrated in some other people's eyes, but if you can leave your dinner feeling a sense of appreciation for good food, amazing service, and genuine company, you've just experienced a five star level. Thank you Michel's for the experience.

    (5)

  • Torey S.

    I have dined at many exquisite restaurants worldwide on many tropical islands and Michel's is by far the finest restaurant I have been too! My wife and I celebrated our honeymoon here eight years ago when a dear friend, a native Hawaiian gave us a gift card to enjoy. On another trip to Oahu, my wife and I brought our mom's here and they were in tears as we sat ocean side enjoying the beautiful sunset and peaceful setting. What makes this most amazing is the open air seating with the awning blocking the sun and as the sun sets, the awning is retracted to enjoy the views! The service is wonderful, the food is always delicious and the ambiance is so peaceful and relaxing! If you are traveling to Oahu and want to dine at the most romantic restaurant with all the bells and whistles, don't hesitate to stop by Michel's!

    (5)

  • Takanori W.

    nice location, sp' ocean view. but gave 1 star...because, food: 2 star. no taste, steak was over cooked. over price. service: no pay attention. varlet: worst

    (1)

  • Helen F.

    Beautiful evening! Had view of the sunset, felt pampered by the staff, the lobster bisque was served table side ( I love this type of service, can't find it these days) and was absolutely delicious! We also had the spinach salad served table side, another love it! We had the steamed Onaga and ribeye for our entrées and desert and port to end the evening. Our biggest compliments to the staff, they make the experience!

    (5)

  • Jeff A.

    Service last night was excellent, food presentation and taste was superb. The cocktails hit the mark perfectly. Thank you!

    (5)

  • Roel U.

    This review is mainly for the events coordinating staff and service staff at Michel's. Events coordinator: 5 STARS Me and my wife had our wedding reception at Michel's last Sunday and I must say the service our party of 12 received was nothing short of amazing. It all started with events coordinator Amelia and one of her staff Liz.They were always a phone call away leading up to the dinner to answer every question and went out of their way to accommodate each and every odd or quirky request we had . From our menu, seating arrangements and wedding favors. Amelia was there to greet us at the front the moment we arrived and had everything set-up like my wife envisioned. Actually above and beyond what we expected . All of this event enhancement service was complimentary with a menu that had more courses and comparable price to other places we checked. SERVICE : 5 STARS Haylee and the entire staff at Michel's she supervised that night for our table were really amazing. Haylee was there from the moment everyone was seated to helping us call our taxis.Despite the language barrier ,she and her staff made sure each of my guests felt like royalty. The service we received from one course to the other was probably the best I've had . I almost never say this ....but it was worth every penny. Sunset was amazing that night and the staff at Michel's capped off what was already an amazing day for us. For that I am extremely grateful.

    (5)

  • Donnie B.

    We have been coming to this restaurant for thirty years, have had the privilege of dinning at the finest restaurants all around the world and can honestly say that this one is the absolute best in the world! The food tastes amazing, the service is impeccable as they always go out of their way to make you feel special and the ambience is the most romantic and gorgeous beach coupled with a European elegance that is Michels. Prices are also reasonable.

    (5)

  • Victoria C.

    Michel's.. perfect place for a romantic night with your significant other or celebrating a special occasion. Came here for my sister's birthday and sat with a beautiful view of the sunset! Food was excellent and service was great. I started off with the French onion soup and then had the Madras seafood curry crepe. Everything was delish.. no complaints there! Only thing I wasn't too impressed was there dessert. I think we had a chocolate souffle which was okay but not great. This place of course is a fine dining restaurant so be prepared for a big fat bill :) Overall, great experience.

    (5)

  • Leah S.

    Went here for my husband's birthday!! LOVE this place, food and atmosphere!! Right on the beach and great service!! Go here for a special occasion and you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Cat W.

    First time, the ambience was nice. We had a Brazilian, NY transplant server who was very focused and attentive, and professional. I liked the black suits, nice to see people dress up for work, esp. fine dining. We ordered the Foie Gras, Warm Seafood Salad, NY steak and their lamb. Rich food. My husband loved the size of the wines, pricier but nice selection. We were eating with our eyes, esp. with other tables ordering things and getting served. Next time, we will order the Ocean Bounty on Ice and maybe the Lobster Bisque. If you want some TLC and some great-tasting food, Michel's can offer you that. Oh yes, and nice simple guitar music, too.

    (4)

  • Moe O.

    Totally overrated. The view is phenomenal. The food is marginal. The staff is a little snooty... I can't stand going to a place that charges a premium price for everything and acts like they are doing you a favor by letting you eat there, that's what it felt like when I was there. The hostess was bitchy and our server was very slow and unattentive. Their only saving grace in my eyes is the fabulous view, and one of the food runners was really good. I have a background in fine dining, overall this place is a poor execution of that...it wasn't even very busy when I was there.

    (3)

  • Duane H.

    My Wife and I were part of a party of 24, spread over three tables. The atmosphere is amazing here. We had a beautiful view of the Hawaiian sunset. Open air dining right beside the Pacific! The food was amazing. The french onion soup, baked as a pastry, was the best I have ever had. I had the Ocean Bounty, many different types of seafood, and it prepared wonderfully. We had cherries' jubilee for dessert, prepared tableside, complete with a show of flames. They used an orange peel to channel the burning liquor and it was truly amazing. Kudos to Michel's. White linen tablecloth dining at its best. The servers were enthusiastic and helpful. Cocktails were above reproach. The finest meal I have every had in Hawaii, and in my top ten for my lifetime. Especially impressive because there were so many of us. I will return, for sure.

    (5)

  • Beth I.

    Michel's has got an old school kind of charm with quaint decor and formally dressed servers, but sometimes you need a little of that in Hawaii. The service is also top notch. It's not stuffy or staunchy, but friendly and so efficient. We just had a company Christmas party in the private room and everyone enjoyed the view of the setting winter sun over the ocean. This view reminds you why we are SO lucky to live in Hawaii. I haven't had a bad dish here ever and I haven't talked to anyone that has. Everyone I know raves about their experiences here. I had a fillet and abalone this past visit and it was fabulously plated. The kind of presentation that makes you want to take pictures of it from all angles. unts unts unts.... It was preceeded by a lobster bisque (OMG good) and followed by a light and delicious pineapple lilikoi cheesecake. The food was AMAZING and surprisingly generous. Our party had 2 or 3 dedicated servers that made sure we had everything our heart desired and our wine glasses were never empty. I'm not sure how much I drank, but it also made for a very good time. They had a screen for a slideshow we wanted to project and were so accomodating to get us the setup and room layout we wanted. It was fantastic for a small 30 person party. Absolutely top notch in my book. It was a good time. Period.

    (5)

  • Shay F.

    Only the 5:30 early dining seating has the $45 set menu that includes an appetizer, an entree, and a drink. It doesn't include dessert. I had the crab cakes and the salmon from this early seating menu. I thought the crab cakes were good...and I think I would've liked my salmon if it was cooked a bit more, but overall, it wasn't bad. (I liked the risotto/pasta thingy the salmon came with.) I went back 2 days later, and asked for a vegetarian option. They said they could do either a veggie pasta, or a veggie risotto. I got the veggie risotto, and it was horrible. It was drenched in oil...and didn't have flavor. I should've just gotten the set menu. Ugh. But the service is great, and the view is just awesome. OH!!! but the creme brûlée is AWESOME!!! I should come here just for that next time. Yelp 365 Challenge #218/365

    (3)

  • travis s.

    Beautiful views and excellent service from our server, David. Food meh. Dinner started off with a duck sausage in puff pastry, compliments of the house. This was a pretty good sausage it was smoky and everything was cooked well. Sausage was a little salty as is to be expected of a sausage but, would turn out to be a theme for the rest of the night. We opted for the yellow fin tuna tartare. This was great quality ahi great flavor won ton chips were a little too crunchy for or taste almost hurt or mouths to bite into. We also got the tableside lobster bisque this was pretty salty, and came with the tiniest pinch of actual lobster meat. Kinda pricy for what we received. Onto the entrees. We got the ocean bounty and the Porter house. The ocean bounty was alright. The lobster seemed like it was previously frozen and everything else was, you guessed it, a little on the salty side. The flavors were alright, seemed to be kind of muted maybe a little more herbs would've helped here. Finally the porter house was seasoned perfectly however, it was cooked medium to medium well, it was ordered medium rare. Desert was the molten chocolate cake and was great. This would've been a three star review if it hadn't been for the awesome service.

    (4)

  • Mary J.

    MAGICAL MICHEL'S IS MY MOST FAVORITE! The magic only begins with this beautiful location in the Colony Surf, nicely set apart from the hustle, bustle and assembly line feel of Waikiki restaurants! Here, you are welcomed in to the lovely surroundings of a beachside location spiced up with exquisite French restaurant tasteful decor and highly knowledgeable, customer oriented hostesses, hosts, management and waitstaff. Without any sense of rushing you, the very helpful and attentive staff guide you through the most tasteful dining experience in Hawaii, while catering to your individual preferences. That is only the beginning.... as you enjoy the delightfully delicious servings, the warm tropical breezes are softly accented by the amazingly entertaining live sounds of Grammy award winning slack key / guitarist Jeff Peterson! This is very romantic! As absolutely amazing and delicious as the entrées are, be sure to save room to spoil yourself with their finest desserts, preparedexpertly right at your table!

    (5)

  • R. L.

    What's happening with this place? My wife and have been looking forward to eating here again since our first experience back in 2006, at that time the food was excellent, truly 5 star. However, that wasn't the case today, in 2014... First let me say that the cocktails were good as was the wine and my wife's appetizer--lobster potstickers. After that it was all downhill starting with my French onion soup... Shouldn't this type of soup contain a layer of cheese across the top? And shouldn't that be especially true at a French restaurant? Well what they served didn't resemble French onion soup, instead of a baked cheese crust it was a thin pie crust; a few sprinkles of cheese was in the soup along with some Maui onion and a watered down--tasteless broth.... It was the worst French opinion soup I've ever eaten. Next came the main course; island seafood cioppino for the wife and beef tenderloin au poivre for me... $46 and $50 respectively. According to my wife, whose eaten cioppino many times in the city of San Francisco, this dish was flavorless, the broth wasn't seasoned and some of the shell fish tasted spoiled. Needless to say she couldn't finish the meal, it was gross! I faired no better with my meal, again, the Jack Daniels peppercorn sauce was lacking flavor; and how in the world did the peppercorn get soggy? I requested my steak tenderloin medium well done... I just don't understand how a piece of steak can have he texture of undercooked hamburger, I'm not saying it was hamburger but the texture resembled that of hamburger... And the garlic mashed potatoes---well I didn't taste garlic nor were they seasoned and to top it all off, there was no salt in the salt shaker! So I couldn't add seasoning. Needless to say I had no desire to finish this meal. Our total for this disaster was over $200! We were so disappointed in the chef that I wrote him a note on the check... I told him that these meals weren't worth serving... As soon as we reached our hotel we were so disappointed that we called the restaurant and requested a complete refund as we feel that we did receive the meal we paid for... It seems to me that either the staff intentionally ruined our meal or the chef has loss his passion for cooking. Whatever the problem is I hope someone from this place address my issue.

    (1)

  • Ramfis B.

    *BEAUTIFUL SUNSET *IMPECCABLE SERVICE *GREAT FOOD *INCREDIBLE DINING EXPERIENCE This my fellow yelpers is the reason why Michel's at the Colony Surf has been open for over 40 years now. There is another reason why i always come to this place to entertain guests or celebrate my anniversary or someone's birthday here... *PHIL SHAW ( General Manager ) *FRANK STRAKA ( Waiter Extraordinnaire ) *GERALD CHUN ( Relief Manager ) *CHEF HARDY ( Chef de Cuisine ) These professional's are the driving force which makes Michel's a once in a lifetime dning experience. They make me and my wife and whoever we entertain feel like a King and Queen for an evening. Phil and Gerald are always coming by to see how we are doing and Chef Hardy, even when busy, will always come out to say hello to me and my guests. It really makes me feel special inside when he does that. And what can i say about my waiter Frank? He has been my go to guy everytime i dine here. He is always one step ahead of the game and a true pro at what he does. These qualities are priceless and will always leave an everlasting impression on me. I do have to tell you though, Michel's is definitely not cheap. There is a price to pay for a place of this caliber. But if there is a place you want to impress someone on a first date or pop the big question or if someone that has a lot of money to blow which my wife's friends from Japan usually do and i'm not footing the bill, then this is the place to dine for me. Now my advice to you, You definitely have to have a beachside table to thouroughly enjoy your dining experience or else it's all for not. And also make a 5:30 or 6:00 reservation so you can see the sunset. And friday' evening is also a good time to dine here as you can see the fireworks display the Hilton Hawaiian Village which starts at 7:45 pm sharp. I have dined here well over 10 times at this restaurant so let me show you what this place is all about.. *The Sunset here is PRICELESS yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… Here are some of my recommendations when dining here.. * ICE HARVEST OF THE SEA yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *SAUTEED FOIE GRAS yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *RAGOUT OF KONA PRAWNS AND BABY ABALONE $34 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *WARM BABY SPINACH SALAD $16 (MINIMUM 2 PEOPLE ) yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *MICHEL'S LOBSTER BISQUE $12 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *MICHEL'S OCEAN BOUNTY $48 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *PRIME FILET, LOBSTER, and CRAB $54 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *22 OUNCE PORTERHOUSE STEAK $65 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *HAWAIIAN APPLE BANANA FLAMBE $16 per person yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *CHOCOLATE SOUFFLEhttp://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jabBWIlZuPGi­bPvzV2wAmA?select=oIFkKmJlZTUwjzEBqu1yZQ

    (5)

  • Aki S.

    One of my favorite restaurants! Service was profesional. Food was to perfection. And it didn't hurt that it's right off the beach with a beautiful sunset. You can even catch the Friday fireworks right from your table. There's also valet parking. I had fresh oysters as an appetizer. The bf had the beef carpaccio, which was seared and blackened using filet tenderloin that melted in your mouth. The Maine lobster is a must if you're willing to pay the steep market price (worth it). The rack of lamb is also a must! And since it was my birthday, my server offered a complimentary strawberry cheesecake on the house! Best dinner I had in a while.

    (5)

  • William M.

    Love this place, have since the 80's when Tom Selleck hung out here. Amazing food, excellent service, and a lovely setting. Yes, it is pricey, but this is cuisine, not just chow. And look around you, how beautiful is everything? And aren't the staff nice, too? C'mon, have a good time, at least. I had a great time, and you can too. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Rissa K.

    Spectacular sunset and ocean view of Waikiki and Diamond Head! I loved the decor very old school and the service was great! I had the filet mignon and lobster special. For starters I had a salad with baby shrimp and endives with sliced almonds. I had the complimentary dessert since I was celebrating my bday...which was a chocolate brownie and macadamia nut gelato drizzled with fudge. I also loved the entertainment which was an older guy playing his acoustic guitar. When I was brought over my bday dessert he even played happy bday song with his guitar. This place is very classy and def a romantic spot.

    (4)

  • Jerry E.

    Well, this place definitely has great setting; however, it is well over-priced. Their dishes were all right, although not spectacular. I was very disappointed with their expensive Caesar's salad because it came with too much dressing and was extremely salty; Hy's is much superior. No question, their services were commendable. One need not to ask for water refills. Overall, this establishment is good for special occasions, but not for regular visits, unless you have deep pocket.

    (3)

  • Rod U.

    Honolulu's most romantic ocean front restaurant with breathtaking sunsets views of Waikiki and evening fireworks above the Waikiki skyline to boot*. And oh, the food is good too. A top recommendation for mainland visitors or local seafood lover. The best of Hawaii ocean bounty prepared in a variety of ways that accentuates its flavors. Heavy use of locally sourced ingredients. Outstanding presentation. What started out years ago as nouveau French (count the peas on your plate) restaurant, has become a contemporary French standout. For those who watched Ratatouille too many times, French does not equal snooty or pretentious. For starters, focus on seafood dishes (the foie, escargot, and the lobster bisque are traditional preparations that you can get anywhere). The yellowfin ahi tartare is incredible. Ahi mixed with tobiko and ogo for a huge boost in clean ocean flavor and crunch, dressed in walnut oil for a subtle earthiness and brightened by an outstanding, herbaceous pesto. Wow! The warm spinach and seafood salad is equally amazing. Abalone, scallops, prawns and rock lobster (all perfectly cooked) are served on a bed of baby spinach with a super acidic lemon and lime vinaigrette, garnished with tomatoes, grapefruits and mangoes. The dish is so well balanced and refreshing. The sweetness of the seafood explodes. For mains and the best sampling of Hawaii seafood, do not pass the Island Seafood Cioppino or the "Michel's Ocean Bounty". The Cioppino is amazing for the simple fact that everything is perfectly cooked. The Ocean Bounty outstanding for its variety of ingredients and preparations on a single dish. The only negative, steaks are not well aged or trimmed. Large pieces of fat does not make for good eats. The restaurant offers a number of table side preparations if you're into interactive dining. Finally, the soufflés. Perfect! Nuff said. Good wine list at Hawaii resort prices. Outstanding service. Request a window table. Time your reservations for sunset. Getting there too early means mentally willing passing beach goers to put more on. *Fireworks are on Friday nights only.

    (5)

  • Joanne P.

    My husband and I went to Michel's to celebrate our anniversary. This was our first time at this restaurant. It is located at the Colony Surf which is a condo building right next to Outrigger Canoe Club. When we walked in, we were blown away by the ambiance. It was like a fancy French restaurant had been plopped right onto the beach. The beach-side of the restaurant is completely open and it could have been uncomfortably warm, but they keep the a/c on which nice. The clientele looked to be at least 50% visitors. Everyone was well-dressed in elegant aloha attire. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset as we ordered. Our starters, escargot and foie gras, were terrific. The service was also top-notch, although I felt for our waiter who was sweating in his tuxedo. But that is where the positives end. We ordered 2 entrees, the filet mignon/stuffed lobster and the catch of the day en papillotte (2 types of fish plus scallops), were not that great. I wanted to keep eating my filet mignon but it was overcooked and dry and I kept thinking that this was not worth the calories (I had ordered medium rare and there was barely a tinge of pink inside). The fish was prepared well, but the flavors were too bland for me. The worst item on our plate was the jasmine rice which was dry and hard. Shocking for a restaurant in Hawaii! For dessert, we ordered a chocolate souffle and a grand marnier souffle. The grand marnier souffle had nice flavor but had fallen before it reached our table. The chocolate souffle kept its shape better but would have been better with more chocolate flavor. I would say these were ok and I might be persuaded to return again just for dessert. We didn't have any alcohol and the bill came out to $198. At that price, this was a disappointing first visit, but I guess that is the price of a gorgeous location. Food-wise, I prefer Le Guignol.

    (3)

  • Vi Y.

    Wow, this place is amazing. I'm so glad I was able to purchase a $100 gift card for $50. The view and open air seating, along with the fine dining establishment inside makes for the perfect romantic date. We ordered the seafood appetizer for $50, which came with all kinds of seafood goodies. We also shared the lamb. Everything was cooked, or uncooked to perfection. Along with corkage for 2 bottles of wine at $25 each, total for the bill came out to an additional $60 out of pocket, along with the original $50 spent on the voucher. This is just for 1 appetizer and 1 entree, so make sure you bring your wallets!

    (5)

  • Scott K.

    I love Michel's. Not the cheapest place but the food is great. Get there for the afternoon sunset while you enjoy your dinner. Make sure you get he Coppola Cab, which is my favorite. Its on the pricier side but well worth it if you are having dinner there already.

    (4)

  • serina c.

    Michel's was hands down the best dining experience in honolulu. The food was outstanding and my waiter was super friendly. It was a little bit confusing to find at first because I did not know it was in a hotel. Def will be back on my next trip to oahu

    (5)

  • Grimeater A.

    I finally got to try to place thanks to my friend. I usually try to stay away from these fancy shmancy places because you're usually paying more for good ambiance and service than excellent food. I was a little hesitant going since we just got back from a week of pigging out in Vegas but my friend convinced me to try it out. We ended up getting great seats right by the window with a view of the ocean and city lights. Our server was very friendly. For starters we ordered Escargot and Lobster Bisque. The Escargot was very good. We ordered extra bread to soak up all the buttery goodness left at the bottom of the dish :) The lobster bisque was a disappointment :( It was served table side with the whole dog and pony show. The flavors just weren't there. There was a slight refrigerated taste to it. I guess coming from Vegas a few days ago spoiled my palate. The Stone Crab Bisque at Joe's in Caesar Palace is to die for! For entrees I ordered the Ocean Bounty and my friend ordered the Surf and Turf. The Ocean bounty came with abalone, risotto, one stuffed clam, seared ahi, butter poached lobster and potato crusted mahimahi. The food was good but not 5star good as I would expect for the price. Again, I'm probably biased since I was in the food mecca Las Vegas. I had a little of my friend's plate and it was good too. The steak was really tender. I'm glad I finally got to check this place out. Maybe next time I'll go for a special occasion instead of a random dinner. Oh and I'll try not to go right after a week in Vegas. I think the combination of the two took away some of the "wow" factor for me. Still good food and good service though.

    (4)

  • Brent S.

    Took my wife here for her birthday and we were not disappointed. First of all, it's located right on the beach with beautiful views of the sunset. Perfect place for a romantic dinner. Being that it's been around for so long, we didn't think it was going to be that busy, but it was packed even on a Wednesday night. The offer several tableside prepared dishes, like Caesar Salad, Lobster Bisque, Steak Tartare, as well as some of their main entrees. The Lobster Bisque is definitely worth getting. The Tonato doesn't look very attractive, but is really good. We got the Ocean Bounty and the Seafood Consomme. Both had a ton of fresh seafood, for the price. They were really good dishes. But we do wish we ordered more of the appetizers instead. Definitely, next time...

    (4)

  • Tiffany Y.

    I ate at Michel's, a contemporary French fine-dining restaurant, once with my husband when we were on vacation recently. I had made the reservation online months in advance in order to ensure that we could get a spot. We could have taken a several-minutes walk to the restaurant from our Waikiki hotel blocks away, but we took a taxi to and from instead. The waiters were attentive, gave us seats with a view of the beach and fireworks, and celebrated my birthday with a free piece of cake and music. All of the courses of food were tasty, but I found two pieces of shell in my lobster bisque. Overall, the service and atmosphere were excellent, and the food was good.

    (4)

  • Kerby C.

    This is the third and last time we have been disappointed with Michele's this year. I was hoping this time would be better. They say the definition of insanity is: doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Uh oh! First let me say that the location is spectacular on the beach below Diamond head and the service is way above anything else in my experience (except Roy's on an early dinner in the Waikiki location before the rush). We had a beach front table with an added bonus of a monk seal on the beach just below our table and that plus the service earns Michele's two stars. The food cost them three stars, again. I had a caesar salad made table side which is nice an the salad was ok, not great and not worth $18. The main course was a NY steak which was beautiful but came on a cold plate and the meal was luke warm upon presentation. I don't know why it took their army of staff ten minutes to deliver eight meals, the party next to us was at least 20 people, I wonder how long they had to wait for their dinner? My Sister had a fish dish (Mahi Mahi) I think; it was dry and bland she had two bites, I shared my steak with her, my wife had the ocean bounty with overcooked Mahi Mahi, to be fair she reports that the lobster and abalone were good but the fish is old or just overcooked, either way inexcusable in an establishment of this price range. Two of our party had osso bucco which was bland and over cooked or reheated from the night before, too bad as it is normally a favorite of mine and hard to ruin, I agreed with their appraisal: underwhelming. For the price they charge you need to deliver more than service and location, to get my money you need to serve good food. We are guests on this great island so we can be excused for giving them three attempts to get it right. In talking to my neighbors on the Gold Coast the all agree, Michele's is to be avoided until they start putting their food first, over presentation and pomp. Let's hope they can do that.

    (2)

  • Aaron T. S.

    For me, its about the service, the food always seems to taste better when the service is Great. Phil Shaw (Gen. Mgr.) is always present & watching to make sure the service is above par. The staff is always friendly, attentive and smiling, they really enjoy what they do... I took my mom there last night for her Bday, she loved it and already has put in her request to return for next year. The prices are on the high side, but when you can make someone special happy, is price that important, not for me. Our meals were outstanding, everything was prepared perfectly. We had the warm spinanch salad, lobster bisque prepared table side, always a WOW factor. Mom & sis had the Lobster & Shrimp Thermidor and I had the Veal & Abalone Special. We had the black & white Soufflé w/ mac nuts, so delicious... The Food, The Atmosphere, The Mood, The Music, The View & The Staff made this a perfect night out for us...

    (5)

  • Anton D.

    First off, if you see this restaurant listed as "french" or somewhat European, It's not. Either management has changed since it was French food, or it never was, because it is at the least influenced by Asian cooking. That aside, coming from San Francisco and looking for "good" restaurants is truly a situation similar to finding a needle in a haystack. Many of the "best" restaurants all over the states don't even hold a candle to average food in SF, but Michel's did the trick. Being allergic to seafood, I found the menu quite limited, but in the eyes of someone who can eat everything on the menu, it covered quite a large range. But for my limited choices, there was only one starter without seafood and that was a Garden Salad (The Caeser Salad has anchovies.) Because of this, I simply chose not to have a starter, but treat myself to a souffle later on! After the starters, my only choices in my price range were the Steak Diane and Rack of Lamb. (The choice I could have had, were my wallet deeper, was a Porterhouse steak, listed at $65!) both the Steak and Lamb I heard are great, but I chose the Lamb. I would actually recommend a different restaurant than Michel's if you like myself are allergic to seafood, as although the food is great, it's not exactly a place I would go back to any time soon. One reason being the price (No entree below $40) and the other being limited choices. You could most likely find food of the same quality elsewhere on the island for cheaper. For dessert, I saw an ad in the local dining magazine saying "Mention this ad for a free souffle!" I did so and instead of just giving my party one souffle, our waiter Todd decided to give all three of us souffles, which really helped the bill, being that it took $30 from it. All talking aside, here comes the barebones review. No Starter. Entree: Rack of Lamb Nice flavors and textures, I normally don't like Lamb, but the waiter suggested it to me. It was drizzled with some horseraddish, and had a nice minty dipping sauce along with it. With the lamb came a nice portion of Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, the taste was great, but sadly, they were very dry. Almost like powdered mashed potatoes with not enough water added. They really stuck to the top of my mouth and I had to take a couple of sips of water after each bite. There was some sort of chopped vegetables that were soaked in some sort of sauce, but, being very sweet, the flavors of those really didn't work out with anything else on the plate. Lamb: 4/5 I've had better, but not much better Mash: 3/5 The flavor's the only thing keeping this from a 1 or 0. Overall:4/5 Everything worked well together with the bitterness of the horseraddish on the Lamb and the Goat Cheese in the mash, of course, the vegetables were a disappointment. Dessert: Chocolate Souffle It was good. I've had many that were much better, but the other people I was dining with said that the Grand Marnier souffle was amazing. Maybe if I ever return I should get that. Not much to say besides the sauces they provided. Every other time that I've had a souffle, the sauce is just a thick chocolate syrup, but in the case of Michel's it was a nice melted dark Chocolate. It was somewhat chunky, but overall, the taste was solid. It also had a Grand Marnier sauce, which I tasted, but wasn't a huge fan of. Souffle: 4/5 Again, I've had better. Well, this was a nice drop in, and a nice way to spend money in the tropics, but honestly, I wouldn't return unless I was invited by someone outside of my family. It's too expensive and the food just isn't that good. I'd much rather have a Bacon Hamburger at Duke's for $13 than a Rack of Lamb at Michel's for $48. If you want to have excellent service, again, stray away. Although we did only stay at the restaurant for a little over 2 hours, the wait between courses was almost dreadful. But a huge plus is the view. You can't beat it at all. The best seat for the view would be the third from the far right, but our waiter said that normally, those seats are reserved weeks-months in advance. Also, we booked the reservation through our hotel, and the concierge didn't specify what type of seating we wanted. But, we requested to move closer to the window (which isn't a window, but more of a missing wall.) and the waiter was able to move us closer. Overall, the view made up for the mediocre food, from how the concierge and everyone we asked described the restaurant, it is one of the best on the island, but I guess it's impossible to top the spoiled palette of a Born and Raised San Franciscan. I'd suggest you go just for the view and make sure you book your reservation for before 7:00 because after that, the sun has set and there's nothing really spectacular about the view. That'rs really it, nothing too special, but we could have gotten the job done cheaper and better back home. But that takes the fun away from the vacation!

    (3)

  • Mattthe M.

    Michels could not have a better atmosphere and view of the beach and Waikiki. This location is not for every one and the prices will open some eyes but - great view, good service, decent food and table side Caesar. Highly recommend as long as you know what you are in for.

    (5)

  • Michelle W.

    I admit that I was probably in a wonderful cloud from just being proposed to on their beach, but I was impressed with my overall experience at Michel's. The staff was wonderfully laid back and attentive. I just love the wonderful Hawaiian hospitality. The food was also very enjoyable. Finally, you can't beat having dinner facing the beach with the cool breeze and beautiful Hawaiian sunset, and you have the perfect view of Waikiki from Diamond head. We enjoyed fresh oysters, the ahi duo, which was a perfect combination of ahi carpaccio with light truffle vinaigrette and ahi tartar with red tobikko, diced onions, & walnut oil, seared sweet and fatty foie gras, had a bonus of passion fruit sorbet that I thought was too sweet, and prime black angus filet mignon, kona crab stuffed in a succulent 1/2 maine lobster, alongside hamakua mushrooms, asparagus, with a wild mushroom sauce & vin blanc. Conclusion: Perfect not overbearing not snooty service. Not the best food that I've had but very good food. Perfect ambiance.

    (4)

  • Liz T.

    Don't break your bank for Michel's unless you have another one in Switzerland. Michel's is good but it's not Michelin good. Sunday brunch: The Seafood Benedict a la Michel's ($16) was pretty good; I didn't like that the chunks of artichoke were larger than the lumps of crabmeat. I'm glad I got this instead of the German Apple-Blueberry Pancakes ($12), though, which were dry as a desert and hard as a rock. I'm of the crispy outside, moist inside pancake school of thought. Dinner: I got the most expensive item on the menu thinking it'd be out of this world, but it wasn't even out of the ballpark. The Black Angus Prime Tenderloin and Dungeness Crab-Stuffed Main Lobster ($49.50) is American surf-and-turf trying so hard to be French; it was so buttery and rich that my arteries were petrified. The Creme Brulee ($9) deviated from the standard with its orange and coconut custard--very unique but not in a good way. I'd give it 3.5 stars. The ocean view is gorgeous, but did you know it's even better at restaurants on the other end of the Waikiki strip (i.e. La Mer)?

    (3)

  • miss L.

    Some tips to help maximize your fun ratio at Michel's ~ Like any place there are hits and misses. The food can be heavy and the decor is a bit dated. Keep in mind it's really about savoring the location, toasting too many times and sloooowly enjoying desert with an after dinner drink. Here's what works for me: Number one is the table. Do your best to secure a window seat. Tables closer to the bar end of the restaurant afford the best views as the sun sets. As soon as you are seated/ able, order a cocktail. They tend to leave you lingering over your menu and if you're anything like me you start to get the shakes when you can't get your drink order placed right away. I highly recommend a martini, up. They'll pour you a splash and then leave you with a little baby decanter of vodka/ gin on crushed ice. I mean is there really any other way to drink a martini properly? After this you may agree, NO! As far as food goes, I think the appetizers really shine. The Harvest of the Sea (chilled seafood platter) is bountiful. A good dish to share. And if you like Cesar salad, it's made table side, which is fun. My must have is the abalone. I go here for this. It used to be served with spaghetti squash and tomatoes, which I adored. Their online menu has it prepared differently (slight sadness here) but I am guessing it is still delish. I like to order this as my main course (appetizer size) and have a few bites off my hubby's entree plate (lobster please). More than enough food for two. Food is heavy, so I say lean on the starters. If you have room for desert, order something on fire. Preferably the bananas & apples with vanilla ice cream, please. Any there you have it.... enjoy.

    (4)

  • Yummy P.

    I was excited when my date told me that he made reservations for us at Michel's. Walking in I was already impressed. The atmosphere is warm and beautiful but as we neared our seats, I went from amazed to disappointed. Our table was a little too close to the kitchen doors and so far from the view outside I couldn't see anything :(. We ordered the cesar salad which is prepared table side. He failed to talk to us as he prepared the salad, not to mention the sweat dripping down his head. I was more concerned about the sweat dripping in the salad than watching him prepare it. I had a hard time enjoying my salad after that. Our first dish was the Steak Diane. Presentation was amazing but dry and over cooked. The rice that came with it was also under cooked. Second entree was the Hardy's Hawaiian Bouillabaisse. This wasn't all that bad. Very rich but still good. Still having room for dessert we decided on the Warm Cinnamon Apple Tart. I wasn't impressed. I would give Michel's another try but next time, I'll veto the Cesar Salad, Steaks and Apple Tart while ensuring to make reservations requesting outdoor or window seating.

    (3)

  • Christian F.

    I was looking for a romantic place to take my wife to, to celebrate our anniversary during our vacation on Oahu. Michel's seemed to have a lot going for it including a nice view of the sunset, but in the end it was a huge disappointment. 1) They gave us a table at which we could not face each other but instead sat side by side on a bench. Very romantic (not)! So instead of seeing each other, we had to look at all the other people instead and the waiters passing by. The whole time, we felt like waiting on a train or something. 2) We saw hardly anything of the sunset since there were two rows of tables between us and the window. 3) The food really wasn't all that impressive. No one would pay this much for the food (we had the $89 tasting menu) if it wasn't in expensive Waikiki Beach and unless there was a promise of a romantic setting (which we didn't get). The upshot: if you go there for the sunset, either make sure when reserving that you get a window table, or be prepared to turn around and leave once they show you to your table. There aren't that many bench tables with poor view, but I find it unworthy and greedy of a fine dining restaurant to maximize the number of tables they can fit, sacrificing quality. This is not why I go to a quality restaurant!

    (2)

  • Sunny D.

    We went here for our anniversary. I choose it mainly because I had a certificate (buy $50, get $100) and we haven't been here in eons. Anyway, easy valet service. Requested a window table so we got one at the right corner. Very nice view of the water, paddle boarders and such. Ordered Escargot to start, me and hubby shared. It was very good! Wanted to lap up the goodness with all that bread, yum! Then we both ordered the rack of lamb which I ordered medium. Before it came out they served a berry sorbet to cleanse the pallet which I really need after the garlicky Escargot! There were three large pieces of lamb racks, mashed potato, stuffed tomato and fennel. The coffe demi glaze for the lamb was oh so delicious! Very tender, perfectly cooked and juicy! Wow, WOW! Both me and the hubs were wanting to chomp on the bones! We are still enjoying sitting by the waters edge, watching the lights from the Pride of America on it's way to the neighbor island, watching people enjoy the shoreline. There was a bit of a lightning "show" in the leeward side but luckily no rain in Waikiki. Even the night was lovely, just listening to the lapping water was very soothing. So the waiter brings out a complimentary dessert of cheescake but we really wanted to try the Cherries Jubilee so we set the cheesecake aside for our teenager whom we left at home. I always enjoy watching them prepare this dessert! My hubby really enjoyed the Jubilee much more than I did. I though the one we had at Azul in the Ihilani was better. I cannot believe I actually ate all of that since I'm normally a lightweight when it comes to dinners. But the food was very good! Overall, it was a lovely evening. Wonderful meal, lovely ambiance and a perfect partner. What more could I ask for?...Okay, yeah a five carat diamond ring would have been a topper!

    (5)

  • Aline T.

    Great place for a romantic date if you can get a table with a view. I requested the table with a view via online reservation and explained it was a belated V-Day for me and my gf. The view was great even if the weather was particularly dreary. Bring something to keep you warm just in case; the restaurant is open air. The food was delicious. The price range for appetizers is around $15-20, soups $10-20 (can't remember too well), and entrees $40-60. My bill was 187 + 33 tip. Appetizer Frog Legs - This was delicious! It tastes like chicken and the sauce is great! I would request more sauce the next time I get this because they are a little sparse with it. Smoked Salmon - If you are a salmon fan, you will love this. It's smoked in house and the flavor is very well developed. I'm not much of a salmon fan but even I enjoyed eating this. My gf loved it. Soups Maui Onion Soup - This was so ono! I'm going to order one for myself next time. Lobster Bisque - If you like lobster, you'll love this soup. It could've used more lobster. Entrees Filet Mignon Madagascar - I didn't care for the blueberry topping...I'm not a fan of steak and fruit but my gf said it tasted good. Rack of Lamb - This was tasty; I didn't care too much for the accompanying sauce that came in a little bowl...I can't even remember what it tasted like. I tried it twice and decided it was better without it. Dessert *usually if you order tableside desserts where they flambe stuff next to your table, you have to order 2 servings, but if it's not particularly busy, the waiter will let you know it's okei to order just 1* My waiter recommended matching a flambe dessert with a not-flammbe dessert (such as chocolate decadence cake with cherries jubilee) but my gf wanted to try the apple tart with the apple banana flambe and this was absolutely delicious! Plus the flambe show was awesome! The waiter had a carved orange peel, ignited a ladle of rum and let it drizzle in a spiral down the orange peel and into the pan with the simmering sauce and bananas! Overall, the food was delicious! Our waiter was Robert and he was phenomenal! So polite but also not so formal with just the right touch of humor and friendliness - great person! We came at 7 pm and left at 10 pm. My gf said she got a little bored because we were there for so long, and I admit, I did too but it was very brief. I find this impressive since I get very antsy siting still for long periods. I thought it was so odd that it was 3 hours..they timed each dish very well so when it came out, it was nice and hot. Note: If you haven't gone to Michel's before, when you turn in, keep driving down (you'll see a ramp that goes up to valet). Don't go right.

    (4)

  • Zoe B.

    We like the food there. The first time we went was in 2006 and they had a soup with pastry top. But they don't have that anymore now, what a bummer. That soup with pastry top was the bomb. The got other food great too. Everything we've tried was tasty and happy to find this place. The grand marnier souffle was my favorite dessert there. We recommend this place for a french meal.

    (5)

  • Jace S.

    I was brought here for our montherversary brunch with the boyfriend. They dubbbed it the 'blood orange mimosa brunch.' They variety of food was way out there, you have french flair then really local dishes, and everything in between. For first course I got the oxtail soup. Just how mom made it, crisp bak choi and fall off the bone oxtail. Second course was a seafood omelette. This just wasn't up to par. The seafood wasn't fresh and tasted like it was flash microwaved to thaw it out, and the egg was overdone. It was a mess. The managed to save the day with their tiramisu though. Moist and there was hints of citrus, nice touch. This place has amazing service and ambience also. You overlook Waikiki beach, and the waiters are very attentive. Oh and by the way, the blood orange mimosas were amazing.

    (3)

  • Paul M.

    I'm not going to bother anyone with a lot of words like I usually do. This place was amazing. Definitely 5 star cuisine with a 5 star atmosphere and 5 star service. Price is high, so I can't come here often, but I'll remember this place forever. Had the lobster bisque (wow), the ceasar salad (better than normal, but just a salad to me), the steak diane (holy crap, so good), and the bananas foster (better than a firedancer show). Definitely go here for a special occasion. But only if you have $75-150 per person on hand.

    (5)

  • Jane M.

    A class act. Went for the food, service and sunset view. very disappointed in $68 Kobe Ribeye. not seasoned properly, lost in sweet sauce and messy presentation. gave feedback to server Daniel who was so nice.He said the chef apologized and took it off the bill. Now that is fine customer service. I will go back because I know how good Michels is.

    (4)

  • Abby J.

    My boyfriend and I ate here while on vacation. It is one of our top 3 favorite dinners ever. The french onion soup is a must! :) Ambience and service was amazing and the bathrooms are adorable.

    (5)

  • Julie H.

    If you are on vacation, Michel's is a wonderful place to dine for the incredible view and beautiful decor. The atmosphere is incredibly romantic and the food is delicious and rich. I actually think the appetizers, soups and salads had a better selection than the entrees. The lobster bisque had wonderful flavor and was just creamy enough without being too filling. The french onion soup and escargot are also wonderful choices. I was also tempted by the frog legs and foie gras, but maybe next time! For my entree, the special was a moi that was deboned, stuffed with smoked salmon then wrapped in potato and deep fried. While it was good, moi is better served more simply. On a separate occasion I had the bouillabaisse, which was very delicious because I love seafood, but it was exceptionally memorable. After ordering your entree, be sure to order the souffle. Michel's offers it in Grand Marnier, Chocolate or a mix of both. Both are equally delicious, so the mix may be your best bet!

    (4)

  • T M.

    We hadn't been to Michels for 6 years but decided that we were tired of the fusion Asian menus so popular in Hawaii. Suddenly, Michels came back to us and we are so grateful. From the time they answered the phone to the valet to go home, it is a top notch experience. We sat directly in front of the guitarist but the smooth jazz wasn't too loud. Ekulo, our waiter, was classy, polished and always one step ahead of our dining needs. The wine list goes from cheap to ultra expensive. Last night, I paired with a relatively cheap wine to go with our fabulous meal of scallop (singular),peppercorn beef, rack of lamb and salad. The spacing of the tables is comfortable for everyone as privacy is respected. The view of the Waikiki skyline is exceptional. We will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Doris D.

    Very nice dinner here a couple of years ago. I don't know about the dinner service here now, but I appreciated the service and atmosphere, both of which would distinguish this restaurant from other fine dining fare. Otherwise, the food was unimpressive.

    (3)

  • Tehani L.

    We were married in Waikiki 3 yrs prior so we always like to go back there to celebrate. I thought Michel's was a perfect fit. I felt a little foolish for not knowing about the restaurant. I mean, I've frequented the old W club in front for years, was a regular at Kaimana beach, snuck into the surrounding Elks Club and Outrigger Canoe club once or twice, but never discovered Michel's. Well, now I know and I'll definitely keep going back. We were seated early and got to enjoy the sunset. My husband was a paddler back in the day, so he enjoyed watching the close up view of the paddlers going out for practice. The food was fabulous & the wine list was impressive. Service was top notch...local guys that cleaned up well. Overall, great experience!

    (5)

  • Wayde F.

    I don't go all out and lavish myself and my partner too often, but when I do...One of the places on my list to choose from is Michel's at the Colony Surf. What can I say and where do I start...This place has been going strong since the 60's and very little has changed over the past 50 years. Amazing food, amazing service and an open air sunset atmosphere that is impressive. Being a Poor Man this isn't exactly on the list of places you would expect me to be visiting, but I do at least once a year. Why shouldn't a Poor Man be able to experience such fine-dining French cuisine? This place is seriously one of the top romantic places to take your loved one...If you are visiting Oahu and want to have that "DINNER SPLURGE" this would be one of the top locations I would do it at! I have even gone so far as to recommend this location on my personal itineraries I design for vacationers here in Hawaii. It's understandable that people follow me because I show them how to budget their vacation to Hawaii, but everyone needs to just go a little crazy sometime and with all the money travelers save with me there is NO EXCUSE not to splurge on themselves at least once or twice while in PARADISE! EVERYTHING on this menu is top notch! It's NOT a huge menu and being a chef that's always a good sign of EXCELLENT! The menu focuses all around Seafood and Prime cuts of Beef. The Wine list however is daunting so be prepared. When I go here I'm always battling between 2-3 items I want. It always happens so my partner and I get a bottle of wine, we choose two appetizers, maybe one starter to split, two entrees and two desserts we both would be interested in eating. That way we both actually end up having many small meals over a 3 hour period. When I go out like this my intention is to eat, drink and talk, and when I usually do that with someone I find stimulating it turns into a long evening. Everything on the menu is designed by the chefs with perfection, allow ones taste buds to truly enjoy each watering mouth full. From the moment you walk in till the moment you get up from the table. This business is one hell of a perfectly oiled machine... Now, people can like or dislike when I breakdown other peoples reviews. I really don't give a damn. When people Bitc# about a place and it's uncalled for I always seem to bring them back to reality and you to the facts. We seem to have 2 central situations that people Bitc# about when at Michel's...mind you there are very few negative reviews. Seating and Service seem to be tops. I have been here six times over the last 5 years that I can recall and I will be going back next month. I have never had a issue with a single service, seating or food so it shocks me at some of the idiotic one and two star reviews I have come across. Lets go over a few lines from a few reviews: One person says..."I know it's being picky, but for the level of service Michel's provides I'm a bit shocked they didn't catch this: they gave me a white napkin when I was wearing black pants. " Listen braddah, I get the white lint on the Black pants, but come on...who stuck that pole up your puka? Another person says: "The lettuce leaves were disproportionate to the rest of the salad" again later in her review she brings up the fact that the Chef uses the "ENTIRE lettuce leaf. It's pretty clear she doesn't understand fine dining. This women's review overall is contradictory and it is clear that no matter how hard she tries to be a snob or know what she's talking about, her review has no merit. Put it this way anyone that actually lives and breaths Hawaii and gives the local hangout spot of Zippy's two stars because the franchise is "over-hyped and priced way too high" is a little lolo. One more person says: "They gave us a table at which we could not face each other but instead sat side by side on a bench. Very romantic (not)!" Ok, listen...Each his own...for me personally this is the most romantic setting you could have with your loved one...sitting across from someone gets old and this allows a new kind of intimacy with your loved one if you look at it in a positive way...This reviewer however choose not to and the entire review was down hill from there giving the place 2 stars because he had to sit not across but next to his loved on. Truly and honestly...pathetic. * Make reservations days in advance if you want a Beachside table....For holidays or Valentines Day I would do a month in advance to get a Beachside Table to watch the glorious Sunset on Waikiki Beach. All tables have a view of the beach and sunset, but there are only so many tables that are actually BEACHSIDE. Word of Mouth keeps this place relatively busy, by higher end Kama'aina and visitors alike. I'm giving four stars for two personal reasons,...I believe the overall menu should be a tad lower in price and the décor should be updated for the new century, but If you are ready to spend a pay check with your loved one...this is it.

    (4)

  • Michelle V.

    One of the most romantic dates I've ever been to. Overlooking the ocean while the sunsets and the FOOD is amazing!!! My husband and I are definitely coming back!!!

    (5)

  • Gary C.

    If you want a romantic restaurant with great food, top notch service and one of the best views on Oahu, I highly recommend Michel's. Michel's is on the ground floor of the Colony Surf building, which sits on the beach at the foot of Diamond Head. The restaurant overlooks the ocean and a small sand beach. Ask for a table by the windows, which are almost always open to the ocean breezes. Diners sitting by the windows have a view of the Outrigger Canoe Club to the east, and Waikiki beach and the Waianae mountains to the west, in addition to the ocean view. Needless to say, sunsets are spectacular from the window seats, and you're treated soon after to the lights being turned on at the hotels along Waikiki. On Friday evenings you can see the fireworks show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which begins about 7:30 pm or a little after. Don't hesitate to bring your camera. Food quality and presentation are among the best on the island. Prices are on a par with restaurants like Morton's, so two people who get an appetizer, a couple of drinks, an entree and desert each can expect to spend around $175.00 for both people, before tip. Michel's is open for dinner seven days a week, and on the first Sunday of each month they also serve brunch- from a menu, not a buffet. Valet parking is free.

    (5)

  • Laszlo H.

    Well, sorry to burst the 5-star bubbles I see here...we had a dining reservation last night and it all began just fine with the mildly obsequious service, the nice drinks and, of course, the spectacular ambiance. But, it sort of ended there...because after the butter dripping escargots previously mentioned, the very pricey beef filet was much too fatty and chewy for a place of this caliber. So to rate this (wonderfully located, to be sure) place any higher than two stars after a $275 dinner for two (with a decent $48 Australian syrah included), would be a real stretch.

    (2)

  • brad v.

    Usually I am an avid Yelp surfer to find my next best restaurant. In this case, if I were to have read the ratings here and as I took a referral from friends to eat here I was very disappointed in the food. The atmosphere of the sunset style open air ocean dining really is worth going, however for the price you can get much better food elsewhere. With this ratings here on Yelp I may have to go back again for a second time and give Michel's another try. . Thanks

    (2)

  • Todd P.

    My favorite French dining on the Island of Oahu. Steak Diane and chocolate sufle for dessert. The best !

    (5)

  • Yasuo O.

    Well, its been a few years since I have been there and honestly, it will be a few more at least. If they dont go under at least. I was able to purchase a $100 certificate for $50 bucks and thought, what the heck. So off i go. First it was moved from Saturday to Sunday. I was told the reservations are only for after 730. Not a big deal. We changed head count from 3 to 2 people. Wifey and I decide it would be nice to get out there and enjoy the moment. we get there about 5 minutes early and asked to wait. not a big deal. we waited 15 minutes and got seated at 7:40. technically only a 10 minute wait. Not offered to sit on the bar or anything while we wait. no big deal. when we made the inital reservation and the change of dates, we requested along the railing to be near the beach. was assured it was ok. we finally get to our seats and nothing. we are i nthe middle of the restaurant 3 aisles away from the railing. FAIL. we start with some champagne to start. got an appetizer of ahi carpaccio. horrible, they offered it with soggy toast. then the dish iteself is worse. seasoning is atrocious. the best part was a scoop of ahi poke . the carpaccio itself ...strange seasoning. we took a bite each and put the rest on the side. finished. waiter didnt even ask what was wrong. maybe i am just used to being spoiled when i spend the money. next thing we ordered was a lobster bisque for the wifey and maui onion for me. maui onion was good. not the best but certainly not the worse. lobster bisque they flambe in front of you. nice idea but FAIL on the taste. bland. oily. alcohol driven. can make a better one with canned stuff. again, we left a bunch of it and not even asked about a thing. FAIL entree. seafood something. wifey got and i got the new york steak. i asked them for medium rare. food comes... very well. in fact, cooked well done. took two bites and i asked them for new ones. waiter agreed it was well done. wifey's meal is well... mediocore at best. temperature on the food was warm and the seafood was questionable whether it was fresh or frozen. waiter told us it was all fresh. i question it. FAIL waiter didnt mention any of the desserts and i remembered a soufle so i asked the waiter and he mentioned it took 25 minutes to cook. advised him that it should be better if he mentions it when we order with the entree. FAIL. Soufle came out and well. was better off eating a napple at zippys. But the waiter took the time to take it off the bill since they screwed up the entree. they close at 10pm i guess. they started to clean up and remove things off of tables around us while we were still eating. couldnt even enjoy the coffee and crap souffle they serve. what a waste. if you are a young kid trying to pick a place to take your girl for a nice night, come here and enjoy the bar. but otherwise, save your money, take her to a nice place for a meal and go walk on the beach later. much better... With the advent of nicer places coming up and a culture and society where we can afford to not only pick and choose but also become more sophisticated with more choices when we travel abroad, this place wont survive. atmosphere alone wont work at the prices they serve it at. the prices arent bad. But for the quality of the food, it was a rip off. My total bill? $189 bucks for 2 people. Not too bad for a normal french restaurant. but a total rip off for what we experienced.

    (2)

  • Denise A.

    My husband and I made reservations ahead of time for our dinner at Michel's, knowing that we wanted an oceanfront table (or "on the rail" as they call it) for our one romantic night out on Oahu. When we showed up for our reservation, we were so pleased when we were sat front and center, at a beautiful front-row table. The servers and maître d' gushed over us, and we were literally swarmed by helpful staff. We were wowed and felt so special right off the bat. Unfortunately, that didn't last long . . . through a brief conversation with the maître d', it was discovered that they had mistaken us for part of the owner's dining party for that evening, and sat us at his table by mistake. All of a sudden, the service wasn't so attentive. :) In fact, the maître d' tried to move us to a "perfectly lovely" table in the back of the room. Yikes - what a let down. Long story short, after quite a bit of debate, we ended up sitting at a decent table which was in front, albeit in the corner. Thankfully, the food was outstanding and the Mai Tais delicious. I had the Ocean Bounty and my husband the lobster thermidor. The lobster bisque is an absolute must have - it was amazing. So, no thanks to the condescending maître d' (I wish I could remember his name), our evening was lovely after all. The sunset from the open windows of Michel's was breathtaking. Big kudos to our waiter, Trent, who was truly impeccable in every way.

    (3)

  • Oleg P.

    We are very disappointed on our last visit for a birthday dinner. The service was terrible. The bread and butter were not served, I had to ask waiter for it several times. By the time bread was served our soup was almost cold... The steak was not tasty and there was something on top of the steak that looked and tasted like a chunk of belly fat. Waiter said it is a duck liver... I know the taste of duck liver but it was something disgusting... When they brought a bill the 20% tip was automatically added to the bill. I have never seen any restaurant that is forcing you to pay the tip. We declined to pay the tip as we had very bad experience... This place is suppose to be fine dining but we felt like we were in Dennys or Zippy's....

    (1)

  • Kristi S.

    Great food. Great service. Beautiful ambience.

    (4)

  • Aiko A.

    I LOVE Michel's!!! Yes, we went for my birthday, as we have in the past and I would go back every year (hint hint faye m.) The service was excellent, specifically Larry who was right on with his recommendation for drinks. He also prepared the steak tartar table side. He mentioned that he liked his spicy. I agreed and brought up the sriracha sauce. Later, he brought out a little bowl of the spicy sauce for me to enjoy with the steak tartar! But of course, the foie gras was the BEST. The fillet that came with the lobster and crab was perfectly medium rare and so soft. I savored every bite. My husband's seafood bounty came with butter poached lobster that was so tender, so mm mm good. The ambiance of Michel's is sublime...ocean side, the sound of the waves, sunset, and FIREWORKS! What could be better? Enjoying it with people I love.

    (4)

  • Mee-stique K.

    What can you ask for more, beautiful setting, wonderful food and good company...this place is the perfect place to have all three (well that is if you find the right company) but otherwise you will have two out of the three. If you like regular French Onion Soup, you'll love even more the Maui Onion Soup. The sweetness of the Onion really brings out the flavor and someone they don't over season it with salt like some places I've been to! The service was impeccable and attentive. When our waters were running low someone is on it right away! I've been to some restaurants you could be sitting there 20 mins and no one will come to refill your water unless you ask them to! But even then some might forget! :( The seafood was so fresh and everything kept pipping hot! You have to try their Hardy's Bouillabaisse. And the Steak Dianne if you like steaks. They cook it in front of you like the traditional French restaurants. You don't see that too often any more!

    (5)

  • HY L.

    This is and will probably always will be my favorite fine dining restaurant in Hawaii. It is the most romantic location on the island. I guess your dining partner has a lot to do with it too;) The service is consistently 5 stars. Ambiance, service, menu, everything is what you should expect from a fine dining restaurant in Hawaii. Make reservations to watch the sunset, and ask to be seated by the ocean. Bring your sunglasses, enjoy the beautiful view, eat & drink the night away. They also have great valet service.

    (5)

  • Richard M.

    Probably the worst restaurant dinner I have had in years. It took 45 minutes after we ordered for the food to arrive, and then both entrees were terrible. The lamb chops were tough, and the fillet mignon was 2 small overcooked leftover scraps of meat I wouldn't have served at Denny's. The accompanying vegetable assortment was tasteless and so undercooked that I left them on the plate. The apple tort scored no better: the pastry and the apples both had a soggy consistency. Visits in prior years has been excellent, but after this experience, I will not be returning very soon.

    (1)

  • Michael S.

    A great and romantic French restaurant. Excellent view of the beach, great food, great services all at a reasonable price. It was a perfect ending to a weeklong vacation in HI. You must order the Lobster Bisque as its prepared table side and taste great. We ordered the following: Helix Escargots Bourgogne Lobster Bisque x2 (it was so good, we ordered another one) Black Angus Prime Tenderloin & Kona crab-stuffed Maine Lobster Crème Brulee

    (5)

  • K N.

    Went to Michel's for the first time and we loved it. Defintely one of our new favorites. We had the duo of ahi tartare and carpaccio and lobster bisque to start. The ahi was simple but unique- the tartare had fish eggs which gave it a different and suprising texture; the carpaccio had a light berry flavor which was very unusual but delicious. For our entrees we had the seafood bounty which included an array of seafood including lobster, ahi, mahi, abalone, an oyster, prawns and rissoto (one of my favorite parts of that dish). My husband had the filet and lobster. The filet was so tender and his lobster was very tasty. Finally, for dessert we had the lilikoi cheesecake and apple tart- seriously the best desserts I have ever had (not exaggerating).

    (5)

  • Z Z.

    The ocean view is nice but you can't see anything when the sun goes down so eat early if the view is important. Also keep in mind that since this is open air, the ocean breeze gets very cold at night so dress accordingly. I don't know what some of the other people are talking about because the lavosh with sweet potato butter is really good despite the strange color of the butter. As for dinner, we originally wanted to go with one tasting menu, one appetizer, and an entree. But we were informed that the chef wants everyone on the table to have the tasting menu, since when does a restaurant tell us what to eat? After that setback we went with: Helix Escargots Bourgogne - garlic butter deliciousness, nothing else to say Hickory Smoked Salmon - carved and served table-side with flat breads, creme fraische topped with caviar, red onions, capers, lettuce, and a slice of lemon. It's build-your-own, I prefer it pre-assembled and ready to eat, but it all tastes good no matter how you build it ***Maui Onion Soup*** - first off, they forgot about it. Then when it finally arrived I didn't care for it, but my bf liked it...until he nearly swallowed a fish scale. After all that waiting, huge disappointment but the staff took care of it promptly, removed it from the bill, and comped us a dessert Kona Coffee Glaze Lamb - the lamb was delicious but the other things on the plate were lacking....half tomato tasted a little strange, half onion only had flavor on the outer layers, and mashed potatoes were tasty but dry Lobster and Shrimp Thermidor - the lobster and shrimp were excellent, but the risotto that came with it was just OK Complimentary Dessert - small chocolate cake with ice cream and fruits, the cake was ok and kinda dense, but i love ice cream :) Overall, Michel's did not live up to our expectations especially with that Maui Onion Soup fiasco. But on a good note, the service was awesome, they really try hard.

    (3)

  • Hiro S.

    A couple of us flew in Honolulu for a short weekend getaway. It's been awhile since I visited this restaurant last time, but I do remember it was good experience. We had escargot to start - very yummy. We "cleaned" the plate with bread. For main, we ordered Veal osso bucco w lobster ravioli, Hawaiian onaga, and lamb for main dish. They were all good, but I had to say lobster ravioli was the best while it was "only" the side dish of veal osso bucco. The service was very good just like I remembered and our server Brian was awesome. He was very knowledgeable (w/o LA attitude!), and he was happy to find out if he did not have answers to any of our questions. The dessert was chocolate Soufflé - in fact, it was a combination of chocolate and Grand Marnier . :) Overall, it was a quite enjoyable dinner! The bill was about $70 pp incl tax w/o tipping.

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    We went to Michel's to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We hadn't been in over a year and have never been what could be called regulars. We've decided that this will change. It couldn't have been a nicer experience. We had a great table, with a view of whales spouting in the distance. Our neighbor's waiter pointed them out to us, which was a treat. The service was perfect and the food was outstanding. All that said, with cocktails, wine, and four courses each the night was not inexpensive. (Not to mention the cost of a hotel room because we don't drive when we wine and dine.) We thought it was worth every penny. You have to enjoy yourself once in a while.

    (5)

  • Michael T.

    Always heard great things about this place, so it was time to try it out when the GF's birthday came around. Made a reservation about 2 weeks ahead of time requesting a seat by the beach, where the great view was, instead we got a seat inside by the walkway. We sat about 10-15 minutes before the waiter got to us and explained some of the specials. They were very nice and courteous, but the service was very slow. We sat there about 20 minutes before we actually ordered. We started off with the escargot, duck liver, my GF got the onion soup and I got the lobster bisque. All were very tasty and delicious, but were a little too rich. So rich by the time our entrees came out that my stomach was already feeling upset. I had the rack of lamb and my GF got the seafood combo. Both were very tasty and delicious. The atmosphere was nice and elegant. But the service was too slow for my taste, and the crowd was somewhat rich "nose in the air" snobby people. My GF was planning a last minute dinner with her girlfriends the next day so we were on our iphones trying look for a good restaurant and texting invitations to her friends. I already noticed glances from some of the patrons, but before we left, an old Caucasian couple came up to us and said, "You two amaze us, coming to a nice place like this and just playing on your phones." It just made me think, wont you mind your own business. Well after the whole meal and a few drinks, the tab came out to $250. I thought the food was very tasty, but I don't know if it's worth the price. There are better French cuisines out there with better value.

    (3)

  • Alicia G.

    Michelle's at the Colony Surf is advertised as the most romantic restaurant on the island. It is that and so much more. Located on the sands of Waikiki it has two dinner seatings. Early and late. Early gets the spectacular sunsets (look closely a cloudless day will end with a green flash) views, so be sure to ask for a window table. One by one those restaurants that serve table side are disappearing. Michelle's will give you a spectacularly delicious Lobster Bisque, prepared table side, then onto a Caesar Salad made from scratch right in front of you. Next it is Steak Diane, also cooked table side, tender and delicious with ever changing sides dishes it is a memorable main course. We finish it off with Bananas Foster flambe'd once again at the table. For my birthday, we always request Crepe Suzette with just a touch of ice cream to bring back memories. Of course Michelle also have a full menu of many other items; the fish is always fresh, and the vegetarian dishes are non parallel. Christopher make a magnificent Mojito, I like mine with Coconut Rum for added flavor. Everyone is happy to have you join them and it shows in the superb way you are treated from the moment you make your reservation to the second the valet brings you your car. Soft music, ambient lighting, excellent service, fantastic food. It is my last meal, it is my favorite meal, it is Michelle's. Thank Heaven..

    (5)

  • Lauren W.

    My bf and I came here for out first date back in 2004 and we come back at least once a year when we want to celebrate. (Note to bf: If you are reading this...do not propose to me here. It's VERRRY nice, but come on....a little creativity is in order) We started off the evening with an amuse bouche...compliments of the chef. (Does everyone get this VIP treatment? I'm going to guess the answer is yes...but I'll pretend that we were special, anyway.) It was ground lamb in a puff pastry shell. Lucky me, my man doesn't eat meat so I got amuse bouche times two! Escargot **** (I prefer with cheese...but I know it's not "proper") Caesar **** (prepared tableside) Foie Gras ***** (they only have a cold prep on the menu...ask for a saute!) Lobster Bisque ***** (The server recommended we share...I recommended he shut up and bring me my own damn soup) Veal stuffed with Kurobota Ham **** (It was kinda "meh" but better the next for lunch leftovers!) Chocolate Souffle **** (Not as good as Alan Wongs...but bonus star for a little chocolate "Happy Anniversary" sign) There was a group of middle aged women (probably live upstairs in the Colony Surf) that came down to listen to Jeff Peterson play guitar. They sang "Happy Birthday" to someone in their party 4 times. They ALMOST ruined the romantic atmosphere but the staff at Michels quickly moved us to a oceanside table, provided me with a pashmina scarf to match my dress and keep me warm in the sea breeze, comped our salad, dessert, and corkage fee. Yay! Free stuff and good service saved the day!

    (5)

  • Walt H.

    My wife and I were visiting from the Mainland and we were recommended Michel's as the place to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. We were not disappointed. We enjoyed the wonderful caesar salad prepared at our table and the sea food plate of mixed treats which was superb. The service was exquisite, and Phil the owner was a wonderful host. We also had the added entertainment treat of Hawaiian slack guitarist, Jeff Peterson, a USC graduate and local Maui boy. This was a magic evening for us. The reality exceeded our expectations.

    (5)

  • Love S.

    This is the first, only and last place I've ever tried turtle. It was a soup. I don't know how they serve it, I thought it was illegal. I liked it but I felt guilty eating it so I let my brother in law finish it. He's tongan. They eat anything. I prefer breakfast over Dinner. This is one of the only spots I know of that serves ala carte sunday breakfast for an upscale restaurant. Most of these types of places all have buffets on sunday. I'm not a buffet type of girl but they have a bloody mary bar and I'm all over that. Bloody Mary's at Michel's are delicous and you can add in asparagus, celery, olives, carrots, limes, lemons and tomato's, by the time I get my breakfast I'm full. The menu is standard, not much fancy fare at breakfast but it's good and affordable. The view is beautiful during the day. The restaurant is air conditioned and they have awnings that block the sun. Smart.

    (4)

  • A A.

    We celebrated my husband's birthday at Michel's, and had a great time. The Tripical Island Salad was wonderful. We ordered the Seafood Trio, Black Angus Prime Tenderloin, and Kina crab-stuffed Maine Lobster. All were great! For desert, the Warm Cinnamon Apple Tart! Yum! Wine list was supurb. Although we the meal was great, it was rich in butter (and taste). Although Michel's is pricey, it is top notch for similarly priced restaurants. For me personally, to spend $200+ on dinner for two is ridiculous, but if this is within your budget, then Michel's would be a top choice. As far as the atmosphere, the restaurant itself is comfortable, but not spectacular. All my friends were telling me how much I would love the view and sunset, but it really wasn't impressive to me. Part of this is because we made reservations much too early (5:30) and the sun was hot and heavy on us! It is an open air restaurant (no air conditioning), so I was buring up! Secondly, although the view of the beach is nice, the view of old, fat, hairy men half naked didn't go well with my glass of red wine. Again, this probably had to do with our choice of time, because by 7:00 (when we were having desert), the beach was empty and much more scenic. Recommendation: make your reservation for maybe 30 minutes before sunset.

    (4)

  • Meep M.

    This place has it all. Live music, ocean view, excellent service, and great food. We started off with the Iced Harvest of the Sea (Main Lobster, Dungeness Crab Legs, Ahi & Kampachi Sashimi, Ahi poke, Tiger Shrimp, and Oysters that is served of a bed of ice in a shell. The presentation was beautiful, but the food was better. Each piece was fresh, tender, and all the fish pieces just melted in my mouth. Next course was Lobster Bisque, which is prepared table side. The soup was rich and they were not stingy on the lobster meat like some places. For my entree, I ordered the Steak Diane because it's a steak that's named after me (It's not, I just tell myself that). They prepare it table side, which ensures it is cooked to your doneness. The filet was moist and tender, but not the best I've had on the island. For dessert, we pre-ordered the Marble Souffle (not many places take the time to prepare souffles). It was moist, fluffy, and not too sweet. A perfect way to end a perfect dinner. (Yes I ate all that food. What can I say? Eating is my hobby).

    (5)

  • Star L.

    My husband and I had dinner here on the last night we were in Honolulu for our honeymoon. I made a reservation through Open Table and made them aware of the special occasion and they actually read what I wrote. We were given a table near the beach so that we had an incredible view of waikiki beach and the sunset. The meal was excellent and they even brought us a Grand Marnier soufflé and sparkling wine to congratulate us. Our server Brian was friendly and helpful even though we do not look like the typical patrons and we shared our meal so that we could try different items. He accomidated us by splitting everything and we did not have to ask. The only reason I did not give them a 5 star is due to the lobster not being as fresh as I was hoping, but it was still good.

    (4)

  • Vin L.

    When I've gone with my parents, Phil Shaw greets us with a smile, we have a waiter that welcomes us and introduces himself, and we have awesome service. When I go with my girlfriend, Phil Shaw just gives us a passing glance, our waiter doesn't introduce himself, and service is lacking. Maybe it was a busy night and things were hectic, but then again I work in the hospitality industry as a server and I know you have to be giving your best regardless of circumstance, so that is why the low review. I've been going to Michel's for over 10 years now, and I was hyping the restaurant up for my girlfriend since it would be her first time. I made a reservation online and requested a window seat if possible, else a booth, and I was nicely surprised to get a corner window seat where we could sit next to each other on an open booth seat. I know it's being picky, but for the level of service Michel's provides I'm a bit shocked they didn't catch this: they gave me a white napkin when I was wearing black pants. In the past, they are usually so observant to use a black napkin -- and I saw another patron get a black napkin -- so they failed on me this night. Our waiter came by, but didn't introduce himself, rather he asked if we'd like to start with cocktails. I had a vodka martini extra dry (which was incredible), and my girlfriend had a cosmo looking martini (I didn't try it). We ordered the tasting menu. $85 for 6 dishes. Starter - Ahi poke on a won ton chip: three pieces of poke, some slaw, and the chip. So-so. 1 - Gazpacho of Kamuela Tomato: my gf said it was like salsa. Yeah, it was. So-so. 2 - Diver scallop: Tasty. Excellent. 3 - Lobster and bay shrimp salad. Could have used more dressing. So-so. 4 - Veal Sausage with Orecchiette Pasta: Nice flavor. Very good. Intermezzo - Dragonfruit sorbet: Refreshing. 5 - Lamb with Blueberry Walnut Chutney: Perfectly done and so full of flavor. Excellent. 6 - Tiramisu: When I checked out the menu when I made the reservation, it had Pumpkin Souffle on the menu. When we got there, it had Tiramisu, so I checked with the waiter and they said the pumpkin was for the previous month and they must not have updated the online menu. I asked if he could check with the chef if they could make the pumpkin souffle, but they couldn't. They lose points here too because my gf loves pumpkin and when she saw that on the menu when I preview it to her, she was really excited. Well, the Tiramisu was only so-so too. It was too dense, and not enough Kahlua flavor. During the dinner service, what bothered me too was that our server was lazy on several accounts: he didn't take the time to reset the forks and knives on the proper sides in between each dish (he set them on the outer edge for my gf: her right, and the outer edge for me: my left). This bothered me a lot, because being a server, I've been trained on table setting. Our reservation was a 8 pm on a Friday night, and it wasn't busy at that time, so the server has no excuse for doing this. My gf told me at the end that Michel's wasn't worth it. Sorry, Michel's, your performance tonight was way below your standard, and it visibly showed.

    (2)

  • Irene C.

    I have only been here once, but I had a great experience. The food was great, good timing, and the service was impeccable. It got a little chilly as setting is open, but watching the sunset was great. The beef wellington is great. . .nice and tender, but the most memorable part of the meal was the dessert. We had chosen the tableside Cherries Jubilee, and it was quite the show. The server was very engaging, and it was very entertaining. Good times. It's also nice to dress up once in a while.

    (5)

  • Pat G.

    Wonderful atmosphere, great music, beautiful views, first class service, and okay food, given the price. Nothing was bad at Michel's, but given the price of our meal (~$200/person, including tip), everything should have been GREAT! I rate restaurants based on food first, then everything else. The "everything else" was undeniably very good. - Their open ambiance, and view of the ocean is beautiful. The decor is 80's American cruise ship. - Their wait staff was attentive and creative. Our prix fixe meal didn't include a wine pairing option, so I asked for it, and our waiter came up with his own combination suggestions. A sommelier would have been appropriate at that point, but I'll give our waiter credit for picking interesting choices. For the main course he brought two wine samples for me to choose from, unsure which one I would like better. This was a very good move, and I had to praise him. - The music was the standard soft guitar, but from where we were sitting it was hard to hear it over the usual restaurant cacophony. I understand that setting the right volume for a crowded restaurant with a romantic reputation can be hard, but whatever they did didn't work for us. I also don't know if it was Jeff Peterson that night, since I couldn't see the stage from our table. Now for the food. It was good. Not bad. Just not as good as the rest of the experience, and the price suggest. It was "A" and not "A+." One thing that world class restaurants manage to do is surprise you with an unexpected flavor combination, or a novel way that they prepare a standard dish or ingredient. There was none of this in our meals. Everything was good, the presentations pretty, but nothing was surprisingly good or especially creative. Meh. This is a place to go on a date, or when you're trying to impress the in-laws or a client, but if you're looking to be wowed by the food, go somewhere else. At $100/person, I would have given them 5 stars, at $165 (before tip) they only get three.

    (3)

  • Olivia D.

    Ahhh, Michel's. The restaurant I can never leave without having eaten at least three desserts. Sometimes I skip the entrees and go from appetizers straight to dessert. My dessert staples here are: 1) the wonderfully refreshing rose petal sorbet from La Gelateria served in a flute topped with champagne. I never cared for the sorbet alone because of the excessive sweetness, and the dry champagne balances that out nicely. 2) the Grand Marnier souffle served with creme anglaise--the best souffle on the island. 3) Cherries jubilee cooked tableside for two. 3) Crepes suzette, the 2nd best version I've had on the island after the ones at The Bistro. Unfortunately, I usually have to share the desserts with a couple of girlfriends on girl's night out. Which brings me to the other reason this restaurant is so popular: the spectacular view of the beach and open ocean from Diamond Head to the airport. Go early to listen to the waves and watch the sun set on the water with your sweetheart. I have no complaints about this restaurant. Year after year, the service has always been faultless, and the classic menu is well-executed. Many items are prepared tableside and are quite popular, but during a chance meeting, I was advised by executive chef Hardy to order entrees that are prepared in the kitchen rather than in the dining room by your server, to ensure the highest quality of execution.

    (5)

  • C J.

    Wow, What can I say, Michel's has again succeeded in providing and excellent dining opportunity. I took Ms. R. to a Valentine's dinner here to see how they would pull off a "special" menu. 1st course: Snails for me, Foie for her; awesome, Michel's never misses on the snails, but neither does DuVin. c'mon, canned snails drowned in butter and herbs?? what's not to like... but the torchon of foie was right on target with the exception that the walnut fruit bread was too overpowering to match with such an exceptional cut of liver. 2nd course: OMG what a disappointment, "farm raised" turtle pea soup? bland and totally, totally boring.... endive salad with lobster, the lobster was poached perfectly, but the fruit salad that was piled on top of the salad was...meh... really, not acidic enough to compliment the richness of lobster. 3rd course: ok.. here's where the kitchen shined, crispy, to the point of over done veal codon bleu. gooey inside with salty ham and a little well done gnocchi, Ms. R. had the bacon wrapped tenderloin, medium rare so not a lot finishing needed to be done and it was evident with a slightly tough bacon finish... Desert: uh... not worth mentioning... Michel's get 4 star's because of the wine and the ambiance. Nathan, our server, was attentive but not overbearing, and his wine recommendation although, he tried to persuade me to get something "off the menu" was spot on, even though it may have been the last bottle of a special order . FYI, if something is priced wrong, like a $69 bottle of Velvet Glove, your should change your printing. Service and wine gets 5 stars, food 3 stars, and please, please, hire a decent pastry chef, who can structure a desert menu that can finish a meal with a bang and not a whimper...

    (4)

  • Sean A.

    Great service, awesome food, not much more to say. If you know what you're getting into with this place, you won't be disappointed, except for maybe the lack of etiquette from some people there. The view of the city and the east side of the island is amazing. Our server, Brian, was nothing short of perfect, with recommendations and the perfect level of attentiveness. I went for the new york, cooked just right, with the most pleasant surprising being the Okinawan sweet potato gnocchi on the side. We wouldn't have eaten here other than the gift certificate we received as a wedding present, as it is definitely on the pricey side. But if you're looking for fine cuisine and excellent service, this would definitely be near the top of the list in Honolulu.

    (5)

  • David G.

    I will start off by saying the ambiance is pretty tough to beat! We were right on the water with views that were just perfect. There was a nice breeze coming off the ocean and there was no glaring sun to battle during our brunch. I took my mother there for Mother's day brunch and she really enjoyed it. I on the other hand thought it was just OK. Everything I ordered I thought was pretty weak including the dessert. However, the chocolate covered Strawberries they served were very good. I think things today were a little crazy right along with their new Mother's day menu that really kept this place from shinning. It was easy to see that Michel's has the potential to be good. To me, it just seemed that I went on an off day. Even the service was varied, they forgot to do a lot of things and they had difficulty conveying the menu correctly.

    (3)

  • Michelle K.

    I was looking for an upscale restaurant local to Hawaii and not one of those fancy chains you can get elsewhere. So I decided on Michel's by looking at the menu and reading reviews and the view was supposed to be spectacular. I made a reservation the night before and asked for a view table online. We get to the restaurant and as is very typical in Hawaii everyone is very friendly, however we were seated at an undesirable corner booth that wasn't really a booth near the kitchen and I started to feel my inner LA- girl coming on. But I was in Hawaii on vacation and politely asked for a better table and specifically mentioned I asked for a view table. I was told that those reservations were often made in advance and as I looked around I understood since the restuarant was packed. The manager came over and said "lets put you at a better table, something where you can see the lights." He was so nice about the whole thing and gave us a much better table so I was in a great mood. The food/drinks: I started off with wine and my husband decided to get a girlie mango/strawberry daiquiri based on our waiter's recommendation, which is apart from his usually "beer" self, so I said what the heck. Well, my husband claimed that it was the best frozen/blended drink he ever had and ended up having two before dinner arrived. We ordered the seafood platter as a starter and it was excellent, everything was fresh and delicious and the lavosh type crackers they serve with the lemon herb butter is so delicious, I think we had two baskets! I ordered the grilled seafood (I know redundant, but I was in a seafood mood), my hubby ordered filet with the crab stuffed lobster, again food was delicious. The dessert, pineapple cheescake, was the perfect ending. Here is the kicker, when we got the bill, our waiter said "Philip took care of the dessert" So then we politely asked the waiter "Who is Philip?" so we could thank him, but still kind of puzzled as to who would pick up our dessert? He said it was the manager who sat us at the nicer table. Okay, the fact that it was done nonchalantly and as a surpise to both of us made this place and the service above and beyond. Who does this? I cant say enough good things about this place and the service, everything was perfect. Thank you Philip and staff, hope to see you soon!

    (5)

  • Paige G.

    The ocean view and the air of romance steal the show here. The food is good, but I'd avoid the tasting menu. There are much better a la carte options. Good wine selections. Service is top notch. Make a reservations and request to be sat near the railing for best sunset viewing.

    (4)

  • Cindy N.

    the best french restaurant I have ever been.. romantic atmosphere, nice ocean view, good collection of wine.... I recommend this restaurant to everyone.

    (5)

  • Carina T.

    Mother's Day brunch! Yay for Moms and Grandmas!

    (4)

  • Mic B.

    Sunday brunch here is such a treat! It is gorgeous, has valet parking and a delicious menu. They also have a make your own bloody mary station which I think is a really neat idea. My family from the mainland loves to eat here too.

    (5)

  • Mahina M.

    Wonderful delicious great service warm ;)

    (5)

  • Angelica A.

    Dined here yesterday for Mothers Day brunch, it was a sit down 3-course menu. Each course had about 4-5 choices you could choose from. For my appetizer I got the cornbread crusted goat cheese salad which was very light and flavorful. Entrée I ordered the traditional eggs benedict which were cooked just perfectly. And for dessert I got the vanilla tapioca pudding, which to me seemed a little bland. My fiancé on the other hand ordered the pineapple/passion fruit cheesecake which was AMAZING! I wish I ordered that instead of the tapioca, but the cheesecake itself was decent size so there was more than enough to share. They also served complimentary chocolate covered strawberries which were delicious. All of our mothers were really happy and we all had a wonderful brunch together with family enjoying the beautiful scenery.

    (5)

  • Jean H.

    Service was great, friendly, attentive. Atmosphere is as good as it gets in Honolulu. Food was beautifully displayed and excellent. A great place to go on evil occasions. Dress up. It's one of the few places where one can these days. Enjoy

    (4)

  • Kaili N.

    wow...so many rave reviews! i just didn't get it. we did not get the oceanside table but it was still a nice view and the open air dining was nice. it's old school, but i was pleasantly surprised and liked the shabby chic-ish decor and ambiance. definitely a place for a dining experience especially with all of the table side service and leisure atmosphere. they gave us our menus right away but it took 20 minutes or more before they actually took our orders. i'm guessing it's because they don't want to make you feel rushed? anyway, we ordered a bottle of moscato d'asti, frog legs (my bf's choice), lobster bisque, steak and crab stuffed lobster, and my bf ordered a steak (forget which one). everything was okay, but i've definitely had better food and service before. i overheard one of the waiters say to his co-workers loudly, "incredible" while showing him a tip that he got. i kept wondering..."incredible" good or "incredible" bad? anyway, that was the first time that i ever heard a server comment on a tip - especially weird in a fine dining restaurant. so i have to admit that my review is most likely skewed because before heading over to the restaurant, i got the sniffles. upon arriving to the restaurant i pretty much had an allergy attack. i thought it was strange, but then i caught a whiff of lilies in the air. i absolute love lilies and it's fragrance but am prone to getting allergies from the pollen. i craned my neck and sure enough...i saw a huge ass (and i mean HUGE ass) bouquet of spring flowers with stargazer lilies near the front entrance. damnit...but it is impressive that they can afford to have fresh flowers like that and they were pretty. i really wanted to try the dessert but i couldn't take it (my allergies) and had to get the hell out of there. maybe if the service was a little quicker i would have been able to last a bit longer. dessert can sometimes give a restaurant 1-2 more stars for me. oh well. dinner for two came out to $173 + tip. *sigh* i don't see the value so i probably will never go back for dinner again but i would try their sunday brunch.

    (3)

  • Sky S.

    Great place for a romantic dinner. Taste great. Location is nice. (right on a beach) Nice live music. I always recommended this place to people who want to have special night and they always come back to me said they loved it.

    (5)

  • Marianne D.

    Just had my wedding reception at Michel's. I know now why this is the most romantic restaurant in Oahu. It was the perfect place for a small wedding reception!!!!!! Pretty much all of the guests asked me how i found this place. I did book the place blind so thanks to all previous yelp reviewers. I'm not sure why but if you look up this restaurant, you won't find a lot of images that show what it looks like or the amazing view that they have. When they told me it's close to the beach, i thought ok it will have a nice view, I didnt know that if you step off the window, you are on the beach, a stone throw away from the water. AMAZING!! I agree that it is pricey but for a wedding, I would rather pay for their food than hotel food where my guests will end up with some kind of dry, stuffed chicken or overcooked salmon. I had arranged for a limited menu - Appetizers - escargot and steak sandwich - both were excellent but it's the escargot that people kept asking me about. - Ceasar Salad - could have been better - they use butter lettuce, which I'm not a fan of Lobster Bisque - delicious - my fiance ordered it and had me try it, immediately i regretted by ceasar salad order!!! but hey he was not concerned about a tight wedding dress! We had a choice of Onaga fish or Steak for the entree - Fish was excellent, skin was really crispy. it came with scallops which were okay. The Steak was really good, my fiance ordered it. I did forgo the strawberry wedding cake and opted for the individual pineapple cheesecake, needless to say I think all of the guests were thankful for that decision. I agree - there is a reason why they have been here for 40 years, but maybe a little update wouldn't hurt! Thanks to Gerald for coordinating with the vendors and just made my wedding planning so easy!!

    (5)

  • Christine S.

    Michel's has good service, and a great view at sunset. It's an open-air restaurant, however, which I was not expecting. Our waiter are kind of a bit stuffy; they treat you as if you shouldn't be eating there because you are young. The hostess was really nice though, and even recommended good breakfast places for us to eat the next day. The lobster bisque was really good, and they cook it at your table. The lamb was really good, too. I was disappointed they they didn't have lychee martinis because this is an upscale restaurant in Hawaii! However, I don't think it was worth the price. It should be a bit cheaper. It was a good experience, but I don't really know if I'd go back.

    (3)

  • Alan O.

    This place was expensive, but worth every penny. The view, what can I say that has not already been said, outstanding. The food was top notch. French cuisine, so it can be heavy for some, but we loved it. Service was sublime. The waiter, Robert?, knew his stuff and was all over it. The only ding on this place, and I know I am splitting hair here, was that they charge for refills on fountain soft drinks. I don't drink liquor so I only drink soda. I had 4 Diet Cokes, $14! It's not the price, but the waiter didn't tell us that they charged for refills. We will return, Thanks for the memories.

    (5)

  • Myla Fe P.

    YUCK! We received a gift certificate from my mother-in-law to Michel's and we were so excited about going because we heard such great things about the restaurant. Unfortunately, the food was awful. My husband ordered the frog legs and Salmon Saint Jacques while I had the sweet Maui Onion soup and Seafood Trio. The soup was so-so and the frog legs were lacking flavor. Our entrees were pretty much inedible. We both were served scallops as part of our entrees and we had a disgusting aftertaste from eating them. We really felt the food was gross. If you love to eat delicious food, I suggest you skip the $150+ tab and go elsewhere. I would have given the Michel's 1 star had it not been for the wonderful staff. The service was fantastic. Everything was spot on. I just wished the I would have loved the food.

    (2)

  • Alex A.

    great location but i don't t think i would go again

    (2)

  • Nicole F.

    Loved this restaurant! Great location right on the beach. Though I came here with a group of people, it would be a great place for couples. Everything I tried that night was excellent: -Escargots (in yummy herb garlic butter) -Lobster bisque (Mmmm) -Salmon with scallops & wild rice pilaf -Tableside flambe crepe suzette (don't know if this is still on the menu but it was so good)

    (5)

  • Pablo D.

    Michel's is an excellent high-end establishment with a killer location and view over the beach, ocean, and Waikiki. The prices are high there's no getting around that, but the overall experience -- the service, the atmosphere, the quality of the ingredients and preparation, etc. -- is top notch. The food and service are fairly classical French -- i.e., lots of table preparation (steak tartare, steak diane, lobster bisque to name a few), friendly but quiet and respectful waiters, heavy sauce-based dishes. In many ways it's a bit of a time warp but they do what they do very, very well. One tip: booking a window table is worth potentially having to be flexible on your desired date and time. And if you can get a window seat on a Friday night, the view of the fireworks at the HHV is quite cool.

    (5)

  • Tim H.

    What is the hype about this place? I suggest not requesting a window seat for the sunset unless you are prepared to serve up some fried eyeballs. Take a seat off the window so the glare isn't in your eye and then the experience of the beach and the beautiful sunset may be appreciated. As food, the foie gras appetizer is a rich as you are literally served up a whole duck liver. Foie gras lovers, please indulge. The ahi carpaccio was delicious. For the main course, steer clear of the Steak Diane, especially if Gerald is preparing it. His preparation along with the multiple items on the plate led to a muddled taste pallet. Too many sauces on the plate, but not enough flavor in the steak. Thanks for ruining my $55 steak Gerald. For dessert, the chocolate souffle was oozing with a delicious chocolate center. If it wasn't for Roy's this would be the best souffle ever.

    (3)

  • Joshua A.

    Wow! I went here to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday and I was very impressed! We had an almost 4 hour dinner for just the two of us! If you are early enough and want to catch the sunset- request to be seated closest to the railing and make sure you there AT LEAST a half an hour before the sun sets. (It'll be worth it ;) The ambiance is phenomenal. The beach is right there with the waves lightly crashing on the shore while enjoying a beautiful fiery sunset- all while I was enjoying my first cocktail of the night! And we had the best waitress- Amber. She did not rush us and made sure we were having the best time possible- with even taking the time to take our picture with the sun setting in the background. OK- on to the food. We enjoyed escargot as our first course. This dish made my top 3 of escargots that I have enjoyed ever. The bread that they used was soft yet hard enough on the outside to withstand all the delicious butter they use. Next up was Lobster Bisque. Nice touch presentation wise as they flame some lobster meat with brandy as a garnish for the soup. The lobster bisque was good- although not the best I ever had. Entree time- Had the Steak Diane done tableside. It was a nice presentation once again.... although I've never had a Steak Diane with tomatoes. It was interestingly good. :) My gf had the Seafood Trio- grilled opakapaka, scallop, and jumbo prawn. This was more than Ok- the veggies were cooked to perfection and the coconut-saffron sauce was good. For her birthday they gave her a chocolate cake with berries and a "Happy Birthday" chocolate- VERY nice touch! The Five star rating is for the best dining experience I have had yet. Thanks to Amber and the rest of the Michel's crew- I am quick to recommend this place to all! :)

    (5)

  • JM M.

    When we went to Hawaii, my man made reservation here last V-day. The place was fantastic and the view was breath taking. We were lucky to have a table next to the ocean. My! the sunset was awesome and very romantic, can't ask for anything more! Of course that day they have special menu and I should say the food with matching wine was great! The service was great too! Try this place when you to Waikiki...I highly recommend this!

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    I made a reservation for my 45th birthday (March 5) a week in advance, which I understand may not be enough time for a good table,but i asked for a table by the window. You know the view of the water and sky by the Outrigger Club. I understand that a lot of people make reservations a year in advance but when we arrived we were seated at a table against a cement wall and my husband was seated looking a mirror of the view. The sunset was spectacular but my husband couldn't see it.We thought is was the worst table in the restaurant but there was a table behind us which was worse. That said, they went out of their way to make us feel comfortable but it could never make up for the view. Larry was great and we fell in love with the place on our first visit and Brian was wonderful but overall I don't know how I feel about this restaurant. I don't think we will ever come here for a special occasion again. I just received a message from open table saying I didn't honor my reservation and they are probably responible for this mess!!

    (4)

  • C O.

    First off, the pluses: The setting is wonderful. Second, the negatives: Service is spotty, rude, and unsanitary. Story: My wife had a dead fly in her glass of wine. The server spooned it out, dumped the contents in a different glass, and gave it back to her. What?!? Are you kidding me? I also had a dead fly in my food, in her food, and in my water glass. I know being close to the ocean will invite pests into the dining room but this is a first after years living in Hawaii. I commented to the management and they never responded. Also, unfortunately, the food is completely lacking of inspiration, modernity, and consistency. For the prices you pay there are substantially better dining establishments in the city. The whole establishment seems to be stuck in a time-warp of sorts. If you wanted to have a nice French dinner in the early 1960's, this is the place for you! If, however, you want clean flavors, pleasing plate arrangements, fresh seafood, proper food preparation, and caring service this is not the place for you. Save your money.

    (2)

  • Miguel G.

    An incredible experience during my trip to Hawaii. It has been a while since our visit but I still remember the lobster bisque that I had. It was the best I ever ate. The view of the ocean was amazing and it was exactly what I pictured my fiance and I would be doing in Hawaii. This is the place for special romantic evening with your SO.

    (5)

  • Rekinhsuf Z.

    Definitely top-notch in terms of ambiance and service. Went there with wifey (during our courtship haha), and had the abalone appetizer, crab, lobster and steak. The abalone is a must above all else! Was really good! The steak/lobster crab was good, but not fantastic or anything. I think we had a bottle of red wine to wash it all down. Dessert was the strawberry flambé I believe? That was good as well. All in all, one of the classiest restaurants on Oahu. Reservations recommended only on special dates (V-Day, X-Mas, etc.) Last time went spent around $300 tax included, but if not for the wine, I usually drop less than $150. The nights when the harpist is there is best!

    (4)

  • Jerry M.

    Excellent place - great view, professional service and good food. We were there after dark and there was a full moon. The temperature was comfortable and the full moon over the ocean made it the absolutely perfect place to enjoy a wonderful meal.

    (4)

  • Malnik M.

    Excellent restaurant and service. I was there for my Hawaii wedding reception. I had a group of 34 people and the private room accommodated us perfectly. Gerald, the manager, helped us arrange flowers, music and leis. Food was great and my guests had fun. They didn't want to leave!!

    (5)

  • S C.

    Went there last night for my anniversary. Requested a table by the ocean but the Midge Asian lady put us to the one in the middle of the restaurant. I was a bit shock and told her I've put in a request well ahead but she told me they were all reserved with "who-cares-your-request" kind of attitude. I asked her nicely to talk to their GM (I know him personally) and she changed her tone a bit, told me she'll change our table if someone cancels their reservations but still didn't apologize. Needless to say, a few young Japanese tourists came and took one of the tables 15 minutes later and the other one was taken about 30 minutes after we were seated. Not that I don't believe those young Japanese girls didn't make reservation but it's just quite unusual. Also, why couldn't we get the table even we were there before those two groups? I guess I have to talk to their GM later today. Anyway, talk about their food. We had couple cocktails, escargots and lobster bisque to start off. Nothing special. The only special thing is the waiter cooked the lobster bisque table sided. Both bowls were a bit over half full. My wife had their special of the day, salmon and I had a lamb diane. Yes, lamb, not steak. I've requested it that way. Both were good but not very very good. They gave us a pineapple lilikoi cheesecake for our anniversary. I wouldn't order it if I go back next time. Now talk about their services. There were couple waiters helping us most of the time. One of them was nice but the other one wasn't. I guess he had a bad day or that was his last day. He didn't smile at all. Not only while he was serving us, the other tables as well. I guess the restaurant is quite small but squeezed in quite a few tables. The busboys knocked the back of my wife's chair numerous times with their push carts and they didn't even know! All in all, view is very nice especially if you could get a table by the edge. Services are ok and bad. The tone and the way that they talk, very similar to some lower-end chain restaurants. Food is ok, nothing excited. I'd recommend people to go just once for their special occasions but not a restaurant to go often even you have the money to burn. By the way, it wasn't ridiculously expensive, just a bit higher than average.

    (2)

  • Marina E.

    Michel's is one of the most romantic restaurants that I've ever been to in Hawaii. The service is outstanding and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about what's on the menu, their ingredients, and how things are prepared. I arrived on a busy Saturday night and the food still came out on a timely manner. I had the lobster bisque and the osso bucco and my husband ordered the steak tartar and some sort of lobster and steak dinner, which we both thought was fabulous. For desert, our hostess, the wonderful Amber, made us a cherries jubilee that was literally to die for. Like most French restaurants, Michel's isn't cheap, but for the price you get pretty good portions. I would love to go back and try new dishes! If you are lucky, you'll get a server named Robert who is as witty and funny as they come. I did notice a bunch of cougars checking him out....

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    Amazing, top rate dinner experience! Beautiful location, amazing menu, and fantastic staff. Husband recently treated me to Michel's as part of my "late" birthday dinner (I always attend work functions on my actual birthday, so later vacations encompass that celebration). Most amazing experience ever - romance just floats through the air. The menu is fueled by a passionate dedication to food, with each bite leading you back for more til you can't stop. And you can't! You have to order the dessert. The night we were there the chef debuted a strawberry, balsamic vinegar and foie gras dessert sauteed in front of you and served over vanilla ice cream. AMAZING!!! and worth every cent, 'cause it's not cheap!

    (5)

  • Pepper L.

    In spite of the impeccable service and attentiveness; in spite of the unabashed eagerness of the wait staff to please; and the sublime elegance of the setting, a not easily paralleled venue of romanticism -- all of these, were insufficient to overcome the utter disappointment in the quality of the food. Crudely put: "Its the food, stupid!" The lobster bisque which they proudly,proclaimed had been served there for over 40 years lacked flavor - once the tiny pieces of lobster prepared a flambeau, tableside were consumed, it was pointless to proceed. The palate teasers and cleansers were a pleasant touch, particularly as they were unexpected; but the meal to follow was wholly uninspiring. The Ocean's Bounty which my husband ordered, was not bountiful; and the lobster portion of that entree had that flavor of frozen, microwave thawed "rubberyness". That sealed the deal. The other small pieces of fish and shrimp were ordinary. The parchment paper prepared fish which I ordered was nondescript - the fish cooked just a little too long - the combination of ingredients not quite meshing - the flavor minimal. The best part were the halved grapes steamed with the fish. The side of rice with a spattering of chopped tomatoes on top seemed incongruent. We had so been looking forward to a wonderful mother's day dinner - having made our reservations months in advance (which assured us a window seat). I know there are wonderful restaurants on Oahu ( I have been to a couple). I can only hope that my desire (and pocketbook) to venture out as a foodie in search of yet another epicurean adventure have not been ruined.

    (1)

  • Chantelle J.

    Absolutely one of my FAVORITES on Oahu! It's very outdated but, has lots of character and charm. The food is incredible! I just LOVE the lobster bisque and Escargot. The view is perfect for a date or a small gathering with friends. It's very romantic with the water just steps from your table. I will definitely be visiting Michel's again soon.

    (4)

  • Gwyn F.

    I had brunch here with my mom last Sunday & it was SUPERB! Excellent service, delicious food, amazing view. Honestly, what more could you ask for? When you pull into the Colony Surf hotel, there is no other option but to valet your car. A couple steps away, past the elevator & to the left, you'll arrive to the wonder that is Michel's. The hostess kindly showed us to our table, just past the woman playing the harp, and right next to the open air window that looks out on to Kaimana/Sandsuzy beach. Excellent view that makes you want to jump in to the ocean while you wait for your food. I started off with a Mimosa ($8) & my mom with a champagne, Pinky's rose infused vodka, sugar blend ($7) [Mimosa in my pics with the Seafood Benedict & the other with the Treasures of the Sea salad]. Both were very nice morning cocktails, but my mom, being the lightweight Asian drinker that she is, turned pink immediately & needed a yummy buttery croissant to ease her tipsy self back to normal. Everything is all Ala Carte, but my Seafood Benedict ($16) with crab, poached egg, & artichoke with a side of asparagus was very filling. My mom ordered the Treasures of the Sea salad ($18) which had fresh abalone, lobster, shrimp, & scallops on top of a spinach salad with grapefruit & mango in it as well. I tried some, & it was HEAVEN! That is the fresh lobster I wish I had taken my mom for on her actual birthday! The servers were extremely friendly & very alert. Many of them noticed that my mom was wearing a lei & asked her what we were celebrating. We told them we were celebrating her birthday (a week later, but hey, it was a big birthday, why not?) & they all wished her a happy birthday, even the Matre Dee. The servers at Michel's surprised us with a delicious desert: pineapple cheesecake with macadamia nuts around the edge, surrounded by strawberries & whip cream. The atmosphere was excellent & very relaxing with the harp in the background & the view of Waikiki to enjoy. Our food & beverages came out in a very timely manner. The servers were top notch. I really wish that I had taken my mom here for her birthday instead of John Dominis. Michel's is an excellent dining experience, even for brunch.

    (5)

  • Victoria K.

    I have to echo Mellissa K review-it was ok but not exceptional. And for the price it should have been. Atmosphere is nice, beautiful views so nothing to complain about there. However, I think Mellissa K and us must have had the same waiter because that's how our service went-unattentive, never checked on us, didn't give us specials, didn't even give us his name for that matter. He was diligent in picking up and folding my napkin when i went to the ladies room(when i came back it was folded up all prettily)not that i give a rat's behind about that. Now, to the food-hubby and I both had salad which was called "Tropical Salad"-the only tropical thing about it was small pieces of mango. Salad was fine, nothing exceptional, it had poppyseed dressing which tasted as it just came out of the bottle. Hubby had seafood entree which has fish, shrimp, lobster and abalone, i think, with rissoto. He liked it but I thought it was kind of meh but that's just me. I had ahi appetizer that had ahi prepared two ways-pounded flat very thin piece with some slaw on top and tartare style. Ahi was decent but I had better before. We were offered free desert because it was our anniversary-they gave us lililoi cheesecake and hubby ordered some sorbet. Sorbet was good(even though I'm not a fan of sorbet but I think people who like it will enjoy it) but cheesecake didn't live up to my expectations. It was good but I had better stuff at La Palm D'or bakery. I don't want to be a negative Nelly on this but for me, going to five star restaurant is supposed to be beyond excellent and it really wasn't. Totally not worth the money. UPDATE-12-6-2011 this past Sunday we were there for brunch with my-in-laws and my experience was totally great. Our waiter was excellent and helpful, food was SUPERB. I had smoked salmon with German potato pancake, capers, onion and mustard dressing for appetizer(excellent), baked salmon with scallop mousse and cream sauce(melts in your mouth, cooked perfectly) and warm chocolate cake with vanilla gelato and rasberry sauce(to die for). Couldn't be happier! Not sure if there was different chef or not but now I want to there again. Hopefully, this great experience wasn't a fluke!

    (3)

  • Jesse W.

    9/10/09: 3.5 stars. Dinner with several co-workers and out of town guests - excellent ambiance and view, be sure to request a window table for the best experience. We started off at the bar with a couple drinks before everyone else arrived, looking around, most people in the restaurant were likely tourists - many couples around. We started off with a couple bottles champagne which was accompanied by an appetizer that I think was provided by the chef (baked ham atop creamed potatos). i started with tropical island salad, overall very well done - the different vegetables balanced one another and wasn't smothered with dressing - for the main course I ordered the steamed onaga and was a bit disappointed with the chard (way too salty), the fish was a bit over steamed and lost its flakiness. Noodles tasted a bit overcooked, mushrooms tasted great. We went family style on the dessert and tried a couple of the flambee's - not too exciting or appetizing after seeing the half stick of butter going into the frying pan. In general, I was a bit disappointed with the food, especially after having just returned from norcal and eating at several brasseries with better food. I suppose "for Hawaii" the food was reasonable. Atmosphere and service was excellent.

    (3)

  • Kathleen A.

    The brunch food was fine: the eggs benedict my date had was DELICIOUS, but my seafood omelette was, well, way too healthy tasting. The food earns 3 1/2 stars, the service (I mean our waitron, not the host) gets 4 1/2 stars, but I rated Michel's a 2 star establishment because of what seemed to be clear racism. Hawai'i is far from the melting pot most everyone touts. I used to live in Honolulu, and when I arrived back in the 80s, light skinned with wavy hair, I was Hawaiian. As I darkened, I was then Samoan, and finally Black. Treatment worsened accordingly. This trip, I wasn't in town 24 hours before hearing someone (perhaps a tourist) openly bitching about "nigger" this, "nigger" that. Well, when my date and I arrived at Michel's with our Open Table reservation, we were seated at the worst table in the joint, a two seater behind the seven or eight panes of glass they slide together to open up the space to the ocean air and view. The restaurant was far from full, and a White couple arriving much later than we was seated one table over and given a view. I told my date - who is Latino and often looks Hapa - that if they did not reseat us (they told us to "wait" and left us sitting for ten/fifteen minutes before finally putting us at a better table), we were leaving. Reseated, we brushed it off and tried to enjoy our meal only to later discover, when checking out who - if anyone - they seated at table #42 (I think that was the number), that they'd seated another interracial couple there (Asian woman; White man). Obviously I can't prove a thing, but it was enough experience to make me certain I will not return.

    (2)

  • Christine C.

    My favorite Sunday brunch spot- eggs benedict & a Mimosa. A great way to start a beautiful day!

    (5)

  • Michael Rita H.

    This is a bit late in coming but we hosted our son, Spencer's, wedding rehearsal dinner at Michels and we could not have chosen a better place. From the moment we walked into the breathtaking ocean view to the well lit tiki torches after dark with the added benefit of friday night fireworks. We planned this dinner party from the mainland and many times restaurants are wonderful but translation to catering to a large group is an art unto itself and Michels is definately a Da vinci. The staff and events coordinator, Amy Mcmillan, were professional, accomodating and a dream to work with. Every detail down to the smallest flower arrangement was given great attention and exceeded expectations. We highly recommend the orchid menu.The appetizers the lobster pot stickers and portobello steak were devine. The tableside Ceaser Salad is not something to be missed and the presentation (and taste) of the grilled Ribeye with baby abalone was one of the best we have ever had (and we are foodies here is LA La land). We haven't stopped talking about the magical night 2 weeks ago and I am sure it will br etched in our memories forever. Thank you michels for making it happen right!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Great beachside location. Fabulous views, expecially at sunset and very romantic. This is one of the few really upscale restaurants on Oahu. Men must wear closed toed shoes and a collared shirt. Service is what you'd expect at a 5-star restaurant and wait staff was very attentive. prices are steep but not outrageous considering the service and quality of food.

    (5)

  • Jason S.

    We were lucky enough to be seated at a primo table overlooking the ocean, Waikiki Beach, and the glimmering Honolulu skyline. As amazing and breathtaking as the vistas were, they were equally matched by the outstanding service and cuisine. My hibiscus martini was one of the best I've ever had, and my entrée, Michel's ocean bounty contained an assortment of impeccably prepared seafood. If you're looking for an unrivaled fine dining experience in Oahu, look no further than Michel's!

    (5)

  • Marianne P.

    Awesome. Gotta try the escargot when coming here, amazing! I had the pork shank and the bone is heeeuge, a lot of meat and a lobster claw on a bed of risotto. The drinks selection is never ending, and my husband and I had the Hakushu scotch... very smooth!!

    (5)

  • T t.

    This place is an offense to fine dining...actually it's just an offense to dining. The ambience reminded me of Sizzler or an old folks home. The upholstery was lightly stained, as was the carpet. I made a reservation weeks in advance and requested a seat near the ocean; they told me they couldn't guarantee the seat placement, but would do their best. There was an open table by the water, which shouldn't have been reserved since they say you can't reserve those spots, but they wouldn't give it to us (even though I informed them that it was my mother's birthday). The food was a 3/10 at best. Roy's has much better food and is cheaper. I would have preferred The Cheesecake Factory to eating at this place. They can't even make a decent Mai Tai. I love Mai Tais and was definitely in a drinking mood that week since I was on vacation, but I didn't even finish mine. My mother couldn't finish her drink either. I was told by our waiter that he believed my desert to be gluten free, my mother sensed that he didn't know what he was talking about and requested that he go back to the kitchen to check, he came back and said "it's not gluten free" there was no apology or tone of regret in his voice. People can get sick from such mistakes. I'm convinced that people giving this place good reviews either work for the establishment or are friends with the owner. Perhaps this place was once spectacular, but now it stinks. The price was over $300 for two people, but wasn't worth $30. I mentioned that I'd prefer Cheescake Factory to this place, but now that I think about it, I realize I'd also prefer Chipotle, or even missing a meal. Save your time, save your money.

    (1)

  • DJ Nocturna R.

    Another beautiful sunset at Michel's yesterday at Monday Night Cynners. The food is always divine, one of the best desserts but the view at Michel's tops it all ! If you haven't been to Michel's come check it out. The most romantic restaurant in Honolulu. It's no wonder when I took the bass player of the English band The Smiths, Andy Rourke and his wife Francesca here two years ago, they kept coming back. Thank you to the handsome Brazilian waiter for the wonderful service and also as always the fine handsome bartender Sully. Come join us for Monday Night Cynners. If you want to know more about it, contact me. Thank you Michel's !

    (5)

  • Ina T.

    First impression as you walk in...wow!!! Ambiance and view were on point. We were here to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and they did not disappoint. Everything we had tasted so fresh. You could tell details were important and I really enjoyed her personable they were. The had many hands on board and they all worked as a team to deliver great service. Toddy our server was great and made us feel so comfortable and special. Definitely recommend this place for a special occasion. Your loved one will feel so special I know I did.

    (5)

  • Jason Q.

    This is one of those places we bring guests for business meetings because of the view. The environment is okay, and the ambiance is nice when they have live music. I like that the music is never too loud so it never makes conversation difficult. The service is fine. Just keep in mind that this is place that you should expect a 2-3 hour dinner. It is not a place where you can necessarily come and expect to eat and be done within an hour. Once you understand this, sit back and relax and enjoy the meal and the view. My go to meal here is the Chateau Briand. Always perfectly cooked with lots of flavor. It comes with mashed potatoes and some very nice vegetables. I've had the lamb as well, and it okay. Compared to the Chateau Briand, it does not give me the wow factor. They also have a good selection of wine. Some of the waiters are very knowledgeable about wine and can make a recommendation. When we had a waiter that was not able to make a recommendation, he brought the manager to our table who was able to make some great recommendations. To me, this is very good service. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse. It is not served as a traditional mousse. However, it is very good. If you like chocolate, you can't go wrong with this dessert.

    (4)

  • Marty G.

    Service upon arrival was great sans the hostess. The prix fixe menu was horrible. Our server was asleep. The imported golden sturgeon caviar was the best part of my meal. Great location and ambience, but the food during my first experience wasn't on par. May return to see if ordering from the regular menu is better.

    (2)

  • LL N.

    Having been raised up on Diamond, i use to come here with my dad a long time ago. I brought my husband here for his 1st time. It is still the spot for a romantic evening. We dined at 8:00. Perfect. The uke playing softly in the background totally enhanced the evening. Food is ok. This is not what Michels is about. Have a cocktail, choose a wine and dine away. Do have the Caesar salad. Made to your specs. Dessert is a treat too. Spend the $$. You only live once.

    (5)

  • Andrew M.

    Tranquil setting with waves, live guitar, perfect light house salad, Col Solare and a killer Cioppino

    (5)

  • LJ E.

    Impecable service. Moano I think the name of our our server was, thank you. Everything was great. I had a Lobster Bisque and the Seafood Cioppino and my friend had the Smoked Salmon and Escargo. Amazing. And its beachfront.

    (5)

  • Chad A.

    Presentation was awesome from start to finish. We started off my birthday with table-side Caesar salad which was simply perfect! The leaves were lightly tossed in the freshly prepared dressing and it was tasty! Next on to the best escargot on the Island of Oahu, I really do love those tasty snails. The main course for me was the seafood crepes which were delicious, and my wife had steak, which was perfect. They comped a free birthday dessert. However, the shining part of the dinner was my wife's dessert. Cherries jubilee was made table-side and was a party in my mouth. The second best dessert I have ever had. It is any excellent place to celebrate any occasion.

    (5)

  • Anthony C.

    By far the most expensive meal I had in two weeks on the islands, and probably the worst. Shrimp tasted frozen and the cioppino was pretty weak. Service was ok but the kitchen was terrible. You'd do better going to Roy's in Waikiki. About 2/3 the price but miles ahead in freshness and flavor. What an expensive disappointment!

    (1)

  • R P.

    I swear, I was only coming in for dessert! Well, they sweet-talked me into a cocktail. And oh, they said the chef could prepare me a special vegetarian cheese risotto, and who was I to resist? They had me under their spell... And you can't have a risotto without a wine pairing, that'd be a crime, so a nice Riesling came along. Of course we ordered the souffle dessert with grand marnier with a hot coffee and tea. Ah, it was an affair to remember, and which my credit card statement won't let me forget.

    (5)

  • Victoria G.

    We went there for a special occasion. We made a reservation last minute same night and they got us the best table with an amazing beach/city view.Plus we had a chance to enjoy the fireworks too. The service was outstanding. Our waiter was a great guy and very friendly. Food was delicious and very nicely presented. They cut fish or meat right in front of you from the big chunk of meat/fish. Expensive experience but worth it.

    (5)

  • Charlotte Y.

    One of my favorite restaurants of all!!! The service, ambiance and food is excellent! There are ocean front tables but wherever you sit you can hear the ocean and waves roaring! The servers are so attentive they are always serving before you even need to ask for anything, especially Todd, Cy and Keith! Philip is amazing as well! The best saved for the last - the food- some of my favorite dishes, starting with the foie gras or the Caesar salad made table side with anchovies and homemade salad dressing - its to die for, or the lobster bisque, not on the menu the steak Diane with foie gras, it usually comes with in season vegetables oftentimes baby carrots sautéed in butter sauce with thyme herb mashed potatoes etc, It's also important to mention they pay attention to detail and serve you sorbet in between your courses to clean your palette, superb service! Don't forget to preorder the grand marnier soufflé for dessert, it's heavenly with its freshest and creamiest taste, light and fluffy with a creamy sweet finish of grand marnier on your palette. I'll be back as often as I can :-)))

    (5)

  • Al D.

    Came here once for brunch. Beautiful restauarant with a beautiful view. The service was excellent. The food was ok. For the price, I'd rather eat at Roy's, Alan Wong's, or Le Bistro. Glad I tried it though.

    (3)

  • Micki K.

    ONE OF MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS. I love this place oh so much, words can't even explain. The view here is just off the charts especially when the sun sets, just beautiful. The interior and the atmosphere is just so romantic and cozy. The waiters here are also very well trained and friendly. Oh, and to get a better window view, make a reservation ahead of time. The courses here are amaaaaazing and the dishes compliment each other as you eat. I thought my mouth was gonna fall out, it was so delicious. My favorite is their lobster bisque and escargot. Ohhh, you won't be disappointed. Although it gets pretty expensive, I honestly think it's worth that much. I'll forever be a returning customer.

    (5)

  • Dennis R.

    Our experience at Michel's wasn't either great or terrible. Just so-so in my opinion. The food was ok but nothing to go back for. My wife had a steak dinner and I had a seafood dish as well as a lobster soup appetizer. The plating looked dated. Prices are what you'd expect from a fancy restaurant in Hawaii. The service, atmosphere and view were great. Those were the best things about the restaurant. I would recommend it for those visiting the islands and wanting a scenic/romantic view of the ocean while having dinner. You would need to reserve a table by the open window well ahead of time if you want the better views in the restaurant.

    (3)

  • Lanae S.

    Beautiful view and ambiance - 5 stars. The food was delicious and waitstaff was excellent. Perfect place to celebrate my parents anniversary

    (5)

  • Mi Y.

    It is a fancy restaurant with a good atmosphere. You can listen to waves and live music. It is romantic enough to have special occasion dinner nights. However, I am not going back there. Here is why. Servers make steak tartar and some deserts in front of your table. If you are cooking in front of me, please have clean nails and hair. My server, Ki*ber*y's nails were very dirty. Also her hair was very messy, and I was scared that her hair might fall off on my dish. I wish her hair was all pulled back and neatly arranged. I do not think I was asking too much in a fancy restaurant, just clean nails. Also I ordered a steak rare. It came out medium rare. I felt like this restaurant is not that professional. If I am paying 60 dollars for a steak, I want it at least with the right temperature. I had to ask to send it back, and they actually fixed it, but I do not want to feel grateful. Steak just felt dry even though it was rare also I had to wait another 10 minutes to get it. At the end, they actually gave us free wines, but I wish it could have been better if they just did not make any mistakes. Very Amateur cleanness for a server and cooking skill for a restaurant like Michel's. It seems like this restaurant has over rated ratings. If Michel's works on those non-careful mistakes, it actually would be a very good restaurant. Good luck Michel's. You will need lots of lucks.

    (2)

  • Valerie M.

    We made reservations for dinner at 6p to be able to catch the sunset. It was a cloudy, humid day but the temperature inside the restaurant was very comfortable. In winter, the sun sets over the Waikiki beach horizon, and in the summer it sets over the mountains. So if youre expecting to see the sunset in the summer, it won't be a beach one. I love dusk, because its so peaceful. The beach-goers clear out and Michel's prime location right next to the beach makes this restaurant a rare find. Service was impeccable, the waiter was attentive, pleasant and efficient. We had a light meal consisting of lobster bisque, Caesar salad, Foie Gras appetizer, smoked salmon, Rib Eye steak special and chocolate soufflé. All were excellent. I love that there's a lot of tableside preparation of your food done by skilled waiters. There was a harpist playing during dinner which also added a nice touch. Michel's is one of the few reataurants that offers this type of classy service. Chef Hardy is one of the best chefs in Hawaii. The service, ambience location and food makes Michel's one of my all time top favorite restaurants.

    (5)

  • SB S.

    The view was impeccable. Right in the beach and views of gorgeous sunsets. We waited a good 10 minutes before someone graced us with their presence. Even then, he came with out menus or a wine list. It was literally 20 minutes before we were offered wine. Another 10 after came the dinner menus. In between, they gave us a little complimentary tasting of something delicious. Don't know if they do this for everyone or because a very famous patron of theirs called our reservation in. Finally we ordered. The tasting menu. It was okay. Nothing at all to write home about. A small salad, a nice scallop bake, a fish, a filet. Basic for the 100 pp price. All in all, we waited about 3 hours for everything to come out. I get it. We are on island time. But I was dying to get out of there. This came recommended, like I said, by an influential Hawaiian person but fine dining to me, means a lot more than price and long winded waiters.

    (3)

  • Katy T.

    We came at 8:30 on a Sunday night for our late Valentine's day dinner. I love open-air dining rooms and though many come for the sunset, the view of the Waikiki/Honolulu city lights was still beautiful after dark. The service was fabulous- could not have been any better. The food was also delicious. My boyfriend had the steamed onaga which was beautifully cooked with asian flavors. It was really simple, but really good. I had the beef tenderloins that were finished tableside (flamed with Jack Daniels) and they were amazing! For dessert we shared the chocolate decadence cake (flourless) and it was also fantastic. They have complimentary valet parking too, so that's nice. On the down side, I wish they weren't so expensive. (Our bill came to $128 for 2 entrees, a beer, a glass of wine and a dessert.) However, you get what you pay for and they're definitely worth it. The other thing is that their dining room is a little "busy" for my taste. There's a lot of different prints happening everywhere... carpet print is different from the print on the chair cushions, which is different from the print on the backs of the booths, which is different from the designs on the etched glass... all complimented by very ornate chandeliers and lamps on the table. It's just an awful lot happening, but that's totally just a matter of opinion so no stars lost for that. All in all it was totally a 5-star experience, but we'd have to save it for special occasions.

    (5)

  • Spencer C.

    The view alone is worth five stars and the service was excellent. Unfortunately the food was underwhelming. We got the tasting menu and while the first two courses were fine it just went down hill from there. Disappointing for such an expensive and beautiful restaurant. Despite the unbelievable view and I regret to say this we will not be returning the food was just adequate.

    (3)

  • Michelle C.

    Ahh! This place was amazing! My husband took me here for my birthday. He made reservations at 6:30 and requested a table by the ocean. It was perfect we were practically right on the ocean for sunset, it was spectacular. The food was superb. I would have to say the best food I have eaten in Honolulu. For my birthday I got a special dessert. This is definitely a special occasion type of place, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to celebrate!

    (5)

  • lauren n.

    tonight no surprise the food and service was amazing!!!! this time i tried the escargot, warm seafood salad, foie gras and the chatteau. the escargot was very clean, moist and soft. seafood salad was just an excellent combo of veggies, fruits, and seafood. i am not a fan of foie gras but this one was like butterxfat melt in your mouth. the chatteau was hearty and meaty. i can not stress how amazing michel's is!!!!

    (5)

  • Melissa K.

    I haven't been to Michels in a few years but my experience then was amazing. I loved the food, service, cloth hand towels, and even the after dinner mints. I would have given it a 5 star rating. Fast forward to last night. Everything seemed good until we got to our table, which was directly against a big cement wall. We asked to be moved but was told that was the only available table so we sucked it up and decided to sit there anyway. ---Service ... it was like Waiting for Godot except without the entertaining Gogo and Lucky. The waiter was absolutely awful. He was more interested in adjusting his tux than concentrating on his patrons. Instead of checking on us, he stood around, smugly readjusted his tux, or folded napkins. In the rare moment that he did check on us, he was very flippant and/ or fake. During the entire 2 hours we were there, he half-heartedly inquired ONCE about how how were. We waited over half an hour for him to take our order. The tropical salad arrived and it was just so-so and difficult to eat because the lettuce leaves were in their entirety. Plus the lettuce leaves were disproportionate to the rest of salad ... chunks of mango, radish, cucumber, etc. that were cut into tiny, same-size sticks ... so small that you had to taste the piece to determine what it was. Dressing was good. After finishing the salad, we waited at least 45 minutes for the rest of the food to arrive. The waiter did not stop by. We wondered if he had forgotten to place our order. We were envious of the other patrons who had quality waiters and I was tempted to ask for a different waiter. Eventually the food arrived. My roll-up was delicious. The tender, flaky fish was topped with an amazingly fabulous hollandaise sauce and truffles. It came with a salad (again, the whole lettuce leaf). Hardy's Hawaiian Bouillabaisse was so-so. The chunks of fish were tender and abundant but the mussels and clams were small and not robust. The broth reminded me of the tomato juice from a can of tomatoes. Contrary to the menu description, the broth was not "savory" and after a few tastes, we left it alone and picked out the seafood. Could not taste the island spices or the saffron. The garlic bread was room temperature and blah. I had hoped that dessert would save the meal but alas, it was not to be. Pineapple-lilikoi cheesecake was decent but salty. The crust was wet and the texture clashed with the cheese part. The glazed pineapple was tasty but only because the rest of the dessert was so uninspiring. Even though the portion was small and split between several people, we didn't finish it. The women's restroom is decadent, the restaurant interior is beautiful, and I love hearing the waves crash on the beach. Kudos to the guy who filled the water glasses and the other guy who folded my napkin every time I got up. They were great and deserving of a yelp star. Last night was probably one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. We should have had dinner at the Halekulani, Chef Mavros, or Roys.

    (2)

  • Corrie M.

    It is a family tradition to go to Michel's any time we are in Honolulu. Very fine dining and right on the beach. The seafood has no rival that I have tasted! Great place to go for a very formal dinner treat.

    (4)

  • Mary D.

    Awesome experience and excellent food. Robert was our waiter for the evening and he was extremely engaging, personable and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend going here - the overall experience was outstanding.

    (5)

  • Peter L.

    One of the worst dining experiences of my life! After making reservations 5 days in advance through Yelp and requesting oceanside seating for our party of 4, and then calling the morning of our reservation to confirm our reservation and the oceanside seating, our group of 4 was met by the "hostess from hell", Hiroko, a patinum blonde, Japanese lady who proceded to seat us at the worst table in the house (front-center in the middle of all foot-traffic and yards away from the ocean tables). Her only response to my statement that I was led to believe that we would be seated at an ocean-side table was her surly response that ocean-side tables were reserved 4 months in advance! She actually yelled at our group in the presence of other diners and created an embarrasing and uncomfortable situation. We then requested reseating by Hiroko and also by our waiter, but neither of them got back to me on my request for reseating even after they promised to look to me on my request. After reminding my waiter of my request 30 minutes into our meal, he finally returned to inform me almost one hour into our ($550.00) meal that a reseating woud not be possible. No explanation or aplogy was given. I responded that if I had been informed in advance that oceanside seating would not be available, that I could have made reservations at a different restaurant. No-one really seemed to care. We felt an attitude of total indiffernce. What a contrast to my recent dining experience at La Mer at the Halekulani! The staff there is truly cosiderate, sincere, and professional! Then there was the bug in my water glass. The indifference of the waiter to retun to re-pour our $100.00 bottle of wine? The hour-long wait between our salad and our entre. The waiter constantly brushing against me every time he walked past. The difficulty and omision of our waiter to get the anchovy out of the spoon when making our caesar salad. The poor rendition of the specials and menu selections? And the annoying glances by staff towards our table. We are customers, not opposing gangsta members. At the end of our meal (way too little and way too late), the General Manager (GM), Philip, came by to show interest and hospitality. It was not sincere. When a polite admonishment was shared with Philp about his hostess, Hiroko, and how she treated us, he indicated that it had already been addressed. I think not. If he had, he would have apologized to us for her behavior earlier in the evening. This is one restaurant that clearly puts the attitudinal issues and needs of its staff ahead of those of its diners! We got off to a horrible start, and it never got better? And no one really seemed to care. Our group arrived at Michels at the end of a long week expecting to be served and cared-for. Instead, the atmophere was passive-aggressive, if not not hostile. Not intending to use hyperbole, I've had better dining experiences at my local McDonalds.

    (1)

  • T C.

    I came for the Sunday brunch. I phoned in a reservation and when I arrived I was seated at a table over looking the beach. From the beginning to the end of the meal the staff was attentive ... even offered without asking to take a few photos of us. Nice. We started with a shared plate of fruit and each had the Belgian waffle. That was filling so no desert for us. Enjoyed every bit of the meal here.

    (4)

  • Rob W.

    We decided to celebrate my moms birthday here at Michel' and we were not disappointed. We arrived at the restaurant and everyone greeted us with a big smile, hello and good evening. We were immediately seated at a beautiful table right in the very front to watch the sun as it slowly set over the ocean. We started off with a few drinks and mom decided to have the Mai tai. She let me try a sip and it was perfect. Perfect balance of all the ingredients that make an excellent Mai tai. Everyone started off enjoying their flatbread and toast with a touch of butter. We then decided to order two of the yellowfin ahi tartare as an appetizer, as the portion size is usually a bit smaller. But not this is one, very generous portion sizes and it was absolutely delicious. They even topped it off with caviar and creme fraiche, perfect. My dad and I decided to have the Caesar salad and they made this table-side with all the traditional goodies including garlic, lemon, anchovy paste, dijon mustard and of course anchovies. This was excellent and everyone wanted to taste it. Next was the main entree and I decided on Michel's Ocean Bounty which was an assortment of fish including blackened ahi, oyster rockefeller, mahi mahi, lobster tail, scampi style shrimp and baby abalone. Everything was cooked to perfection and mouthwatering delicious. My mother had the abalone, which was farmed in Estero Bay, CA, and she loved it. We got to try a piece of the abalone and it was tender and tasty. For dessert, we all decided to share the chocolate souffle' and they brought us a delicious chocolate fudge sauce and a fantastic vanilla sauce to float on top. What a great experience at Michel's. If u love a great view, with some live classical acoustical guitar, excellent service and fantastic food, then this could very well be a place that u will enjoy as much as we did. This was our second time here and we will definitely be back again.

    (5)

  • Tania L.

    Okay, so I went a few years back, so what I have to say may not apply to today, and also my experience was uniquely my own and you might end up with a less-than-pleasant experience because some jerk had a fight with his girlfriend.. whatever. Also, my memory is not exactly pristine (and not because it was a forgettable experience!) but I'll tell you the very first thing that popped into my head as I thought about how to begin: THE SERVICE. Crazy. They make you feel like you are VIP. Real formal, proper, courteous, and thorough. They time the food (there were moments when it might have been drawn out a little) and the water is never even half empty. Of course, you pay for it... Foodwise, you can't complain. I'm sorry I can't tell you exactly what I had for dinner that night, but I bet if you showed me the menu I could pinpoint what I had and all the other stuff I wanted to eat!! (I didn't pay, so I had to be modest lol) The portions are good, the quality and taste was fine as well. It was a nice ambiance with a decent view. There was no crazy ruckus even though it was packed. The only critique I would have about the place is that, in terms of titillating the palette, there's not much you haven't already tried at other places. Yeah yeah, I know, I'm like that ass critic on Ratatouille who was just in search of some bs perspective. But hey, that's just being nitpicky. But man oh man, good stuff!! I would recommend the place and definitely go there again... once I save up some $$$ Oh, and I know it might be because it's Hawaii, but you don't have to get all dressy to eat there. They'll treat you well regardless (thank goodness for that)

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    Based on reviews, I found Michel's to be somewhat overrated. The view was stunning, the decor was disappointing, the service was amazing, and the food was mediocre. Parking - Complimentary valet parking available. Ambiance - The scenic view of the beach and sunset is hands down one of the best in Waikiki. The ambiance created by Michel's is romantic and cozy. All tables will have a great view of the sunset so no need to be concerned about getting window seating. Although I recommend that you sit farthest from the windows otherwise you'll have people staring at you throughout the sunset. I was disappointed with the decor used: fake plants, spider webs and dust noticeable on the plants, weird candle holder, and stained plate settings. Definitely not what I was expecting from a "fancy" restaurant. Service - Despite the decor failure, the service was indeed amazing and impeccable. We were seated right away, our server was attentive to all our needs, plates always cleaned, water filled, and even food runners fulfilled requests that we've made. Awesome service. Food - I was disappointed with the food. We ordered a sashimi taretare, not really memorable. I ordered the rack of lamb, medium-rare, and my date ordered the New York filet, medium. The food came out reversed: rack of lamb, medium, and New York filet, medium-rare. The sides for the dishes were interesting but was a mess on the plates and did not really go well with the protein. Everything was properly seasoned. The dessert, apple banana flambe, tasted great with a nice little show using orange peels from our server. Portion size: were hearty so if you have a big appetite then you'll be fine. Taste: Taste was so-so, definitely better than Outback but no where near a Michelin Star. Cost: In terms of portion size you'll get your bang for your buck, but if your looking for Fleur De Lys or Chez Panisse type taste go somewhere else. I haven't tried other French cuisine on the island so I can't say if this is better or worse than the others. Prepare to spend around $15-$25 on appetizer, $40-$65 per entree. $15 per dessert.

    (3)

  • Lester C.

    Absolutely love this place!!! Been here multiple times and it never disappoint's!!! Last of one of the best fine dinning spots on Oahu that I can think of from my childhood (early 90's)!!! Ambiance is on point the view is spectacular and the food is amazing!!! Priced just right! I always leave full, happy with a smile and feeling like I got my money's worth! I would highly recommend this place to bring that special someone.

    (5)

  • Matthew C.

    Military, new to Oahu. Classy enough for formal wear, relaxing enough for casual. An inviting restaurant where you feel pampered within the moments of seating. Educated hosts who will accommodate all requirements and are receptive to cues from the table discussion, leaving the dining experience to the customers. Recommended for any evening event, bring a smile, you'll leave with one. Price concerns: this is extremely fair for Oahu, and the atmosphere is worth the expense. I recommend the special martini, excellent deal.

    (5)

  • D M.

    Fabulous venue and location, however, despite a long run in on the reservation with specific mention of special event, got stuck in the back in a corner. We have now been waiting on our dinner for 45 minutes and got notice it would be just "5 minutes more". We're not in a fast food rush, but 2 hours from reservation to dish is excessive. For the price and reputation I am thoroughly jnimpressed.

    (2)

  • Kimo S.

    We went for our anniversary and my wife was so happy that she said it was the best place we have been to, ever. While we usually do not go into Waikiki this is Diamond Head/Gold Coast and it earns it name and ranking. Several tables around us had locals also that means it has to be great for them too. The Doctors convention in town also provided many customers, but the reasons are many: First the view of sunset and Waikiki at night. Next the ambiance of the staff always buzzing, I mean they hustle to serve the tables not just water but polite and very happy even though it was a Kona wind day (warm) with high humidity and them wearing tuxes, except the boss. He is almost invisible. What a team and the head coach is Manager Philip Shaw a man who not only knows his customers but has many years of being the best at a variety of the best including running Roy's in the day and a server way back. He personally goes to all the tables several times to back up his staff. His knowledge of wine is great and conversation is easy with his really down to earth manner and aloha. With out him it would be a good restaurant with him, the best. Michel's has always had a great reputation. It works to keep it. Then the food as the chef stopped by once early and while his food is so ono ( great) his timing for delivery works well from the kitchen. What else could you want? Well there is the X factor, desert and bar. if you want a special night tell them as a special plate was delivered without asking besides a desert and then we shared a soufflé ordered much earlier. We had leftovers of lamb and bouillabaisse! Portions are not medium but Good sized and the Caesar salad was made table side as was the Lobster Bisque and by now you have read other reviews about just going there for that incredible soup. Wine list works well with top labels. Several other tables were also having different dishes made in front of them and that show makes a good time better. Again the Manager stops by and works the room to look and instantly assist not just point the team. He is a wonder of this time as few could have that leadership to make Andy Anderson proud of his place. Pros! The room was filled and needs reservations for the sunset view and beach side. Right outside the open windows are people having the relaxing area to themselves under palm trees. waiting for the day to end. It feels French on the beach with seating like it was outdoors. Very open. Just perfect is the description . No more could be done to make the experience better. Try it again. We will.

    (5)

  • Nikki N.

    Perfect atmosphere for a romantic date or with friends and family. The service from our waiter John was over the top. Everyone needs to try this place at least once. The view is beautiful and the food is quality. As soon as we were seated they delivered a sweet potato butter and basket of lavosh to our table. I had the escargot and pan seared ahi as an appetizer. I had the mahi mahi and onaga special with a lemon butter sauce. My bf had lobster and shrimp thermidor. We had nothing left on our plates because it was so delicious. The dessert was the pineapple lillikoi cheesecake, that we couldn't finish because we were so full. John explained everything well and it was hard to choose an entree because every thing souded mouth watering. He helped us choose our appetizers and was very genuine. It was nothing but a great expirience. The price is not for an every week dinner, however I will return for birthdays and special celebrations.

    (5)

  • Tamara P.

    My ex-boyfriend and I used to dine here for dinner pretty often. They always impressed me with their tasty appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I like making reservations near sunset and reserving a table by the water. They slide all of the glass windows open and you get a wonderful view with the fresh island breeze coming through. I also liked the fact that they ALWAYS had your car running and waiting just outside of their entrance once you were walking out. Definitely the best valet service ever! Once for my ex-boyfriend's birthday we were enjoying an intimate evening by candlelight as I watched him open his birthday gifts. One of the gifts I made for him was a personalized journal where I filled out all of the entries for him. I wanted him to learn a little more about me. Well to make a long story short, he was anxious to get started and a waiter popped out of nowhere with a little penlight to help him get a better look at some of the writings in there. It was a really kind and sweet gesture. You get the service that you pay for here at a 5-star restaurant. I will be back!! Food: ***** Service: ***** Ambiance: ***** Value: ****

    (5)

  • Chie F.

    The last time I've been here was about 6 years ago, when it was a French restaurant. Now it's a Continental restaurant, and it was very delicious! Wonderful view, great service (waiters are not uptght! They are all friendly!) and most of all the food was very good! I had the Rack of Lamb and my husband had the Filet Mignon. The soup of the day (I believe it was Artichoke Broccoli) was very yum! I recommend this restaurant for special occasions! Check out the pictures!

    (5)

  • LesliAnn K.

    Let me say, the service here was EXCELLENT. So that is a 5/5. For people who like good quality, rich, French cuisine..this is it. For me, I could not eat like this every night, but I will still give it a 4. Michel's is located in a condominium right on the beach towards Diamond Head, a little away from the bustle of Waikiki. Most of the clientele are tourists. If you are on vacation, I would recommend this place, much more than Duke's. What I was surprised with was that it was PACKED, on a Wednesday night, with a steady stream of people coming in..even at 9 pm. It is a little cramped and loud in the restaurant, so maybe its a better atmosphere for 4 people or more vs. a romantic dinner for two. We did family style so I just about tried a little bit of everything. Our meal took three hours, so be prepared for a leisurely meal. I could not stop eating the lavosh! I guess I am just impressed by the simple things. Lobster bisque - one of their famous dishes. creamy, delectable. Helix Escargots Bourgogne with Butter butter butter! Michel's ocean bounty dish is a perfect smorgasbord of seafood and if you feast with your eyes, this is a nice one! Hawaii is known for their fresh fish, so I would recommend the Onaga dish. A nice twist was that it was served with somen noodles, an interesting combination. Leave room for the Magnificent Chocolate or Grand Marnier Soufflé!!!!!! You gotta put in your order in advance since it takes extra time to prepare. Since it was my dad's birthday, we also had some chocolate mousse dish...light and not too sweet. The manager came and introduced himself and personally changed our tablecloths in the middle of our meal so we could have clean linens for dessert. It's small things like that that don't go unnoticed. He didn't HAVE to do it. He even escorted us out and took our picture. Overall quite a special experience!

    (4)

  • First Name L.

    Great establishment but they are not 5 star worthy!!!! Food - 4 Price - 3 Service 3 Cleanliness - 2 - See highlighted paragraph below Ambience - 2- See highlighted paragraph below Yes, those ratings are surprising but it's the truth. I made reservations online, confirmed on the phone and email. I arrived and did not have the oceanfront table that was agreed upon - NOT GOOD but I didn't make a fuss and wanted to enjoy the evening. There seems to be plenty of wait help, definitely more than this number of seats should warrant which was a good sign but as dinner progressed, it seemed that I could never get assistance when I needed it. ==================================================­=== Do I blame the fruit flies on the restaurant or is that just part of dining in Hawaii? I'm pretty sure I've had plenty of meals at Zippy's without having to worry about flies.... We constantly had little fruit flies diving in our food and Mai Tai's. Really irritating and it went on all night. Who's to blame... not sure... but that's a huge differentiator of a 1-3 star and a 5 star establishment. It should not have been an issue as it took away from our dining experience. ==================================================­=== We had a full dinner as you should when paying top dollar. Caesar Salad, Steak Diane, Filet/Lobster/Crab combo, Creme Brulee, and Sorbet. The food was all very good. We also had a few Hawaiian cocktails which were also good but not better than the cocktails at Dukes (just sayin). Service was almost really good but in the end it was slightly more personable than say a Roy's but they failed to make it a great experience as the level of service deteriorated through the night. I found myself looking around several times for assistance which should not happen with their level of staffing. It was a pricey dinner... very pricey, one that I will gladly pay for a 5 start experience. Will I try it again... maybe Brunch.

    (3)

  • Kelly M.

    I go here more than I care to admit. With that said, I will tell you why. The service is impeccable, the food is excellent and the view is the best . Oceanfront, open and on the beach. It's got a perfect view of Waikiki and the sunset. Their wine list is extensive, whether your budget is $60 or $2500, you will find something satisfying. I have been coming to Michel's since the 80's and have seen some interesting transitions. The vibe it has now is most enjoyable. World acclaimed guitarist, Jeff Peterson plays most nights. Phillip Shaw is the extremely attentive GM. My favorite dishes are: Lobster Bisque (prepared tableside) Caesar Salad (prepared tableside) Foie Gras (Hot with currant sauce- my description-ask for it) Seafood Appetizer for Two (with crab lobster shrimp oysters etc) Steak Tartare (prepared tableside) It's memorable, one of a kind and perfect for every occassion.

    (5)

  • Rabk K.

    Great vista of the downtown skyline with open dining and a two time Grammy award guitar player for musical entertainment. Had the chateaubriand for two. Omg. So good. Fancy food setting. Very busy. A tad noisy. But really an awesome place. Off to Maui today or I would be likely going back

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    Michel's is one of the top restaurants in Hawaii. Order classic meals and enjoy the table-side preparations of Caesar Salad and Banana's Foster. The crab bisque is absolutely WORLD CLASS. All of the entrees are as good as they get. If you can, go later to avoid the sunset rush. The service will be excellent and the restaurant doesn't feel so crowded. Best of all, go with a bunch of friends for a special occasion! Sit back, drink wine, and enjoy your hard earned dollars! Michel's is classic dining.

    (5)

  • lisa m.

    This is a review for dinner on Valentine's Day. They had a special 4 course prefix menu. My favorite was the artichoke soup with sauteed foie gras. The seafood salad was delicious (had crab, lobster, & abolone in it). After having these two dishes, I had expected the entree to be excellent but the fish was completely overpowered by a paprika sauce and killed the subtle flavors. The velvet cake was descent. The ambiance was nice, the service was great. We were overlooking the water, listening to the waves. They make good drinks!

    (4)

  • Rick L.

    Excellent food and better service. Ask for Robert to serve you, great representative for this restaurant. Came with my wife for our first anniversary and brought my parents along to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday. We sat facing the ocean and were treated to a fireworks show. They even treated us to a special desert. You get what you pay for and our meal/dining experience was worth every penny and then some.

    (5)

  • Adrienne T.

    Amazing experience. The service was impeccable, the food was delectable and the ambience was everything a French restaurant should be outside of France-- great ingredients without the snotty presentation. The table-side prepared caesar salad was THE BEST CAESAR SALAD I have ever had, and the wine list was extensive and reasonable. What more could a girl want on her birthday?

    (5)

  • Ronnie O.

    Great food, great location, great service. We had our anniversary dinner here and loved every moment. We are definitely coming back!

    (5)

  • Van T.

    we've been here many a time to celebrate birthdays and special occasions. that time has come to an end! dinner, in the past, was fine with a beautiful view. however, brunch was a nightmare. the pre fixe meal was lacking in depth and taste. the staff from the manager, kitchen, and servers were in the weeds the entire time we were there. we waited for over 45 minutes between each course, and the items were nothing that required a substantial amount of time. the server basically hid from us the entire time so as to not have to refill our water glasses or bread, hand a menu to our late guests, or to actually put in a correct order. i'm totally done with michel's!

    (2)

  • bimi a.

    I found Michel's Sunday brunch to be excellent. The everything included price of $45 for adults and $18 for kids is very reasonable, considering it includes mimosa, drinks for the kids and coffee at the end. The menu is well thought out, and so many choices! Good stuff, too--oysters, lobster, crab cakes; and even a steak for entree. Good selection of desserts, and the kids' menu is not slapped together like other restaurants. Again, it's well thought out, and parents have an actual choice of good food for the kids.

    (5)

  • Turquoise Z.

    Good for a date!!!!" My husband and I visited here for night date while on vacation, service was great the cheft send out complimentary crab cake and desert cause it was pur anniversary. The staff was super attentive, drink s were perfect, scargo fondue was to die for. My husband ordered the rack of lamb and he liked it portion s were good. I ordered the seafood chiopino was ok nothing to comeback for. Restaurant have a nice view but restaurant need updating it looks old and dated. We had a good time with the guitarist, very romantic for a date. Make reservation. read less

    (4)

  • Lois S.

    Wow!!! What an amazingly perfect place to celebrate a special occasion! The food, the service, the ambiance and the spectacular ocean views made for a wonderful dining experience. As soon as we entered, we were warmly greeted by the hostess. She immediately walked us to our window side seats, where we were greeted by several waiters & a bus boy. They sent us a complimentary curried shrimp on mashed potatoes. We had ordered our drinks by then so it was a nice complement to our cocktails. We did not want to order our dinner right away so we enjoyed a couple of drinks while enjoying the beautiful view of the sunset. Seemed like there were many celebrations throughout the room, including a wedding party. We started with the escargot which was probably the best I've had. So much so, that I forgot to take a picture of it. Then we had the french onion soup. Our waiter, Shige, asked if we were going to share, which we were. They brought us each our own soup, baked separately. What a nice touch! Prior to our entree, he brought out a sorbet with a blueberry intermezzo. Shige and Shane(our busboy), were both very attentive. If you ask for directions to the restroom, they don't tell you where it is, they escort you. And by the time you get back to your seat your napkin is nicely folded again. Once when I returned from the restroom, Shige was busy and another waiter, Duane, from another section of the room appeared from nowhere to pull out my chair. Now that's service! For the entree, we had a seafood dish and a steak. Steak was done tableside and Shige timed it perfectly as we watched the fireworks from across Waikiki beach. Portions were great, as you can see in the picture, and everything was cooked to a tee. Nice mix of flavors and textures. Even Executive Chef Hardy came to our table. Those little touches really add so much. There's a definite air of teamwork and family with all the staff. And just when you think you can't eat anymore, they showed up with a complimentary birthday dessert. And no, that was not all. He topped it off with Banana's Foster. My absolute favorite dessert with the absolute best presentation ever! Needless to say, this was a fantastic evening!!! Everyone from managers to the entire waitstaff really made us feel special and welcomed. This is a definite "10" and I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great place to celebrate a special occasion, or any occasion! :-)

    (5)

  • Garrett G.

    Mediocre is the best word to describe our experience. We are locals and have gone many times to Michel's for special occasions, and especially for our wedding anniversary. It has always been a reliably good evening. We haven't been for a couple of years. I am not sure why but a lot has changed and it is not good. Last night was our wedding anniversary. First issue, The place is starting to show its age. Maybe the high percentage of tourists allows them to get away with no change. I ordered an Old Fashioned at the bar. This is a classic cocktail and fairly simple. It should be a little sweet with additional sugar but the bartender turned it into a glass of cherry/orange uck. The white was lovely according to my wife but I could barely taste the whiskey through the fruit. Very so so and the fruit juice and glass of white was $25 plus tip. We were seated at a lovely window seat. Michel's is a fantastic location and especially for a sunset...unbeatable. We selected the Taste of Michel's with wine pairing. Typically, the tasting portions are on the small side but it was a nice selection. However, while the wines were quite nice, the tasting portions were very small but also very much mediocre. The gazpacho was ok and the salad completely forgettable. The Onaga was completely overwhelmed by a tomato sauce. They also wrapped the thin pieces of beef around veges to bulk it up. It was tough and not a lot of flavor. Best was the Peach Melba with almond icecream so they clearly saved the best till last. So the food was ok but this was a $135 per head fine dining and nothing on the tasting menu impressed us. But the worst part was that the service matched the food. Mediocre...and in a fine dining restaurant? It was the little things. We had to ask for bread. They brought bread and butter but no butter knife. Well into the meal they brought over tiny little bread rolls...we wondered if this was just how they did it. They the server would bring each tasting over and put it in front of us and walk away. The tasting is supposed to present Michel's offering to the diner...the waiter should explain what the guest is eating and maybe even talk it up a little. We had to basically guess what they had given us. At least he told us the type of wine. The food was a mediocre mystery tour. It seemed that there were lots of waiters but we felt left to our own devices. The waiters are usually part of the experience of a restaurant but ours were sadly lacking in the basic skills of taking care of customers beyond serving food. They had the service skills of good McDonald's employees...feed the hungry but not much more. So a huge bill and a very dull Friday evening at what had been our restaurant of choice for special occasions. Luckily my beautiful wife kept me entertained. Perhaps it was a poor luck on the wait help we landed with but at this level restaurant, there should be zero chance of weak service. So something seems to have changed at Michel's and not for the better. It would have been a nice night out for $100...but definitely not worth $400. I was very torn on leaving a tip but did anyway. But we won't be back to Michel's unless we learn of a major upgrade. Next time Hy's or Alan Wong's. BTW, I gave the second star for the location.

    (2)

  • Dan W.

    I struggled whether to give this place a 3 or 4 and it was a tough call. I consider Michel''s to be fine dinning in the same company with Le Mer, Chef Mavro, Alan Wong's etc. and in this company I don't think it quite reaches the 4 star level. The food is quite good but not amazing. The view was fantastic and the table side service fun, if not a bit overdone. My biggest issues that prevented me from giving 4 stars: Decor- this place is tired and in dire need of a refresh the carpet was ancient and the furniture looked like that of banquet hall. I think they are hoping the view will distract you from the 80's era decor. Bread on the table when we arrived looked like a table setting that was out all day and tasted like it as well. The fresh bread was not much better. The chocolate soufflé had no hot center and was very dry. As mentioned the table side service was cool but a little over the top with many dishes and most tables having mains or deserts flambé at the table. Seemed a little gimmicky. All in all if you want a nice dinner with a nice view Michel's fills the bill. For food there are a number of places that top it but for beachside view and amazing food Le Mer would be tops, but it is even pricier.

    (3)

  • Fran C.

    Oooooooh la la! Yo! You guys get any Grey Poupon? Buwahahahaha! Well, I'm definitely not French here........just a local bruddah enjoying a meal with his home gurls! Thanks to my Yelp Buddies - Li Y., Ramfis B., William C., Liz T., Kristen K., Cin T., & Ariana M. for posting all their wonderful reviews. Their wonderful reviews only helped me in making a decision to come here for dinner tonight! So it was my friend Cathy's burfday - so I booked a reservation for a place called - "Michels". Never been here before, so there's always a first for everything, Right? I must say, if you goto the "Open Table" website, it is pretty easy to make a reservation for Michel's. (That's what I did). I made sure we had a table with a view, and I must say........it was the perfect table to see all of god's glory today! Beautiful sunsets, moonlit stars, tiki torches lit brightly from the beach, & fireworks from the Waikiki skyline! What a dreamy evening! And guess what gang...........I also got "ACTION" tonight!!!!!! Lol! Er, well......maybe not, but I will get to that later.......buwahahahaha! For our appetizer, we ordered some fresh oysters............. The oysters comes with 1/2 a lemon, a shallot vinaigrette dressing, and a cocktail sauce. I don't always eat oysters, but I must tell you, the oysters were one of the cleanest oysters I ever tasted! Really delicious! For my meal, I split a Farmer's salad with my buddy Sharon, and ordered the Steamed Onaga for my entree. Sharon also had the Steamed Onaga too......(I think she's my evil twin! Lol!!!! Or perhaps I'm the evil twin? Lol!) I must say the salad was delicious! I think the waiter told me the salad was organic & locally grown. The salad had - Hearts of Palm, Papaya, Vine Ripened Tomato, Watercress, Radish, Japanese Cucumber, Tarragon, & it was topped with Papaya Seed Dressing. As for the Onaga (Red Snapper) - My fish was topped with Ginger, Garlic, Green Onion, Chinese Black Bean & Turnip. The fish sat on a bed of Somen Noodles, with Stir-Fried Mushrooms and Chard from the Big Island. You folks gotta try this dish it was pretty yummy! The burfday gurl had the - Maui Onion Soup, & the Kurobuta Pork Shank. When the waiter brought out the Maui Onion Soup for my friend, I thought it was one of them Chicken Pot Pies! I swear it looked like a pot pie, until you take off the flaky top, and then you will see the Sweet Maui Onion Soup. NICE!!!! The Kurobuta Pork Shank or you can call it the Veal Osso Bucco..........basically it's a tender Veal Shank braised in Red Wine Demi Glace, with Saffron Risotto Milanesse, & Wailua Asparagus. I tried a little of my friends Pork Shank...........and you know what? It tasted a little like my - Ba Ba Barbecue meat! Lol! Well, maybe an upscale Ba Ba Barbecue meat! When you come to a place like this..........of course you gotta get some desserts. We had the following desserts tonight - a burfday DECADENCE CHOCOLATE CAKE, and to my understanding........they don't use any flour. So I must say it was very chocolaty! It comes with a scope of ice cream too! Sharon is a real smart cookie, as she had ordered a Chocolate Souffle, and a White Chocolate Souffle..........to my understanding, you have to order this in advance, as it takes a little time to make. As good as the Souffle & Decadence Chocolate Cake was..........what I found out tonight was, I'm not a really big fan of the souffle, or the Decadence Chocolate Cake. Maybe I'm weird, but I just didn't care for it much.......I took a little bite out of each dessert, just to taste.............but none of them really hit the spot for me. But if you throw a custard pie in front of me, & a few Heineken's...........dude, I will be you friend for life, specially if you get me one of them Ani Custard Pies! Lol! For refreshments, I pounded down a few Heineken lights with my buddy Cathy! She is the bestest drinking buddy a dude could have cuz she can handle, and I think she'd probably drink me under the table! :) The restaurant was pretty packed tonight, so probably reservations is a must. I also noticed they had valet parking, but I did the street parking. I had GREAT COMPANY, Good Food, Great Atmosphere, & Pretty Attentive Service.........but why the 4 star rating, instead of the "5". Well, as I mentioned about "Action" earlier............ I the weirdest uncomfortable dining experience tonight........ as one of the waiters kept on coming by to our table, and touching me. (You can ask my friends about this, as they also noticed this too)............I swear this dude kept coming by & touching my arm/shoulder area, and I can see if it was just once or twice, but over 7 times..........come on now!!!! He also kept commenting to me about my smile..........okay, I'll take that......but I gonna tell you right off the bat - "I not like dat!" Lol! Totally weird tonight!!!! I guess you had to be there to see it..........ask my buddy Cathy I., & Sharon H.. Totally weird......Lol!

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    We went to celebrate our wedding anniversary and had a wonderful evening. The sunset was beautiful and the food was excellent. The service was impeccable. We started with foie gras and the manilla clams. The foie gras was the best we have had. The perfect balance of flavors. We then had the Caesar salad and lobster bisque. The salad was fresh and the lobster bisque was creamy and embraced the flavors of the lobster. For our main dish we had the seafood bounty, rack of lamb, and the filet au poire. All were perfectly prepared! We ended the evening with grand marnier and chocolate souffles and cherries jubilee. We could not have had a more perfect evening! Michel's is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion!

    (5)

  • Jonny J.

    I suppose if you'd never looked for a fine dining experience this would seem adequate, amazing even. As it is I'll spare you a 1000 word rant and simply beg you to try Alan Wong's, La Mer, Azure or even the pint and jigger for God's sake. Michel's has been going downhill for years and it's just getting worse. I foolishly saved this for a 10th anniversary and will have to "redo" the entire evening, probably at la mer. Sub optimal service, mediocre food and apathetic management, coupled with am atmosphere reminiscent of the crowd at dukes beach are the main reasons I'll never ser foot in what was an old nostalgic favorite again.

    (2)

  • Li Y.

    A little pricey? Yes. A memorable and worth every penny adventure? Definitely yes !! Since Chef Hardy has taken over this traditionally French restaurant he has transformed it into the most memorable "Pacific Rim French cuisine" meals in the most perfect setting complimented by the best service I have ever experienced. I mean sunset on Waikiki Beach...does it get any better? Ohh wait, yes, sunset on Waikiki Beach with fireworks on Friday nite ! In preparing for this latest gastronomical feast @ Michel's, I announced to my dinner mates, "I don't know about you but everything I order will be table side service if I can help it!". And except for a few most memorable dishes such as the seafood spinach salad, that's exactly what was done..! The delicious lobster bisque was flamed at the table. My entree of beef tenderloin was prepared at the table and finished off with a delicious green peppercorn sauce. Was jockeying in position to order a flaming cherry's jubilee until I realized I was just too full to handle this. Instead our table ordered two other smaller yet just as memorable desserts to share. Michel's provided us with a complimentary pineapple goat cheesecake...pure heaven! Other memorable entrees ordered at our table...the lobster thermidor and the seafood papillote...Will be back to try for myself! Thank you General Manager Phil Shaw, thank you Manager Nathan Aoyagi, thank you to the superb wait team of Kyle and Jody, and BIGGEST thanks to Executive Chef Eberhard Kintscher who makes every meal of mine @ Michel's magical. A little pricey? Yes. Most memorable evenings and my new happy place? Yes yes !!

    (5)

  • Reid I.

    Went here for my gf birthday dinner. I made reservations and requested for a table closest to the ocean. We were the first seating at 5:30pm and the waitress seated us at the table in the middle of the room. Although it still had an amazing view of the ocean, I wanted to be seated at the ocean front table. I wanted it to be a special dining experience being this was my first time here, my gf's bday, and the amount spending for this occasion. I'm not sure if you have to be a regular or just be lucky because there were many open seats available at those tables. We got to catch the sunset which was the highlight of the dinner. We started with the escargot, lobster bisque and french onion soup. I ordered the Ocean Bounty as my entree. The appetizers were okay and the Ocean Bounty was bland. For the price of each I was expecting more. The dessert was the best part of the meal. It's good to try here at least once but for the price I would rather spend it elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Nadia K.

    Michel's is a beautiful restaurant located right on the beach with the most gorgeous view of the ocean. It's an ideal place to celebrate a special occasion or bring your out of town guests to dine. While I loved the cuisine, enjoyed the view, the dimly lit ambience was not my favorite. To me, it's more like a Hy's, a sort of classic/old Waikiki feel, if that makes sense. It's perfect for an intimate romantic dinner and I feel most people love it. I just prefer a more modern ambience like 53 by the Sea. If you start with a soup, get Michel's French onion served with a puff pastry shell. Delicious! When onaga is on the menu, I will order it and it was perfectly served steamed with ginger, garlic, green onion, Chinese black bean and turnip with somen noodles. For dessert, I shared the Grand Marnier Souffle. It was seriously amazing. It is my new favorite dessert. Very delicious! A must order! Service is attentive. Complimentary valet parking is available.

    (4)

  • Greg G.

    It is difficult for me to rate this restaurant as I was troubled with many pros and cons that reflect on the stars given for this restaurant. First off, the waiters and staff are VERY friendly. Their customer service is amazing and that was not an issue for me as they are very accommodating. It was troublesome to find the menu not to include any plant based foods (I wasn't entirely surprised, I had been eating out quite often in Hawaii and realized this trend between quite a few restaurants). Our waiter replaced the traditional duck appetizer with a very tasty tomato bisque (I should've just ordered a larger serving as my entree wasn't that appetizing.) Since there was nothing really vegetarian, my waiter spoke with the chef to prep an angel hair pasta with simple marinara and vegetables. SUPER bland, while the vegetables were cooked, it had been a simple toss in a heated pan with no flavor. I was so disappointed as it looked soooo good! Plus with the disappointing tablespoon sized amount of marinara for my entire entree was horrible, it made things even worse. Lifting my spirits (well, more like the weight of my thighs) was dessert, my goodness, the cinnamon gelato was unbelievably good!

    (3)

  • Alizabeth H.

    Loved it. Food was awesome and service was even better. The price went with it all. Bill was $315. Tip was $50. I will just post the pictures of all the food. We took one dish to go. Guava BBQ something. We didn't want to come back to try it, we just got it to go. The martinis were strong but yummy. You have to eat here at lease once. The view was beautiful. Sunset was nice to watch as you eat. It was a three hour dinner so make sure you have time for it. Valet parking only :)

    (5)

  • Julie L.

    What a great last supper to end our trip. We snagged the last reservation of the night. Lucky us. I didn't request for it but they seated us right at the window next to the beach. So relaxing to be enjoying such delicious dishes w/ the cool Hawaiian breeze wafting against your skin and listening simultaneously to the ocean waves along w/ the tunes the harpist was cranking out. Definitely suggest the Ocean's Bounty. You get a little of everything and it's such filling portions. Foie gras w/ watercress was amazing. That escargot...goodness...YUM! The truffle Mac & cheese had so much flavor but was surprisely light. Meal costed a pretty penny but hey, we'd do it again.

    (5)

  • Lauren N.

    My boyfriend recently took me here for my birthday and what an amazing dinner we had! I've heard of Michel's from a long time ago. Heard about the tableside preparation of ceasar salad and myself being not the biggest fan of ceasar salads, was never tempted to come and give it a try. We came here on a wednesday evening. I don't know what I had expected Michel's to look like inside but was pleasantly surprised that it was an open air restaurant, oceanside. With the background music of a live ukulele player and the soothing sounds of the waves crashing onto the shore, it proved to be the ultimate romantic setting. *so boys take notes!!* From the get go, I was won over by our server that night. I wish I could remember his name. He was so incredibly nice and helpful. He and the rest of the staff helped make our night very special. The food: Tomato lobster bisque: Prepared tableside. To be honest, this was probably my least favorite dish of the night. It was delicious and creamy, with a few chunks of lobster but there was no wow factor for me. They were nice enough to split it in two for us to share. Garden salad: They were also kind to offer to split this for us to share as well. It was refreshing and lightly dressed, just the way I like it. Ocean Bounty: Here comes one of the high and low points of the evening. When the server described this dish to us, he had said it came with oysters rockefellar among other things. When it was brought out, I hadn't noticed that it was not on the plate (didn't notice until looking at pictures at home and looking back on yelp). Sadness...as a big seafood lover, I really wish I could have tried it. As the service that night was superb, I'd like to think it was an accident that it wasn't on our dish. Sigh. But, nevertheless, it was delicious. The seared ahi was perfectly cooked and the lobster was amazing. The risotto that came with this dish was also very yummy and I could not stop eating it. New York Café de Paris: My boyfriend and I both agree that this was one of the better steaks we've ever had! Not only was it beautiful to look at, each bite was amazingly yummy. Topped with cafe de paris herb butter...this steak was nothing but rich, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. The complimentary dessert was a nice way to finish off our evening and meal. I would definitely recommend that you give Michel's a try. Everything from the service, ambience and food was impressive. It's only been a month since going and I already cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • David T.

    If you have eaten at Michel's, you don't need to read any reviews. This has been my favorite restaurant for many years. It is not your everyday restaurant, but rather the special dining location when the occasion calls for over the top service, food, and atmosphere. The menu varies but usually covers all the basics of beef, seafood, and poultry, with the occasional pork and exotic entrees added. Many of the salads, entrees, and desserts are prepared table side. It is fun to watch and almost as beautiful as the sunset views from the restaurant. The wait staff are classically trained in the fine dining without being overly "stuffy" as in some high end restaurants. It is easy to have a good time there and the experience is a must but it is on the higher tier price wise. You can easily expect to pay over $100/person for salad, entree, and dessert. Well worth every cent! If you are not used to fine dining, don't be afraid to go to Michel's. It will be one of your most memorable dining experiences while in the Islands. Head over heels better than ALL the steak houses and less expensive and better food than Morimoto's. One last thing. You will not go hungry at Michel's. Their portions are not experimental cuisine sized. You will definitely be taking home entree left overs, especially if you get the Chateaubriand for two. My favorite!

    (5)

  • Kara P.

    Total best experience at a restraunt...accommodating and peaceful. Wonderful food, the staff are professionals and very experienced. I had an amazing meal prepared vegan by Chef Hardy and it was a beautiful experience seeing dishes being infused with Hawaiian Crown pineapples! I will absolutely return as well as recommend ;)

    (5)

  • Me M.

    We dined on elegantly served blue crab cakes, goat cheese crostini, lobster bisque, potato crusted onaga fish with rock shrimp and a dainty desert plate of pineapple passionfruit cheesecake with a beautiful view of the sunset off the coastline. They offer black tea with desert. The waiters were just the right combination of warm yet formal service. We had a very good experience here.

    (5)

  • S. B.

    I think everyone knows by now the best thing about Michel's is the location, not the fine dinning. I'm sorry to say that my mediocre expectations weren't even met... I remember the lobster bisque to be the highlight of my last visit a year ago, unfortunately it was only lukewarm, shocking considering its prepared table side... We both ordered fish, his salmon was delicious but not 'wow'. My onaga was so bland, boring and dry! I couldn't even finish half my dish. Luckily I had enjoyed the Ahi taretar, but I think the lavash was they best part of my meal :( The service was great especially our server and his wait team-- super attentive; EXCEPT for the hostess who sat us in the middle of the restaurant, and we had to ask to move to the open table on the water... We had late reservations, so why didn't she just seat us there to begin with??? And please class it up a bit, clear plastic heels, decorated acrylic nails and peroxide bleach hair at Michel's? I thought we walked into a sports bar for a split second. Still had a wonderful romantic evening with my love, good company conquers all.

    (3)

  • Anna R.

    The price may be four $$$$ but the food is worth two stars.. We were here for a large group dinner so we had a set menu. There were about 50 of us and maybe 8-12 employees for us all. I ordered a Shirley temple and ten minutes later, still didn't have it. A waiter brought multiple cocktails and sodas out including three Shirley temples but they weren't mine. So I asked and the waitress said it was coming. So I waited ten more minutes later and nothing! Eventually it came but really, twenty minutes for a Shirley temple and meanwhile multiple other drinks came out. First, the crab cakes and shrimp scampi. The shrimp was mushy and the crab cake was just ok. Second, the lobster bisque which needed more flavor and more lobster! Not to mention the amount of soup was about five sips. Third, a caesar salad. The salad was good HOWEVER, my boyfriend and my dad probably got half the lettuce I did! And my mom's had almost no dressing. Next was the main course. I chose the potato crusted onaga with rock shrimp. I got three mini shrimp and a rubbery, obviously frozen piece of fish. My dad and boyfriend got steaks which they wanted rare and they came medium rare. They were very disappointed in the steak besides that. Last was a pineapple passion fruit cheesecake. I don't like cheesecake but I can say it was pretty good. Don't waste your money please. A large bill and a large disappointment.

    (2)

  • Kathryn P.

    Wonderful night celebrating our anniversary at this beautiful place on the water. We watched a gorgeous sunset while sipping on delicious cocktails. Dinner was tasty and the cherries jubilee was so worth it! The presentation was fun to watch and our waiter was on top of everything. One of the best dinners in Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    So.... I'm a year late. We were lucky enough to have this fantastic spot suggested to us by our wedding officiant. I'll be honest - it was a bit fancier than either myself or my hubby wanted, but it came well recommended, so we went with it. We had the unique honor of dining with our officiant, his wife, and our fantastic wedding photographer. Let me just say this, it was worth every moment. Such amazing service, scenery that couldn't be beat, and the food! OMG the food! Would gladly give them 10 stars.

    (5)

  • Ka'ili H.

    You can never go wrong at Michel's! Ka'ili's Favs Today: - Sautéed Rougie Foie Gras $36 - Helix Escargots Bourgogne $24 - Farmer's Market Salad $12 - Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb $58 - Chocolate Soufflé

    (5)

  • RD T.

    Michel's is where I take my wife for a romantic dinner. The beautiful slack key guitar and sunset is only bested by their delicious food. Anyone wanting to celebrate a special event or special someone should make a reservation a week or two in advance and get a seat along the rail. We had a fantastic dinner and cocktails!

    (5)

  • Celina Q.

    Boyfriend surprised me with reservations to Michel's for my birthday. After all the fancy things I've heard about this place, I was looking forward to being pampered and spending a relaxing evening by the ocean. We were 15 minutes early, but the hostess took us to our table right away. The menu is limited, with no obvious vegetarian options, but the drink selection is amazing! With a great wine list and many specialty drinks. Our server was very knowledgeable with the menu and making suggestions, but lacked personality. She was sort of robotic and simply went through the motions of fine dining. FOOD: Kobe Tartar: a dish the server mixes in front of you; pretty cool how they add the ingredients to your liking. Larger portion than expected. Escargot: Fresh and super garlic-y! Comes with french bread on the side. French Onion Soup: DELISH! Comes with a flaky crust baked around the top of the soup. Not too cheesy like other places. Rack of Lamb: Three pieces with mashed potatoes and greens. Not bad, but not incredible either. Filet Mignon: The grilled veggies were the best part, the meat was tender and juicy, but the sauce they pour over is a little overwhelming and takes away from the meat. IMPRESSION: The restaurant treated me to a birthday dessert of chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream and a "Happy Birthday" solid chocolate decoration which was a nice touch. It added to that high class expectations people have when dining at Michel's. HOWEVER, the Grand Marnier Souffle we ordered for dessert (not knowing about the birthday comp dessert) was to die for! I am a sucker for souffles, but this one takes the cake. A must order if visiting Michel's.

    (4)

  • Kathy D.

    My hubby and I picked this place to have our Valentine's Day dinner. There is free valet when you dine in as finding parking is probably a pain. The restaurant itself has a classic look with a beautiful ocean view. Its pretty close to the shoreline where you can see people coming in and out of the beach if its still daylight. The dining area is also open, so beware of little bugs flying into your drink! The dinner for tonight was a set course, but are are able to choose between the few options that they were offering. When it came time to decide on drinks. I ordered a Dragonberry Mojito (I love mojitos! and this intrigued me). This one I got, tasted like cough syrup. I tried to crush the mint leaves to help, spin it some more, but it still tasted gross. I mentioned to our server (Dwanye, Duane (sp?) who was our server for the evening) how I did not like the drink and requested another instead. He tells me, I still must pay for the other one... I spaced a bit.. and told him that's fine. But really? When someone tells you, what you served me was gross, you are still going to make me pay for it? That definitely dampened the mood for the rest of the evening. Something I will never forget! I ordered a dirty martini straight up to replace it and it was 10x better! I would not recommend that mojito to anyone! Our first course of mushroom soup was great. Our 2nd course, I ordered the raw oysters and he the ahi carpaccio. The oysters was nice and silky with a briny flavor. The ahi was a bit too warm for me. If its one thing I hate, its carpaccio that is warm! The 3rd course we had the lobster and scallop dish. They were both cooked well, nothing to note great about. And for dessert we had cheesecake and gelato. The cheesecake was extremely small compared to the gelato.. I think my chocolate dipped strawberry served as a garnish was bigger! For the price we paid for dinner here, pretty disappointing.

    (2)

  • Cara M.

    I've never had fine dining before. And Michel's made me feel a little uncomfortable about it. BUT! It's a beautiful restaurant. The cons of my experience: The waiter had the demeanor of a bouncer. He was kinda scary! Also a little rude when we were ordering. They had beautiful plates set up when we got there. I started using it to eat the complimentary bread sticks. The waiter quickly took the plate away. Wait. Was I not supposed to use that plate? The waiter never smiled. What's up with that. Plates and utensils kept on getting moved around. Taken, replaced. (It's getting awkward. Just let me eat already.) The lighting was a tad too dark. The pros of my experience: The second waiter checking up on us was super friendly. Or did it just seem that way in comparison to the first waiter? The view was pretty. Noise level was good. Butter for bread was amazing. The second waiter told us what was in it. I wish the second waiter had been our main waiter. Food was good. Water refills were super fast. The table-side Cherries Jubilee dessert preparation was WORTH IT. SO COOL. It was on fire, guys. Liquid, blue fire. A different waiter prepared it. Valet was fast. For appetizers, we ordered the Lobster Pot Stickers (~$24) and the French Onion Soup (~$14). Those were delicious. For entrees, we ordered the Salmon ($46) and the Steamed Onaga ($46). Overpriced. Good, but not that good. Dessert was the Cherries Jubilee ($16). I'd go back again just to see them make it! I don't think this dinner was worth $200 (including tax and tip). The service was there, but it just wasn't enjoyable at times. Shouldn't it be perfect if I'm paying so much?

    (3)

  • Jo C.

    My bf yelped this place and saw it was considered the most romantic spot for special occasions or 'just because' events. And for that, he thought it would be fitting to take me there for a special birthday dinner early this month. As expensive as it was I had a lot of expectations. We were obviously paying for the ambience, food and service. Just one peeve or 2, other than waiting for our dinner and dessert for nearly an hour, was a lil fruit fly in my wine. Our server was an Asian female. I called it to her attention and she came back with the same glass, and looked as if she just scooped the bug out with a spoon. It was clearly the same glass because my lipstick marks were on the rim. I was upset and thought it was a rude gesture to give me the same glass that a bug clearly flew in. Even I would know to switch it out for a clean one. Was it because she thought we weren't going to tip her good? Just because we're local...? Mind you my bf had poly tatts blazing and a mohawk to the sky. We are both in the restaurant biz, although not at a fancy 5* place, but we know to give our customers the right service. Regardless, the standards should be up to par whether we're eating at Ruth's Chris or Zippy's, Michel's should have no excuses. You figure, a 5* place, should have 5* service. Not worth it and won't be a next time. Too bad I'll remember this awful experience since it happened on my bday. I was better off eating at a local, fast food joint, spending half as much, and with better service.

    (1)

  • Edilyn C.

    Favorite restaurant. Celebrated special occasions here. :) Great food & service!!! Will be coming here next week for my fiancé's birthday.

    (5)

  • Teiki K.

    What you'd expect for one of the most renowned places on Oahu: Great food, great service with a price tag to match. As soon as you walk in, you know you've stepped into another level of gastronomy. The five different dudes that welcome you, the waiter who sets your table napkin for you, the insane amount of silverware and most importantly the incredible menu. French food with an island twist? Yes please! I had the lobster bisque (admittedly just to see the cognac fireworks), a few oysters and the warm seafood salad. As expected, all were absolutely delicious. My bisque was perfectly creamy, the oysters fresh and the seafood salad rife with deliciously fresh seafood from abalone to lobster and scallops. We topped everything off with a glass of wine and the soufflé and left feeling very satisfied. Apart from the incredible food, Michel really shines in the service department. You feel like royalty as soon as you walk in and the staff is there for you every step of your culinary journey. Friendly, attentive and accessible. Great views and decor complete with live music (thought the music did put us to sleep and we wished they'd played more upbeat local music). All in all a perfect place for that special occasion.

    (4)

  • Ben C.

    You're going to pay top dollar, but the view, food, ambiance and service are outstanding. You must have reservations, or you can eat at the bar. We did both. The bartender (like everyone there) is a real pro, it was fun to watch him do his thing. Best cocktails on the island. Veal tonello appetizer was a standout, the only thing I was slightly disappointed with was the cioppino - the sauce had paprika in it (not my taste for that dish) however, each piece of seafood was perfectly cooked. On my second visit I had a seafood ravioli that was delicious. The dining room is gorgeous - get there right at sunset. The staff are dignified and justifiably proud of their professional work. Servings are not small, which was appreciated. They do have a children's menu - they serve rude children poached over a bed of frisée, be advised. A top notch dining experience,

    (5)

  • Jane D.

    Went for my anniversary and I LOVED it. My steak was cooked to perfection. Our waiter went over and beyond. The view was AMAZING. We will definitely be back!!

    (5)

  • Russel M.

    With one of the most wicked views of Waikiki how can you go wrong. Five Stars for View alone. The Menu is hit and miss besides $$$$ but worth it. We focus on the Mixed Seafood Platter and share a Main Course along with a Power Drink or Two. Always try to go early for best window seating.

    (5)

  • J A.

    Amazing view makes this place worth it to visit. There really isn't much more to say about the ambiance of the restaurant. Just read through the multiple reviews of how serene the setting of the restaurant is. Dragonberry Mojito - perfect blend of flavors and the mint was not overpowering Escargot - the husband enjoyed it. Said it was the best escargot he has ever eaten. Island Salad - typical salad NY Cafe de Paris - perfectly cooked medium. I can't stand when I order my cuts to be cooked medium and they come out bloody. The meat was so tender and naturally flavored. Plated with a side of vegetables and slivers of fried onion rings Lobster Thermidor - two lobsters, garlic mashed potatoes. Creme Brûlée - classic creme brûlée. just the way I like it. Would definitely come here again.

    (4)

  • Jenny V.

    My husband brought me here for a wonderful dinner during the week of 4th of July. He had made reservations but we headed over to the restaurant half an hour early. We were seated immediatley at a table near the bar. It did not matter where you were sat the view from the entire restaurant was beautiful. Steps away was the beach and Waikiki beach looked so far away you felt like you were on a different island. The view was just so amazing. Our waiter was very nice and accommodating. He didn't pester us to order like most waiter/waitresses would do. We took our time looking over the menu. We decided on the famous escargot and vitello tonnato as our appetizers. As we waited for our appetizers our waiter brought us some flatbread and toast with butter. I would't bother with the bread and butter. I reccomend saving belly space for their food instead. Trust me, I wish someone told me this. Now on to the appetizers. Both were really delcious. Escargot - I have no idea how this is different from the typical garlic-herbed butter and snails but this tasted really good and it stood out from other places I have had this dish. Definitely a dish worth trying if you love snails. Warning when eating this dish, you might have the urge to drench every piece of bread in the butter. Vitello Tonnato - Veal, ahi sashimi, white tuna sauce, arugula, tomatoes, in a pesto-lemon capers vinaigrette. Really refreshing and tasty. The white tuna sauce reminded me of pate. All the flavors in this dish was perfect. For our entrees I ordered the island seafood cioppino and he ordered the 22oz porterhouse. Island seafood cioppino - I think this dish can be easily shared by two people. They sure did not skimp on the seafood; lobster claw, mussels, clams, octopus, scallops, shrimp, and salmon in a very smooth tomato based broth. This came with cheese toast that I did not even touch because I wanted to make room for all the seafood in front of me. 22 oz porterhouse - Yes, this is huge too. According to my husband it was really good, seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The sides he had were a sweet potato puree and grilled vegetables. We didn't finish our entrees but we certainly made a little bit of room for some dessert. The flour less chocolate cake looked interesting so that's what we had. Really dense and not overly sweet. The vanilla ice cream was nice as it was a cool contrast to the warm cake. This restaurant was one of the highlights of our trip to Oahu. I would definitely come back here if I ever find myself back in Oahu.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    WAYYY over rated and way over priced. Seafood (shrimp and lobster) tough and chewy; absolutely no spicing or flavor in the food, not even in the breadrolls. They're all pomp and no proof. Location on the beach with open windows/view is the best part. Come here for a drink and skip the food (though a single malt glass is $20 - robbery for an 18 yr old Mccallan!!)

    (2)

  • Ms. Akana A.

    The view is great. Menu not so much. Highly priced Menu. Over rated Steak place. Would not recommend. First and last time.

    (2)

  • Adam H.

    This is simply a great place to Dine, it cost a lot, but worth every penny. Can't wait to come back! Me and 25 others in a group put the entire crew through the ringer and they did a great job. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Christina B.

    Romantic setting with a breathtaking sunset & ocean view while eating a declicious dinner? YES, PLEASE! This was such an amazing experience & the service was phenomenal. One of the servers insisted on taking quite a few pictures for my boyfriend & I with the sunset view & ocean in the background. The lighting was beautiful in the pictures! The menu wasn't very large so it made deciding what to order easier than expected. I ordered the Island Seafood Cioppino, which is a combination of a different seafoods. My bf ordered a steak entree, but I can't remember the name of it. We wanted a combo of both seafood & meat. Both were very delicious. As for dessert, the Orange Creme Brulee is a MUST!! It's VERY GOOD. I wanted to order a second one, but opted on doing so (thank you, will power & self-control). To make dessert taste even better, it was surprisingly FREE.. compliments of the chef. This restaurant is definitely a top recommendation for tourists or even locals who want to enjoy a lovely fine dining experience.

    (5)

  • Miss Lei S.

    One of two restaurants on our list of visit while in Hawaii. The setting of this restaurant is beautiful. I only wish we made reservations in advance to get a chance for the oceanview seating to be able to see the sunset. Our reservation was made day off, at 8:15 and in the middle of the restaurant. Still beautiful ambiance with a harp playing behind us. Hard to believe they have been around over 30 years but I found Michels to be very classy and romantic. Their menu was simple, classic french style. We opted for the tasting menu with wine pairing and was very happy with our choice. The wine paired with the meal was spot on, with our only dissapointment of the portions of the pour to be quite small. We did opt for another glass to be shared with our main course. It would have been nice for them to easily top us off with what we were paying but I guess not.... The meals were small - as a tasting menu should be. I don't like to leave a restaurant overstuffed not being able to enjoy every course. The service was good, with our server being attentive but not overly so. Cost wise was pretty high but was expected almost $400 with the extra taste and gratuity. Well worth it for the beautiful ambiance and delicious food. Perhaps our next visit we may opt to purchase a bottle of wine rather than the wine pairing.

    (4)

  • Jon W.

    For the price, I've had much better. The food was ok, not great, as was the service. Factor in the price, stay far, far away. Harvest of the Sea appetizer was $52 and definitely not generous enough for two. Go anyplace else and you can get the same items for less than half the price. I ordered the special wagyu beef for $68. Next time I'll go to the local butcher shop and buy for $20/lb. Complete and total rip off. The wife ordered the lobster and shrimp thermidor. It was ok, but for $54 and to receive two shrimp I was dumbfounded. I wonder what happened to the meat in the claws. That would have been a half-decent addition, but was absent. The dessert was some chocolate cake that was way too chocolaty and simply not enjoyable. What's up with having to ask for bread and the wine list? Multiple wait staff had stopped by the table numerous times before we had to remind the primary waiter it was noticeably absent. Additionally, they were informed it was my wife's birthday, yet failed to recognize the fact we there went to observe. It does not hold a candle to Chef Mavro, Roy's, Ruths Chris, etc. Will not be a repeat customer.

    (1)

  • Pomai S.

    Dined at Michel's this past Saturday evening. For wine, we had: * Francis Ford Coppola's "Director's Cut" Cabernet Souvignon (2006). $20/glass (or $80/bottle) Our rating: 5 stars For apps, we had: * Helix Escargot Bourgogne - Half a dozen French snails in Michel's famous herbed-garlic butter. $18 Our rating: 5 stars! * Vitello Tonnato - Thin-sliced roasted veal, Yellowfin Ahi sashimi & tuna sauce served with arugula salad, tomatoes and lemon caper vinaigrette. $18 Our rating: 4 stars For entree, we had: * Potato-wrapped Moi with Saffron Risotto. Price n/a Our rating: 4 stars * Hardy's Hawaiian Bouillabaisse - An assortment of lobster, scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams, salmon and local fish in a savory saffron-tomato broth with a touch of island herbs and flavors. $38. Our rating: 2 stars Note: The saffron-tomato broth totally lacked character and wasn't savory at all. Needs work! For dessert, we had: * Decadence Chocolate Cake - with fresh berries and Macadamia Nut Ice Cream. $10.00 Her rating: 4 stars * Pineapple Lilikoi Macadamia Nut Cheesecake $ - Compliments of the house for my birthday Our rating - 5 stars! Service was amazing. Ambiance and view of Waikiki is of course second to none. The live music by Na Hoku Hano Hano Award winner slack key and classical guitarist Jeff Peterson was the perfect "icing on the cake" for the mood while dining by the sea at Michel's. This restaurant is as romantic as it gets folks. Other than the lackluster Bouillabaisse, everything about Michel's met or exceeded our expectations. Highly, highly recommended!

    (4)

  • Brandi K.

    My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday 2 years in a row. First time, UNFORGETTABLE experience! ! Service was impeccable, we had a waiter plus 2 guys standing in the back of us who filled our glasses and refilled bread continuously. We were definitely wowed. The food was DELICIOUS! Good sized portions for fine dining. It was a while ago but what stood out til this day was the Escargot, steak Diane and a foie gras dessert ( i think it was stawberries flambay w/ foie). We got excellent service and excellent food, very happy! The second time we went, quality went down a little. I think it was due to going on a weekend and the first time we went was a weekday. Anyway that shouldn't matter right?! We're still paying the same prices. We weren't tended to as well, food was still good, and waiter was less knowledgeable, or maybe he was busy. The French onion soup was really good, can't remember what else we had. We decided to try another restaurant for my next birthday. But overall I do love this place and I'll cut them a little slack since our first experience was so great. :-)

    (4)

  • Kimo S.

    I've been dining at Michel's since I was a little keiki and have always remembered the killer view. Special occasion? Come to Michel's. Screwed up and need to make-up with the significant other? Come to Michel's. Want a great dining experience, with a gorgeous setting and top notch service? Come to Michel's. We have been frequenting Michel's for the past few years more and more often, we always have a fantastic experience that has kept us coming back for more. Don't forget to plan around Friday night fireworks and sunsets, it's worth the price of dining here alone. One of our greatest pleasures is the table side preparation of signature dishes, Lobster Bisque, Beef Tartare, Ceaser Salad and especially the Strawberries Foie Gras Forever. My wife dreams of the Strawberries Foie Gras Forever and if you're into decadent and one of a kind desserts you must add this to your list. Finally, one of the last things that always impresses us about a fine dining establishment is SERVICE. We've been to other "high end" establishments (53 By the Sea) where the service doesn't live up to our expectations. Michel's has an amazing staff, they feel and portray themselves that conveys a high end dining experience. From service to setting, from drinks to food... Michel's is the TOTAL package when it comes to a fine dining experience.

    (5)

  • Miki W.

    Great experience. Nice ambience for a special day. Reservation at the sunset time dining is recommended.

    (4)

  • Becky K.

    My family and I celebrated a special occasion in August. It had been over 30 years since I dined at Michel's and everything was the superb. We had a party of 5 and were escorted to our table towards the outside overlooking the ocean. It was a Friday night and there was a fireworks show nearby which the host insisted us on seeing, even though we weren't seated yet. The atmosphere was pleasant (and romantic) with the guitarist playing soft music as we dined. The escargot was delicious and the oysters were the best I've ever had. I had the fish special which was delicious as others in our party dined on rack of lamb and tenderloin. No complaints from anyone. The Pinot Noir I selected was not available but the host recommended two similar wines. I went for the $90 bottle from Oregon and wished I remembered the vineyard as it was the best Pinot Noir I've ever tasted. My other guests agreed with me. We finished off our delectable meal with desserts, which included the marble souffle and two flambe desserts. If you are celebrating a special occasion and can afford it, then I highly recommend you dine at Michel's. I won't wait another 30 years to come back!

    (5)

  • Dave T.

    I have been to La Mer, Chef Mavro, and Alan Wong's years ago (before I made a Yelp account) and will be able to make a decent comparison amongst the fancy restaurants in Oahu. I was disappointed that Mchel's did not call us to confirm out reservation, and that made me a bit nervous as certain doubt existed in my mind about a possibility that a reservation was never made--and bringing my date to a fancy and busy restaurant wills end in embarrassment. Luckily, the reservations were indeed and was blown away by the beauty of the decor and view. We were seated near the beach where kids and dogs were frolicking in the sea and the sun was beginning to drop. I also noticed that all the servers were relatively young, my age or under (late twenties), which is much younger than the other servers form other restaurant who are usually in their thirties and up. In addition, the workers spoke with a pidgin accent, which I absolutely love, as it makes me feel more comfortable being myself. In other fancy restaurants, you will never hear their pidgin accented English, which can put customers in an uncomfortable position, especially for people not accustomed to eating fancy food. There is also a loud din, not as bad as Alan Wong (which reminds me of a dim sum restaurant because of the tables being so close), but not as quiet as La Mer or Chef Mavros. The subtle background noise provides a less romantic, but more casual dining experience. As for the food, I was not too impressed given the price tag. My date and I ordered the 6 course meal and none of the dishes strike me as memorable. Yes the dishes are fresh and beautifully presented; but I was expecting some creative twists and some cohesiveness in favors. If the prices were cheaper, I would bump up the stars, but I was disappointed. To be fair, the servers are my favorite out of all the fancy restaurants I have been to listed above, but I came here for the food mostly, and will likely not come back.

    (3)

  • Jay F.

    We cerebrated our wedding anniversary here. Wife love their seafood sampler, escargot and atmosphere. Do make a reservation for window table just before sunset and enjoy the pink and blue color changing sunset sky. Approx. $100 per person, including alcohol, is well worth it. I highly recommend this place to bring your girl friend or wife for Romantic occasions. Recommend on Friday for Hilton Fireworks in distance.

    (5)

  • Lance L.

    Classic french with a HI twist Reserve a table on the rail to the beach. Lovely place Nice menu, server was very competent and recommended a nice white and cooked the tenderloin tsableside. So nice it's got to be a 4 star rating, but it just misses on taste, Noit that it's bad, it just doesn't blow me away. LLL

    (4)

  • Janet K.

    I came here for Valentine's dinner with my bf and it was lovely as usual. On Valentine's Day the restaurant has a set menu with a three or four course option. We opted for one of each which consisted of... Cream of mushroom with abalone Oysters Rockefeller Lobster ravioli Beef tenderloin Lobster Thermidor Trifle Cheesecake Everything was great but I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to order off of their regular menu. I guess I'll just have to come back.

    (5)

  • Faye M.

    I've been here a number of times, mostly for dinner - but once for Sunday brunch. All times were either for my sister's bday, or her choice for a family holiday meal...so you can tell, it's her favorite place for a special occasion restaurant. Anyway, just ate here on 5.28 for my sister's bday...we started w/appetizers which were: steak tartare (prepared table side), oysters, & foie gras. Everything tasted really good, but the foie gras was the best! For our entrees, my sister and I both ordered the Prime Filet, Lobster, and Crab - it was delicious, the filet was very soft and cooked to perfection (Medium Rare)! My BIL had Michel's Ocean Bounty which came with everything but King Triton! He said it was good too. For dessert, my sister had the Chocolate Decadence (complimentary for her birthday), and I opted for some kind of coffee/espresso pudding thing. Both were equally good :) As for the restaurant itself, I always feel like I'm in the home of some eccentric old woman - kind of reminds me of that lady in "Great Expectations" - the one w/Gweneth Paltrow & Ethan Hawke. I don't know why - but it just doesn't come off as "fancy shmancy" to me. The waiters are dressed nicely, but the manager (I think) was wearing a long sleeve flannel shirt, that totally did not match the so called fine-dining ambiance of the restaurant. Early on into our meal, his shirt was untucked - but later on it was tucked in. Our waiter - Larry, was very nice and funny. Oh yeah, and because we were there on a Friday night, we had a really nice view of the fire works :)

    (3)

  • Jewelyn T.

    Michel's in on my top 5 places to dine in Hawaii! Came here for one of my brithday dinners during August in the summer & December while visiting Hawaii for the winter. I'm a huge fan of Michel's! Food, service, ambiance... they got it goin' on! I love the view of the ocean and I'm a huge fan of their flower arrangment in the entrance, I always take a picture next to it! They have live entertainment... I'm not a fan of the guy's voice but I love his song selections! When I had dinner here last month, I had the escargot (had better) and special of the night... risotto with salmon... my 2 favorites! yummm! Whenever I visit Oahu, my butt will always have reservations for dinner here! Michel's is one of Hawaii's top fine dining experience! If you're on the island... make Michel's your #`1 dining destination! Aloha.

    (5)

  • Shannon C.

    The view was amazing. That was the best part of our dinner. The food was okay. Nothing really spectacular. But probably will be back again for the amazing sunsets!

    (3)

  • Hines L.

    View = 4.5 stars, great view of the Waikiki-Honolulu. Sat directly at the window, only odd part is that to optimize their most valuable atout they sit you on one side of the table with the next one very close , you partially stare at people's back. Service = 2 stars, why did I not leave immediately - my gf had been here before and said the service is not up to the view and the food. She was right about not being up to the view. Waiter greeted us with "hey folks , how are you" ... Nice welcome ... for a family style restaurant I guess, not a $$$$ one. Hi tie was badly worn out and tied way to short, looked comical. He stumbled over every item of the specials of the day, and when I asked a second time 5 minutes later about the main course, he described the sides totally different from the first time. Opened champagne and wine correctly and prepared some of the dishes table side correctly. Saw that they had hazelnut gelato on the tasting menu and I asked if I could have it and to keep a portion for me, in case they would run out. Complied after inquiring with the chef if it was possible - why wouldn't it be ... At the end he brought the gelato without even being the desert menu for my girlfriend... We had a second waiter helping, not much better, neither of them attentive as you would except for a classy place. Food = 1star. Started with bisque de homard, escargots de bourgogne and foie gras. The bisque is one of their signature dishes - supposedly. It was thin, without finesse and inspiration, the table side prepared lardons overpowered the taste. Escargots, one had stone pebbles in it, can happen, but taste was, while nice and tender, just salty and not more- baguette on the side, tasted like a supermarket one. Fois gras, not much you can do wrong, but a lot of things right, like the sides and toast you serve, unfortunately neither met our expectations. Wine , Bourgogne, côté de Baune, premier cru, good, but had to ask to decant, while we had half a bottle of Moet Chandon, else it would have just set on the table, opened but not breathing. Main courses ,flamed beef tenderloin, sauce poivre vert, tough, over-cooked , had it sent back, was so disappointed at this point, didn't even want to try anything else. My girlfriend had the abalone - not bad, but yet again not inspiring and sides not matching at all. Desert - the hazelnut gelato very good, but not homemade I would say, and it was paired with Gorgonzola - big junks of it ... Gorgonzola blue cheese, yes. Really? Mental note don't ever try hazelnut gelato with blue cheese ever again! Sum of it, service was always so so as my girl friend stated- she was at Michele's a number of times in the past , the view , yes the view is great, the food , it was great - past tense, not anymore, or not last night! The restaurant looks somewhat dated, the staff the same. I would not recommend and won't give it even a second try.

    (2)

  • Anthony D.

    Had dinner here last night....loved it and highly recommend...... The menu is classical but with a nice selection of table side prepared dishes (Casear Salad,Steak au Poivre, Lobster Bisque) this was unique and sorely missed in the 'modern trendy restaurants' of today. Service was friendly, professional and efficient without being obtrusive again one of those pieces missing in todays 'trendy' restaurants. Decor is warm and refined and not 'over the top'..

    (5)

  • Traci H.

    I wish I could give it more stars because everyone seems to love it but I just can't. It's not bad, by any means, but it's nowhere near a 5-star experience in my mind. And on the pure food side, I still can't believe no one here can seem to stand up to Alan Wong's...mad props to him to still have some of the best food here and at good value. But I digress. First, if you take anything from this review: REQUEST A WINDOW TABLE. it's easy, no extra cost, and is way prettier than sitting by a wall (thanks to Melissa K.'s review, I called to request it so we weren't smack up against a cement wall--we didn't get it at first, but at least they knew and moved us later!). The good (since I really wanted to love it): Service: super friendly and nice; attentive. We had requested a "window" table but they said it was all reserved, but partway through dinner they said they had a cancellation and we could move. So they moved us just in time for the sunset! View: gorgeous sunset view overlooking the "outrigger beach" (it's a public beach but people think it's the Outrigger's). Complimentary valet parking Complimentary birthday dessert The stuff that led to minus stars: The FOOD: i wanted to like it. and tableside preparation is kind of a neat thing too --the lobster bisque: prepared table side. They cook up a tiny bit of lobster meat in butter and brandy and put it into the bisque--creamy, fishy, but not too tart. Just not that great --the maui onion soup: i did like this one. Little bit on the cheese, but good flavor, not too salty, not too dark --steak diane: prepared tableside so you get a little flame show and who doesn't love smelling cooking butter and truffle oil. I was worried the medium rare steak was getting way overcooked since he was cooking it over and over but it was actually ok. The sauce was ok. The meat was ok--it tasted actually like cheap chewy steak. The veggies tasted pretty yucky too. No flavor --the lilikoi cheesecake: the crust was good, the cheesecake was pretty good but the rest--that candied pineapple or whatever gnarly topping was like plastic yuck. Not for me. --oh the nasty hard as rock sickly blueberry looking "butter": I think it was sweet potato something but it tasted like fake lard or something. And it looked like it had the measles. And these were just meh: the sunset daquiri (ok it was virgin but it was still awful) was terrible; the ambiance feels like it's supposed to be romantic, but it's loud and kind of old feeling, even a little dirty feeling; No alcohol on the tab -- $160 for two people, including tip. Seems a little pricey to me, given the quality of food. I think I'd prefer to go to Alan Wong's, even if it means my view is of the mountain, instead of the beautiful beach sunset. When I eat dinner, I want good food. If I want a good view, I'll just make some spam musubi and galavant out to the beach... Ok, if you're stuck in Waikiki and looking to impress, I think I'd rather go to the Beachhouse or Azure (and I didn't even love Azure--but at least the quality of food seems better). You won't find me here unless someone else is paying. Glad I went once to try it out, but I don't need to go back.

    (3)

  • LeaDan Y.

    One of my personal favorites. I love the food, especially the Lobster Brisque. The service is just as attentive as I need them to be. Ask for the souffle, it's worth it. And the view, c'est magnifique. If I could afford to, I would eat here every month.

    (5)

  • linda a.

    When we arrived at 5:30, we requested a table by the window the hostess said it will be a 3 hour wait,we decided to not wait and when we walked into the dining area there were at least 4 tables empty by the window. The hostess stated you have to call months in advance for window seating. I told the hostess I did call early before coming to oahu and they stated it was first come first serve. Once we were into our first course they turned the lights up and gone was the romantic atmosphere,the light above us was so bright they did dim it just a bit,upon our request,it kinda killed the ambience of the room and felt like i was eating in a diner, way to bright. Regarding the food, the cesar salad was ok , escargot was really good and the main course of lamb was quite good. Just to note by the time we left all of the window seatings were catered to Japanese tourists.,just saying. We will not be returning!

    (2)

  • Phil P.

    Michel's is considered to be a "fine dining" restaurant. That it is... but if they're making about $100 a person, they could improve the decor a bit more. It just seems a little too "grandma's place" for me. I believe it's possible to be a french, fine dining yet modern restaurant. Now to the food... The food is well presented and quite tasty, but don't expect hearty portions. As expected for a fine dining experience, the food must be artfully presented. They were nice enough to comp my wife a nice little birthday cake. That cake was the BEST part of the meal for me... it was delicious! If the portions were just a touch larger, they would've earned another star from me. It was a good experience... just not great. I think Michel's is better suited for an "older" crowd (baby boomers). I could live without coming here again.

    (3)

  • Loki J.

    We got married yesterday, and I had decided to book the large room for our wedding reception for a party of 24. What a fantastic choice! My guests were amazed with the setting, food and service. Today people are still talking about the courses (the best menu is worth the extra money) and how amazing our servers were. Precise delivery of courses and everyone agreed it was one if the best receptions they had ever attended. We'll have dinner on our future trips of course. Thanks Michel's for making our day great :-)

    (5)

  • Doug P.

    very disappointed with Michel's, we made New Years reservations well in advance and at the last minute (two days before) they change the rules and said we had to eat a set menu, who eats a four course meal at 10:30pm. They wouldn't honor our reservation and told us we could go else where (a little late for that). My friends and I will never go back after this. FYI, they are removed from our go to list, very poor customer service. Same on you Michel's

    (1)

  • Corinne S.

    I love the food here, the seafood crepes are so yummy! Went back a second time and loved them so much I had to order them again! Also, they have souffle, do not know if you want chocolate or Grand Marnier? no worries, they can do both in one ramekin! This place needs to be on your list, oh and did I mention the view? Amazing!

    (5)

  • D K.

    Atmosphere: The view is excellent...if you're seated in an area where you can see it. We were seated at table for two crammed up against a pillar with my seat facing the entry and the ocean/view to my back. A very poor location and set-up for a table in a restaurant boasting the "island's best oceanfront view." I was neither able to see the ocean behind me nor the entertainment to my right which was blocked by the pillar. Food: The menu itself isn't particularly French in nature. We also got the lobster pot stickers which were good, but $26 for three was a little steep. I got the lamb for my entree--the meat lacked structure, the flavor lacked depth, and the consistency was more like veal (mushy). As suggested on the menu, I ordered the chocolate souflee at the same time I ordered my meal since it takes 20 minutes to prepare. After we finished our meals, the waiter seemed to have forgotten that I ordered the souflee but insisted that the order was placed beforehand. 20 minutes later we had to flag down the waiter and ask the status of the dessert to which he replied that it had "fallen" so the chef had to make another one. Whether or not what he told us was true, I would expect that a restaurant with this reputation that has been in business for as long as it has been would not have such trouble making one of their signature desserts (or at least have a contingency plan to keep customers from waiting an additional 20-40 minutes for dessert). An additional 10 minutes later we had to flag down the waiter again at which time we were brought a complimentary dessert that we didn't want and was told it would be yet another 5 minutes before the souflee would be done. Thoroughly disappointed, we left. Service: Our waiter was ok although he lost a lot of points when it came to the souflee ordeal as it seemed he was feeding us a load of bull. Again, whether or not the fault lay with the waiter or the chef, it's a poor reflection on the restaurant as a whole. The woman who brought out our food however was really nice and seemed very genuine in her interactions with us and other patrons. This isn't a terrible place, hence the two stars, but I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Noel G.

    awesome food, awesome service!! i had the rack of the lamb and my wife had the seafood bounty it was perfect!!!. we have been to this restaurant for 3 years in a row for our anniversary and I'm impressed every year , it gets better every time I'm there, best meal by far!!!

    (5)

  • C. O.

    Service was great. Everyone was very attentive. Can't beat the ocean view and spectacular sunset. Food was okay; not worth the price. Hubby makes a better steak. Had to try the cherries jubilee. Amazing presentation, but way too sweet for my taste.

    (3)

  • Leni K.

    Wonderful restaurant.... view, staff and food amazing! not to mention great guitar playing on the background. New Year's Eve was one of the best experiences!!!

    (5)

  • Anonymou S.

    I'm not rich, So I would come here only to buy desert. If my family ends up eating here then I'll actually get food cause then I'm not the only one paying. It's super pricey, but if you like fine dining, come here! It's amazingly beautiful. On Friday nights, there are fireworks! Ask for a ocean view seat if you want to be fun! Ask for anywhere else if you want to be romantic. It has such a romantic setting. But their desert though. OH MY GOODNESS. I don't remember what they were called but they were amazing! This chocolate mousse thing... Chocolate brownie thing... and this fruit thing. Three different deserts. SO ONO! It's pricey as fuck, but hey, you want FINE DINING?! This is the place. They even have their own guitarist who writes his own music! He gave me his CD once for free! I was only 14 back then!

    (5)

  • Bitsy M.

    My husband and I had an exceptional diner here. The location is so beautiful looking out over the pacific. We had a truly remarkable meal. He had the steak and I the lamb. Both were done to perfection. The service was 5 star as well. We HIGHLY recommend you make this a priority when visitng the area.

    (4)

  • Kalei F.

    Aaahh Michel's :) Beautiful view, excellent service, and pretty good food! This was my first time here to this place and we got seated right by the ocean, for a fabulous view of the sunset!! Reading the Yelp reviews, I got the Francis Coppola Director's Cut 2006 Cab at $20 a glass!! CRAZY good!! I'm now in love with this wine!! To start off, we got this amazing caprese salad with mango on the house. Just one bite and I was in HEAVEN!!! I got the Maui onion soup to start. It was SO good!! So rich and creamy and came with this amazing puff pastry dome on the top of it. It was heavenly!! I could eat like 3 of those!! Then we had the lobster bisque. It was made table side. I think that they either put too much cognac or didn't cook it long enough to really cook off the alcohol. That was probably one of the worst lobster bisque's I've ever had. They pre-make the soup base, and just sautee the lobster in the cognac and throw it in the soup. I would definitely not order that again!! I don't get what the whole hype was about! Then we had a dragonberry sorbet on the house which was very refreshing!! I wish I could've had more of that for dessert!! The color was beautiful and the taste was phenomenal! We had the special which was osso bucco? with a shrimp risotto. The flavor of the meat was very good and the shrimp risotto was very addicting as well. Not as creamy as a traditional risotto, but the flavor was definitely there! The rack of lamb was so delicious and cooked to perfection!! Would definitely get again! The chocolate souffle was just ok. They tried to do what Roy's does, but hello!! Roy's definitely has the BEST chocolate souffle/ lava cake!! This one doesn't hold a candle to it! At least it was free! For dessert, we ordered the mocha ice cream, mango sorbet, and strawberry daiquiri sorbet. All were amazing, with the mocha ice cream being my favorite!! The bread pudding was just ok. Not as moist as I would've liked, but still flavorful. It was a friday, so we got to watch the fireworks and it was beautiful!! I wasn't blown away by this place, but it was a nice dinner. If I would come back again, I would get the french onion soup, try the caesar salad, and maybe the foie gras. I think doing something table side is still an art, but I didn't get the quality and wow factor here that I got at Hy's steakhouse. The food and preparation there is top notch and I think Michel's needs to update their quality and presentation.

    (4)

  • Larry G.

    Went to Michel's for brunch on Easter with their Prix Fixe menu on a whim and was so glad that we did! First off, Michel's is right on the water and the views are gorgeous; nothing like drinking a Mimosa while watching the waves roll in. The Prix Fixe was a three-course meal with three separate selections for each course; I started with the Ahi Sashimi and my wife went with the Goat Cheese salad. The Ahi practically melted in my mouth; so tender and delicious! My wife really enjoyed the salad; locally procured goat cheese on greens were delightful and tasty. For the main course I went with the Lamb (it was Easter!) and potatoe croquettes while my wife went with the prime rib; both were cooked perfectly medium-rare and the sauces were delicious. Both plates were ample without feeling like you were stuffed after finishing so you could save room for dessert. For dessert we went with the Mango Cobbler with Vanilla bean ice cream and the Chocolate Lave cake with Macadamia nut ice cream; both were a great treat to finish off a wonderful meal. Service and the ambience were wonderful; we will definitely head back for another delightful experience!

    (4)

  • Len C.

    The service at this location is what an upscale restaurant should aspire to. Truly outstanding. Enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine. The food is exceptional but it's really about the ambience. Ask for a window table. There was a small issue with the wife's steak...well done, when she had asked for medium. The staff was on it instantly, more than apologetic, and more than compensated for the kitchen's error. Handled with absolute class, impressive.

    (5)

  • Jeff H.

    A great place for French cuisine and great service. Our food was rich and wonderful and the atmosphere was up beat. Some of our favorites were the oyster appetizer. They serve a small, plump oyster that is delicious! Their lobster bisque is rich in all the right ways. I'm pretty sure it has plenty of cream and butter in it! The special on our night was the veal chop and lobster tail, it was wonderful. We finished off the night with a light flourless chocolate cake and ice cream. They have a great open air dining room and on our next visit, I want to come when we can watch the sunset. All in all, a great spot for a couple of or good group of friends aiming to enjoy a wonderful meal. It is a bit expensive but the food and service made it worth if for us. I look forward to coming here again if/when we come back to Hawaii!

    (5)

  • Zar A.

    Lover of French cuisine! ^^ Michel's is DEFINITELY THE, "THE", place to take the girl of your dreams to impress, wine and dine, if you want her to fall in love and stay in love with you forever..........!!!!! ^^ Located right next to the water, Michel's got a super romantic ambiance, top notch waiter service, spectacular food menu, awesome wine menu.... There's really nothing more that a girl can want. Maybe except some diamonds! I don't really feel like I should write anything about the food here, as you can order anything on the menu and you won't be disappointed!!

    (5)

  • Richard M.

    Excellent location on the water, great for sunsets (get there early). The Escargot was very good. The negatives: the rack of lamb and lobster were very run-of-the mill, nothing special. the lamb was supposed to be medium and it was well done, and two small pieces. The lobster had very little taste. But worst of all, our waiter was very unpleasent, never cracked a smile (until we were on the way out and he had out tips). He refused to split the bill the way we wanted. He wrote a "suggested" tip amount on our check. Considering that we speant over $1,600 for a group of ten, this was not the experiece that we have had so many times before. Next time in Hawaii we will try another restaurant.

    (3)

  • Kristin W.

    The food is to die for. I've only been here for special occasions cause you can drop like 3 bills here easily. Um, lobster bisque, YES PLEASE! The food is so good. And the view - amazing. Ohhh, must try, must try.

    (5)

  • William C.

    This is a must for the view and ambience. Went here for Easter Brunch and was awstruck by the beauty of this place. Better view than Hua Tree Lania which is next door but Hua Tree may have better food. But, I really enjoyed my oyster course here with great service. Our server threw in an extra couple rounds of complimentary Mimosa's which might have helped my impression. My Prime Rib was just ok but there is no question this place has a great view. Has been voted most romantic rest. In Honolulu in Hale Aina awards for over a decade... Will definitely go back and sample more of the menu. *(this restaurant is listed twice on Yelp)

    (4)

  • Renee M.

    This was the perfect spot for our 24th anniversary dinner. We made the reservations about a week in advance and asked specifically for a sunset view. What we didn't know is that the entire back of the restaurant has an amazing view of beach and ocean, with nearly floor to ceiling open air views. It is as if you are ON the beach itself. Lovely, lovely ambience, with pretty chandeliers and tables with antique oil lamps. Dinner was wonderful - lobster bisque, an unusual french onion soup, ocean bounty of mixed seafood, steak au poive and a beautiful souffle for dessert. Two items of note - we had a small table a few steps away from the open area and our view was being obstructed by the large party next to us. With one request, the wonderful staff was able to move us to a direct table next to the beach. Also, the host recommended an incredible drink to me - it was a blueberry sprizter of sorts, served over ice with a separate serving on the side. The St. Germain "Hummingbird" cocktail. WAS WONDERFUL! We will definitely be back to Michel! Thank you for making our anniversary so special!

    (4)

  • James P.

    While this place is a little pricey, it's a great romantic setting on the beach - A great spot to watch the sunset while you dine! They got rid of my favorites which were a table service for a Spinach Salad and Steak Diane (Both Awesome) they use to also have a fantastic Chocolate Soufflé. They may still have these as specials, if they do I highly recommend them!!

    (5)

  • Inga S.

    The staff was EXCELLENT, the location was BEAUTIFUL, the escargot was AMAZING (better than what I had in Paris, although my boyfriend begged to differ). So what were my problems with it? I had one of those tableside cooked, meat dishes and was disappointed because I think that the server was so friendly that he didn't realize he was overcooking my dish. My medium rare was definitely well done. For the price, that kind of mistake is pretty bad. I also had a problem with the fact that the meat was cooked tableside but the sides of that dish weren't. So there was definitely a visible, palatable difference in temperature. Meat=hot, sides=cold. Would I go back? I probably would take myself to another restaurant, but lemme tell you, that view is quite breathtaking.

    (3)

  • Justin T.

    Michel's is a must! It is right on the water and the staff takes very good care of you. David N. is the BEST server! He knows how to take care of his guests! Many of the dishes are cooked tableside. The food is superb! Some of the dishes are very rich, so you eat less, which is good for your figure. You still leave full and satisfied. The GM is very entertaining. We talked about Dancing with the Stars! Everyone here treats you like family.

    (5)

  • Cassie T.

    We went to Michel's to celebrate my birthday. This place came highly reccomended by my co-workers. We were very impressed with the view. We had just moved to Oahu and enjoyed being able to eat dinner with an amazing sunset view. It was perfect! We ordered the Smoked Salmon appetizer, the Prime New York Steak Au Poivre for dinner and the Chocolate Souffle for dinner. All was very good! To top it off their cocktails were delicious! If you are looking for a nice dinner try Michel's!

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    I took my Fiancee to Michel's for her Birthday and we really enjoyed everything; the meal, the setting and the service. I had the Cioppino which was deliciously prepared and came hot to my table. I am a stickler for having my food served "hot" (temperature wise) and was not disappointed. My Fiancee ordered the Rack of Lamb which she enjoyed thoroughly. We requested a table with a view and was placed right alongside the area overlooking the beach. We really enjoyed the Sunset but the next time will ask for a table a little further from the beach since my Fiancee received a slight sunburn on her arm. Most of the patrons will have a great view of the sunset from 70% of the restaurant. The service was top notch and not too intrusive. Our waitress prepared our Caesar Salad at table-side and it was delicious.

    (5)

  • Chad S.

    Our reservation was right around sunset. I recommend the timeframe as you have a wonderful view of the beach and had a perfect view of the sunsetting. The service was very friendly and tentative. The food was expensive as expected due to fine dining. Food was great, not exceptional but pretty good, none the less. We ordered the tiramisu for desert, and didn't really care for it. We also got a complimentary desert for my wife's birthday, which was a chocolate molten cake, with a scoop of mac nut gelato. That was a lot better. All in all, a very good experience.

    (4)

  • Minette C.

    I expected a lot from this place from all the raving reviews, and I was a bit disappointed with the food. The atmosphere and the service were spot on though. I was being a total dork, and decided to book this place while on vacation with my sister. I chose the must romantic dinning scene and reserved the table at 7pm, so we can see the sun set. It was very romantic for us siblings :). Our waitress was very knowledgable about the menu, and was quite honest about which entrees weren't the best. The manager even came out a few times to refill our wine glasses, so they were super attentive. We ordered the escargots in butter sauce, half dozen oysters, and the Lobster and Thermidor. The escargots were good and dripping with butter, but what isn't good with butter? The oysters were alright, I still prefer the selections back in SF, and the main entree was so-so. It was quite simply made, and I didn't find any wow factor to it. But if you wanted a romantic atmosphere, this is the place to go. The windows are all opened, and exposes the beach front.

    (3)

  • Jess J.

    The boyfriend decided to surprise with me a nice birthday dinner and boy did he. The ambiance was very lively. Kinda wished we didn't sit in the front of the restaurant, I like to people watch (^_^) but instead there was one chick who kept staring at me... I just gave her the stink tilapia eye and boom! it was over like that!!! Anywho, back to the food. You have to try the Helix Escargots Bourgogne which is 6 snails drenching in herbed-garlic butter. So yummy! It was like eating mushrooms. That will set you back $24.00 . I had the Prime New York Café de Paris ($48). It was definitely filling, I only wished that I had more than 1 Gnocchi. Like c'mon, I've been starving myself all day so I could stuff myself with all your goodness. The boyfriend had the Beef Tenderloin Au Poivre ($50). This was finished at table-side. The server gave my boyfriend a double shot of Jack. You definitely could taste it, but in a good way. The dragon berry mojito was bomb!!! My boyfriend ended up ditching his regular mojito for one like mines. No free birthday deserts :-( only a candle and an oval chocolate piece placed on the desert you order. And you never get the same server. We must've had about 4 or 5 guys wait on us. They all look like they all help each other out. I wonder how they split their tips then? Hmmm...

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Michel's was a choice restaurant for a special occassion. The view from here is beautiful, the food was prepared nicely and the service was excellent. We really enjoyed the steak, as well as the lamb was delicious. I'd definitely recommend going to Michel's is you are looking for a special occassion. you won't be dissapointed.

    (5)

  • Otavio C.

    DOWN THE HILL- We went to Honolulu for Christmas/ New Years celebrations. Decided to go to some of the "best" restaurants (and went, check our other reviews). This one was a complete deception. We went to christmas dinner (24th). The place is beautiful, but service, food and everything else BELOW average. We were attracted to this restaurant by other trip advisors review (done early in 2014), that were good. If you check those made around the end of the year, it is clear that the restaurant was running down in quality. Keep away - expensive, below average service and food (OH god, cheese cake factory would deliver a better and cheaper food)

    (1)

  • Khai T.

    I am SOOOOO coming back! Took the wife here to celebrate our 4 year milestone. The Table the manager reserved for us was superb! Watched the sunset, while enjoying our bottle of wine and Champagne. The Mrs. was all smiles from ear-to-ear, we ordered the escargo, lobster bisque, island salad, and rack of lamb( I am not a fan of Lamb but it was highly recommended by peers) I can't stop raving about the quality of the food! Throughout the night we got overwhelmed by the top level of customer service,,, as we finished the dish the next one would come out perfectly timed. Each dish would impress a different section of our taste pallets! Needless to say I loved the Rack of Lamb,, it didnt taste like my past experiences with lamb. At the end of the night we walked away with a satisfied tummy and a great dinner experience. Definitely will be back again and agian!

    (5)

  • Noelani C.

    If you are in need of a place to celebrate and have an inkling for seafood or even a porterhouse steak, then Michel's should be on top of your list. Hands down, this is one of the best meals I have ever had in Honolulu. Chef knows how to cook and display fish to perfection, obviously he has trained his team well. The service was good and they went out of their way to accommodate my dietary needs. The portions were small, which was fine because on top of the 3 courses they gave an amuse bouche, petit fours, and parting snack. The bread pudding at the end was an extra nice touch The restaurant was great, only downside is affording the price tag. Yelp has to put a " $$$$$ " for the Price Range, I must say.

    (4)

  • Ryan P.

    This was my first time to Michel's and what a great experience !! It was my parents last night visiting, but I can also picture a special occasion dinner for 2. The sunset is spectacular, but make sure to get window seating so you can listen to the waves crashing and feel the ocean breeze. The service was above and beyond.

    (4)

  • Manda Bear B.

    ************************** 621 ************************** 1 of the nicest sunset view in the Waikiki Beach! Michel is French good for the island standard! But no La Mer standard, although it's 1 of my FAV now! Decent wine list, good food, good service! Definitely romantic spot, well, I came with my bestfriends, arr there's always next time!

    (4)

  • Jeff S.

    I hadn't been to Michel's in years but kept missing their "Beef w/ Foie gras mousse in pastry". So I chose Michel's as my birthday dinner destination. An excellent choice and the whole family agreed. Decor was pretty much the same yet very well kept up. Nice bathroom too. Service was impeccable. Staff was friendly and welcoming with a genuine feel to their hospitality. They were very attentive without being annoying. My water glass was never empty. Big points with me. Then there was the food: Passed on the Lobster bisque to continue my pursuit of a good Onion soup. I have been searching for a good onion soup and coming up way short. Too salty (Ryan's); Cold soup with cold hard cheese on top (Tango); Inedibly salty (CIA, Napa Valley); the list goes on. The "Sweet Maui Onion Soup" ($12) was fantastic. Perfect amount of gooey cheese, salt, onions, broth and puff pastry on top. Yum. Finally! My wife had the "Sauteed Foie Gras" ($36). Huge serving compared to the little teaser portions you get at most places. Toe curling little slabs of pan seared heaven. We also ordered the "Escargot". Herb/garlic butter, sliced bread to dip,...the angels were singing. The "Warm Baby Spinach Salad" was prepared tableside. A little overdressed but the dressing wasn't really sour as it can be if the preparer is heavy-handed with the lemon or vinegar so it was still delicious. I discovered that my foie mousse dish had been replace with "Beef Tenderloin Rossini" ($56) a prime filet topped with a decent sized piece of sauteed foie gras. No complaints here. This was even better! The filet was a perfect medium rare and there was enough foie that I got some with every bite. Once again the angels were singing. I'm not much of a dessert guy but decided to get a flambe since it was my bday. Wow! The Pineapple and Framboise (raspberry) flambe is poured over cubed red velvet cake and vanilla ice cream. Sooo good. The angels were hoarse already and I was ready to lie down. A very positive dining experience with satisfaction on multiple levels. Oh and we went a 6p, caught the sunset and saw our first green flash.

    (5)

  • Jason S.

    A beautiful location, very romantic setting, and delicious food. The Chef is very friendly and executes a delightful and insightful menu. A perfect spot for Valentines or a birthday. Tres Bien!

    (5)

  • Vanessa C.

    A friend had recommended this place as a must go to when we were in Oahu on vacation. I have to say this is the most romantic restaurant I have EVER been to!! We arrived here 30-45 minutes before sunset. The weather was warm, I was seated next to someone I love and the sun was an orangey pink haze. Straight out of a romance novel. The food was succulent and savory. We had the Steak Diane, which they made table side. Even better! It's probably one of the best steaks I have ever had. I still crave that. We had the ahi tuna tartare, steak tartare, salad, fish, and dessert. The food and the service was excellent as well. I want to go back again

    (5)

  • Ruth Z.

    What an incredible dining experience! We went here for our anniversary dinner. Making a reservation online was quick and easy- we requested a table with a view of the beach, and they must have paid attention to the note because that's where we were seated. For appetizers we had the lobster bisque and steak tartare. Both were prepared tableside, with flair and class! The lobster bisque was divine. It was not overly oily or thick; it was perfectly creamy and full of flavor. I was nervous about the steak tartare, since I've never had it before, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was "just right" spicy, cool, moist, flavorful, and tender. So delicious on toast! For our main courses, we ordered osso bucco and rack of lamb. The osso bucco was SO tender it fell apart under my fork, and practically melted in my mouth. The rack of lamb is not something I would normally order, but it was equally tasty. We weren't going to order dessert, but our attentive waiter brought out a lovely berry/ice cream dish for our anniversary. The only thing I didn't really like was that the portions were H-U-G-E. For an intimate dining experience, I would prefer smaller courses. The noise level was also a bit louder than I would have preferred, but we were seated near a very large table, so that contributed. All in all, dining here made for the perfect classy date night! We are definitely going again.

    (5)

  • Hashim A.

    Dined here on my vacation in Waikiki and I must say I was impressed. I was a little disappointed I didn't get the view I requested in my reservation, but I understood when I saw that half the restaurant was dedicated to a wedding party. Despite the large wedding party going on in front of us, service was very smooth. The lobster bisque we had was good. Not quite as good as the bisque we had at Hy's or Alan Wong's, but good nonetheless. I ordered the onaga, which was fabulous. The portion was just right and the fish was perfectly cooked. We had the apple tart for dessert which, once again was delicious and just the right portion. I can't wait to come back here next time I'm on Oahu.

    (4)

  • Darcy K.

    BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF WAIKIKI BEACH...Sit by the window! GREAT SERVICE DELICIOUS FOOD AND WINE just lovely! No disappointments or complains at all!

    (5)

  • Toan D.

    I haven't been completely around the world but can't imagine a more beautiful setting for a restaurant. The four of us intended to have a sunset dinner and ended up closing the place ;)) Incredible food and service. Grammy Award winner Jeff Rassmusen on guitar, the beautiful Pacific Ocean within a stone's throw, cool evening breezes, and the sounds of gentle rolling waves. If there were ever a perfect restaurant, this would be it in my book.

    (5)

  • Heath H.

    Wonderful. This is one of the many restaurants you should dine at during your trip to Hawaii. Of the many places I ate at during my 11 day trip this is one of the top three I still can name and know I will visit again.

    (5)

  • Kimi E.

    I LOVE their Chocolate souffle!!! It's the best I've found in Honolulu, so far!

    (4)

  • David L.

    I took my gf here for her birthday dinner and was not disappointed! Made reservations on the phone and it was fairly easy. They even called the day before to confirm. Ambiance was great. I asked for a table with a view, and should have been more specific in stating that I wanted one closest to the beach, but got one by the bar instead. It ended up working fine, as my gf gets cold easily, so sitting inside suited her better. We could still see the beautiful sunset, and afterwards, had a great view of the Waikiki lights. Service was excellent. The food was nice as well. I had the tenderloin, and she had the veal. Mine came out pre-cut, which was odd to me, but it was well received. Her veal was very tender and even had lobster/scallops in one of her sides! The bill was as expected, and overall, we had a great night. I would definitely recommend this place for special occasion dinners.

    (5)

  • Justin S.

    Always an incredible experience, even if you only experience it a few times in your lifetime. High-tier restaurants like Michel's can probably be counted on your fingers and toes on Oahu, and I will say that I'm glad for its rarity in that it lends great value to a meal you will not forget. The beach and sunset lie just a few yards away, the sound of the ocean is audible and paired with a pair of smooth-voiced musicians lobbing Hawaiian falsetto across the room, and the lighting and setting are perfect. Visualizing this place is enough to make one suddenly go poetic. Service here is unbelievable, especially for a locally raised kid like me. Attendants provide you with service and attentive care for things you hadn't even yet realized you needed yourself. Are you a lefty? The guy noticed, and while he's talking he's also rearranging your flatware to fit your handedness. What kind of water do you want? Plain old water, sparkling, or mineral? Try stepping away from your seat for 60 seconds, and you'll return to a napkin that's been immaculately refolded and placed at your setting. I guess that's what top-tier restaurants do, but it still blows my mind. Servers are incredibly theatrical about the menu, and describe every component of every dish to the most minute detail. As a result, everything seems amazing, and (surprise) everything IS amazing. Table-side service comes in the form of appetizers and desserts, and there's no shame in gawking at the cherries jubilee being lit up a few tables away. We started with the Lobster Bisque and a Hickory Smoked Salmon appetizer, both of which were finished and served at the table. The server skillfully flambeed lobster meat with butter and brandy before laying it on the super-rich bisque. The server then sliced salmon (smoked in-house) and served it on a plate filled with breads, creme fraische, red onions, capers, and caviar. Simply put, both were presented in an incredible way, and devastatingly delicious. For entrees, we had the Roast Duck and Steamed Onaga. The steamed onaga was great, served with a shoyu/ginger sauce and somen noodles, but didn't amaze me as much as the duck. The roast duck wasn't gamey, but rather filled with herb flavors and rich caramelized sparks and accompanied by a number of interesting vegetables and brown rice. We skipped dessert (tsk, tsk), but I know it's a treat we'll enjoy in the future. This is not a place to frequent unless you're notably affluent, but the experience is enlightening.

    (5)

  • Gloria C.

    I chose this restaurant to celebrate my birthday with my bf because of its one of a kind romantic decor. The restaurant was located right on the beach; your oceanfront table allowed you to look out into the infinity of the ocean. We were not familiar with french cuisine so we didn't order any of their famous table-side prepared dishes. However, we did order things we know we would not dislike and they were prepared decent. Since it was my bday, they also gave us a free dessert that tasted all right. Although the food was not unforgettable, the ambience alone was worth it if you are drinking a good bottle of wine with the right person. :D

    (3)

  • Marty G.

    Service upon arrival was great sans the hostess. The prix fixe menu was horrible. Our server was asleep. The imported golden sturgeon caviar was the best part of my meal. Great location and ambience, but the food during my first experience wasn't on par. May return to see if ordering from the regular menu is better.

    (2)

  • Jerry S.

    michel's at colony's , in my opinion is the most romantic restaurant on the island, the sunset view, table side service that cozy 70's decor and no dress code rule make this restaurant special, my only minor complaint is that their strawberry jubilee flambe costs more than hy's and hy's does it better, also that strawberry foie gras forever flambe (combination of ice cream, foie gras and strawberry) is a little foreign for me, other than that, michel's is my first choice over any other restaurants in oahu

    (4)

  • Todd P.

    My favorite French dining on the Island of Oahu. Steak Diane and chocolate sufle for dessert. The best !

    (5)

  • lauren n.

    tonight no surprise the food and service was amazing!!!! this time i tried the escargot, warm seafood salad, foie gras and the chatteau. the escargot was very clean, moist and soft. seafood salad was just an excellent combo of veggies, fruits, and seafood. i am not a fan of foie gras but this one was like butterxfat melt in your mouth. the chatteau was hearty and meaty. i can not stress how amazing michel's is!!!!

    (5)

  • Chantelle J.

    Absolutely one of my FAVORITES on Oahu! It's very outdated but, has lots of character and charm. The food is incredible! I just LOVE the lobster bisque and Escargot. The view is perfect for a date or a small gathering with friends. It's very romantic with the water just steps from your table. I will definitely be visiting Michel's again soon.

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    We went to Michel's to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We hadn't been in over a year and have never been what could be called regulars. We've decided that this will change. It couldn't have been a nicer experience. We had a great table, with a view of whales spouting in the distance. Our neighbor's waiter pointed them out to us, which was a treat. The service was perfect and the food was outstanding. All that said, with cocktails, wine, and four courses each the night was not inexpensive. (Not to mention the cost of a hotel room because we don't drive when we wine and dine.) We thought it was worth every penny. You have to enjoy yourself once in a while.

    (5)

  • serina c.

    Michel's was hands down the best dining experience in honolulu. The food was outstanding and my waiter was super friendly. It was a little bit confusing to find at first because I did not know it was in a hotel. Def will be back on my next trip to oahu

    (5)

  • brad v.

    Usually I am an avid Yelp surfer to find my next best restaurant. In this case, if I were to have read the ratings here and as I took a referral from friends to eat here I was very disappointed in the food. The atmosphere of the sunset style open air ocean dining really is worth going, however for the price you can get much better food elsewhere. With this ratings here on Yelp I may have to go back again for a second time and give Michel's another try. . Thanks

    (2)

  • lisa m.

    This is a review for dinner on Valentine's Day. They had a special 4 course prefix menu. My favorite was the artichoke soup with sauteed foie gras. The seafood salad was delicious (had crab, lobster, & abolone in it). After having these two dishes, I had expected the entree to be excellent but the fish was completely overpowered by a paprika sauce and killed the subtle flavors. The velvet cake was descent. The ambiance was nice, the service was great. We were overlooking the water, listening to the waves. They make good drinks!

    (4)

  • Rissa K.

    Spectacular sunset and ocean view of Waikiki and Diamond Head! I loved the decor very old school and the service was great! I had the filet mignon and lobster special. For starters I had a salad with baby shrimp and endives with sliced almonds. I had the complimentary dessert since I was celebrating my bday...which was a chocolate brownie and macadamia nut gelato drizzled with fudge. I also loved the entertainment which was an older guy playing his acoustic guitar. When I was brought over my bday dessert he even played happy bday song with his guitar. This place is very classy and def a romantic spot.

    (4)

  • Jerry E.

    Well, this place definitely has great setting; however, it is well over-priced. Their dishes were all right, although not spectacular. I was very disappointed with their expensive Caesar's salad because it came with too much dressing and was extremely salty; Hy's is much superior. No question, their services were commendable. One need not to ask for water refills. Overall, this establishment is good for special occasions, but not for regular visits, unless you have deep pocket.

    (3)

  • Doug P.

    very disappointed with Michel's, we made New Years reservations well in advance and at the last minute (two days before) they change the rules and said we had to eat a set menu, who eats a four course meal at 10:30pm. They wouldn't honor our reservation and told us we could go else where (a little late for that). My friends and I will never go back after this. FYI, they are removed from our go to list, very poor customer service. Same on you Michel's

    (1)

  • Duane H.

    My Wife and I were part of a party of 24, spread over three tables. The atmosphere is amazing here. We had a beautiful view of the Hawaiian sunset. Open air dining right beside the Pacific! The food was amazing. The french onion soup, baked as a pastry, was the best I have ever had. I had the Ocean Bounty, many different types of seafood, and it prepared wonderfully. We had cherries' jubilee for dessert, prepared tableside, complete with a show of flames. They used an orange peel to channel the burning liquor and it was truly amazing. Kudos to Michel's. White linen tablecloth dining at its best. The servers were enthusiastic and helpful. Cocktails were above reproach. The finest meal I have every had in Hawaii, and in my top ten for my lifetime. Especially impressive because there were so many of us. I will return, for sure.

    (5)

  • T C.

    I came for the Sunday brunch. I phoned in a reservation and when I arrived I was seated at a table over looking the beach. From the beginning to the end of the meal the staff was attentive ... even offered without asking to take a few photos of us. Nice. We started with a shared plate of fruit and each had the Belgian waffle. That was filling so no desert for us. Enjoyed every bit of the meal here.

    (4)

  • Michelle C.

    Ahh! This place was amazing! My husband took me here for my birthday. He made reservations at 6:30 and requested a table by the ocean. It was perfect we were practically right on the ocean for sunset, it was spectacular. The food was superb. I would have to say the best food I have eaten in Honolulu. For my birthday I got a special dessert. This is definitely a special occasion type of place, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to celebrate!

    (5)

  • Beth I.

    Michel's has got an old school kind of charm with quaint decor and formally dressed servers, but sometimes you need a little of that in Hawaii. The service is also top notch. It's not stuffy or staunchy, but friendly and so efficient. We just had a company Christmas party in the private room and everyone enjoyed the view of the setting winter sun over the ocean. This view reminds you why we are SO lucky to live in Hawaii. I haven't had a bad dish here ever and I haven't talked to anyone that has. Everyone I know raves about their experiences here. I had a fillet and abalone this past visit and it was fabulously plated. The kind of presentation that makes you want to take pictures of it from all angles. unts unts unts.... It was preceeded by a lobster bisque (OMG good) and followed by a light and delicious pineapple lilikoi cheesecake. The food was AMAZING and surprisingly generous. Our party had 2 or 3 dedicated servers that made sure we had everything our heart desired and our wine glasses were never empty. I'm not sure how much I drank, but it also made for a very good time. They had a screen for a slideshow we wanted to project and were so accomodating to get us the setup and room layout we wanted. It was fantastic for a small 30 person party. Absolutely top notch in my book. It was a good time. Period.

    (5)

  • Shay F.

    Only the 5:30 early dining seating has the $45 set menu that includes an appetizer, an entree, and a drink. It doesn't include dessert. I had the crab cakes and the salmon from this early seating menu. I thought the crab cakes were good...and I think I would've liked my salmon if it was cooked a bit more, but overall, it wasn't bad. (I liked the risotto/pasta thingy the salmon came with.) I went back 2 days later, and asked for a vegetarian option. They said they could do either a veggie pasta, or a veggie risotto. I got the veggie risotto, and it was horrible. It was drenched in oil...and didn't have flavor. I should've just gotten the set menu. Ugh. But the service is great, and the view is just awesome. OH!!! but the creme brûlée is AWESOME!!! I should come here just for that next time. Yelp 365 Challenge #218/365

    (3)

  • travis s.

    Beautiful views and excellent service from our server, David. Food meh. Dinner started off with a duck sausage in puff pastry, compliments of the house. This was a pretty good sausage it was smoky and everything was cooked well. Sausage was a little salty as is to be expected of a sausage but, would turn out to be a theme for the rest of the night. We opted for the yellow fin tuna tartare. This was great quality ahi great flavor won ton chips were a little too crunchy for or taste almost hurt or mouths to bite into. We also got the tableside lobster bisque this was pretty salty, and came with the tiniest pinch of actual lobster meat. Kinda pricy for what we received. Onto the entrees. We got the ocean bounty and the Porter house. The ocean bounty was alright. The lobster seemed like it was previously frozen and everything else was, you guessed it, a little on the salty side. The flavors were alright, seemed to be kind of muted maybe a little more herbs would've helped here. Finally the porter house was seasoned perfectly however, it was cooked medium to medium well, it was ordered medium rare. Desert was the molten chocolate cake and was great. This would've been a three star review if it hadn't been for the awesome service.

    (4)

  • Mary J.

    MAGICAL MICHEL'S IS MY MOST FAVORITE! The magic only begins with this beautiful location in the Colony Surf, nicely set apart from the hustle, bustle and assembly line feel of Waikiki restaurants! Here, you are welcomed in to the lovely surroundings of a beachside location spiced up with exquisite French restaurant tasteful decor and highly knowledgeable, customer oriented hostesses, hosts, management and waitstaff. Without any sense of rushing you, the very helpful and attentive staff guide you through the most tasteful dining experience in Hawaii, while catering to your individual preferences. That is only the beginning.... as you enjoy the delightfully delicious servings, the warm tropical breezes are softly accented by the amazingly entertaining live sounds of Grammy award winning slack key / guitarist Jeff Peterson! This is very romantic! As absolutely amazing and delicious as the entrées are, be sure to save room to spoil yourself with their finest desserts, preparedexpertly right at your table!

    (5)

  • R. L.

    What's happening with this place? My wife and have been looking forward to eating here again since our first experience back in 2006, at that time the food was excellent, truly 5 star. However, that wasn't the case today, in 2014... First let me say that the cocktails were good as was the wine and my wife's appetizer--lobster potstickers. After that it was all downhill starting with my French onion soup... Shouldn't this type of soup contain a layer of cheese across the top? And shouldn't that be especially true at a French restaurant? Well what they served didn't resemble French onion soup, instead of a baked cheese crust it was a thin pie crust; a few sprinkles of cheese was in the soup along with some Maui onion and a watered down--tasteless broth.... It was the worst French opinion soup I've ever eaten. Next came the main course; island seafood cioppino for the wife and beef tenderloin au poivre for me... $46 and $50 respectively. According to my wife, whose eaten cioppino many times in the city of San Francisco, this dish was flavorless, the broth wasn't seasoned and some of the shell fish tasted spoiled. Needless to say she couldn't finish the meal, it was gross! I faired no better with my meal, again, the Jack Daniels peppercorn sauce was lacking flavor; and how in the world did the peppercorn get soggy? I requested my steak tenderloin medium well done... I just don't understand how a piece of steak can have he texture of undercooked hamburger, I'm not saying it was hamburger but the texture resembled that of hamburger... And the garlic mashed potatoes---well I didn't taste garlic nor were they seasoned and to top it all off, there was no salt in the salt shaker! So I couldn't add seasoning. Needless to say I had no desire to finish this meal. Our total for this disaster was over $200! We were so disappointed in the chef that I wrote him a note on the check... I told him that these meals weren't worth serving... As soon as we reached our hotel we were so disappointed that we called the restaurant and requested a complete refund as we feel that we did receive the meal we paid for... It seems to me that either the staff intentionally ruined our meal or the chef has loss his passion for cooking. Whatever the problem is I hope someone from this place address my issue.

    (1)

  • Ramfis B.

    *BEAUTIFUL SUNSET *IMPECCABLE SERVICE *GREAT FOOD *INCREDIBLE DINING EXPERIENCE This my fellow yelpers is the reason why Michel's at the Colony Surf has been open for over 40 years now. There is another reason why i always come to this place to entertain guests or celebrate my anniversary or someone's birthday here... *PHIL SHAW ( General Manager ) *FRANK STRAKA ( Waiter Extraordinnaire ) *GERALD CHUN ( Relief Manager ) *CHEF HARDY ( Chef de Cuisine ) These professional's are the driving force which makes Michel's a once in a lifetime dning experience. They make me and my wife and whoever we entertain feel like a King and Queen for an evening. Phil and Gerald are always coming by to see how we are doing and Chef Hardy, even when busy, will always come out to say hello to me and my guests. It really makes me feel special inside when he does that. And what can i say about my waiter Frank? He has been my go to guy everytime i dine here. He is always one step ahead of the game and a true pro at what he does. These qualities are priceless and will always leave an everlasting impression on me. I do have to tell you though, Michel's is definitely not cheap. There is a price to pay for a place of this caliber. But if there is a place you want to impress someone on a first date or pop the big question or if someone that has a lot of money to blow which my wife's friends from Japan usually do and i'm not footing the bill, then this is the place to dine for me. Now my advice to you, You definitely have to have a beachside table to thouroughly enjoy your dining experience or else it's all for not. And also make a 5:30 or 6:00 reservation so you can see the sunset. And friday' evening is also a good time to dine here as you can see the fireworks display the Hilton Hawaiian Village which starts at 7:45 pm sharp. I have dined here well over 10 times at this restaurant so let me show you what this place is all about.. *The Sunset here is PRICELESS yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… Here are some of my recommendations when dining here.. * ICE HARVEST OF THE SEA yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *SAUTEED FOIE GRAS yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *RAGOUT OF KONA PRAWNS AND BABY ABALONE $34 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *WARM BABY SPINACH SALAD $16 (MINIMUM 2 PEOPLE ) yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *MICHEL'S LOBSTER BISQUE $12 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *MICHEL'S OCEAN BOUNTY $48 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *PRIME FILET, LOBSTER, and CRAB $54 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *22 OUNCE PORTERHOUSE STEAK $65 yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *HAWAIIAN APPLE BANANA FLAMBE $16 per person yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… *CHOCOLATE SOUFFLEhttp://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/jabBWIlZuPGi­bPvzV2wAmA?select=oIFkKmJlZTUwjzEBqu1yZQ

    (5)

  • Aki S.

    One of my favorite restaurants! Service was profesional. Food was to perfection. And it didn't hurt that it's right off the beach with a beautiful sunset. You can even catch the Friday fireworks right from your table. There's also valet parking. I had fresh oysters as an appetizer. The bf had the beef carpaccio, which was seared and blackened using filet tenderloin that melted in your mouth. The Maine lobster is a must if you're willing to pay the steep market price (worth it). The rack of lamb is also a must! And since it was my birthday, my server offered a complimentary strawberry cheesecake on the house! Best dinner I had in a while.

    (5)

  • Rod U.

    Honolulu's most romantic ocean front restaurant with breathtaking sunsets views of Waikiki and evening fireworks above the Waikiki skyline to boot*. And oh, the food is good too. A top recommendation for mainland visitors or local seafood lover. The best of Hawaii ocean bounty prepared in a variety of ways that accentuates its flavors. Heavy use of locally sourced ingredients. Outstanding presentation. What started out years ago as nouveau French (count the peas on your plate) restaurant, has become a contemporary French standout. For those who watched Ratatouille too many times, French does not equal snooty or pretentious. For starters, focus on seafood dishes (the foie, escargot, and the lobster bisque are traditional preparations that you can get anywhere). The yellowfin ahi tartare is incredible. Ahi mixed with tobiko and ogo for a huge boost in clean ocean flavor and crunch, dressed in walnut oil for a subtle earthiness and brightened by an outstanding, herbaceous pesto. Wow! The warm spinach and seafood salad is equally amazing. Abalone, scallops, prawns and rock lobster (all perfectly cooked) are served on a bed of baby spinach with a super acidic lemon and lime vinaigrette, garnished with tomatoes, grapefruits and mangoes. The dish is so well balanced and refreshing. The sweetness of the seafood explodes. For mains and the best sampling of Hawaii seafood, do not pass the Island Seafood Cioppino or the "Michel's Ocean Bounty". The Cioppino is amazing for the simple fact that everything is perfectly cooked. The Ocean Bounty outstanding for its variety of ingredients and preparations on a single dish. The only negative, steaks are not well aged or trimmed. Large pieces of fat does not make for good eats. The restaurant offers a number of table side preparations if you're into interactive dining. Finally, the soufflés. Perfect! Nuff said. Good wine list at Hawaii resort prices. Outstanding service. Request a window table. Time your reservations for sunset. Getting there too early means mentally willing passing beach goers to put more on. *Fireworks are on Friday nights only.

    (5)

  • Jane D.

    Went for my anniversary and I LOVED it. My steak was cooked to perfection. Our waiter went over and beyond. The view was AMAZING. We will definitely be back!!

    (5)

  • Jenny V.

    My husband brought me here for a wonderful dinner during the week of 4th of July. He had made reservations but we headed over to the restaurant half an hour early. We were seated immediatley at a table near the bar. It did not matter where you were sat the view from the entire restaurant was beautiful. Steps away was the beach and Waikiki beach looked so far away you felt like you were on a different island. The view was just so amazing. Our waiter was very nice and accommodating. He didn't pester us to order like most waiter/waitresses would do. We took our time looking over the menu. We decided on the famous escargot and vitello tonnato as our appetizers. As we waited for our appetizers our waiter brought us some flatbread and toast with butter. I would't bother with the bread and butter. I reccomend saving belly space for their food instead. Trust me, I wish someone told me this. Now on to the appetizers. Both were really delcious. Escargot - I have no idea how this is different from the typical garlic-herbed butter and snails but this tasted really good and it stood out from other places I have had this dish. Definitely a dish worth trying if you love snails. Warning when eating this dish, you might have the urge to drench every piece of bread in the butter. Vitello Tonnato - Veal, ahi sashimi, white tuna sauce, arugula, tomatoes, in a pesto-lemon capers vinaigrette. Really refreshing and tasty. The white tuna sauce reminded me of pate. All the flavors in this dish was perfect. For our entrees I ordered the island seafood cioppino and he ordered the 22oz porterhouse. Island seafood cioppino - I think this dish can be easily shared by two people. They sure did not skimp on the seafood; lobster claw, mussels, clams, octopus, scallops, shrimp, and salmon in a very smooth tomato based broth. This came with cheese toast that I did not even touch because I wanted to make room for all the seafood in front of me. 22 oz porterhouse - Yes, this is huge too. According to my husband it was really good, seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The sides he had were a sweet potato puree and grilled vegetables. We didn't finish our entrees but we certainly made a little bit of room for some dessert. The flour less chocolate cake looked interesting so that's what we had. Really dense and not overly sweet. The vanilla ice cream was nice as it was a cool contrast to the warm cake. This restaurant was one of the highlights of our trip to Oahu. I would definitely come back here if I ever find myself back in Oahu.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    WAYYY over rated and way over priced. Seafood (shrimp and lobster) tough and chewy; absolutely no spicing or flavor in the food, not even in the breadrolls. They're all pomp and no proof. Location on the beach with open windows/view is the best part. Come here for a drink and skip the food (though a single malt glass is $20 - robbery for an 18 yr old Mccallan!!)

    (2)

  • Russel M.

    With one of the most wicked views of Waikiki how can you go wrong. Five Stars for View alone. The Menu is hit and miss besides $$$$ but worth it. We focus on the Mixed Seafood Platter and share a Main Course along with a Power Drink or Two. Always try to go early for best window seating.

    (5)

  • Christina B.

    Romantic setting with a breathtaking sunset & ocean view while eating a declicious dinner? YES, PLEASE! This was such an amazing experience & the service was phenomenal. One of the servers insisted on taking quite a few pictures for my boyfriend & I with the sunset view & ocean in the background. The lighting was beautiful in the pictures! The menu wasn't very large so it made deciding what to order easier than expected. I ordered the Island Seafood Cioppino, which is a combination of a different seafoods. My bf ordered a steak entree, but I can't remember the name of it. We wanted a combo of both seafood & meat. Both were very delicious. As for dessert, the Orange Creme Brulee is a MUST!! It's VERY GOOD. I wanted to order a second one, but opted on doing so (thank you, will power & self-control). To make dessert taste even better, it was surprisingly FREE.. compliments of the chef. This restaurant is definitely a top recommendation for tourists or even locals who want to enjoy a lovely fine dining experience.

    (5)

  • Miss Lei S.

    One of two restaurants on our list of visit while in Hawaii. The setting of this restaurant is beautiful. I only wish we made reservations in advance to get a chance for the oceanview seating to be able to see the sunset. Our reservation was made day off, at 8:15 and in the middle of the restaurant. Still beautiful ambiance with a harp playing behind us. Hard to believe they have been around over 30 years but I found Michels to be very classy and romantic. Their menu was simple, classic french style. We opted for the tasting menu with wine pairing and was very happy with our choice. The wine paired with the meal was spot on, with our only dissapointment of the portions of the pour to be quite small. We did opt for another glass to be shared with our main course. It would have been nice for them to easily top us off with what we were paying but I guess not.... The meals were small - as a tasting menu should be. I don't like to leave a restaurant overstuffed not being able to enjoy every course. The service was good, with our server being attentive but not overly so. Cost wise was pretty high but was expected almost $400 with the extra taste and gratuity. Well worth it for the beautiful ambiance and delicious food. Perhaps our next visit we may opt to purchase a bottle of wine rather than the wine pairing.

    (4)

  • Jon W.

    For the price, I've had much better. The food was ok, not great, as was the service. Factor in the price, stay far, far away. Harvest of the Sea appetizer was $52 and definitely not generous enough for two. Go anyplace else and you can get the same items for less than half the price. I ordered the special wagyu beef for $68. Next time I'll go to the local butcher shop and buy for $20/lb. Complete and total rip off. The wife ordered the lobster and shrimp thermidor. It was ok, but for $54 and to receive two shrimp I was dumbfounded. I wonder what happened to the meat in the claws. That would have been a half-decent addition, but was absent. The dessert was some chocolate cake that was way too chocolaty and simply not enjoyable. What's up with having to ask for bread and the wine list? Multiple wait staff had stopped by the table numerous times before we had to remind the primary waiter it was noticeably absent. Additionally, they were informed it was my wife's birthday, yet failed to recognize the fact we there went to observe. It does not hold a candle to Chef Mavro, Roy's, Ruths Chris, etc. Will not be a repeat customer.

    (1)

  • J A.

    Amazing view makes this place worth it to visit. There really isn't much more to say about the ambiance of the restaurant. Just read through the multiple reviews of how serene the setting of the restaurant is. Dragonberry Mojito - perfect blend of flavors and the mint was not overpowering Escargot - the husband enjoyed it. Said it was the best escargot he has ever eaten. Island Salad - typical salad NY Cafe de Paris - perfectly cooked medium. I can't stand when I order my cuts to be cooked medium and they come out bloody. The meat was so tender and naturally flavored. Plated with a side of vegetables and slivers of fried onion rings Lobster Thermidor - two lobsters, garlic mashed potatoes. Creme Brûlée - classic creme brûlée. just the way I like it. Would definitely come here again.

    (4)

  • Ms. Akana A.

    The view is great. Menu not so much. Highly priced Menu. Over rated Steak place. Would not recommend. First and last time.

    (2)

  • Adam H.

    This is simply a great place to Dine, it cost a lot, but worth every penny. Can't wait to come back! Me and 25 others in a group put the entire crew through the ringer and they did a great job. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Pomai S.

    Dined at Michel's this past Saturday evening. For wine, we had: * Francis Ford Coppola's "Director's Cut" Cabernet Souvignon (2006). $20/glass (or $80/bottle) Our rating: 5 stars For apps, we had: * Helix Escargot Bourgogne - Half a dozen French snails in Michel's famous herbed-garlic butter. $18 Our rating: 5 stars! * Vitello Tonnato - Thin-sliced roasted veal, Yellowfin Ahi sashimi & tuna sauce served with arugula salad, tomatoes and lemon caper vinaigrette. $18 Our rating: 4 stars For entree, we had: * Potato-wrapped Moi with Saffron Risotto. Price n/a Our rating: 4 stars * Hardy's Hawaiian Bouillabaisse - An assortment of lobster, scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams, salmon and local fish in a savory saffron-tomato broth with a touch of island herbs and flavors. $38. Our rating: 2 stars Note: The saffron-tomato broth totally lacked character and wasn't savory at all. Needs work! For dessert, we had: * Decadence Chocolate Cake - with fresh berries and Macadamia Nut Ice Cream. $10.00 Her rating: 4 stars * Pineapple Lilikoi Macadamia Nut Cheesecake $ - Compliments of the house for my birthday Our rating - 5 stars! Service was amazing. Ambiance and view of Waikiki is of course second to none. The live music by Na Hoku Hano Hano Award winner slack key and classical guitarist Jeff Peterson was the perfect "icing on the cake" for the mood while dining by the sea at Michel's. This restaurant is as romantic as it gets folks. Other than the lackluster Bouillabaisse, everything about Michel's met or exceeded our expectations. Highly, highly recommended!

    (4)

  • Brandi K.

    My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday 2 years in a row. First time, UNFORGETTABLE experience! ! Service was impeccable, we had a waiter plus 2 guys standing in the back of us who filled our glasses and refilled bread continuously. We were definitely wowed. The food was DELICIOUS! Good sized portions for fine dining. It was a while ago but what stood out til this day was the Escargot, steak Diane and a foie gras dessert ( i think it was stawberries flambay w/ foie). We got excellent service and excellent food, very happy! The second time we went, quality went down a little. I think it was due to going on a weekend and the first time we went was a weekday. Anyway that shouldn't matter right?! We're still paying the same prices. We weren't tended to as well, food was still good, and waiter was less knowledgeable, or maybe he was busy. The French onion soup was really good, can't remember what else we had. We decided to try another restaurant for my next birthday. But overall I do love this place and I'll cut them a little slack since our first experience was so great. :-)

    (4)

  • Kimo S.

    I've been dining at Michel's since I was a little keiki and have always remembered the killer view. Special occasion? Come to Michel's. Screwed up and need to make-up with the significant other? Come to Michel's. Want a great dining experience, with a gorgeous setting and top notch service? Come to Michel's. We have been frequenting Michel's for the past few years more and more often, we always have a fantastic experience that has kept us coming back for more. Don't forget to plan around Friday night fireworks and sunsets, it's worth the price of dining here alone. One of our greatest pleasures is the table side preparation of signature dishes, Lobster Bisque, Beef Tartare, Ceaser Salad and especially the Strawberries Foie Gras Forever. My wife dreams of the Strawberries Foie Gras Forever and if you're into decadent and one of a kind desserts you must add this to your list. Finally, one of the last things that always impresses us about a fine dining establishment is SERVICE. We've been to other "high end" establishments (53 By the Sea) where the service doesn't live up to our expectations. Michel's has an amazing staff, they feel and portray themselves that conveys a high end dining experience. From service to setting, from drinks to food... Michel's is the TOTAL package when it comes to a fine dining experience.

    (5)

  • Miki W.

    Great experience. Nice ambience for a special day. Reservation at the sunset time dining is recommended.

    (4)

  • Lance L.

    Classic french with a HI twist Reserve a table on the rail to the beach. Lovely place Nice menu, server was very competent and recommended a nice white and cooked the tenderloin tsableside. So nice it's got to be a 4 star rating, but it just misses on taste, Noit that it's bad, it just doesn't blow me away. LLL

    (4)

  • Janet K.

    I came here for Valentine's dinner with my bf and it was lovely as usual. On Valentine's Day the restaurant has a set menu with a three or four course option. We opted for one of each which consisted of... Cream of mushroom with abalone Oysters Rockefeller Lobster ravioli Beef tenderloin Lobster Thermidor Trifle Cheesecake Everything was great but I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to order off of their regular menu. I guess I'll just have to come back.

    (5)

  • Becky K.

    My family and I celebrated a special occasion in August. It had been over 30 years since I dined at Michel's and everything was the superb. We had a party of 5 and were escorted to our table towards the outside overlooking the ocean. It was a Friday night and there was a fireworks show nearby which the host insisted us on seeing, even though we weren't seated yet. The atmosphere was pleasant (and romantic) with the guitarist playing soft music as we dined. The escargot was delicious and the oysters were the best I've ever had. I had the fish special which was delicious as others in our party dined on rack of lamb and tenderloin. No complaints from anyone. The Pinot Noir I selected was not available but the host recommended two similar wines. I went for the $90 bottle from Oregon and wished I remembered the vineyard as it was the best Pinot Noir I've ever tasted. My other guests agreed with me. We finished off our delectable meal with desserts, which included the marble souffle and two flambe desserts. If you are celebrating a special occasion and can afford it, then I highly recommend you dine at Michel's. I won't wait another 30 years to come back!

    (5)

  • Dave T.

    I have been to La Mer, Chef Mavro, and Alan Wong's years ago (before I made a Yelp account) and will be able to make a decent comparison amongst the fancy restaurants in Oahu. I was disappointed that Mchel's did not call us to confirm out reservation, and that made me a bit nervous as certain doubt existed in my mind about a possibility that a reservation was never made--and bringing my date to a fancy and busy restaurant wills end in embarrassment. Luckily, the reservations were indeed and was blown away by the beauty of the decor and view. We were seated near the beach where kids and dogs were frolicking in the sea and the sun was beginning to drop. I also noticed that all the servers were relatively young, my age or under (late twenties), which is much younger than the other servers form other restaurant who are usually in their thirties and up. In addition, the workers spoke with a pidgin accent, which I absolutely love, as it makes me feel more comfortable being myself. In other fancy restaurants, you will never hear their pidgin accented English, which can put customers in an uncomfortable position, especially for people not accustomed to eating fancy food. There is also a loud din, not as bad as Alan Wong (which reminds me of a dim sum restaurant because of the tables being so close), but not as quiet as La Mer or Chef Mavros. The subtle background noise provides a less romantic, but more casual dining experience. As for the food, I was not too impressed given the price tag. My date and I ordered the 6 course meal and none of the dishes strike me as memorable. Yes the dishes are fresh and beautifully presented; but I was expecting some creative twists and some cohesiveness in favors. If the prices were cheaper, I would bump up the stars, but I was disappointed. To be fair, the servers are my favorite out of all the fancy restaurants I have been to listed above, but I came here for the food mostly, and will likely not come back.

    (3)

  • Jay F.

    We cerebrated our wedding anniversary here. Wife love their seafood sampler, escargot and atmosphere. Do make a reservation for window table just before sunset and enjoy the pink and blue color changing sunset sky. Approx. $100 per person, including alcohol, is well worth it. I highly recommend this place to bring your girl friend or wife for Romantic occasions. Recommend on Friday for Hilton Fireworks in distance.

    (5)

  • Faye M.

    I've been here a number of times, mostly for dinner - but once for Sunday brunch. All times were either for my sister's bday, or her choice for a family holiday meal...so you can tell, it's her favorite place for a special occasion restaurant. Anyway, just ate here on 5.28 for my sister's bday...we started w/appetizers which were: steak tartare (prepared table side), oysters, & foie gras. Everything tasted really good, but the foie gras was the best! For our entrees, my sister and I both ordered the Prime Filet, Lobster, and Crab - it was delicious, the filet was very soft and cooked to perfection (Medium Rare)! My BIL had Michel's Ocean Bounty which came with everything but King Triton! He said it was good too. For dessert, my sister had the Chocolate Decadence (complimentary for her birthday), and I opted for some kind of coffee/espresso pudding thing. Both were equally good :) As for the restaurant itself, I always feel like I'm in the home of some eccentric old woman - kind of reminds me of that lady in "Great Expectations" - the one w/Gweneth Paltrow & Ethan Hawke. I don't know why - but it just doesn't come off as "fancy shmancy" to me. The waiters are dressed nicely, but the manager (I think) was wearing a long sleeve flannel shirt, that totally did not match the so called fine-dining ambiance of the restaurant. Early on into our meal, his shirt was untucked - but later on it was tucked in. Our waiter - Larry, was very nice and funny. Oh yeah, and because we were there on a Friday night, we had a really nice view of the fire works :)

    (3)

  • Jewelyn T.

    Michel's in on my top 5 places to dine in Hawaii! Came here for one of my brithday dinners during August in the summer & December while visiting Hawaii for the winter. I'm a huge fan of Michel's! Food, service, ambiance... they got it goin' on! I love the view of the ocean and I'm a huge fan of their flower arrangment in the entrance, I always take a picture next to it! They have live entertainment... I'm not a fan of the guy's voice but I love his song selections! When I had dinner here last month, I had the escargot (had better) and special of the night... risotto with salmon... my 2 favorites! yummm! Whenever I visit Oahu, my butt will always have reservations for dinner here! Michel's is one of Hawaii's top fine dining experience! If you're on the island... make Michel's your #`1 dining destination! Aloha.

    (5)

  • Shannon C.

    The view was amazing. That was the best part of our dinner. The food was okay. Nothing really spectacular. But probably will be back again for the amazing sunsets!

    (3)

  • Hines L.

    View = 4.5 stars, great view of the Waikiki-Honolulu. Sat directly at the window, only odd part is that to optimize their most valuable atout they sit you on one side of the table with the next one very close , you partially stare at people's back. Service = 2 stars, why did I not leave immediately - my gf had been here before and said the service is not up to the view and the food. She was right about not being up to the view. Waiter greeted us with "hey folks , how are you" ... Nice welcome ... for a family style restaurant I guess, not a $$$$ one. Hi tie was badly worn out and tied way to short, looked comical. He stumbled over every item of the specials of the day, and when I asked a second time 5 minutes later about the main course, he described the sides totally different from the first time. Opened champagne and wine correctly and prepared some of the dishes table side correctly. Saw that they had hazelnut gelato on the tasting menu and I asked if I could have it and to keep a portion for me, in case they would run out. Complied after inquiring with the chef if it was possible - why wouldn't it be ... At the end he brought the gelato without even being the desert menu for my girlfriend... We had a second waiter helping, not much better, neither of them attentive as you would except for a classy place. Food = 1star. Started with bisque de homard, escargots de bourgogne and foie gras. The bisque is one of their signature dishes - supposedly. It was thin, without finesse and inspiration, the table side prepared lardons overpowered the taste. Escargots, one had stone pebbles in it, can happen, but taste was, while nice and tender, just salty and not more- baguette on the side, tasted like a supermarket one. Fois gras, not much you can do wrong, but a lot of things right, like the sides and toast you serve, unfortunately neither met our expectations. Wine , Bourgogne, côté de Baune, premier cru, good, but had to ask to decant, while we had half a bottle of Moet Chandon, else it would have just set on the table, opened but not breathing. Main courses ,flamed beef tenderloin, sauce poivre vert, tough, over-cooked , had it sent back, was so disappointed at this point, didn't even want to try anything else. My girlfriend had the abalone - not bad, but yet again not inspiring and sides not matching at all. Desert - the hazelnut gelato very good, but not homemade I would say, and it was paired with Gorgonzola - big junks of it ... Gorgonzola blue cheese, yes. Really? Mental note don't ever try hazelnut gelato with blue cheese ever again! Sum of it, service was always so so as my girl friend stated- she was at Michele's a number of times in the past , the view , yes the view is great, the food , it was great - past tense, not anymore, or not last night! The restaurant looks somewhat dated, the staff the same. I would not recommend and won't give it even a second try.

    (2)

  • Anthony D.

    Had dinner here last night....loved it and highly recommend...... The menu is classical but with a nice selection of table side prepared dishes (Casear Salad,Steak au Poivre, Lobster Bisque) this was unique and sorely missed in the 'modern trendy restaurants' of today. Service was friendly, professional and efficient without being obtrusive again one of those pieces missing in todays 'trendy' restaurants. Decor is warm and refined and not 'over the top'..

    (5)

  • Loki J.

    We got married yesterday, and I had decided to book the large room for our wedding reception for a party of 24. What a fantastic choice! My guests were amazed with the setting, food and service. Today people are still talking about the courses (the best menu is worth the extra money) and how amazing our servers were. Precise delivery of courses and everyone agreed it was one if the best receptions they had ever attended. We'll have dinner on our future trips of course. Thanks Michel's for making our day great :-)

    (5)

  • linda a.

    When we arrived at 5:30, we requested a table by the window the hostess said it will be a 3 hour wait,we decided to not wait and when we walked into the dining area there were at least 4 tables empty by the window. The hostess stated you have to call months in advance for window seating. I told the hostess I did call early before coming to oahu and they stated it was first come first serve. Once we were into our first course they turned the lights up and gone was the romantic atmosphere,the light above us was so bright they did dim it just a bit,upon our request,it kinda killed the ambience of the room and felt like i was eating in a diner, way to bright. Regarding the food, the cesar salad was ok , escargot was really good and the main course of lamb was quite good. Just to note by the time we left all of the window seatings were catered to Japanese tourists.,just saying. We will not be returning!

    (2)

  • Phil P.

    Michel's is considered to be a "fine dining" restaurant. That it is... but if they're making about $100 a person, they could improve the decor a bit more. It just seems a little too "grandma's place" for me. I believe it's possible to be a french, fine dining yet modern restaurant. Now to the food... The food is well presented and quite tasty, but don't expect hearty portions. As expected for a fine dining experience, the food must be artfully presented. They were nice enough to comp my wife a nice little birthday cake. That cake was the BEST part of the meal for me... it was delicious! If the portions were just a touch larger, they would've earned another star from me. It was a good experience... just not great. I think Michel's is better suited for an "older" crowd (baby boomers). I could live without coming here again.

    (3)

  • Traci H.

    I wish I could give it more stars because everyone seems to love it but I just can't. It's not bad, by any means, but it's nowhere near a 5-star experience in my mind. And on the pure food side, I still can't believe no one here can seem to stand up to Alan Wong's...mad props to him to still have some of the best food here and at good value. But I digress. First, if you take anything from this review: REQUEST A WINDOW TABLE. it's easy, no extra cost, and is way prettier than sitting by a wall (thanks to Melissa K.'s review, I called to request it so we weren't smack up against a cement wall--we didn't get it at first, but at least they knew and moved us later!). The good (since I really wanted to love it): Service: super friendly and nice; attentive. We had requested a "window" table but they said it was all reserved, but partway through dinner they said they had a cancellation and we could move. So they moved us just in time for the sunset! View: gorgeous sunset view overlooking the "outrigger beach" (it's a public beach but people think it's the Outrigger's). Complimentary valet parking Complimentary birthday dessert The stuff that led to minus stars: The FOOD: i wanted to like it. and tableside preparation is kind of a neat thing too --the lobster bisque: prepared table side. They cook up a tiny bit of lobster meat in butter and brandy and put it into the bisque--creamy, fishy, but not too tart. Just not that great --the maui onion soup: i did like this one. Little bit on the cheese, but good flavor, not too salty, not too dark --steak diane: prepared tableside so you get a little flame show and who doesn't love smelling cooking butter and truffle oil. I was worried the medium rare steak was getting way overcooked since he was cooking it over and over but it was actually ok. The sauce was ok. The meat was ok--it tasted actually like cheap chewy steak. The veggies tasted pretty yucky too. No flavor --the lilikoi cheesecake: the crust was good, the cheesecake was pretty good but the rest--that candied pineapple or whatever gnarly topping was like plastic yuck. Not for me. --oh the nasty hard as rock sickly blueberry looking "butter": I think it was sweet potato something but it tasted like fake lard or something. And it looked like it had the measles. And these were just meh: the sunset daquiri (ok it was virgin but it was still awful) was terrible; the ambiance feels like it's supposed to be romantic, but it's loud and kind of old feeling, even a little dirty feeling; No alcohol on the tab -- $160 for two people, including tip. Seems a little pricey to me, given the quality of food. I think I'd prefer to go to Alan Wong's, even if it means my view is of the mountain, instead of the beautiful beach sunset. When I eat dinner, I want good food. If I want a good view, I'll just make some spam musubi and galavant out to the beach... Ok, if you're stuck in Waikiki and looking to impress, I think I'd rather go to the Beachhouse or Azure (and I didn't even love Azure--but at least the quality of food seems better). You won't find me here unless someone else is paying. Glad I went once to try it out, but I don't need to go back.

    (3)

  • LeaDan Y.

    One of my personal favorites. I love the food, especially the Lobster Brisque. The service is just as attentive as I need them to be. Ask for the souffle, it's worth it. And the view, c'est magnifique. If I could afford to, I would eat here every month.

    (5)

  • Corinne S.

    I love the food here, the seafood crepes are so yummy! Went back a second time and loved them so much I had to order them again! Also, they have souffle, do not know if you want chocolate or Grand Marnier? no worries, they can do both in one ramekin! This place needs to be on your list, oh and did I mention the view? Amazing!

    (5)

  • D K.

    Atmosphere: The view is excellent...if you're seated in an area where you can see it. We were seated at table for two crammed up against a pillar with my seat facing the entry and the ocean/view to my back. A very poor location and set-up for a table in a restaurant boasting the "island's best oceanfront view." I was neither able to see the ocean behind me nor the entertainment to my right which was blocked by the pillar. Food: The menu itself isn't particularly French in nature. We also got the lobster pot stickers which were good, but $26 for three was a little steep. I got the lamb for my entree--the meat lacked structure, the flavor lacked depth, and the consistency was more like veal (mushy). As suggested on the menu, I ordered the chocolate souflee at the same time I ordered my meal since it takes 20 minutes to prepare. After we finished our meals, the waiter seemed to have forgotten that I ordered the souflee but insisted that the order was placed beforehand. 20 minutes later we had to flag down the waiter and ask the status of the dessert to which he replied that it had "fallen" so the chef had to make another one. Whether or not what he told us was true, I would expect that a restaurant with this reputation that has been in business for as long as it has been would not have such trouble making one of their signature desserts (or at least have a contingency plan to keep customers from waiting an additional 20-40 minutes for dessert). An additional 10 minutes later we had to flag down the waiter again at which time we were brought a complimentary dessert that we didn't want and was told it would be yet another 5 minutes before the souflee would be done. Thoroughly disappointed, we left. Service: Our waiter was ok although he lost a lot of points when it came to the souflee ordeal as it seemed he was feeding us a load of bull. Again, whether or not the fault lay with the waiter or the chef, it's a poor reflection on the restaurant as a whole. The woman who brought out our food however was really nice and seemed very genuine in her interactions with us and other patrons. This isn't a terrible place, hence the two stars, but I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Noel G.

    awesome food, awesome service!! i had the rack of the lamb and my wife had the seafood bounty it was perfect!!!. we have been to this restaurant for 3 years in a row for our anniversary and I'm impressed every year , it gets better every time I'm there, best meal by far!!!

    (5)

  • C. O.

    Service was great. Everyone was very attentive. Can't beat the ocean view and spectacular sunset. Food was okay; not worth the price. Hubby makes a better steak. Had to try the cherries jubilee. Amazing presentation, but way too sweet for my taste.

    (3)

  • Anonymou S.

    I'm not rich, So I would come here only to buy desert. If my family ends up eating here then I'll actually get food cause then I'm not the only one paying. It's super pricey, but if you like fine dining, come here! It's amazingly beautiful. On Friday nights, there are fireworks! Ask for a ocean view seat if you want to be fun! Ask for anywhere else if you want to be romantic. It has such a romantic setting. But their desert though. OH MY GOODNESS. I don't remember what they were called but they were amazing! This chocolate mousse thing... Chocolate brownie thing... and this fruit thing. Three different deserts. SO ONO! It's pricey as fuck, but hey, you want FINE DINING?! This is the place. They even have their own guitarist who writes his own music! He gave me his CD once for free! I was only 14 back then!

    (5)

  • Bitsy M.

    My husband and I had an exceptional diner here. The location is so beautiful looking out over the pacific. We had a truly remarkable meal. He had the steak and I the lamb. Both were done to perfection. The service was 5 star as well. We HIGHLY recommend you make this a priority when visitng the area.

    (4)

  • Kalei F.

    Aaahh Michel's :) Beautiful view, excellent service, and pretty good food! This was my first time here to this place and we got seated right by the ocean, for a fabulous view of the sunset!! Reading the Yelp reviews, I got the Francis Coppola Director's Cut 2006 Cab at $20 a glass!! CRAZY good!! I'm now in love with this wine!! To start off, we got this amazing caprese salad with mango on the house. Just one bite and I was in HEAVEN!!! I got the Maui onion soup to start. It was SO good!! So rich and creamy and came with this amazing puff pastry dome on the top of it. It was heavenly!! I could eat like 3 of those!! Then we had the lobster bisque. It was made table side. I think that they either put too much cognac or didn't cook it long enough to really cook off the alcohol. That was probably one of the worst lobster bisque's I've ever had. They pre-make the soup base, and just sautee the lobster in the cognac and throw it in the soup. I would definitely not order that again!! I don't get what the whole hype was about! Then we had a dragonberry sorbet on the house which was very refreshing!! I wish I could've had more of that for dessert!! The color was beautiful and the taste was phenomenal! We had the special which was osso bucco? with a shrimp risotto. The flavor of the meat was very good and the shrimp risotto was very addicting as well. Not as creamy as a traditional risotto, but the flavor was definitely there! The rack of lamb was so delicious and cooked to perfection!! Would definitely get again! The chocolate souffle was just ok. They tried to do what Roy's does, but hello!! Roy's definitely has the BEST chocolate souffle/ lava cake!! This one doesn't hold a candle to it! At least it was free! For dessert, we ordered the mocha ice cream, mango sorbet, and strawberry daiquiri sorbet. All were amazing, with the mocha ice cream being my favorite!! The bread pudding was just ok. Not as moist as I would've liked, but still flavorful. It was a friday, so we got to watch the fireworks and it was beautiful!! I wasn't blown away by this place, but it was a nice dinner. If I would come back again, I would get the french onion soup, try the caesar salad, and maybe the foie gras. I think doing something table side is still an art, but I didn't get the quality and wow factor here that I got at Hy's steakhouse. The food and preparation there is top notch and I think Michel's needs to update their quality and presentation.

    (4)

  • Larry G.

    Went to Michel's for brunch on Easter with their Prix Fixe menu on a whim and was so glad that we did! First off, Michel's is right on the water and the views are gorgeous; nothing like drinking a Mimosa while watching the waves roll in. The Prix Fixe was a three-course meal with three separate selections for each course; I started with the Ahi Sashimi and my wife went with the Goat Cheese salad. The Ahi practically melted in my mouth; so tender and delicious! My wife really enjoyed the salad; locally procured goat cheese on greens were delightful and tasty. For the main course I went with the Lamb (it was Easter!) and potatoe croquettes while my wife went with the prime rib; both were cooked perfectly medium-rare and the sauces were delicious. Both plates were ample without feeling like you were stuffed after finishing so you could save room for dessert. For dessert we went with the Mango Cobbler with Vanilla bean ice cream and the Chocolate Lave cake with Macadamia nut ice cream; both were a great treat to finish off a wonderful meal. Service and the ambience were wonderful; we will definitely head back for another delightful experience!

    (4)

  • Len C.

    The service at this location is what an upscale restaurant should aspire to. Truly outstanding. Enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine. The food is exceptional but it's really about the ambience. Ask for a window table. There was a small issue with the wife's steak...well done, when she had asked for medium. The staff was on it instantly, more than apologetic, and more than compensated for the kitchen's error. Handled with absolute class, impressive.

    (5)

  • Jeff H.

    A great place for French cuisine and great service. Our food was rich and wonderful and the atmosphere was up beat. Some of our favorites were the oyster appetizer. They serve a small, plump oyster that is delicious! Their lobster bisque is rich in all the right ways. I'm pretty sure it has plenty of cream and butter in it! The special on our night was the veal chop and lobster tail, it was wonderful. We finished off the night with a light flourless chocolate cake and ice cream. They have a great open air dining room and on our next visit, I want to come when we can watch the sunset. All in all, a great spot for a couple of or good group of friends aiming to enjoy a wonderful meal. It is a bit expensive but the food and service made it worth if for us. I look forward to coming here again if/when we come back to Hawaii!

    (5)

  • Zar A.

    Lover of French cuisine! ^^ Michel's is DEFINITELY THE, "THE", place to take the girl of your dreams to impress, wine and dine, if you want her to fall in love and stay in love with you forever..........!!!!! ^^ Located right next to the water, Michel's got a super romantic ambiance, top notch waiter service, spectacular food menu, awesome wine menu.... There's really nothing more that a girl can want. Maybe except some diamonds! I don't really feel like I should write anything about the food here, as you can order anything on the menu and you won't be disappointed!!

    (5)

  • Richard M.

    Excellent location on the water, great for sunsets (get there early). The Escargot was very good. The negatives: the rack of lamb and lobster were very run-of-the mill, nothing special. the lamb was supposed to be medium and it was well done, and two small pieces. The lobster had very little taste. But worst of all, our waiter was very unpleasent, never cracked a smile (until we were on the way out and he had out tips). He refused to split the bill the way we wanted. He wrote a "suggested" tip amount on our check. Considering that we speant over $1,600 for a group of ten, this was not the experiece that we have had so many times before. Next time in Hawaii we will try another restaurant.

    (3)

  • Kristin W.

    The food is to die for. I've only been here for special occasions cause you can drop like 3 bills here easily. Um, lobster bisque, YES PLEASE! The food is so good. And the view - amazing. Ohhh, must try, must try.

    (5)

  • William C.

    This is a must for the view and ambience. Went here for Easter Brunch and was awstruck by the beauty of this place. Better view than Hua Tree Lania which is next door but Hua Tree may have better food. But, I really enjoyed my oyster course here with great service. Our server threw in an extra couple rounds of complimentary Mimosa's which might have helped my impression. My Prime Rib was just ok but there is no question this place has a great view. Has been voted most romantic rest. In Honolulu in Hale Aina awards for over a decade... Will definitely go back and sample more of the menu. *(this restaurant is listed twice on Yelp)

    (4)

  • Renee M.

    This was the perfect spot for our 24th anniversary dinner. We made the reservations about a week in advance and asked specifically for a sunset view. What we didn't know is that the entire back of the restaurant has an amazing view of beach and ocean, with nearly floor to ceiling open air views. It is as if you are ON the beach itself. Lovely, lovely ambience, with pretty chandeliers and tables with antique oil lamps. Dinner was wonderful - lobster bisque, an unusual french onion soup, ocean bounty of mixed seafood, steak au poive and a beautiful souffle for dessert. Two items of note - we had a small table a few steps away from the open area and our view was being obstructed by the large party next to us. With one request, the wonderful staff was able to move us to a direct table next to the beach. Also, the host recommended an incredible drink to me - it was a blueberry sprizter of sorts, served over ice with a separate serving on the side. The St. Germain "Hummingbird" cocktail. WAS WONDERFUL! We will definitely be back to Michel! Thank you for making our anniversary so special!

    (4)

  • James P.

    While this place is a little pricey, it's a great romantic setting on the beach - A great spot to watch the sunset while you dine! They got rid of my favorites which were a table service for a Spinach Salad and Steak Diane (Both Awesome) they use to also have a fantastic Chocolate Soufflé. They may still have these as specials, if they do I highly recommend them!!

    (5)

  • Inga S.

    The staff was EXCELLENT, the location was BEAUTIFUL, the escargot was AMAZING (better than what I had in Paris, although my boyfriend begged to differ). So what were my problems with it? I had one of those tableside cooked, meat dishes and was disappointed because I think that the server was so friendly that he didn't realize he was overcooking my dish. My medium rare was definitely well done. For the price, that kind of mistake is pretty bad. I also had a problem with the fact that the meat was cooked tableside but the sides of that dish weren't. So there was definitely a visible, palatable difference in temperature. Meat=hot, sides=cold. Would I go back? I probably would take myself to another restaurant, but lemme tell you, that view is quite breathtaking.

    (3)

  • Justin T.

    Michel's is a must! It is right on the water and the staff takes very good care of you. David N. is the BEST server! He knows how to take care of his guests! Many of the dishes are cooked tableside. The food is superb! Some of the dishes are very rich, so you eat less, which is good for your figure. You still leave full and satisfied. The GM is very entertaining. We talked about Dancing with the Stars! Everyone here treats you like family.

    (5)

  • Cassie T.

    We went to Michel's to celebrate my birthday. This place came highly reccomended by my co-workers. We were very impressed with the view. We had just moved to Oahu and enjoyed being able to eat dinner with an amazing sunset view. It was perfect! We ordered the Smoked Salmon appetizer, the Prime New York Steak Au Poivre for dinner and the Chocolate Souffle for dinner. All was very good! To top it off their cocktails were delicious! If you are looking for a nice dinner try Michel's!

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    I took my Fiancee to Michel's for her Birthday and we really enjoyed everything; the meal, the setting and the service. I had the Cioppino which was deliciously prepared and came hot to my table. I am a stickler for having my food served "hot" (temperature wise) and was not disappointed. My Fiancee ordered the Rack of Lamb which she enjoyed thoroughly. We requested a table with a view and was placed right alongside the area overlooking the beach. We really enjoyed the Sunset but the next time will ask for a table a little further from the beach since my Fiancee received a slight sunburn on her arm. Most of the patrons will have a great view of the sunset from 70% of the restaurant. The service was top notch and not too intrusive. Our waitress prepared our Caesar Salad at table-side and it was delicious.

    (5)

  • Vanessa C.

    A friend had recommended this place as a must go to when we were in Oahu on vacation. I have to say this is the most romantic restaurant I have EVER been to!! We arrived here 30-45 minutes before sunset. The weather was warm, I was seated next to someone I love and the sun was an orangey pink haze. Straight out of a romance novel. The food was succulent and savory. We had the Steak Diane, which they made table side. Even better! It's probably one of the best steaks I have ever had. I still crave that. We had the ahi tuna tartare, steak tartare, salad, fish, and dessert. The food and the service was excellent as well. I want to go back again

    (5)

  • Minette C.

    I expected a lot from this place from all the raving reviews, and I was a bit disappointed with the food. The atmosphere and the service were spot on though. I was being a total dork, and decided to book this place while on vacation with my sister. I chose the must romantic dinning scene and reserved the table at 7pm, so we can see the sun set. It was very romantic for us siblings :). Our waitress was very knowledgable about the menu, and was quite honest about which entrees weren't the best. The manager even came out a few times to refill our wine glasses, so they were super attentive. We ordered the escargots in butter sauce, half dozen oysters, and the Lobster and Thermidor. The escargots were good and dripping with butter, but what isn't good with butter? The oysters were alright, I still prefer the selections back in SF, and the main entree was so-so. It was quite simply made, and I didn't find any wow factor to it. But if you wanted a romantic atmosphere, this is the place to go. The windows are all opened, and exposes the beach front.

    (3)

  • Jess J.

    The boyfriend decided to surprise with me a nice birthday dinner and boy did he. The ambiance was very lively. Kinda wished we didn't sit in the front of the restaurant, I like to people watch (^_^) but instead there was one chick who kept staring at me... I just gave her the stink tilapia eye and boom! it was over like that!!! Anywho, back to the food. You have to try the Helix Escargots Bourgogne which is 6 snails drenching in herbed-garlic butter. So yummy! It was like eating mushrooms. That will set you back $24.00 . I had the Prime New York Café de Paris ($48). It was definitely filling, I only wished that I had more than 1 Gnocchi. Like c'mon, I've been starving myself all day so I could stuff myself with all your goodness. The boyfriend had the Beef Tenderloin Au Poivre ($50). This was finished at table-side. The server gave my boyfriend a double shot of Jack. You definitely could taste it, but in a good way. The dragon berry mojito was bomb!!! My boyfriend ended up ditching his regular mojito for one like mines. No free birthday deserts :-( only a candle and an oval chocolate piece placed on the desert you order. And you never get the same server. We must've had about 4 or 5 guys wait on us. They all look like they all help each other out. I wonder how they split their tips then? Hmmm...

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Michel's was a choice restaurant for a special occassion. The view from here is beautiful, the food was prepared nicely and the service was excellent. We really enjoyed the steak, as well as the lamb was delicious. I'd definitely recommend going to Michel's is you are looking for a special occassion. you won't be dissapointed.

    (5)

  • Khai T.

    I am SOOOOO coming back! Took the wife here to celebrate our 4 year milestone. The Table the manager reserved for us was superb! Watched the sunset, while enjoying our bottle of wine and Champagne. The Mrs. was all smiles from ear-to-ear, we ordered the escargo, lobster bisque, island salad, and rack of lamb( I am not a fan of Lamb but it was highly recommended by peers) I can't stop raving about the quality of the food! Throughout the night we got overwhelmed by the top level of customer service,,, as we finished the dish the next one would come out perfectly timed. Each dish would impress a different section of our taste pallets! Needless to say I loved the Rack of Lamb,, it didnt taste like my past experiences with lamb. At the end of the night we walked away with a satisfied tummy and a great dinner experience. Definitely will be back again and agian!

    (5)

  • Noelani C.

    If you are in need of a place to celebrate and have an inkling for seafood or even a porterhouse steak, then Michel's should be on top of your list. Hands down, this is one of the best meals I have ever had in Honolulu. Chef knows how to cook and display fish to perfection, obviously he has trained his team well. The service was good and they went out of their way to accommodate my dietary needs. The portions were small, which was fine because on top of the 3 courses they gave an amuse bouche, petit fours, and parting snack. The bread pudding at the end was an extra nice touch The restaurant was great, only downside is affording the price tag. Yelp has to put a " $$$$$ " for the Price Range, I must say.

    (4)

  • Ryan P.

    This was my first time to Michel's and what a great experience !! It was my parents last night visiting, but I can also picture a special occasion dinner for 2. The sunset is spectacular, but make sure to get window seating so you can listen to the waves crashing and feel the ocean breeze. The service was above and beyond.

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    Michel's is one of the top restaurants in Hawaii. Order classic meals and enjoy the table-side preparations of Caesar Salad and Banana's Foster. The crab bisque is absolutely WORLD CLASS. All of the entrees are as good as they get. If you can, go later to avoid the sunset rush. The service will be excellent and the restaurant doesn't feel so crowded. Best of all, go with a bunch of friends for a special occasion! Sit back, drink wine, and enjoy your hard earned dollars! Michel's is classic dining.

    (5)

  • Jeff S.

    I hadn't been to Michel's in years but kept missing their "Beef w/ Foie gras mousse in pastry". So I chose Michel's as my birthday dinner destination. An excellent choice and the whole family agreed. Decor was pretty much the same yet very well kept up. Nice bathroom too. Service was impeccable. Staff was friendly and welcoming with a genuine feel to their hospitality. They were very attentive without being annoying. My water glass was never empty. Big points with me. Then there was the food: Passed on the Lobster bisque to continue my pursuit of a good Onion soup. I have been searching for a good onion soup and coming up way short. Too salty (Ryan's); Cold soup with cold hard cheese on top (Tango); Inedibly salty (CIA, Napa Valley); the list goes on. The "Sweet Maui Onion Soup" ($12) was fantastic. Perfect amount of gooey cheese, salt, onions, broth and puff pastry on top. Yum. Finally! My wife had the "Sauteed Foie Gras" ($36). Huge serving compared to the little teaser portions you get at most places. Toe curling little slabs of pan seared heaven. We also ordered the "Escargot". Herb/garlic butter, sliced bread to dip,...the angels were singing. The "Warm Baby Spinach Salad" was prepared tableside. A little overdressed but the dressing wasn't really sour as it can be if the preparer is heavy-handed with the lemon or vinegar so it was still delicious. I discovered that my foie mousse dish had been replace with "Beef Tenderloin Rossini" ($56) a prime filet topped with a decent sized piece of sauteed foie gras. No complaints here. This was even better! The filet was a perfect medium rare and there was enough foie that I got some with every bite. Once again the angels were singing. I'm not much of a dessert guy but decided to get a flambe since it was my bday. Wow! The Pineapple and Framboise (raspberry) flambe is poured over cubed red velvet cake and vanilla ice cream. Sooo good. The angels were hoarse already and I was ready to lie down. A very positive dining experience with satisfaction on multiple levels. Oh and we went a 6p, caught the sunset and saw our first green flash.

    (5)

  • Jason S.

    A beautiful location, very romantic setting, and delicious food. The Chef is very friendly and executes a delightful and insightful menu. A perfect spot for Valentines or a birthday. Tres Bien!

    (5)

  • Ruth Z.

    What an incredible dining experience! We went here for our anniversary dinner. Making a reservation online was quick and easy- we requested a table with a view of the beach, and they must have paid attention to the note because that's where we were seated. For appetizers we had the lobster bisque and steak tartare. Both were prepared tableside, with flair and class! The lobster bisque was divine. It was not overly oily or thick; it was perfectly creamy and full of flavor. I was nervous about the steak tartare, since I've never had it before, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was "just right" spicy, cool, moist, flavorful, and tender. So delicious on toast! For our main courses, we ordered osso bucco and rack of lamb. The osso bucco was SO tender it fell apart under my fork, and practically melted in my mouth. The rack of lamb is not something I would normally order, but it was equally tasty. We weren't going to order dessert, but our attentive waiter brought out a lovely berry/ice cream dish for our anniversary. The only thing I didn't really like was that the portions were H-U-G-E. For an intimate dining experience, I would prefer smaller courses. The noise level was also a bit louder than I would have preferred, but we were seated near a very large table, so that contributed. All in all, dining here made for the perfect classy date night! We are definitely going again.

    (5)

  • Hashim A.

    Dined here on my vacation in Waikiki and I must say I was impressed. I was a little disappointed I didn't get the view I requested in my reservation, but I understood when I saw that half the restaurant was dedicated to a wedding party. Despite the large wedding party going on in front of us, service was very smooth. The lobster bisque we had was good. Not quite as good as the bisque we had at Hy's or Alan Wong's, but good nonetheless. I ordered the onaga, which was fabulous. The portion was just right and the fish was perfectly cooked. We had the apple tart for dessert which, once again was delicious and just the right portion. I can't wait to come back here next time I'm on Oahu.

    (4)

  • Darcy K.

    BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF WAIKIKI BEACH...Sit by the window! GREAT SERVICE DELICIOUS FOOD AND WINE just lovely! No disappointments or complains at all!

    (5)

  • Toan D.

    I haven't been completely around the world but can't imagine a more beautiful setting for a restaurant. The four of us intended to have a sunset dinner and ended up closing the place ;)) Incredible food and service. Grammy Award winner Jeff Rassmusen on guitar, the beautiful Pacific Ocean within a stone's throw, cool evening breezes, and the sounds of gentle rolling waves. If there were ever a perfect restaurant, this would be it in my book.

    (5)

  • David L.

    I took my gf here for her birthday dinner and was not disappointed! Made reservations on the phone and it was fairly easy. They even called the day before to confirm. Ambiance was great. I asked for a table with a view, and should have been more specific in stating that I wanted one closest to the beach, but got one by the bar instead. It ended up working fine, as my gf gets cold easily, so sitting inside suited her better. We could still see the beautiful sunset, and afterwards, had a great view of the Waikiki lights. Service was excellent. The food was nice as well. I had the tenderloin, and she had the veal. Mine came out pre-cut, which was odd to me, but it was well received. Her veal was very tender and even had lobster/scallops in one of her sides! The bill was as expected, and overall, we had a great night. I would definitely recommend this place for special occasion dinners.

    (5)

  • Justin S.

    Always an incredible experience, even if you only experience it a few times in your lifetime. High-tier restaurants like Michel's can probably be counted on your fingers and toes on Oahu, and I will say that I'm glad for its rarity in that it lends great value to a meal you will not forget. The beach and sunset lie just a few yards away, the sound of the ocean is audible and paired with a pair of smooth-voiced musicians lobbing Hawaiian falsetto across the room, and the lighting and setting are perfect. Visualizing this place is enough to make one suddenly go poetic. Service here is unbelievable, especially for a locally raised kid like me. Attendants provide you with service and attentive care for things you hadn't even yet realized you needed yourself. Are you a lefty? The guy noticed, and while he's talking he's also rearranging your flatware to fit your handedness. What kind of water do you want? Plain old water, sparkling, or mineral? Try stepping away from your seat for 60 seconds, and you'll return to a napkin that's been immaculately refolded and placed at your setting. I guess that's what top-tier restaurants do, but it still blows my mind. Servers are incredibly theatrical about the menu, and describe every component of every dish to the most minute detail. As a result, everything seems amazing, and (surprise) everything IS amazing. Table-side service comes in the form of appetizers and desserts, and there's no shame in gawking at the cherries jubilee being lit up a few tables away. We started with the Lobster Bisque and a Hickory Smoked Salmon appetizer, both of which were finished and served at the table. The server skillfully flambeed lobster meat with butter and brandy before laying it on the super-rich bisque. The server then sliced salmon (smoked in-house) and served it on a plate filled with breads, creme fraische, red onions, capers, and caviar. Simply put, both were presented in an incredible way, and devastatingly delicious. For entrees, we had the Roast Duck and Steamed Onaga. The steamed onaga was great, served with a shoyu/ginger sauce and somen noodles, but didn't amaze me as much as the duck. The roast duck wasn't gamey, but rather filled with herb flavors and rich caramelized sparks and accompanied by a number of interesting vegetables and brown rice. We skipped dessert (tsk, tsk), but I know it's a treat we'll enjoy in the future. This is not a place to frequent unless you're notably affluent, but the experience is enlightening.

    (5)

  • Gloria C.

    I chose this restaurant to celebrate my birthday with my bf because of its one of a kind romantic decor. The restaurant was located right on the beach; your oceanfront table allowed you to look out into the infinity of the ocean. We were not familiar with french cuisine so we didn't order any of their famous table-side prepared dishes. However, we did order things we know we would not dislike and they were prepared decent. Since it was my bday, they also gave us a free dessert that tasted all right. Although the food was not unforgettable, the ambience alone was worth it if you are drinking a good bottle of wine with the right person. :D

    (3)

  • Takako F.

    People there, Robert , Eddie, and others were the Excellent!! Five Stars!! Receptionist lady who gave us a wonderful seat with Ocean/Suncset/MoonRise view was Five Stars!! Fireworks at 8:00 from Hilton is Five Stars!! Lobster bisque demonstration is Five Stars!! But the mashroom in the Lobster dish was too winely taste, two stars. Fruit on the aspragus was two stars. I have been looking for a French restarurant where serves lobster plate like a Star of Honolulu serves. I have not found one yet. If any one knows, would you kindly let me know, please? LuvLuvoxoxox Ta

    (3)

  • Manda Bear B.

    ************************** 621 ************************** 1 of the nicest sunset view in the Waikiki Beach! Michel is French good for the island standard! But no La Mer standard, although it's 1 of my FAV now! Decent wine list, good food, good service! Definitely romantic spot, well, I came with my bestfriends, arr there's always next time!

    (4)

  • Rabk K.

    Great vista of the downtown skyline with open dining and a two time Grammy award guitar player for musical entertainment. Had the chateaubriand for two. Omg. So good. Fancy food setting. Very busy. A tad noisy. But really an awesome place. Off to Maui today or I would be likely going back

    (4)

  • Chad S.

    Our reservation was right around sunset. I recommend the timeframe as you have a wonderful view of the beach and had a perfect view of the sunsetting. The service was very friendly and tentative. The food was expensive as expected due to fine dining. Food was great, not exceptional but pretty good, none the less. We ordered the tiramisu for desert, and didn't really care for it. We also got a complimentary desert for my wife's birthday, which was a chocolate molten cake, with a scoop of mac nut gelato. That was a lot better. All in all, a very good experience.

    (4)

  • Leni K.

    Wonderful restaurant.... view, staff and food amazing! not to mention great guitar playing on the background. New Year's Eve was one of the best experiences!!!

    (5)

  • Melissa K.

    I haven't been to Michels in a few years but my experience then was amazing. I loved the food, service, cloth hand towels, and even the after dinner mints. I would have given it a 5 star rating. Fast forward to last night. Everything seemed good until we got to our table, which was directly against a big cement wall. We asked to be moved but was told that was the only available table so we sucked it up and decided to sit there anyway. ---Service ... it was like Waiting for Godot except without the entertaining Gogo and Lucky. The waiter was absolutely awful. He was more interested in adjusting his tux than concentrating on his patrons. Instead of checking on us, he stood around, smugly readjusted his tux, or folded napkins. In the rare moment that he did check on us, he was very flippant and/ or fake. During the entire 2 hours we were there, he half-heartedly inquired ONCE about how how were. We waited over half an hour for him to take our order. The tropical salad arrived and it was just so-so and difficult to eat because the lettuce leaves were in their entirety. Plus the lettuce leaves were disproportionate to the rest of salad ... chunks of mango, radish, cucumber, etc. that were cut into tiny, same-size sticks ... so small that you had to taste the piece to determine what it was. Dressing was good. After finishing the salad, we waited at least 45 minutes for the rest of the food to arrive. The waiter did not stop by. We wondered if he had forgotten to place our order. We were envious of the other patrons who had quality waiters and I was tempted to ask for a different waiter. Eventually the food arrived. My roll-up was delicious. The tender, flaky fish was topped with an amazingly fabulous hollandaise sauce and truffles. It came with a salad (again, the whole lettuce leaf). Hardy's Hawaiian Bouillabaisse was so-so. The chunks of fish were tender and abundant but the mussels and clams were small and not robust. The broth reminded me of the tomato juice from a can of tomatoes. Contrary to the menu description, the broth was not "savory" and after a few tastes, we left it alone and picked out the seafood. Could not taste the island spices or the saffron. The garlic bread was room temperature and blah. I had hoped that dessert would save the meal but alas, it was not to be. Pineapple-lilikoi cheesecake was decent but salty. The crust was wet and the texture clashed with the cheese part. The glazed pineapple was tasty but only because the rest of the dessert was so uninspiring. Even though the portion was small and split between several people, we didn't finish it. The women's restroom is decadent, the restaurant interior is beautiful, and I love hearing the waves crash on the beach. Kudos to the guy who filled the water glasses and the other guy who folded my napkin every time I got up. They were great and deserving of a yelp star. Last night was probably one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. We should have had dinner at the Halekulani, Chef Mavros, or Roys.

    (2)

  • Corrie M.

    It is a family tradition to go to Michel's any time we are in Honolulu. Very fine dining and right on the beach. The seafood has no rival that I have tasted! Great place to go for a very formal dinner treat.

    (4)

  • Mary D.

    Awesome experience and excellent food. Robert was our waiter for the evening and he was extremely engaging, personable and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend going here - the overall experience was outstanding.

    (5)

  • Peter L.

    One of the worst dining experiences of my life! After making reservations 5 days in advance through Yelp and requesting oceanside seating for our party of 4, and then calling the morning of our reservation to confirm our reservation and the oceanside seating, our group of 4 was met by the "hostess from hell", Hiroko, a patinum blonde, Japanese lady who proceded to seat us at the worst table in the house (front-center in the middle of all foot-traffic and yards away from the ocean tables). Her only response to my statement that I was led to believe that we would be seated at an ocean-side table was her surly response that ocean-side tables were reserved 4 months in advance! She actually yelled at our group in the presence of other diners and created an embarrasing and uncomfortable situation. We then requested reseating by Hiroko and also by our waiter, but neither of them got back to me on my request for reseating even after they promised to look to me on my request. After reminding my waiter of my request 30 minutes into our meal, he finally returned to inform me almost one hour into our ($550.00) meal that a reseating woud not be possible. No explanation or aplogy was given. I responded that if I had been informed in advance that oceanside seating would not be available, that I could have made reservations at a different restaurant. No-one really seemed to care. We felt an attitude of total indiffernce. What a contrast to my recent dining experience at La Mer at the Halekulani! The staff there is truly cosiderate, sincere, and professional! Then there was the bug in my water glass. The indifference of the waiter to retun to re-pour our $100.00 bottle of wine? The hour-long wait between our salad and our entre. The waiter constantly brushing against me every time he walked past. The difficulty and omision of our waiter to get the anchovy out of the spoon when making our caesar salad. The poor rendition of the specials and menu selections? And the annoying glances by staff towards our table. We are customers, not opposing gangsta members. At the end of our meal (way too little and way too late), the General Manager (GM), Philip, came by to show interest and hospitality. It was not sincere. When a polite admonishment was shared with Philp about his hostess, Hiroko, and how she treated us, he indicated that it had already been addressed. I think not. If he had, he would have apologized to us for her behavior earlier in the evening. This is one restaurant that clearly puts the attitudinal issues and needs of its staff ahead of those of its diners! We got off to a horrible start, and it never got better? And no one really seemed to care. Our group arrived at Michels at the end of a long week expecting to be served and cared-for. Instead, the atmophere was passive-aggressive, if not not hostile. Not intending to use hyperbole, I've had better dining experiences at my local McDonalds.

    (1)

  • Rob W.

    We decided to celebrate my moms birthday here at Michel' and we were not disappointed. We arrived at the restaurant and everyone greeted us with a big smile, hello and good evening. We were immediately seated at a beautiful table right in the very front to watch the sun as it slowly set over the ocean. We started off with a few drinks and mom decided to have the Mai tai. She let me try a sip and it was perfect. Perfect balance of all the ingredients that make an excellent Mai tai. Everyone started off enjoying their flatbread and toast with a touch of butter. We then decided to order two of the yellowfin ahi tartare as an appetizer, as the portion size is usually a bit smaller. But not this is one, very generous portion sizes and it was absolutely delicious. They even topped it off with caviar and creme fraiche, perfect. My dad and I decided to have the Caesar salad and they made this table-side with all the traditional goodies including garlic, lemon, anchovy paste, dijon mustard and of course anchovies. This was excellent and everyone wanted to taste it. Next was the main entree and I decided on Michel's Ocean Bounty which was an assortment of fish including blackened ahi, oyster rockefeller, mahi mahi, lobster tail, scampi style shrimp and baby abalone. Everything was cooked to perfection and mouthwatering delicious. My mother had the abalone, which was farmed in Estero Bay, CA, and she loved it. We got to try a piece of the abalone and it was tender and tasty. For dessert, we all decided to share the chocolate souffle' and they brought us a delicious chocolate fudge sauce and a fantastic vanilla sauce to float on top. What a great experience at Michel's. If u love a great view, with some live classical acoustical guitar, excellent service and fantastic food, then this could very well be a place that u will enjoy as much as we did. This was our second time here and we will definitely be back again.

    (5)

  • Mee-stique K.

    What can you ask for more, beautiful setting, wonderful food and good company...this place is the perfect place to have all three (well that is if you find the right company) but otherwise you will have two out of the three. If you like regular French Onion Soup, you'll love even more the Maui Onion Soup. The sweetness of the Onion really brings out the flavor and someone they don't over season it with salt like some places I've been to! The service was impeccable and attentive. When our waters were running low someone is on it right away! I've been to some restaurants you could be sitting there 20 mins and no one will come to refill your water unless you ask them to! But even then some might forget! :( The seafood was so fresh and everything kept pipping hot! You have to try their Hardy's Bouillabaisse. And the Steak Dianne if you like steaks. They cook it in front of you like the traditional French restaurants. You don't see that too often any more!

    (5)

  • Tania L.

    Okay, so I went a few years back, so what I have to say may not apply to today, and also my experience was uniquely my own and you might end up with a less-than-pleasant experience because some jerk had a fight with his girlfriend.. whatever. Also, my memory is not exactly pristine (and not because it was a forgettable experience!) but I'll tell you the very first thing that popped into my head as I thought about how to begin: THE SERVICE. Crazy. They make you feel like you are VIP. Real formal, proper, courteous, and thorough. They time the food (there were moments when it might have been drawn out a little) and the water is never even half empty. Of course, you pay for it... Foodwise, you can't complain. I'm sorry I can't tell you exactly what I had for dinner that night, but I bet if you showed me the menu I could pinpoint what I had and all the other stuff I wanted to eat!! (I didn't pay, so I had to be modest lol) The portions are good, the quality and taste was fine as well. It was a nice ambiance with a decent view. There was no crazy ruckus even though it was packed. The only critique I would have about the place is that, in terms of titillating the palette, there's not much you haven't already tried at other places. Yeah yeah, I know, I'm like that ass critic on Ratatouille who was just in search of some bs perspective. But hey, that's just being nitpicky. But man oh man, good stuff!! I would recommend the place and definitely go there again... once I save up some $$$ Oh, and I know it might be because it's Hawaii, but you don't have to get all dressy to eat there. They'll treat you well regardless (thank goodness for that)

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    Based on reviews, I found Michel's to be somewhat overrated. The view was stunning, the decor was disappointing, the service was amazing, and the food was mediocre. Parking - Complimentary valet parking available. Ambiance - The scenic view of the beach and sunset is hands down one of the best in Waikiki. The ambiance created by Michel's is romantic and cozy. All tables will have a great view of the sunset so no need to be concerned about getting window seating. Although I recommend that you sit farthest from the windows otherwise you'll have people staring at you throughout the sunset. I was disappointed with the decor used: fake plants, spider webs and dust noticeable on the plants, weird candle holder, and stained plate settings. Definitely not what I was expecting from a "fancy" restaurant. Service - Despite the decor failure, the service was indeed amazing and impeccable. We were seated right away, our server was attentive to all our needs, plates always cleaned, water filled, and even food runners fulfilled requests that we've made. Awesome service. Food - I was disappointed with the food. We ordered a sashimi taretare, not really memorable. I ordered the rack of lamb, medium-rare, and my date ordered the New York filet, medium. The food came out reversed: rack of lamb, medium, and New York filet, medium-rare. The sides for the dishes were interesting but was a mess on the plates and did not really go well with the protein. Everything was properly seasoned. The dessert, apple banana flambe, tasted great with a nice little show using orange peels from our server. Portion size: were hearty so if you have a big appetite then you'll be fine. Taste: Taste was so-so, definitely better than Outback but no where near a Michelin Star. Cost: In terms of portion size you'll get your bang for your buck, but if your looking for Fleur De Lys or Chez Panisse type taste go somewhere else. I haven't tried other French cuisine on the island so I can't say if this is better or worse than the others. Prepare to spend around $15-$25 on appetizer, $40-$65 per entree. $15 per dessert.

    (3)

  • HY L.

    This is and will probably always will be my favorite fine dining restaurant in Hawaii. It is the most romantic location on the island. I guess your dining partner has a lot to do with it too;) The service is consistently 5 stars. Ambiance, service, menu, everything is what you should expect from a fine dining restaurant in Hawaii. Make reservations to watch the sunset, and ask to be seated by the ocean. Bring your sunglasses, enjoy the beautiful view, eat & drink the night away. They also have great valet service.

    (5)

  • Kimo S.

    We went for our anniversary and my wife was so happy that she said it was the best place we have been to, ever. While we usually do not go into Waikiki this is Diamond Head/Gold Coast and it earns it name and ranking. Several tables around us had locals also that means it has to be great for them too. The Doctors convention in town also provided many customers, but the reasons are many: First the view of sunset and Waikiki at night. Next the ambiance of the staff always buzzing, I mean they hustle to serve the tables not just water but polite and very happy even though it was a Kona wind day (warm) with high humidity and them wearing tuxes, except the boss. He is almost invisible. What a team and the head coach is Manager Philip Shaw a man who not only knows his customers but has many years of being the best at a variety of the best including running Roy's in the day and a server way back. He personally goes to all the tables several times to back up his staff. His knowledge of wine is great and conversation is easy with his really down to earth manner and aloha. With out him it would be a good restaurant with him, the best. Michel's has always had a great reputation. It works to keep it. Then the food as the chef stopped by once early and while his food is so ono ( great) his timing for delivery works well from the kitchen. What else could you want? Well there is the X factor, desert and bar. if you want a special night tell them as a special plate was delivered without asking besides a desert and then we shared a soufflé ordered much earlier. We had leftovers of lamb and bouillabaisse! Portions are not medium but Good sized and the Caesar salad was made table side as was the Lobster Bisque and by now you have read other reviews about just going there for that incredible soup. Wine list works well with top labels. Several other tables were also having different dishes made in front of them and that show makes a good time better. Again the Manager stops by and works the room to look and instantly assist not just point the team. He is a wonder of this time as few could have that leadership to make Andy Anderson proud of his place. Pros! The room was filled and needs reservations for the sunset view and beach side. Right outside the open windows are people having the relaxing area to themselves under palm trees. waiting for the day to end. It feels French on the beach with seating like it was outdoors. Very open. Just perfect is the description . No more could be done to make the experience better. Try it again. We will.

    (5)

  • Nikki N.

    Perfect atmosphere for a romantic date or with friends and family. The service from our waiter John was over the top. Everyone needs to try this place at least once. The view is beautiful and the food is quality. As soon as we were seated they delivered a sweet potato butter and basket of lavosh to our table. I had the escargot and pan seared ahi as an appetizer. I had the mahi mahi and onaga special with a lemon butter sauce. My bf had lobster and shrimp thermidor. We had nothing left on our plates because it was so delicious. The dessert was the pineapple lillikoi cheesecake, that we couldn't finish because we were so full. John explained everything well and it was hard to choose an entree because every thing souded mouth watering. He helped us choose our appetizers and was very genuine. It was nothing but a great expirience. The price is not for an every week dinner, however I will return for birthdays and special celebrations.

    (5)

  • Tamara P.

    My ex-boyfriend and I used to dine here for dinner pretty often. They always impressed me with their tasty appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I like making reservations near sunset and reserving a table by the water. They slide all of the glass windows open and you get a wonderful view with the fresh island breeze coming through. I also liked the fact that they ALWAYS had your car running and waiting just outside of their entrance once you were walking out. Definitely the best valet service ever! Once for my ex-boyfriend's birthday we were enjoying an intimate evening by candlelight as I watched him open his birthday gifts. One of the gifts I made for him was a personalized journal where I filled out all of the entries for him. I wanted him to learn a little more about me. Well to make a long story short, he was anxious to get started and a waiter popped out of nowhere with a little penlight to help him get a better look at some of the writings in there. It was a really kind and sweet gesture. You get the service that you pay for here at a 5-star restaurant. I will be back!! Food: ***** Service: ***** Ambiance: ***** Value: ****

    (5)

  • Richard M.

    Probably the worst restaurant dinner I have had in years. It took 45 minutes after we ordered for the food to arrive, and then both entrees were terrible. The lamb chops were tough, and the fillet mignon was 2 small overcooked leftover scraps of meat I wouldn't have served at Denny's. The accompanying vegetable assortment was tasteless and so undercooked that I left them on the plate. The apple tort scored no better: the pastry and the apples both had a soggy consistency. Visits in prior years has been excellent, but after this experience, I will not be returning very soon.

    (1)

  • Chie F.

    The last time I've been here was about 6 years ago, when it was a French restaurant. Now it's a Continental restaurant, and it was very delicious! Wonderful view, great service (waiters are not uptght! They are all friendly!) and most of all the food was very good! I had the Rack of Lamb and my husband had the Filet Mignon. The soup of the day (I believe it was Artichoke Broccoli) was very yum! I recommend this restaurant for special occasions! Check out the pictures!

    (5)

  • Adrienne T.

    Amazing experience. The service was impeccable, the food was delectable and the ambience was everything a French restaurant should be outside of France-- great ingredients without the snotty presentation. The table-side prepared caesar salad was THE BEST CAESAR SALAD I have ever had, and the wine list was extensive and reasonable. What more could a girl want on her birthday?

    (5)

  • LesliAnn K.

    Let me say, the service here was EXCELLENT. So that is a 5/5. For people who like good quality, rich, French cuisine..this is it. For me, I could not eat like this every night, but I will still give it a 4. Michel's is located in a condominium right on the beach towards Diamond Head, a little away from the bustle of Waikiki. Most of the clientele are tourists. If you are on vacation, I would recommend this place, much more than Duke's. What I was surprised with was that it was PACKED, on a Wednesday night, with a steady stream of people coming in..even at 9 pm. It is a little cramped and loud in the restaurant, so maybe its a better atmosphere for 4 people or more vs. a romantic dinner for two. We did family style so I just about tried a little bit of everything. Our meal took three hours, so be prepared for a leisurely meal. I could not stop eating the lavosh! I guess I am just impressed by the simple things. Lobster bisque - one of their famous dishes. creamy, delectable. Helix Escargots Bourgogne with Butter butter butter! Michel's ocean bounty dish is a perfect smorgasbord of seafood and if you feast with your eyes, this is a nice one! Hawaii is known for their fresh fish, so I would recommend the Onaga dish. A nice twist was that it was served with somen noodles, an interesting combination. Leave room for the Magnificent Chocolate or Grand Marnier Soufflé!!!!!! You gotta put in your order in advance since it takes extra time to prepare. Since it was my dad's birthday, we also had some chocolate mousse dish...light and not too sweet. The manager came and introduced himself and personally changed our tablecloths in the middle of our meal so we could have clean linens for dessert. It's small things like that that don't go unnoticed. He didn't HAVE to do it. He even escorted us out and took our picture. Overall quite a special experience!

    (4)

  • Ronnie O.

    Great food, great location, great service. We had our anniversary dinner here and loved every moment. We are definitely coming back!

    (5)

  • First Name L.

    Great establishment but they are not 5 star worthy!!!! Food - 4 Price - 3 Service 3 Cleanliness - 2 - See highlighted paragraph below Ambience - 2- See highlighted paragraph below Yes, those ratings are surprising but it's the truth. I made reservations online, confirmed on the phone and email. I arrived and did not have the oceanfront table that was agreed upon - NOT GOOD but I didn't make a fuss and wanted to enjoy the evening. There seems to be plenty of wait help, definitely more than this number of seats should warrant which was a good sign but as dinner progressed, it seemed that I could never get assistance when I needed it. ==================================================­=== Do I blame the fruit flies on the restaurant or is that just part of dining in Hawaii? I'm pretty sure I've had plenty of meals at Zippy's without having to worry about flies.... We constantly had little fruit flies diving in our food and Mai Tai's. Really irritating and it went on all night. Who's to blame... not sure... but that's a huge differentiator of a 1-3 star and a 5 star establishment. It should not have been an issue as it took away from our dining experience. ==================================================­=== We had a full dinner as you should when paying top dollar. Caesar Salad, Steak Diane, Filet/Lobster/Crab combo, Creme Brulee, and Sorbet. The food was all very good. We also had a few Hawaiian cocktails which were also good but not better than the cocktails at Dukes (just sayin). Service was almost really good but in the end it was slightly more personable than say a Roy's but they failed to make it a great experience as the level of service deteriorated through the night. I found myself looking around several times for assistance which should not happen with their level of staffing. It was a pricey dinner... very pricey, one that I will gladly pay for a 5 start experience. Will I try it again... maybe Brunch.

    (3)

  • Kelly M.

    I go here more than I care to admit. With that said, I will tell you why. The service is impeccable, the food is excellent and the view is the best . Oceanfront, open and on the beach. It's got a perfect view of Waikiki and the sunset. Their wine list is extensive, whether your budget is $60 or $2500, you will find something satisfying. I have been coming to Michel's since the 80's and have seen some interesting transitions. The vibe it has now is most enjoyable. World acclaimed guitarist, Jeff Peterson plays most nights. Phillip Shaw is the extremely attentive GM. My favorite dishes are: Lobster Bisque (prepared tableside) Caesar Salad (prepared tableside) Foie Gras (Hot with currant sauce- my description-ask for it) Seafood Appetizer for Two (with crab lobster shrimp oysters etc) Steak Tartare (prepared tableside) It's memorable, one of a kind and perfect for every occassion.

    (5)

  • Jane M.

    A class act. Went for the food, service and sunset view. very disappointed in $68 Kobe Ribeye. not seasoned properly, lost in sweet sauce and messy presentation. gave feedback to server Daniel who was so nice.He said the chef apologized and took it off the bill. Now that is fine customer service. I will go back because I know how good Michels is.

    (4)

  • Abby J.

    My boyfriend and I ate here while on vacation. It is one of our top 3 favorite dinners ever. The french onion soup is a must! :) Ambience and service was amazing and the bathrooms are adorable.

    (5)

  • Joanne P.

    My husband and I went to Michel's to celebrate our anniversary. This was our first time at this restaurant. It is located at the Colony Surf which is a condo building right next to Outrigger Canoe Club. When we walked in, we were blown away by the ambiance. It was like a fancy French restaurant had been plopped right onto the beach. The beach-side of the restaurant is completely open and it could have been uncomfortably warm, but they keep the a/c on which nice. The clientele looked to be at least 50% visitors. Everyone was well-dressed in elegant aloha attire. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset as we ordered. Our starters, escargot and foie gras, were terrific. The service was also top-notch, although I felt for our waiter who was sweating in his tuxedo. But that is where the positives end. We ordered 2 entrees, the filet mignon/stuffed lobster and the catch of the day en papillotte (2 types of fish plus scallops), were not that great. I wanted to keep eating my filet mignon but it was overcooked and dry and I kept thinking that this was not worth the calories (I had ordered medium rare and there was barely a tinge of pink inside). The fish was prepared well, but the flavors were too bland for me. The worst item on our plate was the jasmine rice which was dry and hard. Shocking for a restaurant in Hawaii! For dessert, we ordered a chocolate souffle and a grand marnier souffle. The grand marnier souffle had nice flavor but had fallen before it reached our table. The chocolate souffle kept its shape better but would have been better with more chocolate flavor. I would say these were ok and I might be persuaded to return again just for dessert. We didn't have any alcohol and the bill came out to $198. At that price, this was a disappointing first visit, but I guess that is the price of a gorgeous location. Food-wise, I prefer Le Guignol.

    (3)

  • Vi Y.

    Wow, this place is amazing. I'm so glad I was able to purchase a $100 gift card for $50. The view and open air seating, along with the fine dining establishment inside makes for the perfect romantic date. We ordered the seafood appetizer for $50, which came with all kinds of seafood goodies. We also shared the lamb. Everything was cooked, or uncooked to perfection. Along with corkage for 2 bottles of wine at $25 each, total for the bill came out to an additional $60 out of pocket, along with the original $50 spent on the voucher. This is just for 1 appetizer and 1 entree, so make sure you bring your wallets!

    (5)

  • Scott K.

    I love Michel's. Not the cheapest place but the food is great. Get there for the afternoon sunset while you enjoy your dinner. Make sure you get he Coppola Cab, which is my favorite. Its on the pricier side but well worth it if you are having dinner there already.

    (4)

  • Grimeater A.

    I finally got to try to place thanks to my friend. I usually try to stay away from these fancy shmancy places because you're usually paying more for good ambiance and service than excellent food. I was a little hesitant going since we just got back from a week of pigging out in Vegas but my friend convinced me to try it out. We ended up getting great seats right by the window with a view of the ocean and city lights. Our server was very friendly. For starters we ordered Escargot and Lobster Bisque. The Escargot was very good. We ordered extra bread to soak up all the buttery goodness left at the bottom of the dish :) The lobster bisque was a disappointment :( It was served table side with the whole dog and pony show. The flavors just weren't there. There was a slight refrigerated taste to it. I guess coming from Vegas a few days ago spoiled my palate. The Stone Crab Bisque at Joe's in Caesar Palace is to die for! For entrees I ordered the Ocean Bounty and my friend ordered the Surf and Turf. The Ocean bounty came with abalone, risotto, one stuffed clam, seared ahi, butter poached lobster and potato crusted mahimahi. The food was good but not 5star good as I would expect for the price. Again, I'm probably biased since I was in the food mecca Las Vegas. I had a little of my friend's plate and it was good too. The steak was really tender. I'm glad I finally got to check this place out. Maybe next time I'll go for a special occasion instead of a random dinner. Oh and I'll try not to go right after a week in Vegas. I think the combination of the two took away some of the "wow" factor for me. Still good food and good service though.

    (4)

  • Brent S.

    Took my wife here for her birthday and we were not disappointed. First of all, it's located right on the beach with beautiful views of the sunset. Perfect place for a romantic dinner. Being that it's been around for so long, we didn't think it was going to be that busy, but it was packed even on a Wednesday night. The offer several tableside prepared dishes, like Caesar Salad, Lobster Bisque, Steak Tartare, as well as some of their main entrees. The Lobster Bisque is definitely worth getting. The Tonato doesn't look very attractive, but is really good. We got the Ocean Bounty and the Seafood Consomme. Both had a ton of fresh seafood, for the price. They were really good dishes. But we do wish we ordered more of the appetizers instead. Definitely, next time...

    (4)

  • Tiffany Y.

    I ate at Michel's, a contemporary French fine-dining restaurant, once with my husband when we were on vacation recently. I had made the reservation online months in advance in order to ensure that we could get a spot. We could have taken a several-minutes walk to the restaurant from our Waikiki hotel blocks away, but we took a taxi to and from instead. The waiters were attentive, gave us seats with a view of the beach and fireworks, and celebrated my birthday with a free piece of cake and music. All of the courses of food were tasty, but I found two pieces of shell in my lobster bisque. Overall, the service and atmosphere were excellent, and the food was good.

    (4)

  • Kerby C.

    This is the third and last time we have been disappointed with Michele's this year. I was hoping this time would be better. They say the definition of insanity is: doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Uh oh! First let me say that the location is spectacular on the beach below Diamond head and the service is way above anything else in my experience (except Roy's on an early dinner in the Waikiki location before the rush). We had a beach front table with an added bonus of a monk seal on the beach just below our table and that plus the service earns Michele's two stars. The food cost them three stars, again. I had a caesar salad made table side which is nice an the salad was ok, not great and not worth $18. The main course was a NY steak which was beautiful but came on a cold plate and the meal was luke warm upon presentation. I don't know why it took their army of staff ten minutes to deliver eight meals, the party next to us was at least 20 people, I wonder how long they had to wait for their dinner? My Sister had a fish dish (Mahi Mahi) I think; it was dry and bland she had two bites, I shared my steak with her, my wife had the ocean bounty with overcooked Mahi Mahi, to be fair she reports that the lobster and abalone were good but the fish is old or just overcooked, either way inexcusable in an establishment of this price range. Two of our party had osso bucco which was bland and over cooked or reheated from the night before, too bad as it is normally a favorite of mine and hard to ruin, I agreed with their appraisal: underwhelming. For the price they charge you need to deliver more than service and location, to get my money you need to serve good food. We are guests on this great island so we can be excused for giving them three attempts to get it right. In talking to my neighbors on the Gold Coast the all agree, Michele's is to be avoided until they start putting their food first, over presentation and pomp. Let's hope they can do that.

    (2)

  • Aaron T. S.

    For me, its about the service, the food always seems to taste better when the service is Great. Phil Shaw (Gen. Mgr.) is always present & watching to make sure the service is above par. The staff is always friendly, attentive and smiling, they really enjoy what they do... I took my mom there last night for her Bday, she loved it and already has put in her request to return for next year. The prices are on the high side, but when you can make someone special happy, is price that important, not for me. Our meals were outstanding, everything was prepared perfectly. We had the warm spinanch salad, lobster bisque prepared table side, always a WOW factor. Mom & sis had the Lobster & Shrimp Thermidor and I had the Veal & Abalone Special. We had the black & white Soufflé w/ mac nuts, so delicious... The Food, The Atmosphere, The Mood, The Music, The View & The Staff made this a perfect night out for us...

    (5)

  • Michelle W.

    I admit that I was probably in a wonderful cloud from just being proposed to on their beach, but I was impressed with my overall experience at Michel's. The staff was wonderfully laid back and attentive. I just love the wonderful Hawaiian hospitality. The food was also very enjoyable. Finally, you can't beat having dinner facing the beach with the cool breeze and beautiful Hawaiian sunset, and you have the perfect view of Waikiki from Diamond head. We enjoyed fresh oysters, the ahi duo, which was a perfect combination of ahi carpaccio with light truffle vinaigrette and ahi tartar with red tobikko, diced onions, & walnut oil, seared sweet and fatty foie gras, had a bonus of passion fruit sorbet that I thought was too sweet, and prime black angus filet mignon, kona crab stuffed in a succulent 1/2 maine lobster, alongside hamakua mushrooms, asparagus, with a wild mushroom sauce & vin blanc. Conclusion: Perfect not overbearing not snooty service. Not the best food that I've had but very good food. Perfect ambiance.

    (4)

  • Liz T.

    Don't break your bank for Michel's unless you have another one in Switzerland. Michel's is good but it's not Michelin good. Sunday brunch: The Seafood Benedict a la Michel's ($16) was pretty good; I didn't like that the chunks of artichoke were larger than the lumps of crabmeat. I'm glad I got this instead of the German Apple-Blueberry Pancakes ($12), though, which were dry as a desert and hard as a rock. I'm of the crispy outside, moist inside pancake school of thought. Dinner: I got the most expensive item on the menu thinking it'd be out of this world, but it wasn't even out of the ballpark. The Black Angus Prime Tenderloin and Dungeness Crab-Stuffed Main Lobster ($49.50) is American surf-and-turf trying so hard to be French; it was so buttery and rich that my arteries were petrified. The Creme Brulee ($9) deviated from the standard with its orange and coconut custard--very unique but not in a good way. I'd give it 3.5 stars. The ocean view is gorgeous, but did you know it's even better at restaurants on the other end of the Waikiki strip (i.e. La Mer)?

    (3)

  • miss L.

    Some tips to help maximize your fun ratio at Michel's ~ Like any place there are hits and misses. The food can be heavy and the decor is a bit dated. Keep in mind it's really about savoring the location, toasting too many times and sloooowly enjoying desert with an after dinner drink. Here's what works for me: Number one is the table. Do your best to secure a window seat. Tables closer to the bar end of the restaurant afford the best views as the sun sets. As soon as you are seated/ able, order a cocktail. They tend to leave you lingering over your menu and if you're anything like me you start to get the shakes when you can't get your drink order placed right away. I highly recommend a martini, up. They'll pour you a splash and then leave you with a little baby decanter of vodka/ gin on crushed ice. I mean is there really any other way to drink a martini properly? After this you may agree, NO! As far as food goes, I think the appetizers really shine. The Harvest of the Sea (chilled seafood platter) is bountiful. A good dish to share. And if you like Cesar salad, it's made table side, which is fun. My must have is the abalone. I go here for this. It used to be served with spaghetti squash and tomatoes, which I adored. Their online menu has it prepared differently (slight sadness here) but I am guessing it is still delish. I like to order this as my main course (appetizer size) and have a few bites off my hubby's entree plate (lobster please). More than enough food for two. Food is heavy, so I say lean on the starters. If you have room for desert, order something on fire. Preferably the bananas & apples with vanilla ice cream, please. Any there you have it.... enjoy.

    (4)

  • Yummy P.

    I was excited when my date told me that he made reservations for us at Michel's. Walking in I was already impressed. The atmosphere is warm and beautiful but as we neared our seats, I went from amazed to disappointed. Our table was a little too close to the kitchen doors and so far from the view outside I couldn't see anything :(. We ordered the cesar salad which is prepared table side. He failed to talk to us as he prepared the salad, not to mention the sweat dripping down his head. I was more concerned about the sweat dripping in the salad than watching him prepare it. I had a hard time enjoying my salad after that. Our first dish was the Steak Diane. Presentation was amazing but dry and over cooked. The rice that came with it was also under cooked. Second entree was the Hardy's Hawaiian Bouillabaisse. This wasn't all that bad. Very rich but still good. Still having room for dessert we decided on the Warm Cinnamon Apple Tart. I wasn't impressed. I would give Michel's another try but next time, I'll veto the Cesar Salad, Steaks and Apple Tart while ensuring to make reservations requesting outdoor or window seating.

    (3)

  • Christian F.

    I was looking for a romantic place to take my wife to, to celebrate our anniversary during our vacation on Oahu. Michel's seemed to have a lot going for it including a nice view of the sunset, but in the end it was a huge disappointment. 1) They gave us a table at which we could not face each other but instead sat side by side on a bench. Very romantic (not)! So instead of seeing each other, we had to look at all the other people instead and the waiters passing by. The whole time, we felt like waiting on a train or something. 2) We saw hardly anything of the sunset since there were two rows of tables between us and the window. 3) The food really wasn't all that impressive. No one would pay this much for the food (we had the $89 tasting menu) if it wasn't in expensive Waikiki Beach and unless there was a promise of a romantic setting (which we didn't get). The upshot: if you go there for the sunset, either make sure when reserving that you get a window table, or be prepared to turn around and leave once they show you to your table. There aren't that many bench tables with poor view, but I find it unworthy and greedy of a fine dining restaurant to maximize the number of tables they can fit, sacrificing quality. This is not why I go to a quality restaurant!

    (2)

  • Aline T.

    Great place for a romantic date if you can get a table with a view. I requested the table with a view via online reservation and explained it was a belated V-Day for me and my gf. The view was great even if the weather was particularly dreary. Bring something to keep you warm just in case; the restaurant is open air. The food was delicious. The price range for appetizers is around $15-20, soups $10-20 (can't remember too well), and entrees $40-60. My bill was 187 + 33 tip. Appetizer Frog Legs - This was delicious! It tastes like chicken and the sauce is great! I would request more sauce the next time I get this because they are a little sparse with it. Smoked Salmon - If you are a salmon fan, you will love this. It's smoked in house and the flavor is very well developed. I'm not much of a salmon fan but even I enjoyed eating this. My gf loved it. Soups Maui Onion Soup - This was so ono! I'm going to order one for myself next time. Lobster Bisque - If you like lobster, you'll love this soup. It could've used more lobster. Entrees Filet Mignon Madagascar - I didn't care for the blueberry topping...I'm not a fan of steak and fruit but my gf said it tasted good. Rack of Lamb - This was tasty; I didn't care too much for the accompanying sauce that came in a little bowl...I can't even remember what it tasted like. I tried it twice and decided it was better without it. Dessert *usually if you order tableside desserts where they flambe stuff next to your table, you have to order 2 servings, but if it's not particularly busy, the waiter will let you know it's okei to order just 1* My waiter recommended matching a flambe dessert with a not-flammbe dessert (such as chocolate decadence cake with cherries jubilee) but my gf wanted to try the apple tart with the apple banana flambe and this was absolutely delicious! Plus the flambe show was awesome! The waiter had a carved orange peel, ignited a ladle of rum and let it drizzle in a spiral down the orange peel and into the pan with the simmering sauce and bananas! Overall, the food was delicious! Our waiter was Robert and he was phenomenal! So polite but also not so formal with just the right touch of humor and friendliness - great person! We came at 7 pm and left at 10 pm. My gf said she got a little bored because we were there for so long, and I admit, I did too but it was very brief. I find this impressive since I get very antsy siting still for long periods. I thought it was so odd that it was 3 hours..they timed each dish very well so when it came out, it was nice and hot. Note: If you haven't gone to Michel's before, when you turn in, keep driving down (you'll see a ramp that goes up to valet). Don't go right.

    (4)

  • Zoe B.

    We like the food there. The first time we went was in 2006 and they had a soup with pastry top. But they don't have that anymore now, what a bummer. That soup with pastry top was the bomb. The got other food great too. Everything we've tried was tasty and happy to find this place. The grand marnier souffle was my favorite dessert there. We recommend this place for a french meal.

    (5)

  • Sunny D.

    We went here for our anniversary. I choose it mainly because I had a certificate (buy $50, get $100) and we haven't been here in eons. Anyway, easy valet service. Requested a window table so we got one at the right corner. Very nice view of the water, paddle boarders and such. Ordered Escargot to start, me and hubby shared. It was very good! Wanted to lap up the goodness with all that bread, yum! Then we both ordered the rack of lamb which I ordered medium. Before it came out they served a berry sorbet to cleanse the pallet which I really need after the garlicky Escargot! There were three large pieces of lamb racks, mashed potato, stuffed tomato and fennel. The coffe demi glaze for the lamb was oh so delicious! Very tender, perfectly cooked and juicy! Wow, WOW! Both me and the hubs were wanting to chomp on the bones! We are still enjoying sitting by the waters edge, watching the lights from the Pride of America on it's way to the neighbor island, watching people enjoy the shoreline. There was a bit of a lightning "show" in the leeward side but luckily no rain in Waikiki. Even the night was lovely, just listening to the lapping water was very soothing. So the waiter brings out a complimentary dessert of cheescake but we really wanted to try the Cherries Jubilee so we set the cheesecake aside for our teenager whom we left at home. I always enjoy watching them prepare this dessert! My hubby really enjoyed the Jubilee much more than I did. I though the one we had at Azul in the Ihilani was better. I cannot believe I actually ate all of that since I'm normally a lightweight when it comes to dinners. But the food was very good! Overall, it was a lovely evening. Wonderful meal, lovely ambiance and a perfect partner. What more could I ask for?...Okay, yeah a five carat diamond ring would have been a topper!

    (5)

  • Jace S.

    I was brought here for our montherversary brunch with the boyfriend. They dubbbed it the 'blood orange mimosa brunch.' They variety of food was way out there, you have french flair then really local dishes, and everything in between. For first course I got the oxtail soup. Just how mom made it, crisp bak choi and fall off the bone oxtail. Second course was a seafood omelette. This just wasn't up to par. The seafood wasn't fresh and tasted like it was flash microwaved to thaw it out, and the egg was overdone. It was a mess. The managed to save the day with their tiramisu though. Moist and there was hints of citrus, nice touch. This place has amazing service and ambience also. You overlook Waikiki beach, and the waiters are very attentive. Oh and by the way, the blood orange mimosas were amazing.

    (3)

  • Paul M.

    I'm not going to bother anyone with a lot of words like I usually do. This place was amazing. Definitely 5 star cuisine with a 5 star atmosphere and 5 star service. Price is high, so I can't come here often, but I'll remember this place forever. Had the lobster bisque (wow), the ceasar salad (better than normal, but just a salad to me), the steak diane (holy crap, so good), and the bananas foster (better than a firedancer show). Definitely go here for a special occasion. But only if you have $75-150 per person on hand.

    (5)

  • Julie H.

    If you are on vacation, Michel's is a wonderful place to dine for the incredible view and beautiful decor. The atmosphere is incredibly romantic and the food is delicious and rich. I actually think the appetizers, soups and salads had a better selection than the entrees. The lobster bisque had wonderful flavor and was just creamy enough without being too filling. The french onion soup and escargot are also wonderful choices. I was also tempted by the frog legs and foie gras, but maybe next time! For my entree, the special was a moi that was deboned, stuffed with smoked salmon then wrapped in potato and deep fried. While it was good, moi is better served more simply. On a separate occasion I had the bouillabaisse, which was very delicious because I love seafood, but it was exceptionally memorable. After ordering your entree, be sure to order the souffle. Michel's offers it in Grand Marnier, Chocolate or a mix of both. Both are equally delicious, so the mix may be your best bet!

    (4)

  • T M.

    We hadn't been to Michels for 6 years but decided that we were tired of the fusion Asian menus so popular in Hawaii. Suddenly, Michels came back to us and we are so grateful. From the time they answered the phone to the valet to go home, it is a top notch experience. We sat directly in front of the guitarist but the smooth jazz wasn't too loud. Ekulo, our waiter, was classy, polished and always one step ahead of our dining needs. The wine list goes from cheap to ultra expensive. Last night, I paired with a relatively cheap wine to go with our fabulous meal of scallop (singular),peppercorn beef, rack of lamb and salad. The spacing of the tables is comfortable for everyone as privacy is respected. The view of the Waikiki skyline is exceptional. We will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Doris D.

    Very nice dinner here a couple of years ago. I don't know about the dinner service here now, but I appreciated the service and atmosphere, both of which would distinguish this restaurant from other fine dining fare. Otherwise, the food was unimpressive.

    (3)

  • Tehani L.

    We were married in Waikiki 3 yrs prior so we always like to go back there to celebrate. I thought Michel's was a perfect fit. I felt a little foolish for not knowing about the restaurant. I mean, I've frequented the old W club in front for years, was a regular at Kaimana beach, snuck into the surrounding Elks Club and Outrigger Canoe club once or twice, but never discovered Michel's. Well, now I know and I'll definitely keep going back. We were seated early and got to enjoy the sunset. My husband was a paddler back in the day, so he enjoyed watching the close up view of the paddlers going out for practice. The food was fabulous & the wine list was impressive. Service was top notch...local guys that cleaned up well. Overall, great experience!

    (5)

  • Wayde F.

    I don't go all out and lavish myself and my partner too often, but when I do...One of the places on my list to choose from is Michel's at the Colony Surf. What can I say and where do I start...This place has been going strong since the 60's and very little has changed over the past 50 years. Amazing food, amazing service and an open air sunset atmosphere that is impressive. Being a Poor Man this isn't exactly on the list of places you would expect me to be visiting, but I do at least once a year. Why shouldn't a Poor Man be able to experience such fine-dining French cuisine? This place is seriously one of the top romantic places to take your loved one...If you are visiting Oahu and want to have that "DINNER SPLURGE" this would be one of the top locations I would do it at! I have even gone so far as to recommend this location on my personal itineraries I design for vacationers here in Hawaii. It's understandable that people follow me because I show them how to budget their vacation to Hawaii, but everyone needs to just go a little crazy sometime and with all the money travelers save with me there is NO EXCUSE not to splurge on themselves at least once or twice while in PARADISE! EVERYTHING on this menu is top notch! It's NOT a huge menu and being a chef that's always a good sign of EXCELLENT! The menu focuses all around Seafood and Prime cuts of Beef. The Wine list however is daunting so be prepared. When I go here I'm always battling between 2-3 items I want. It always happens so my partner and I get a bottle of wine, we choose two appetizers, maybe one starter to split, two entrees and two desserts we both would be interested in eating. That way we both actually end up having many small meals over a 3 hour period. When I go out like this my intention is to eat, drink and talk, and when I usually do that with someone I find stimulating it turns into a long evening. Everything on the menu is designed by the chefs with perfection, allow ones taste buds to truly enjoy each watering mouth full. From the moment you walk in till the moment you get up from the table. This business is one hell of a perfectly oiled machine... Now, people can like or dislike when I breakdown other peoples reviews. I really don't give a damn. When people Bitc# about a place and it's uncalled for I always seem to bring them back to reality and you to the facts. We seem to have 2 central situations that people Bitc# about when at Michel's...mind you there are very few negative reviews. Seating and Service seem to be tops. I have been here six times over the last 5 years that I can recall and I will be going back next month. I have never had a issue with a single service, seating or food so it shocks me at some of the idiotic one and two star reviews I have come across. Lets go over a few lines from a few reviews: One person says..."I know it's being picky, but for the level of service Michel's provides I'm a bit shocked they didn't catch this: they gave me a white napkin when I was wearing black pants. " Listen braddah, I get the white lint on the Black pants, but come on...who stuck that pole up your puka? Another person says: "The lettuce leaves were disproportionate to the rest of the salad" again later in her review she brings up the fact that the Chef uses the "ENTIRE lettuce leaf. It's pretty clear she doesn't understand fine dining. This women's review overall is contradictory and it is clear that no matter how hard she tries to be a snob or know what she's talking about, her review has no merit. Put it this way anyone that actually lives and breaths Hawaii and gives the local hangout spot of Zippy's two stars because the franchise is "over-hyped and priced way too high" is a little lolo. One more person says: "They gave us a table at which we could not face each other but instead sat side by side on a bench. Very romantic (not)!" Ok, listen...Each his own...for me personally this is the most romantic setting you could have with your loved one...sitting across from someone gets old and this allows a new kind of intimacy with your loved one if you look at it in a positive way...This reviewer however choose not to and the entire review was down hill from there giving the place 2 stars because he had to sit not across but next to his loved on. Truly and honestly...pathetic. * Make reservations days in advance if you want a Beachside table....For holidays or Valentines Day I would do a month in advance to get a Beachside Table to watch the glorious Sunset on Waikiki Beach. All tables have a view of the beach and sunset, but there are only so many tables that are actually BEACHSIDE. Word of Mouth keeps this place relatively busy, by higher end Kama'aina and visitors alike. I'm giving four stars for two personal reasons,...I believe the overall menu should be a tad lower in price and the décor should be updated for the new century, but If you are ready to spend a pay check with your loved one...this is it.

    (4)

  • Michelle V.

    One of the most romantic dates I've ever been to. Overlooking the ocean while the sunsets and the FOOD is amazing!!! My husband and I are definitely coming back!!!

    (5)

  • Gary C.

    If you want a romantic restaurant with great food, top notch service and one of the best views on Oahu, I highly recommend Michel's. Michel's is on the ground floor of the Colony Surf building, which sits on the beach at the foot of Diamond Head. The restaurant overlooks the ocean and a small sand beach. Ask for a table by the windows, which are almost always open to the ocean breezes. Diners sitting by the windows have a view of the Outrigger Canoe Club to the east, and Waikiki beach and the Waianae mountains to the west, in addition to the ocean view. Needless to say, sunsets are spectacular from the window seats, and you're treated soon after to the lights being turned on at the hotels along Waikiki. On Friday evenings you can see the fireworks show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which begins about 7:30 pm or a little after. Don't hesitate to bring your camera. Food quality and presentation are among the best on the island. Prices are on a par with restaurants like Morton's, so two people who get an appetizer, a couple of drinks, an entree and desert each can expect to spend around $175.00 for both people, before tip. Michel's is open for dinner seven days a week, and on the first Sunday of each month they also serve brunch- from a menu, not a buffet. Valet parking is free.

    (5)

  • Laszlo H.

    Well, sorry to burst the 5-star bubbles I see here...we had a dining reservation last night and it all began just fine with the mildly obsequious service, the nice drinks and, of course, the spectacular ambiance. But, it sort of ended there...because after the butter dripping escargots previously mentioned, the very pricey beef filet was much too fatty and chewy for a place of this caliber. So to rate this (wonderfully located, to be sure) place any higher than two stars after a $275 dinner for two (with a decent $48 Australian syrah included), would be a real stretch.

    (2)

  • Yasuo O.

    Well, its been a few years since I have been there and honestly, it will be a few more at least. If they dont go under at least. I was able to purchase a $100 certificate for $50 bucks and thought, what the heck. So off i go. First it was moved from Saturday to Sunday. I was told the reservations are only for after 730. Not a big deal. We changed head count from 3 to 2 people. Wifey and I decide it would be nice to get out there and enjoy the moment. we get there about 5 minutes early and asked to wait. not a big deal. we waited 15 minutes and got seated at 7:40. technically only a 10 minute wait. Not offered to sit on the bar or anything while we wait. no big deal. when we made the inital reservation and the change of dates, we requested along the railing to be near the beach. was assured it was ok. we finally get to our seats and nothing. we are i nthe middle of the restaurant 3 aisles away from the railing. FAIL. we start with some champagne to start. got an appetizer of ahi carpaccio. horrible, they offered it with soggy toast. then the dish iteself is worse. seasoning is atrocious. the best part was a scoop of ahi poke . the carpaccio itself ...strange seasoning. we took a bite each and put the rest on the side. finished. waiter didnt even ask what was wrong. maybe i am just used to being spoiled when i spend the money. next thing we ordered was a lobster bisque for the wifey and maui onion for me. maui onion was good. not the best but certainly not the worse. lobster bisque they flambe in front of you. nice idea but FAIL on the taste. bland. oily. alcohol driven. can make a better one with canned stuff. again, we left a bunch of it and not even asked about a thing. FAIL entree. seafood something. wifey got and i got the new york steak. i asked them for medium rare. food comes... very well. in fact, cooked well done. took two bites and i asked them for new ones. waiter agreed it was well done. wifey's meal is well... mediocore at best. temperature on the food was warm and the seafood was questionable whether it was fresh or frozen. waiter told us it was all fresh. i question it. FAIL waiter didnt mention any of the desserts and i remembered a soufle so i asked the waiter and he mentioned it took 25 minutes to cook. advised him that it should be better if he mentions it when we order with the entree. FAIL. Soufle came out and well. was better off eating a napple at zippys. But the waiter took the time to take it off the bill since they screwed up the entree. they close at 10pm i guess. they started to clean up and remove things off of tables around us while we were still eating. couldnt even enjoy the coffee and crap souffle they serve. what a waste. if you are a young kid trying to pick a place to take your girl for a nice night, come here and enjoy the bar. but otherwise, save your money, take her to a nice place for a meal and go walk on the beach later. much better... With the advent of nicer places coming up and a culture and society where we can afford to not only pick and choose but also become more sophisticated with more choices when we travel abroad, this place wont survive. atmosphere alone wont work at the prices they serve it at. the prices arent bad. But for the quality of the food, it was a rip off. My total bill? $189 bucks for 2 people. Not too bad for a normal french restaurant. but a total rip off for what we experienced.

    (2)

  • Denise A.

    My husband and I made reservations ahead of time for our dinner at Michel's, knowing that we wanted an oceanfront table (or "on the rail" as they call it) for our one romantic night out on Oahu. When we showed up for our reservation, we were so pleased when we were sat front and center, at a beautiful front-row table. The servers and maître d' gushed over us, and we were literally swarmed by helpful staff. We were wowed and felt so special right off the bat. Unfortunately, that didn't last long . . . through a brief conversation with the maître d', it was discovered that they had mistaken us for part of the owner's dining party for that evening, and sat us at his table by mistake. All of a sudden, the service wasn't so attentive. :) In fact, the maître d' tried to move us to a "perfectly lovely" table in the back of the room. Yikes - what a let down. Long story short, after quite a bit of debate, we ended up sitting at a decent table which was in front, albeit in the corner. Thankfully, the food was outstanding and the Mai Tais delicious. I had the Ocean Bounty and my husband the lobster thermidor. The lobster bisque is an absolute must have - it was amazing. So, no thanks to the condescending maître d' (I wish I could remember his name), our evening was lovely after all. The sunset from the open windows of Michel's was breathtaking. Big kudos to our waiter, Trent, who was truly impeccable in every way.

    (3)

  • Oleg P.

    We are very disappointed on our last visit for a birthday dinner. The service was terrible. The bread and butter were not served, I had to ask waiter for it several times. By the time bread was served our soup was almost cold... The steak was not tasty and there was something on top of the steak that looked and tasted like a chunk of belly fat. Waiter said it is a duck liver... I know the taste of duck liver but it was something disgusting... When they brought a bill the 20% tip was automatically added to the bill. I have never seen any restaurant that is forcing you to pay the tip. We declined to pay the tip as we had very bad experience... This place is suppose to be fine dining but we felt like we were in Dennys or Zippy's....

    (1)

  • Kristi S.

    Great food. Great service. Beautiful ambience.

    (4)

  • Aiko A.

    I LOVE Michel's!!! Yes, we went for my birthday, as we have in the past and I would go back every year (hint hint faye m.) The service was excellent, specifically Larry who was right on with his recommendation for drinks. He also prepared the steak tartar table side. He mentioned that he liked his spicy. I agreed and brought up the sriracha sauce. Later, he brought out a little bowl of the spicy sauce for me to enjoy with the steak tartar! But of course, the foie gras was the BEST. The fillet that came with the lobster and crab was perfectly medium rare and so soft. I savored every bite. My husband's seafood bounty came with butter poached lobster that was so tender, so mm mm good. The ambiance of Michel's is sublime...ocean side, the sound of the waves, sunset, and FIREWORKS! What could be better? Enjoying it with people I love.

    (4)

  • Z Z.

    The ocean view is nice but you can't see anything when the sun goes down so eat early if the view is important. Also keep in mind that since this is open air, the ocean breeze gets very cold at night so dress accordingly. I don't know what some of the other people are talking about because the lavosh with sweet potato butter is really good despite the strange color of the butter. As for dinner, we originally wanted to go with one tasting menu, one appetizer, and an entree. But we were informed that the chef wants everyone on the table to have the tasting menu, since when does a restaurant tell us what to eat? After that setback we went with: Helix Escargots Bourgogne - garlic butter deliciousness, nothing else to say Hickory Smoked Salmon - carved and served table-side with flat breads, creme fraische topped with caviar, red onions, capers, lettuce, and a slice of lemon. It's build-your-own, I prefer it pre-assembled and ready to eat, but it all tastes good no matter how you build it ***Maui Onion Soup*** - first off, they forgot about it. Then when it finally arrived I didn't care for it, but my bf liked it...until he nearly swallowed a fish scale. After all that waiting, huge disappointment but the staff took care of it promptly, removed it from the bill, and comped us a dessert Kona Coffee Glaze Lamb - the lamb was delicious but the other things on the plate were lacking....half tomato tasted a little strange, half onion only had flavor on the outer layers, and mashed potatoes were tasty but dry Lobster and Shrimp Thermidor - the lobster and shrimp were excellent, but the risotto that came with it was just OK Complimentary Dessert - small chocolate cake with ice cream and fruits, the cake was ok and kinda dense, but i love ice cream :) Overall, Michel's did not live up to our expectations especially with that Maui Onion Soup fiasco. But on a good note, the service was awesome, they really try hard.

    (3)

  • Hiro S.

    A couple of us flew in Honolulu for a short weekend getaway. It's been awhile since I visited this restaurant last time, but I do remember it was good experience. We had escargot to start - very yummy. We "cleaned" the plate with bread. For main, we ordered Veal osso bucco w lobster ravioli, Hawaiian onaga, and lamb for main dish. They were all good, but I had to say lobster ravioli was the best while it was "only" the side dish of veal osso bucco. The service was very good just like I remembered and our server Brian was awesome. He was very knowledgeable (w/o LA attitude!), and he was happy to find out if he did not have answers to any of our questions. The dessert was chocolate Soufflé - in fact, it was a combination of chocolate and Grand Marnier . :) Overall, it was a quite enjoyable dinner! The bill was about $70 pp incl tax w/o tipping.

    (5)

  • Michael T.

    Always heard great things about this place, so it was time to try it out when the GF's birthday came around. Made a reservation about 2 weeks ahead of time requesting a seat by the beach, where the great view was, instead we got a seat inside by the walkway. We sat about 10-15 minutes before the waiter got to us and explained some of the specials. They were very nice and courteous, but the service was very slow. We sat there about 20 minutes before we actually ordered. We started off with the escargot, duck liver, my GF got the onion soup and I got the lobster bisque. All were very tasty and delicious, but were a little too rich. So rich by the time our entrees came out that my stomach was already feeling upset. I had the rack of lamb and my GF got the seafood combo. Both were very tasty and delicious. The atmosphere was nice and elegant. But the service was too slow for my taste, and the crowd was somewhat rich "nose in the air" snobby people. My GF was planning a last minute dinner with her girlfriends the next day so we were on our iphones trying look for a good restaurant and texting invitations to her friends. I already noticed glances from some of the patrons, but before we left, an old Caucasian couple came up to us and said, "You two amaze us, coming to a nice place like this and just playing on your phones." It just made me think, wont you mind your own business. Well after the whole meal and a few drinks, the tab came out to $250. I thought the food was very tasty, but I don't know if it's worth the price. There are better French cuisines out there with better value.

    (3)

  • Alicia G.

    Michelle's at the Colony Surf is advertised as the most romantic restaurant on the island. It is that and so much more. Located on the sands of Waikiki it has two dinner seatings. Early and late. Early gets the spectacular sunsets (look closely a cloudless day will end with a green flash) views, so be sure to ask for a window table. One by one those restaurants that serve table side are disappearing. Michelle's will give you a spectacularly delicious Lobster Bisque, prepared table side, then onto a Caesar Salad made from scratch right in front of you. Next it is Steak Diane, also cooked table side, tender and delicious with ever changing sides dishes it is a memorable main course. We finish it off with Bananas Foster flambe'd once again at the table. For my birthday, we always request Crepe Suzette with just a touch of ice cream to bring back memories. Of course Michelle also have a full menu of many other items; the fish is always fresh, and the vegetarian dishes are non parallel. Christopher make a magnificent Mojito, I like mine with Coconut Rum for added flavor. Everyone is happy to have you join them and it shows in the superb way you are treated from the moment you make your reservation to the second the valet brings you your car. Soft music, ambient lighting, excellent service, fantastic food. It is my last meal, it is my favorite meal, it is Michelle's. Thank Heaven..

    (5)

  • Lauren W.

    My bf and I came here for out first date back in 2004 and we come back at least once a year when we want to celebrate. (Note to bf: If you are reading this...do not propose to me here. It's VERRRY nice, but come on....a little creativity is in order) We started off the evening with an amuse bouche...compliments of the chef. (Does everyone get this VIP treatment? I'm going to guess the answer is yes...but I'll pretend that we were special, anyway.) It was ground lamb in a puff pastry shell. Lucky me, my man doesn't eat meat so I got amuse bouche times two! Escargot **** (I prefer with cheese...but I know it's not "proper") Caesar **** (prepared tableside) Foie Gras ***** (they only have a cold prep on the menu...ask for a saute!) Lobster Bisque ***** (The server recommended we share...I recommended he shut up and bring me my own damn soup) Veal stuffed with Kurobota Ham **** (It was kinda "meh" but better the next for lunch leftovers!) Chocolate Souffle **** (Not as good as Alan Wongs...but bonus star for a little chocolate "Happy Anniversary" sign) There was a group of middle aged women (probably live upstairs in the Colony Surf) that came down to listen to Jeff Peterson play guitar. They sang "Happy Birthday" to someone in their party 4 times. They ALMOST ruined the romantic atmosphere but the staff at Michels quickly moved us to a oceanside table, provided me with a pashmina scarf to match my dress and keep me warm in the sea breeze, comped our salad, dessert, and corkage fee. Yay! Free stuff and good service saved the day!

    (5)

  • Walt H.

    My wife and I were visiting from the Mainland and we were recommended Michel's as the place to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. We were not disappointed. We enjoyed the wonderful caesar salad prepared at our table and the sea food plate of mixed treats which was superb. The service was exquisite, and Phil the owner was a wonderful host. We also had the added entertainment treat of Hawaiian slack guitarist, Jeff Peterson, a USC graduate and local Maui boy. This was a magic evening for us. The reality exceeded our expectations.

    (5)

  • Love S.

    This is the first, only and last place I've ever tried turtle. It was a soup. I don't know how they serve it, I thought it was illegal. I liked it but I felt guilty eating it so I let my brother in law finish it. He's tongan. They eat anything. I prefer breakfast over Dinner. This is one of the only spots I know of that serves ala carte sunday breakfast for an upscale restaurant. Most of these types of places all have buffets on sunday. I'm not a buffet type of girl but they have a bloody mary bar and I'm all over that. Bloody Mary's at Michel's are delicous and you can add in asparagus, celery, olives, carrots, limes, lemons and tomato's, by the time I get my breakfast I'm full. The menu is standard, not much fancy fare at breakfast but it's good and affordable. The view is beautiful during the day. The restaurant is air conditioned and they have awnings that block the sun. Smart.

    (4)

  • A A.

    We celebrated my husband's birthday at Michel's, and had a great time. The Tripical Island Salad was wonderful. We ordered the Seafood Trio, Black Angus Prime Tenderloin, and Kina crab-stuffed Maine Lobster. All were great! For desert, the Warm Cinnamon Apple Tart! Yum! Wine list was supurb. Although we the meal was great, it was rich in butter (and taste). Although Michel's is pricey, it is top notch for similarly priced restaurants. For me personally, to spend $200+ on dinner for two is ridiculous, but if this is within your budget, then Michel's would be a top choice. As far as the atmosphere, the restaurant itself is comfortable, but not spectacular. All my friends were telling me how much I would love the view and sunset, but it really wasn't impressive to me. Part of this is because we made reservations much too early (5:30) and the sun was hot and heavy on us! It is an open air restaurant (no air conditioning), so I was buring up! Secondly, although the view of the beach is nice, the view of old, fat, hairy men half naked didn't go well with my glass of red wine. Again, this probably had to do with our choice of time, because by 7:00 (when we were having desert), the beach was empty and much more scenic. Recommendation: make your reservation for maybe 30 minutes before sunset.

    (4)

  • Frank S.

    Most romantic restaurant on Oahu. Superb French cuisine. Escargot appetizer is world class!

    (5)

  • Pat G.

    Wonderful atmosphere, great music, beautiful views, first class service, and okay food, given the price. Nothing was bad at Michel's, but given the price of our meal (~$200/person, including tip), everything should have been GREAT! I rate restaurants based on food first, then everything else. The "everything else" was undeniably very good. - Their open ambiance, and view of the ocean is beautiful. The decor is 80's American cruise ship. - Their wait staff was attentive and creative. Our prix fixe meal didn't include a wine pairing option, so I asked for it, and our waiter came up with his own combination suggestions. A sommelier would have been appropriate at that point, but I'll give our waiter credit for picking interesting choices. For the main course he brought two wine samples for me to choose from, unsure which one I would like better. This was a very good move, and I had to praise him. - The music was the standard soft guitar, but from where we were sitting it was hard to hear it over the usual restaurant cacophony. I understand that setting the right volume for a crowded restaurant with a romantic reputation can be hard, but whatever they did didn't work for us. I also don't know if it was Jeff Peterson that night, since I couldn't see the stage from our table. Now for the food. It was good. Not bad. Just not as good as the rest of the experience, and the price suggest. It was "A" and not "A+." One thing that world class restaurants manage to do is surprise you with an unexpected flavor combination, or a novel way that they prepare a standard dish or ingredient. There was none of this in our meals. Everything was good, the presentations pretty, but nothing was surprisingly good or especially creative. Meh. This is a place to go on a date, or when you're trying to impress the in-laws or a client, but if you're looking to be wowed by the food, go somewhere else. At $100/person, I would have given them 5 stars, at $165 (before tip) they only get three.

    (3)

  • Vin L.

    When I've gone with my parents, Phil Shaw greets us with a smile, we have a waiter that welcomes us and introduces himself, and we have awesome service. When I go with my girlfriend, Phil Shaw just gives us a passing glance, our waiter doesn't introduce himself, and service is lacking. Maybe it was a busy night and things were hectic, but then again I work in the hospitality industry as a server and I know you have to be giving your best regardless of circumstance, so that is why the low review. I've been going to Michel's for over 10 years now, and I was hyping the restaurant up for my girlfriend since it would be her first time. I made a reservation online and requested a window seat if possible, else a booth, and I was nicely surprised to get a corner window seat where we could sit next to each other on an open booth seat. I know it's being picky, but for the level of service Michel's provides I'm a bit shocked they didn't catch this: they gave me a white napkin when I was wearing black pants. In the past, they are usually so observant to use a black napkin -- and I saw another patron get a black napkin -- so they failed on me this night. Our waiter came by, but didn't introduce himself, rather he asked if we'd like to start with cocktails. I had a vodka martini extra dry (which was incredible), and my girlfriend had a cosmo looking martini (I didn't try it). We ordered the tasting menu. $85 for 6 dishes. Starter - Ahi poke on a won ton chip: three pieces of poke, some slaw, and the chip. So-so. 1 - Gazpacho of Kamuela Tomato: my gf said it was like salsa. Yeah, it was. So-so. 2 - Diver scallop: Tasty. Excellent. 3 - Lobster and bay shrimp salad. Could have used more dressing. So-so. 4 - Veal Sausage with Orecchiette Pasta: Nice flavor. Very good. Intermezzo - Dragonfruit sorbet: Refreshing. 5 - Lamb with Blueberry Walnut Chutney: Perfectly done and so full of flavor. Excellent. 6 - Tiramisu: When I checked out the menu when I made the reservation, it had Pumpkin Souffle on the menu. When we got there, it had Tiramisu, so I checked with the waiter and they said the pumpkin was for the previous month and they must not have updated the online menu. I asked if he could check with the chef if they could make the pumpkin souffle, but they couldn't. They lose points here too because my gf loves pumpkin and when she saw that on the menu when I preview it to her, she was really excited. Well, the Tiramisu was only so-so too. It was too dense, and not enough Kahlua flavor. During the dinner service, what bothered me too was that our server was lazy on several accounts: he didn't take the time to reset the forks and knives on the proper sides in between each dish (he set them on the outer edge for my gf: her right, and the outer edge for me: my left). This bothered me a lot, because being a server, I've been trained on table setting. Our reservation was a 8 pm on a Friday night, and it wasn't busy at that time, so the server has no excuse for doing this. My gf told me at the end that Michel's wasn't worth it. Sorry, Michel's, your performance tonight was way below your standard, and it visibly showed.

    (2)

  • Irene C.

    I have only been here once, but I had a great experience. The food was great, good timing, and the service was impeccable. It got a little chilly as setting is open, but watching the sunset was great. The beef wellington is great. . .nice and tender, but the most memorable part of the meal was the dessert. We had chosen the tableside Cherries Jubilee, and it was quite the show. The server was very engaging, and it was very entertaining. Good times. It's also nice to dress up once in a while.

    (5)

  • Olivia D.

    Ahhh, Michel's. The restaurant I can never leave without having eaten at least three desserts. Sometimes I skip the entrees and go from appetizers straight to dessert. My dessert staples here are: 1) the wonderfully refreshing rose petal sorbet from La Gelateria served in a flute topped with champagne. I never cared for the sorbet alone because of the excessive sweetness, and the dry champagne balances that out nicely. 2) the Grand Marnier souffle served with creme anglaise--the best souffle on the island. 3) Cherries jubilee cooked tableside for two. 3) Crepes suzette, the 2nd best version I've had on the island after the ones at The Bistro. Unfortunately, I usually have to share the desserts with a couple of girlfriends on girl's night out. Which brings me to the other reason this restaurant is so popular: the spectacular view of the beach and open ocean from Diamond Head to the airport. Go early to listen to the waves and watch the sun set on the water with your sweetheart. I have no complaints about this restaurant. Year after year, the service has always been faultless, and the classic menu is well-executed. Many items are prepared tableside and are quite popular, but during a chance meeting, I was advised by executive chef Hardy to order entrees that are prepared in the kitchen rather than in the dining room by your server, to ensure the highest quality of execution.

    (5)

  • Jaci K.

    The service was spectacular .. The food were unbelievable. We were greeted by a manager, chase, who made us feel very welcomed. The bartender,Nate, gave us a great wine selection and picked out the perfect wine that meet our needs. I had an awesome experience thanks to chase and Nate.

    (5)

  • Meep M.

    This place has it all. Live music, ocean view, excellent service, and great food. We started off with the Iced Harvest of the Sea (Main Lobster, Dungeness Crab Legs, Ahi & Kampachi Sashimi, Ahi poke, Tiger Shrimp, and Oysters that is served of a bed of ice in a shell. The presentation was beautiful, but the food was better. Each piece was fresh, tender, and all the fish pieces just melted in my mouth. Next course was Lobster Bisque, which is prepared table side. The soup was rich and they were not stingy on the lobster meat like some places. For my entree, I ordered the Steak Diane because it's a steak that's named after me (It's not, I just tell myself that). They prepare it table side, which ensures it is cooked to your doneness. The filet was moist and tender, but not the best I've had on the island. For dessert, we pre-ordered the Marble Souffle (not many places take the time to prepare souffles). It was moist, fluffy, and not too sweet. A perfect way to end a perfect dinner. (Yes I ate all that food. What can I say? Eating is my hobby).

    (5)

  • Star L.

    My husband and I had dinner here on the last night we were in Honolulu for our honeymoon. I made a reservation through Open Table and made them aware of the special occasion and they actually read what I wrote. We were given a table near the beach so that we had an incredible view of waikiki beach and the sunset. The meal was excellent and they even brought us a Grand Marnier soufflé and sparkling wine to congratulate us. Our server Brian was friendly and helpful even though we do not look like the typical patrons and we shared our meal so that we could try different items. He accomidated us by splitting everything and we did not have to ask. The only reason I did not give them a 5 star is due to the lobster not being as fresh as I was hoping, but it was still good.

    (4)

  • sasha t.

    SERVICE was the BEST EVER! my boyfriend (now husband) took me here for my 21st bday. we racked up a bill...but it was worth it. view is amazing!!! gonna sound weird..but i loved the butter. lol yes, the butter. i think there were dried tomatoes in it. idk. the poke...could have been better...not much to say about the food...i think this place is ALL about the service. call in advance!! and request a view...

    (3)

  • sue m.

    Beautiful setting, great service, quality food. Sunday brunch is a special occasion.

    (4)

  • C J.

    Wow, What can I say, Michel's has again succeeded in providing and excellent dining opportunity. I took Ms. R. to a Valentine's dinner here to see how they would pull off a "special" menu. 1st course: Snails for me, Foie for her; awesome, Michel's never misses on the snails, but neither does DuVin. c'mon, canned snails drowned in butter and herbs?? what's not to like... but the torchon of foie was right on target with the exception that the walnut fruit bread was too overpowering to match with such an exceptional cut of liver. 2nd course: OMG what a disappointment, "farm raised" turtle pea soup? bland and totally, totally boring.... endive salad with lobster, the lobster was poached perfectly, but the fruit salad that was piled on top of the salad was...meh... really, not acidic enough to compliment the richness of lobster. 3rd course: ok.. here's where the kitchen shined, crispy, to the point of over done veal codon bleu. gooey inside with salty ham and a little well done gnocchi, Ms. R. had the bacon wrapped tenderloin, medium rare so not a lot finishing needed to be done and it was evident with a slightly tough bacon finish... Desert: uh... not worth mentioning... Michel's get 4 star's because of the wine and the ambiance. Nathan, our server, was attentive but not overbearing, and his wine recommendation although, he tried to persuade me to get something "off the menu" was spot on, even though it may have been the last bottle of a special order . FYI, if something is priced wrong, like a $69 bottle of Velvet Glove, your should change your printing. Service and wine gets 5 stars, food 3 stars, and please, please, hire a decent pastry chef, who can structure a desert menu that can finish a meal with a bang and not a whimper...

    (4)

  • Michelle K.

    I was looking for an upscale restaurant local to Hawaii and not one of those fancy chains you can get elsewhere. So I decided on Michel's by looking at the menu and reading reviews and the view was supposed to be spectacular. I made a reservation the night before and asked for a view table online. We get to the restaurant and as is very typical in Hawaii everyone is very friendly, however we were seated at an undesirable corner booth that wasn't really a booth near the kitchen and I started to feel my inner LA- girl coming on. But I was in Hawaii on vacation and politely asked for a better table and specifically mentioned I asked for a view table. I was told that those reservations were often made in advance and as I looked around I understood since the restuarant was packed. The manager came over and said "lets put you at a better table, something where you can see the lights." He was so nice about the whole thing and gave us a much better table so I was in a great mood. The food/drinks: I started off with wine and my husband decided to get a girlie mango/strawberry daiquiri based on our waiter's recommendation, which is apart from his usually "beer" self, so I said what the heck. Well, my husband claimed that it was the best frozen/blended drink he ever had and ended up having two before dinner arrived. We ordered the seafood platter as a starter and it was excellent, everything was fresh and delicious and the lavosh type crackers they serve with the lemon herb butter is so delicious, I think we had two baskets! I ordered the grilled seafood (I know redundant, but I was in a seafood mood), my hubby ordered filet with the crab stuffed lobster, again food was delicious. The dessert, pineapple cheescake, was the perfect ending. Here is the kicker, when we got the bill, our waiter said "Philip took care of the dessert" So then we politely asked the waiter "Who is Philip?" so we could thank him, but still kind of puzzled as to who would pick up our dessert? He said it was the manager who sat us at the nicer table. Okay, the fact that it was done nonchalantly and as a surpise to both of us made this place and the service above and beyond. Who does this? I cant say enough good things about this place and the service, everything was perfect. Thank you Philip and staff, hope to see you soon!

    (5)

  • Paige G.

    The ocean view and the air of romance steal the show here. The food is good, but I'd avoid the tasting menu. There are much better a la carte options. Good wine selections. Service is top notch. Make a reservations and request to be sat near the railing for best sunset viewing.

    (4)

  • Cindy N.

    the best french restaurant I have ever been.. romantic atmosphere, nice ocean view, good collection of wine.... I recommend this restaurant to everyone.

    (5)

  • Carina T.

    Mother's Day brunch! Yay for Moms and Grandmas!

    (4)

  • Mic B.

    Sunday brunch here is such a treat! It is gorgeous, has valet parking and a delicious menu. They also have a make your own bloody mary station which I think is a really neat idea. My family from the mainland loves to eat here too.

    (5)

  • Mahina M.

    Wonderful delicious great service warm ;)

    (5)

  • Sean A.

    Great service, awesome food, not much more to say. If you know what you're getting into with this place, you won't be disappointed, except for maybe the lack of etiquette from some people there. The view of the city and the east side of the island is amazing. Our server, Brian, was nothing short of perfect, with recommendations and the perfect level of attentiveness. I went for the new york, cooked just right, with the most pleasant surprising being the Okinawan sweet potato gnocchi on the side. We wouldn't have eaten here other than the gift certificate we received as a wedding present, as it is definitely on the pricey side. But if you're looking for fine cuisine and excellent service, this would definitely be near the top of the list in Honolulu.

    (5)

  • David G.

    I will start off by saying the ambiance is pretty tough to beat! We were right on the water with views that were just perfect. There was a nice breeze coming off the ocean and there was no glaring sun to battle during our brunch. I took my mother there for Mother's day brunch and she really enjoyed it. I on the other hand thought it was just OK. Everything I ordered I thought was pretty weak including the dessert. However, the chocolate covered Strawberries they served were very good. I think things today were a little crazy right along with their new Mother's day menu that really kept this place from shinning. It was easy to see that Michel's has the potential to be good. To me, it just seemed that I went on an off day. Even the service was varied, they forgot to do a lot of things and they had difficulty conveying the menu correctly.

    (3)

  • Angelica A.

    Dined here yesterday for Mothers Day brunch, it was a sit down 3-course menu. Each course had about 4-5 choices you could choose from. For my appetizer I got the cornbread crusted goat cheese salad which was very light and flavorful. Entrée I ordered the traditional eggs benedict which were cooked just perfectly. And for dessert I got the vanilla tapioca pudding, which to me seemed a little bland. My fiancé on the other hand ordered the pineapple/passion fruit cheesecake which was AMAZING! I wish I ordered that instead of the tapioca, but the cheesecake itself was decent size so there was more than enough to share. They also served complimentary chocolate covered strawberries which were delicious. All of our mothers were really happy and we all had a wonderful brunch together with family enjoying the beautiful scenery.

    (5)

  • Jean H.

    Service was great, friendly, attentive. Atmosphere is as good as it gets in Honolulu. Food was beautifully displayed and excellent. A great place to go on evil occasions. Dress up. It's one of the few places where one can these days. Enjoy

    (4)

  • Rick L.

    Excellent food and better service. Ask for Robert to serve you, great representative for this restaurant. Came with my wife for our first anniversary and brought my parents along to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday. We sat facing the ocean and were treated to a fireworks show. They even treated us to a special desert. You get what you pay for and our meal/dining experience was worth every penny and then some.

    (5)

  • Kaili N.

    wow...so many rave reviews! i just didn't get it. we did not get the oceanside table but it was still a nice view and the open air dining was nice. it's old school, but i was pleasantly surprised and liked the shabby chic-ish decor and ambiance. definitely a place for a dining experience especially with all of the table side service and leisure atmosphere. they gave us our menus right away but it took 20 minutes or more before they actually took our orders. i'm guessing it's because they don't want to make you feel rushed? anyway, we ordered a bottle of moscato d'asti, frog legs (my bf's choice), lobster bisque, steak and crab stuffed lobster, and my bf ordered a steak (forget which one). everything was okay, but i've definitely had better food and service before. i overheard one of the waiters say to his co-workers loudly, "incredible" while showing him a tip that he got. i kept wondering..."incredible" good or "incredible" bad? anyway, that was the first time that i ever heard a server comment on a tip - especially weird in a fine dining restaurant. so i have to admit that my review is most likely skewed because before heading over to the restaurant, i got the sniffles. upon arriving to the restaurant i pretty much had an allergy attack. i thought it was strange, but then i caught a whiff of lilies in the air. i absolute love lilies and it's fragrance but am prone to getting allergies from the pollen. i craned my neck and sure enough...i saw a huge ass (and i mean HUGE ass) bouquet of spring flowers with stargazer lilies near the front entrance. damnit...but it is impressive that they can afford to have fresh flowers like that and they were pretty. i really wanted to try the dessert but i couldn't take it (my allergies) and had to get the hell out of there. maybe if the service was a little quicker i would have been able to last a bit longer. dessert can sometimes give a restaurant 1-2 more stars for me. oh well. dinner for two came out to $173 + tip. *sigh* i don't see the value so i probably will never go back for dinner again but i would try their sunday brunch.

    (3)

  • Sky S.

    Great place for a romantic dinner. Taste great. Location is nice. (right on a beach) Nice live music. I always recommended this place to people who want to have special night and they always come back to me said they loved it.

    (5)

  • Marianne D.

    Just had my wedding reception at Michel's. I know now why this is the most romantic restaurant in Oahu. It was the perfect place for a small wedding reception!!!!!! Pretty much all of the guests asked me how i found this place. I did book the place blind so thanks to all previous yelp reviewers. I'm not sure why but if you look up this restaurant, you won't find a lot of images that show what it looks like or the amazing view that they have. When they told me it's close to the beach, i thought ok it will have a nice view, I didnt know that if you step off the window, you are on the beach, a stone throw away from the water. AMAZING!! I agree that it is pricey but for a wedding, I would rather pay for their food than hotel food where my guests will end up with some kind of dry, stuffed chicken or overcooked salmon. I had arranged for a limited menu - Appetizers - escargot and steak sandwich - both were excellent but it's the escargot that people kept asking me about. - Ceasar Salad - could have been better - they use butter lettuce, which I'm not a fan of Lobster Bisque - delicious - my fiance ordered it and had me try it, immediately i regretted by ceasar salad order!!! but hey he was not concerned about a tight wedding dress! We had a choice of Onaga fish or Steak for the entree - Fish was excellent, skin was really crispy. it came with scallops which were okay. The Steak was really good, my fiance ordered it. I did forgo the strawberry wedding cake and opted for the individual pineapple cheesecake, needless to say I think all of the guests were thankful for that decision. I agree - there is a reason why they have been here for 40 years, but maybe a little update wouldn't hurt! Thanks to Gerald for coordinating with the vendors and just made my wedding planning so easy!!

    (5)

  • Christine S.

    Michel's has good service, and a great view at sunset. It's an open-air restaurant, however, which I was not expecting. Our waiter are kind of a bit stuffy; they treat you as if you shouldn't be eating there because you are young. The hostess was really nice though, and even recommended good breakfast places for us to eat the next day. The lobster bisque was really good, and they cook it at your table. The lamb was really good, too. I was disappointed they they didn't have lychee martinis because this is an upscale restaurant in Hawaii! However, I don't think it was worth the price. It should be a bit cheaper. It was a good experience, but I don't really know if I'd go back.

    (3)

  • Alan O.

    This place was expensive, but worth every penny. The view, what can I say that has not already been said, outstanding. The food was top notch. French cuisine, so it can be heavy for some, but we loved it. Service was sublime. The waiter, Robert?, knew his stuff and was all over it. The only ding on this place, and I know I am splitting hair here, was that they charge for refills on fountain soft drinks. I don't drink liquor so I only drink soda. I had 4 Diet Cokes, $14! It's not the price, but the waiter didn't tell us that they charged for refills. We will return, Thanks for the memories.

    (5)

  • Myla Fe P.

    YUCK! We received a gift certificate from my mother-in-law to Michel's and we were so excited about going because we heard such great things about the restaurant. Unfortunately, the food was awful. My husband ordered the frog legs and Salmon Saint Jacques while I had the sweet Maui Onion soup and Seafood Trio. The soup was so-so and the frog legs were lacking flavor. Our entrees were pretty much inedible. We both were served scallops as part of our entrees and we had a disgusting aftertaste from eating them. We really felt the food was gross. If you love to eat delicious food, I suggest you skip the $150+ tab and go elsewhere. I would have given the Michel's 1 star had it not been for the wonderful staff. The service was fantastic. Everything was spot on. I just wished the I would have loved the food.

    (2)

  • Alex A.

    great location but i don't t think i would go again

    (2)

  • Nicole F.

    Loved this restaurant! Great location right on the beach. Though I came here with a group of people, it would be a great place for couples. Everything I tried that night was excellent: -Escargots (in yummy herb garlic butter) -Lobster bisque (Mmmm) -Salmon with scallops & wild rice pilaf -Tableside flambe crepe suzette (don't know if this is still on the menu but it was so good)

    (5)

  • Pablo D.

    Michel's is an excellent high-end establishment with a killer location and view over the beach, ocean, and Waikiki. The prices are high there's no getting around that, but the overall experience -- the service, the atmosphere, the quality of the ingredients and preparation, etc. -- is top notch. The food and service are fairly classical French -- i.e., lots of table preparation (steak tartare, steak diane, lobster bisque to name a few), friendly but quiet and respectful waiters, heavy sauce-based dishes. In many ways it's a bit of a time warp but they do what they do very, very well. One tip: booking a window table is worth potentially having to be flexible on your desired date and time. And if you can get a window seat on a Friday night, the view of the fireworks at the HHV is quite cool.

    (5)

  • Tim H.

    What is the hype about this place? I suggest not requesting a window seat for the sunset unless you are prepared to serve up some fried eyeballs. Take a seat off the window so the glare isn't in your eye and then the experience of the beach and the beautiful sunset may be appreciated. As food, the foie gras appetizer is a rich as you are literally served up a whole duck liver. Foie gras lovers, please indulge. The ahi carpaccio was delicious. For the main course, steer clear of the Steak Diane, especially if Gerald is preparing it. His preparation along with the multiple items on the plate led to a muddled taste pallet. Too many sauces on the plate, but not enough flavor in the steak. Thanks for ruining my $55 steak Gerald. For dessert, the chocolate souffle was oozing with a delicious chocolate center. If it wasn't for Roy's this would be the best souffle ever.

    (3)

  • Joshua A.

    Wow! I went here to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday and I was very impressed! We had an almost 4 hour dinner for just the two of us! If you are early enough and want to catch the sunset- request to be seated closest to the railing and make sure you there AT LEAST a half an hour before the sun sets. (It'll be worth it ;) The ambiance is phenomenal. The beach is right there with the waves lightly crashing on the shore while enjoying a beautiful fiery sunset- all while I was enjoying my first cocktail of the night! And we had the best waitress- Amber. She did not rush us and made sure we were having the best time possible- with even taking the time to take our picture with the sun setting in the background. OK- on to the food. We enjoyed escargot as our first course. This dish made my top 3 of escargots that I have enjoyed ever. The bread that they used was soft yet hard enough on the outside to withstand all the delicious butter they use. Next up was Lobster Bisque. Nice touch presentation wise as they flame some lobster meat with brandy as a garnish for the soup. The lobster bisque was good- although not the best I ever had. Entree time- Had the Steak Diane done tableside. It was a nice presentation once again.... although I've never had a Steak Diane with tomatoes. It was interestingly good. :) My gf had the Seafood Trio- grilled opakapaka, scallop, and jumbo prawn. This was more than Ok- the veggies were cooked to perfection and the coconut-saffron sauce was good. For her birthday they gave her a chocolate cake with berries and a "Happy Birthday" chocolate- VERY nice touch! The Five star rating is for the best dining experience I have had yet. Thanks to Amber and the rest of the Michel's crew- I am quick to recommend this place to all! :)

    (5)

  • JM M.

    When we went to Hawaii, my man made reservation here last V-day. The place was fantastic and the view was breath taking. We were lucky to have a table next to the ocean. My! the sunset was awesome and very romantic, can't ask for anything more! Of course that day they have special menu and I should say the food with matching wine was great! The service was great too! Try this place when you to Waikiki...I highly recommend this!

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    I made a reservation for my 45th birthday (March 5) a week in advance, which I understand may not be enough time for a good table,but i asked for a table by the window. You know the view of the water and sky by the Outrigger Club. I understand that a lot of people make reservations a year in advance but when we arrived we were seated at a table against a cement wall and my husband was seated looking a mirror of the view. The sunset was spectacular but my husband couldn't see it.We thought is was the worst table in the restaurant but there was a table behind us which was worse. That said, they went out of their way to make us feel comfortable but it could never make up for the view. Larry was great and we fell in love with the place on our first visit and Brian was wonderful but overall I don't know how I feel about this restaurant. I don't think we will ever come here for a special occasion again. I just received a message from open table saying I didn't honor my reservation and they are probably responible for this mess!!

    (4)

  • C O.

    First off, the pluses: The setting is wonderful. Second, the negatives: Service is spotty, rude, and unsanitary. Story: My wife had a dead fly in her glass of wine. The server spooned it out, dumped the contents in a different glass, and gave it back to her. What?!? Are you kidding me? I also had a dead fly in my food, in her food, and in my water glass. I know being close to the ocean will invite pests into the dining room but this is a first after years living in Hawaii. I commented to the management and they never responded. Also, unfortunately, the food is completely lacking of inspiration, modernity, and consistency. For the prices you pay there are substantially better dining establishments in the city. The whole establishment seems to be stuck in a time-warp of sorts. If you wanted to have a nice French dinner in the early 1960's, this is the place for you! If, however, you want clean flavors, pleasing plate arrangements, fresh seafood, proper food preparation, and caring service this is not the place for you. Save your money.

    (2)

  • Miguel G.

    An incredible experience during my trip to Hawaii. It has been a while since our visit but I still remember the lobster bisque that I had. It was the best I ever ate. The view of the ocean was amazing and it was exactly what I pictured my fiance and I would be doing in Hawaii. This is the place for special romantic evening with your SO.

    (5)

  • Rekinhsuf Z.

    Definitely top-notch in terms of ambiance and service. Went there with wifey (during our courtship haha), and had the abalone appetizer, crab, lobster and steak. The abalone is a must above all else! Was really good! The steak/lobster crab was good, but not fantastic or anything. I think we had a bottle of red wine to wash it all down. Dessert was the strawberry flambé I believe? That was good as well. All in all, one of the classiest restaurants on Oahu. Reservations recommended only on special dates (V-Day, X-Mas, etc.) Last time went spent around $300 tax included, but if not for the wine, I usually drop less than $150. The nights when the harpist is there is best!

    (4)

  • Mattthe M.

    Michels could not have a better atmosphere and view of the beach and Waikiki. This location is not for every one and the prices will open some eyes but - great view, good service, decent food and table side Caesar. Highly recommend as long as you know what you are in for.

    (5)

  • Erin C.

    The best thing about Michel's is definitely the view, spectacular. The decor reminded me of being in your grandparents house. I had the salmon salad which was good but for the prices I expected more. My dad had been here years back and said it wasn't what it used to be.

    (3)

  • S C.

    Went there last night for my anniversary. Requested a table by the ocean but the Midge Asian lady put us to the one in the middle of the restaurant. I was a bit shock and told her I've put in a request well ahead but she told me they were all reserved with "who-cares-your-request" kind of attitude. I asked her nicely to talk to their GM (I know him personally) and she changed her tone a bit, told me she'll change our table if someone cancels their reservations but still didn't apologize. Needless to say, a few young Japanese tourists came and took one of the tables 15 minutes later and the other one was taken about 30 minutes after we were seated. Not that I don't believe those young Japanese girls didn't make reservation but it's just quite unusual. Also, why couldn't we get the table even we were there before those two groups? I guess I have to talk to their GM later today. Anyway, talk about their food. We had couple cocktails, escargots and lobster bisque to start off. Nothing special. The only special thing is the waiter cooked the lobster bisque table sided. Both bowls were a bit over half full. My wife had their special of the day, salmon and I had a lamb diane. Yes, lamb, not steak. I've requested it that way. Both were good but not very very good. They gave us a pineapple lilikoi cheesecake for our anniversary. I wouldn't order it if I go back next time. Now talk about their services. There were couple waiters helping us most of the time. One of them was nice but the other one wasn't. I guess he had a bad day or that was his last day. He didn't smile at all. Not only while he was serving us, the other tables as well. I guess the restaurant is quite small but squeezed in quite a few tables. The busboys knocked the back of my wife's chair numerous times with their push carts and they didn't even know! All in all, view is very nice especially if you could get a table by the edge. Services are ok and bad. The tone and the way that they talk, very similar to some lower-end chain restaurants. Food is ok, nothing excited. I'd recommend people to go just once for their special occasions but not a restaurant to go often even you have the money to burn. By the way, it wasn't ridiculously expensive, just a bit higher than average.

    (2)

  • Marina E.

    Michel's is one of the most romantic restaurants that I've ever been to in Hawaii. The service is outstanding and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about what's on the menu, their ingredients, and how things are prepared. I arrived on a busy Saturday night and the food still came out on a timely manner. I had the lobster bisque and the osso bucco and my husband ordered the steak tartar and some sort of lobster and steak dinner, which we both thought was fabulous. For desert, our hostess, the wonderful Amber, made us a cherries jubilee that was literally to die for. Like most French restaurants, Michel's isn't cheap, but for the price you get pretty good portions. I would love to go back and try new dishes! If you are lucky, you'll get a server named Robert who is as witty and funny as they come. I did notice a bunch of cougars checking him out....

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    Amazing, top rate dinner experience! Beautiful location, amazing menu, and fantastic staff. Husband recently treated me to Michel's as part of my "late" birthday dinner (I always attend work functions on my actual birthday, so later vacations encompass that celebration). Most amazing experience ever - romance just floats through the air. The menu is fueled by a passionate dedication to food, with each bite leading you back for more til you can't stop. And you can't! You have to order the dessert. The night we were there the chef debuted a strawberry, balsamic vinegar and foie gras dessert sauteed in front of you and served over vanilla ice cream. AMAZING!!! and worth every cent, 'cause it's not cheap!

    (5)

  • Pepper L.

    In spite of the impeccable service and attentiveness; in spite of the unabashed eagerness of the wait staff to please; and the sublime elegance of the setting, a not easily paralleled venue of romanticism -- all of these, were insufficient to overcome the utter disappointment in the quality of the food. Crudely put: "Its the food, stupid!" The lobster bisque which they proudly,proclaimed had been served there for over 40 years lacked flavor - once the tiny pieces of lobster prepared a flambeau, tableside were consumed, it was pointless to proceed. The palate teasers and cleansers were a pleasant touch, particularly as they were unexpected; but the meal to follow was wholly uninspiring. The Ocean's Bounty which my husband ordered, was not bountiful; and the lobster portion of that entree had that flavor of frozen, microwave thawed "rubberyness". That sealed the deal. The other small pieces of fish and shrimp were ordinary. The parchment paper prepared fish which I ordered was nondescript - the fish cooked just a little too long - the combination of ingredients not quite meshing - the flavor minimal. The best part were the halved grapes steamed with the fish. The side of rice with a spattering of chopped tomatoes on top seemed incongruent. We had so been looking forward to a wonderful mother's day dinner - having made our reservations months in advance (which assured us a window seat). I know there are wonderful restaurants on Oahu ( I have been to a couple). I can only hope that my desire (and pocketbook) to venture out as a foodie in search of yet another epicurean adventure have not been ruined.

    (1)

  • Gwyn F.

    I had brunch here with my mom last Sunday & it was SUPERB! Excellent service, delicious food, amazing view. Honestly, what more could you ask for? When you pull into the Colony Surf hotel, there is no other option but to valet your car. A couple steps away, past the elevator & to the left, you'll arrive to the wonder that is Michel's. The hostess kindly showed us to our table, just past the woman playing the harp, and right next to the open air window that looks out on to Kaimana/Sandsuzy beach. Excellent view that makes you want to jump in to the ocean while you wait for your food. I started off with a Mimosa ($8) & my mom with a champagne, Pinky's rose infused vodka, sugar blend ($7) [Mimosa in my pics with the Seafood Benedict & the other with the Treasures of the Sea salad]. Both were very nice morning cocktails, but my mom, being the lightweight Asian drinker that she is, turned pink immediately & needed a yummy buttery croissant to ease her tipsy self back to normal. Everything is all Ala Carte, but my Seafood Benedict ($16) with crab, poached egg, & artichoke with a side of asparagus was very filling. My mom ordered the Treasures of the Sea salad ($18) which had fresh abalone, lobster, shrimp, & scallops on top of a spinach salad with grapefruit & mango in it as well. I tried some, & it was HEAVEN! That is the fresh lobster I wish I had taken my mom for on her actual birthday! The servers were extremely friendly & very alert. Many of them noticed that my mom was wearing a lei & asked her what we were celebrating. We told them we were celebrating her birthday (a week later, but hey, it was a big birthday, why not?) & they all wished her a happy birthday, even the Matre Dee. The servers at Michel's surprised us with a delicious desert: pineapple cheesecake with macadamia nuts around the edge, surrounded by strawberries & whip cream. The atmosphere was excellent & very relaxing with the harp in the background & the view of Waikiki to enjoy. Our food & beverages came out in a very timely manner. The servers were top notch. I really wish that I had taken my mom here for her birthday instead of John Dominis. Michel's is an excellent dining experience, even for brunch.

    (5)

  • Jerry M.

    Excellent place - great view, professional service and good food. We were there after dark and there was a full moon. The temperature was comfortable and the full moon over the ocean made it the absolutely perfect place to enjoy a wonderful meal.

    (4)

  • Malnik M.

    Excellent restaurant and service. I was there for my Hawaii wedding reception. I had a group of 34 people and the private room accommodated us perfectly. Gerald, the manager, helped us arrange flowers, music and leis. Food was great and my guests had fun. They didn't want to leave!!

    (5)

  • Van T.

    we've been here many a time to celebrate birthdays and special occasions. that time has come to an end! dinner, in the past, was fine with a beautiful view. however, brunch was a nightmare. the pre fixe meal was lacking in depth and taste. the staff from the manager, kitchen, and servers were in the weeds the entire time we were there. we waited for over 45 minutes between each course, and the items were nothing that required a substantial amount of time. the server basically hid from us the entire time so as to not have to refill our water glasses or bread, hand a menu to our late guests, or to actually put in a correct order. i'm totally done with michel's!

    (2)

  • Victoria K.

    I have to echo Mellissa K review-it was ok but not exceptional. And for the price it should have been. Atmosphere is nice, beautiful views so nothing to complain about there. However, I think Mellissa K and us must have had the same waiter because that's how our service went-unattentive, never checked on us, didn't give us specials, didn't even give us his name for that matter. He was diligent in picking up and folding my napkin when i went to the ladies room(when i came back it was folded up all prettily)not that i give a rat's behind about that. Now, to the food-hubby and I both had salad which was called "Tropical Salad"-the only tropical thing about it was small pieces of mango. Salad was fine, nothing exceptional, it had poppyseed dressing which tasted as it just came out of the bottle. Hubby had seafood entree which has fish, shrimp, lobster and abalone, i think, with rissoto. He liked it but I thought it was kind of meh but that's just me. I had ahi appetizer that had ahi prepared two ways-pounded flat very thin piece with some slaw on top and tartare style. Ahi was decent but I had better before. We were offered free desert because it was our anniversary-they gave us lililoi cheesecake and hubby ordered some sorbet. Sorbet was good(even though I'm not a fan of sorbet but I think people who like it will enjoy it) but cheesecake didn't live up to my expectations. It was good but I had better stuff at La Palm D'or bakery. I don't want to be a negative Nelly on this but for me, going to five star restaurant is supposed to be beyond excellent and it really wasn't. Totally not worth the money. UPDATE-12-6-2011 this past Sunday we were there for brunch with my-in-laws and my experience was totally great. Our waiter was excellent and helpful, food was SUPERB. I had smoked salmon with German potato pancake, capers, onion and mustard dressing for appetizer(excellent), baked salmon with scallop mousse and cream sauce(melts in your mouth, cooked perfectly) and warm chocolate cake with vanilla gelato and rasberry sauce(to die for). Couldn't be happier! Not sure if there was different chef or not but now I want to there again. Hopefully, this great experience wasn't a fluke!

    (3)

  • Jesse W.

    9/10/09: 3.5 stars. Dinner with several co-workers and out of town guests - excellent ambiance and view, be sure to request a window table for the best experience. We started off at the bar with a couple drinks before everyone else arrived, looking around, most people in the restaurant were likely tourists - many couples around. We started off with a couple bottles champagne which was accompanied by an appetizer that I think was provided by the chef (baked ham atop creamed potatos). i started with tropical island salad, overall very well done - the different vegetables balanced one another and wasn't smothered with dressing - for the main course I ordered the steamed onaga and was a bit disappointed with the chard (way too salty), the fish was a bit over steamed and lost its flakiness. Noodles tasted a bit overcooked, mushrooms tasted great. We went family style on the dessert and tried a couple of the flambee's - not too exciting or appetizing after seeing the half stick of butter going into the frying pan. In general, I was a bit disappointed with the food, especially after having just returned from norcal and eating at several brasseries with better food. I suppose "for Hawaii" the food was reasonable. Atmosphere and service was excellent.

    (3)

  • Anton D.

    First off, if you see this restaurant listed as "french" or somewhat European, It's not. Either management has changed since it was French food, or it never was, because it is at the least influenced by Asian cooking. That aside, coming from San Francisco and looking for "good" restaurants is truly a situation similar to finding a needle in a haystack. Many of the "best" restaurants all over the states don't even hold a candle to average food in SF, but Michel's did the trick. Being allergic to seafood, I found the menu quite limited, but in the eyes of someone who can eat everything on the menu, it covered quite a large range. But for my limited choices, there was only one starter without seafood and that was a Garden Salad (The Caeser Salad has anchovies.) Because of this, I simply chose not to have a starter, but treat myself to a souffle later on! After the starters, my only choices in my price range were the Steak Diane and Rack of Lamb. (The choice I could have had, were my wallet deeper, was a Porterhouse steak, listed at $65!) both the Steak and Lamb I heard are great, but I chose the Lamb. I would actually recommend a different restaurant than Michel's if you like myself are allergic to seafood, as although the food is great, it's not exactly a place I would go back to any time soon. One reason being the price (No entree below $40) and the other being limited choices. You could most likely find food of the same quality elsewhere on the island for cheaper. For dessert, I saw an ad in the local dining magazine saying "Mention this ad for a free souffle!" I did so and instead of just giving my party one souffle, our waiter Todd decided to give all three of us souffles, which really helped the bill, being that it took $30 from it. All talking aside, here comes the barebones review. No Starter. Entree: Rack of Lamb Nice flavors and textures, I normally don't like Lamb, but the waiter suggested it to me. It was drizzled with some horseraddish, and had a nice minty dipping sauce along with it. With the lamb came a nice portion of Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, the taste was great, but sadly, they were very dry. Almost like powdered mashed potatoes with not enough water added. They really stuck to the top of my mouth and I had to take a couple of sips of water after each bite. There was some sort of chopped vegetables that were soaked in some sort of sauce, but, being very sweet, the flavors of those really didn't work out with anything else on the plate. Lamb: 4/5 I've had better, but not much better Mash: 3/5 The flavor's the only thing keeping this from a 1 or 0. Overall:4/5 Everything worked well together with the bitterness of the horseraddish on the Lamb and the Goat Cheese in the mash, of course, the vegetables were a disappointment. Dessert: Chocolate Souffle It was good. I've had many that were much better, but the other people I was dining with said that the Grand Marnier souffle was amazing. Maybe if I ever return I should get that. Not much to say besides the sauces they provided. Every other time that I've had a souffle, the sauce is just a thick chocolate syrup, but in the case of Michel's it was a nice melted dark Chocolate. It was somewhat chunky, but overall, the taste was solid. It also had a Grand Marnier sauce, which I tasted, but wasn't a huge fan of. Souffle: 4/5 Again, I've had better. Well, this was a nice drop in, and a nice way to spend money in the tropics, but honestly, I wouldn't return unless I was invited by someone outside of my family. It's too expensive and the food just isn't that good. I'd much rather have a Bacon Hamburger at Duke's for $13 than a Rack of Lamb at Michel's for $48. If you want to have excellent service, again, stray away. Although we did only stay at the restaurant for a little over 2 hours, the wait between courses was almost dreadful. But a huge plus is the view. You can't beat it at all. The best seat for the view would be the third from the far right, but our waiter said that normally, those seats are reserved weeks-months in advance. Also, we booked the reservation through our hotel, and the concierge didn't specify what type of seating we wanted. But, we requested to move closer to the window (which isn't a window, but more of a missing wall.) and the waiter was able to move us closer. Overall, the view made up for the mediocre food, from how the concierge and everyone we asked described the restaurant, it is one of the best on the island, but I guess it's impossible to top the spoiled palette of a Born and Raised San Franciscan. I'd suggest you go just for the view and make sure you book your reservation for before 7:00 because after that, the sun has set and there's nothing really spectacular about the view. That'rs really it, nothing too special, but we could have gotten the job done cheaper and better back home. But that takes the fun away from the vacation!

    (3)

  • Jean I.

    It was my first time at Michel's. My husband has been several times, but a long time ago. The amuse was a housemade veal sausage wrapped in bacon in a beautiful mushroom sauce. Tasty! The Vitello tonnato was thin roasted veal, ahi sashimi and tuna sauce with arugula and pesto. Delicious and kind of new world. At the same time we had the foie gras - very old world - can't go wrong. Followed it up with a prawn and abalone pasta on angel hair. The lilikoi seeds brightened up the dish and made it unusual. Tangy and crunchy. We then shared a rack of lamb - traditional and delicious. I would have to say this was a fabulous dining experience. A combination of old and new world food in a stunning atmosphere on Kaimana beach. The service was exceptional by Philip, Robert and Robert. The music was great - Jeff Peterson. When a baby started getting fussy, he played a lullaby! Definitely go here at sunset. Just definitely go!

    (4)

  • Heath H.

    Wonderful. This is one of the many restaurants you should dine at during your trip to Hawaii. Of the many places I ate at during my 11 day trip this is one of the top three I still can name and know I will visit again.

    (5)

  • Kimi E.

    I LOVE their Chocolate souffle!!! It's the best I've found in Honolulu, so far!

    (4)

  • bimi a.

    I found Michel's Sunday brunch to be excellent. The everything included price of $45 for adults and $18 for kids is very reasonable, considering it includes mimosa, drinks for the kids and coffee at the end. The menu is well thought out, and so many choices! Good stuff, too--oysters, lobster, crab cakes; and even a steak for entree. Good selection of desserts, and the kids' menu is not slapped together like other restaurants. Again, it's well thought out, and parents have an actual choice of good food for the kids.

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    A great and romantic French restaurant. Excellent view of the beach, great food, great services all at a reasonable price. It was a perfect ending to a weeklong vacation in HI. You must order the Lobster Bisque as its prepared table side and taste great. We ordered the following: Helix Escargots Bourgogne Lobster Bisque x2 (it was so good, we ordered another one) Black Angus Prime Tenderloin & Kona crab-stuffed Maine Lobster Crème Brulee

    (5)

  • K N.

    Went to Michel's for the first time and we loved it. Defintely one of our new favorites. We had the duo of ahi tartare and carpaccio and lobster bisque to start. The ahi was simple but unique- the tartare had fish eggs which gave it a different and suprising texture; the carpaccio had a light berry flavor which was very unusual but delicious. For our entrees we had the seafood bounty which included an array of seafood including lobster, ahi, mahi, abalone, an oyster, prawns and rissoto (one of my favorite parts of that dish). My husband had the filet and lobster. The filet was so tender and his lobster was very tasty. Finally, for dessert we had the lilikoi cheesecake and apple tart- seriously the best desserts I have ever had (not exaggerating).

    (5)

  • Kathleen A.

    The brunch food was fine: the eggs benedict my date had was DELICIOUS, but my seafood omelette was, well, way too healthy tasting. The food earns 3 1/2 stars, the service (I mean our waitron, not the host) gets 4 1/2 stars, but I rated Michel's a 2 star establishment because of what seemed to be clear racism. Hawai'i is far from the melting pot most everyone touts. I used to live in Honolulu, and when I arrived back in the 80s, light skinned with wavy hair, I was Hawaiian. As I darkened, I was then Samoan, and finally Black. Treatment worsened accordingly. This trip, I wasn't in town 24 hours before hearing someone (perhaps a tourist) openly bitching about "nigger" this, "nigger" that. Well, when my date and I arrived at Michel's with our Open Table reservation, we were seated at the worst table in the joint, a two seater behind the seven or eight panes of glass they slide together to open up the space to the ocean air and view. The restaurant was far from full, and a White couple arriving much later than we was seated one table over and given a view. I told my date - who is Latino and often looks Hapa - that if they did not reseat us (they told us to "wait" and left us sitting for ten/fifteen minutes before finally putting us at a better table), we were leaving. Reseated, we brushed it off and tried to enjoy our meal only to later discover, when checking out who - if anyone - they seated at table #42 (I think that was the number), that they'd seated another interracial couple there (Asian woman; White man). Obviously I can't prove a thing, but it was enough experience to make me certain I will not return.

    (2)

  • Christine C.

    My favorite Sunday brunch spot- eggs benedict & a Mimosa. A great way to start a beautiful day!

    (5)

  • Michael Rita H.

    This is a bit late in coming but we hosted our son, Spencer's, wedding rehearsal dinner at Michels and we could not have chosen a better place. From the moment we walked into the breathtaking ocean view to the well lit tiki torches after dark with the added benefit of friday night fireworks. We planned this dinner party from the mainland and many times restaurants are wonderful but translation to catering to a large group is an art unto itself and Michels is definately a Da vinci. The staff and events coordinator, Amy Mcmillan, were professional, accomodating and a dream to work with. Every detail down to the smallest flower arrangement was given great attention and exceeded expectations. We highly recommend the orchid menu.The appetizers the lobster pot stickers and portobello steak were devine. The tableside Ceaser Salad is not something to be missed and the presentation (and taste) of the grilled Ribeye with baby abalone was one of the best we have ever had (and we are foodies here is LA La land). We haven't stopped talking about the magical night 2 weeks ago and I am sure it will br etched in our memories forever. Thank you michels for making it happen right!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Great beachside location. Fabulous views, expecially at sunset and very romantic. This is one of the few really upscale restaurants on Oahu. Men must wear closed toed shoes and a collared shirt. Service is what you'd expect at a 5-star restaurant and wait staff was very attentive. prices are steep but not outrageous considering the service and quality of food.

    (5)

  • Turquoise Z.

    Good for a date!!!!" My husband and I visited here for night date while on vacation, service was great the cheft send out complimentary crab cake and desert cause it was pur anniversary. The staff was super attentive, drink s were perfect, scargo fondue was to die for. My husband ordered the rack of lamb and he liked it portion s were good. I ordered the seafood chiopino was ok nothing to comeback for. Restaurant have a nice view but restaurant need updating it looks old and dated. We had a good time with the guitarist, very romantic for a date. Make reservation. read less

    (4)

  • Donnie B.

    We have been coming to this restaurant for thirty years, have had the privilege of dinning at the finest restaurants all around the world and can honestly say that this one is the absolute best in the world! The food tastes amazing, the service is impeccable as they always go out of their way to make you feel special and the ambience is the most romantic and gorgeous beach coupled with a European elegance that is Michels. Prices are also reasonable.

    (5)

  • Matthew C.

    Military, new to Oahu. Classy enough for formal wear, relaxing enough for casual. An inviting restaurant where you feel pampered within the moments of seating. Educated hosts who will accommodate all requirements and are receptive to cues from the table discussion, leaving the dining experience to the customers. Recommended for any evening event, bring a smile, you'll leave with one. Price concerns: this is extremely fair for Oahu, and the atmosphere is worth the expense. I recommend the special martini, excellent deal.

    (5)

  • Lois S.

    Wow!!! What an amazingly perfect place to celebrate a special occasion! The food, the service, the ambiance and the spectacular ocean views made for a wonderful dining experience. As soon as we entered, we were warmly greeted by the hostess. She immediately walked us to our window side seats, where we were greeted by several waiters & a bus boy. They sent us a complimentary curried shrimp on mashed potatoes. We had ordered our drinks by then so it was a nice complement to our cocktails. We did not want to order our dinner right away so we enjoyed a couple of drinks while enjoying the beautiful view of the sunset. Seemed like there were many celebrations throughout the room, including a wedding party. We started with the escargot which was probably the best I've had. So much so, that I forgot to take a picture of it. Then we had the french onion soup. Our waiter, Shige, asked if we were going to share, which we were. They brought us each our own soup, baked separately. What a nice touch! Prior to our entree, he brought out a sorbet with a blueberry intermezzo. Shige and Shane(our busboy), were both very attentive. If you ask for directions to the restroom, they don't tell you where it is, they escort you. And by the time you get back to your seat your napkin is nicely folded again. Once when I returned from the restroom, Shige was busy and another waiter, Duane, from another section of the room appeared from nowhere to pull out my chair. Now that's service! For the entree, we had a seafood dish and a steak. Steak was done tableside and Shige timed it perfectly as we watched the fireworks from across Waikiki beach. Portions were great, as you can see in the picture, and everything was cooked to a tee. Nice mix of flavors and textures. Even Executive Chef Hardy came to our table. Those little touches really add so much. There's a definite air of teamwork and family with all the staff. And just when you think you can't eat anymore, they showed up with a complimentary birthday dessert. And no, that was not all. He topped it off with Banana's Foster. My absolute favorite dessert with the absolute best presentation ever! Needless to say, this was a fantastic evening!!! Everyone from managers to the entire waitstaff really made us feel special and welcomed. This is a definite "10" and I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great place to celebrate a special occasion, or any occasion! :-)

    (5)

  • Jonny J.

    I suppose if you'd never looked for a fine dining experience this would seem adequate, amazing even. As it is I'll spare you a 1000 word rant and simply beg you to try Alan Wong's, La Mer, Azure or even the pint and jigger for God's sake. Michel's has been going downhill for years and it's just getting worse. I foolishly saved this for a 10th anniversary and will have to "redo" the entire evening, probably at la mer. Sub optimal service, mediocre food and apathetic management, coupled with am atmosphere reminiscent of the crowd at dukes beach are the main reasons I'll never ser foot in what was an old nostalgic favorite again.

    (2)

  • Garrett G.

    Mediocre is the best word to describe our experience. We are locals and have gone many times to Michel's for special occasions, and especially for our wedding anniversary. It has always been a reliably good evening. We haven't been for a couple of years. I am not sure why but a lot has changed and it is not good. Last night was our wedding anniversary. First issue, The place is starting to show its age. Maybe the high percentage of tourists allows them to get away with no change. I ordered an Old Fashioned at the bar. This is a classic cocktail and fairly simple. It should be a little sweet with additional sugar but the bartender turned it into a glass of cherry/orange uck. The white was lovely according to my wife but I could barely taste the whiskey through the fruit. Very so so and the fruit juice and glass of white was $25 plus tip. We were seated at a lovely window seat. Michel's is a fantastic location and especially for a sunset...unbeatable. We selected the Taste of Michel's with wine pairing. Typically, the tasting portions are on the small side but it was a nice selection. However, while the wines were quite nice, the tasting portions were very small but also very much mediocre. The gazpacho was ok and the salad completely forgettable. The Onaga was completely overwhelmed by a tomato sauce. They also wrapped the thin pieces of beef around veges to bulk it up. It was tough and not a lot of flavor. Best was the Peach Melba with almond icecream so they clearly saved the best till last. So the food was ok but this was a $135 per head fine dining and nothing on the tasting menu impressed us. But the worst part was that the service matched the food. Mediocre...and in a fine dining restaurant? It was the little things. We had to ask for bread. They brought bread and butter but no butter knife. Well into the meal they brought over tiny little bread rolls...we wondered if this was just how they did it. They the server would bring each tasting over and put it in front of us and walk away. The tasting is supposed to present Michel's offering to the diner...the waiter should explain what the guest is eating and maybe even talk it up a little. We had to basically guess what they had given us. At least he told us the type of wine. The food was a mediocre mystery tour. It seemed that there were lots of waiters but we felt left to our own devices. The waiters are usually part of the experience of a restaurant but ours were sadly lacking in the basic skills of taking care of customers beyond serving food. They had the service skills of good McDonald's employees...feed the hungry but not much more. So a huge bill and a very dull Friday evening at what had been our restaurant of choice for special occasions. Luckily my beautiful wife kept me entertained. Perhaps it was a poor luck on the wait help we landed with but at this level restaurant, there should be zero chance of weak service. So something seems to have changed at Michel's and not for the better. It would have been a nice night out for $100...but definitely not worth $400. I was very torn on leaving a tip but did anyway. But we won't be back to Michel's unless we learn of a major upgrade. Next time Hy's or Alan Wong's. BTW, I gave the second star for the location.

    (2)

  • Dan W.

    I struggled whether to give this place a 3 or 4 and it was a tough call. I consider Michel''s to be fine dinning in the same company with Le Mer, Chef Mavro, Alan Wong's etc. and in this company I don't think it quite reaches the 4 star level. The food is quite good but not amazing. The view was fantastic and the table side service fun, if not a bit overdone. My biggest issues that prevented me from giving 4 stars: Decor- this place is tired and in dire need of a refresh the carpet was ancient and the furniture looked like that of banquet hall. I think they are hoping the view will distract you from the 80's era decor. Bread on the table when we arrived looked like a table setting that was out all day and tasted like it as well. The fresh bread was not much better. The chocolate soufflé had no hot center and was very dry. As mentioned the table side service was cool but a little over the top with many dishes and most tables having mains or deserts flambé at the table. Seemed a little gimmicky. All in all if you want a nice dinner with a nice view Michel's fills the bill. For food there are a number of places that top it but for beachside view and amazing food Le Mer would be tops, but it is even pricier.

    (3)

  • Fran C.

    Oooooooh la la! Yo! You guys get any Grey Poupon? Buwahahahaha! Well, I'm definitely not French here........just a local bruddah enjoying a meal with his home gurls! Thanks to my Yelp Buddies - Li Y., Ramfis B., William C., Liz T., Kristen K., Cin T., & Ariana M. for posting all their wonderful reviews. Their wonderful reviews only helped me in making a decision to come here for dinner tonight! So it was my friend Cathy's burfday - so I booked a reservation for a place called - "Michels". Never been here before, so there's always a first for everything, Right? I must say, if you goto the "Open Table" website, it is pretty easy to make a reservation for Michel's. (That's what I did). I made sure we had a table with a view, and I must say........it was the perfect table to see all of god's glory today! Beautiful sunsets, moonlit stars, tiki torches lit brightly from the beach, & fireworks from the Waikiki skyline! What a dreamy evening! And guess what gang...........I also got "ACTION" tonight!!!!!! Lol! Er, well......maybe not, but I will get to that later.......buwahahahaha! For our appetizer, we ordered some fresh oysters............. The oysters comes with 1/2 a lemon, a shallot vinaigrette dressing, and a cocktail sauce. I don't always eat oysters, but I must tell you, the oysters were one of the cleanest oysters I ever tasted! Really delicious! For my meal, I split a Farmer's salad with my buddy Sharon, and ordered the Steamed Onaga for my entree. Sharon also had the Steamed Onaga too......(I think she's my evil twin! Lol!!!! Or perhaps I'm the evil twin? Lol!) I must say the salad was delicious! I think the waiter told me the salad was organic & locally grown. The salad had - Hearts of Palm, Papaya, Vine Ripened Tomato, Watercress, Radish, Japanese Cucumber, Tarragon, & it was topped with Papaya Seed Dressing. As for the Onaga (Red Snapper) - My fish was topped with Ginger, Garlic, Green Onion, Chinese Black Bean & Turnip. The fish sat on a bed of Somen Noodles, with Stir-Fried Mushrooms and Chard from the Big Island. You folks gotta try this dish it was pretty yummy! The burfday gurl had the - Maui Onion Soup, & the Kurobuta Pork Shank. When the waiter brought out the Maui Onion Soup for my friend, I thought it was one of them Chicken Pot Pies! I swear it looked like a pot pie, until you take off the flaky top, and then you will see the Sweet Maui Onion Soup. NICE!!!! The Kurobuta Pork Shank or you can call it the Veal Osso Bucco..........basically it's a tender Veal Shank braised in Red Wine Demi Glace, with Saffron Risotto Milanesse, & Wailua Asparagus. I tried a little of my friends Pork Shank...........and you know what? It tasted a little like my - Ba Ba Barbecue meat! Lol! Well, maybe an upscale Ba Ba Barbecue meat! When you come to a place like this..........of course you gotta get some desserts. We had the following desserts tonight - a burfday DECADENCE CHOCOLATE CAKE, and to my understanding........they don't use any flour. So I must say it was very chocolaty! It comes with a scope of ice cream too! Sharon is a real smart cookie, as she had ordered a Chocolate Souffle, and a White Chocolate Souffle..........to my understanding, you have to order this in advance, as it takes a little time to make. As good as the Souffle & Decadence Chocolate Cake was..........what I found out tonight was, I'm not a really big fan of the souffle, or the Decadence Chocolate Cake. Maybe I'm weird, but I just didn't care for it much.......I took a little bite out of each dessert, just to taste.............but none of them really hit the spot for me. But if you throw a custard pie in front of me, & a few Heineken's...........dude, I will be you friend for life, specially if you get me one of them Ani Custard Pies! Lol! For refreshments, I pounded down a few Heineken lights with my buddy Cathy! She is the bestest drinking buddy a dude could have cuz she can handle, and I think she'd probably drink me under the table! :) The restaurant was pretty packed tonight, so probably reservations is a must. I also noticed they had valet parking, but I did the street parking. I had GREAT COMPANY, Good Food, Great Atmosphere, & Pretty Attentive Service.........but why the 4 star rating, instead of the "5". Well, as I mentioned about "Action" earlier............ I the weirdest uncomfortable dining experience tonight........ as one of the waiters kept on coming by to our table, and touching me. (You can ask my friends about this, as they also noticed this too)............I swear this dude kept coming by & touching my arm/shoulder area, and I can see if it was just once or twice, but over 7 times..........come on now!!!! He also kept commenting to me about my smile..........okay, I'll take that......but I gonna tell you right off the bat - "I not like dat!" Lol! Totally weird tonight!!!! I guess you had to be there to see it..........ask my buddy Cathy I., & Sharon H.. Totally weird......Lol!

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    We went to celebrate our wedding anniversary and had a wonderful evening. The sunset was beautiful and the food was excellent. The service was impeccable. We started with foie gras and the manilla clams. The foie gras was the best we have had. The perfect balance of flavors. We then had the Caesar salad and lobster bisque. The salad was fresh and the lobster bisque was creamy and embraced the flavors of the lobster. For our main dish we had the seafood bounty, rack of lamb, and the filet au poire. All were perfectly prepared! We ended the evening with grand marnier and chocolate souffles and cherries jubilee. We could not have had a more perfect evening! Michel's is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion!

    (5)

  • D M.

    Fabulous venue and location, however, despite a long run in on the reservation with specific mention of special event, got stuck in the back in a corner. We have now been waiting on our dinner for 45 minutes and got notice it would be just "5 minutes more". We're not in a fast food rush, but 2 hours from reservation to dish is excessive. For the price and reputation I am thoroughly jnimpressed.

    (2)

  • Otavio C.

    DOWN THE HILL- We went to Honolulu for Christmas/ New Years celebrations. Decided to go to some of the "best" restaurants (and went, check our other reviews). This one was a complete deception. We went to christmas dinner (24th). The place is beautiful, but service, food and everything else BELOW average. We were attracted to this restaurant by other trip advisors review (done early in 2014), that were good. If you check those made around the end of the year, it is clear that the restaurant was running down in quality. Keep away - expensive, below average service and food (OH god, cheese cake factory would deliver a better and cheaper food)

    (1)

  • Li Y.

    A little pricey? Yes. A memorable and worth every penny adventure? Definitely yes !! Since Chef Hardy has taken over this traditionally French restaurant he has transformed it into the most memorable "Pacific Rim French cuisine" meals in the most perfect setting complimented by the best service I have ever experienced. I mean sunset on Waikiki Beach...does it get any better? Ohh wait, yes, sunset on Waikiki Beach with fireworks on Friday nite ! In preparing for this latest gastronomical feast @ Michel's, I announced to my dinner mates, "I don't know about you but everything I order will be table side service if I can help it!". And except for a few most memorable dishes such as the seafood spinach salad, that's exactly what was done..! The delicious lobster bisque was flamed at the table. My entree of beef tenderloin was prepared at the table and finished off with a delicious green peppercorn sauce. Was jockeying in position to order a flaming cherry's jubilee until I realized I was just too full to handle this. Instead our table ordered two other smaller yet just as memorable desserts to share. Michel's provided us with a complimentary pineapple goat cheesecake...pure heaven! Other memorable entrees ordered at our table...the lobster thermidor and the seafood papillote...Will be back to try for myself! Thank you General Manager Phil Shaw, thank you Manager Nathan Aoyagi, thank you to the superb wait team of Kyle and Jody, and BIGGEST thanks to Executive Chef Eberhard Kintscher who makes every meal of mine @ Michel's magical. A little pricey? Yes. Most memorable evenings and my new happy place? Yes yes !!

    (5)

  • Reid I.

    Went here for my gf birthday dinner. I made reservations and requested for a table closest to the ocean. We were the first seating at 5:30pm and the waitress seated us at the table in the middle of the room. Although it still had an amazing view of the ocean, I wanted to be seated at the ocean front table. I wanted it to be a special dining experience being this was my first time here, my gf's bday, and the amount spending for this occasion. I'm not sure if you have to be a regular or just be lucky because there were many open seats available at those tables. We got to catch the sunset which was the highlight of the dinner. We started with the escargot, lobster bisque and french onion soup. I ordered the Ocean Bounty as my entree. The appetizers were okay and the Ocean Bounty was bland. For the price of each I was expecting more. The dessert was the best part of the meal. It's good to try here at least once but for the price I would rather spend it elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Nadia K.

    Michel's is a beautiful restaurant located right on the beach with the most gorgeous view of the ocean. It's an ideal place to celebrate a special occasion or bring your out of town guests to dine. While I loved the cuisine, enjoyed the view, the dimly lit ambience was not my favorite. To me, it's more like a Hy's, a sort of classic/old Waikiki feel, if that makes sense. It's perfect for an intimate romantic dinner and I feel most people love it. I just prefer a more modern ambience like 53 by the Sea. If you start with a soup, get Michel's French onion served with a puff pastry shell. Delicious! When onaga is on the menu, I will order it and it was perfectly served steamed with ginger, garlic, green onion, Chinese black bean and turnip with somen noodles. For dessert, I shared the Grand Marnier Souffle. It was seriously amazing. It is my new favorite dessert. Very delicious! A must order! Service is attentive. Complimentary valet parking is available.

    (4)

  • Greg G.

    It is difficult for me to rate this restaurant as I was troubled with many pros and cons that reflect on the stars given for this restaurant. First off, the waiters and staff are VERY friendly. Their customer service is amazing and that was not an issue for me as they are very accommodating. It was troublesome to find the menu not to include any plant based foods (I wasn't entirely surprised, I had been eating out quite often in Hawaii and realized this trend between quite a few restaurants). Our waiter replaced the traditional duck appetizer with a very tasty tomato bisque (I should've just ordered a larger serving as my entree wasn't that appetizing.) Since there was nothing really vegetarian, my waiter spoke with the chef to prep an angel hair pasta with simple marinara and vegetables. SUPER bland, while the vegetables were cooked, it had been a simple toss in a heated pan with no flavor. I was so disappointed as it looked soooo good! Plus with the disappointing tablespoon sized amount of marinara for my entire entree was horrible, it made things even worse. Lifting my spirits (well, more like the weight of my thighs) was dessert, my goodness, the cinnamon gelato was unbelievably good!

    (3)

  • Alizabeth H.

    Loved it. Food was awesome and service was even better. The price went with it all. Bill was $315. Tip was $50. I will just post the pictures of all the food. We took one dish to go. Guava BBQ something. We didn't want to come back to try it, we just got it to go. The martinis were strong but yummy. You have to eat here at lease once. The view was beautiful. Sunset was nice to watch as you eat. It was a three hour dinner so make sure you have time for it. Valet parking only :)

    (5)

  • Julie L.

    What a great last supper to end our trip. We snagged the last reservation of the night. Lucky us. I didn't request for it but they seated us right at the window next to the beach. So relaxing to be enjoying such delicious dishes w/ the cool Hawaiian breeze wafting against your skin and listening simultaneously to the ocean waves along w/ the tunes the harpist was cranking out. Definitely suggest the Ocean's Bounty. You get a little of everything and it's such filling portions. Foie gras w/ watercress was amazing. That escargot...goodness...YUM! The truffle Mac & cheese had so much flavor but was surprisely light. Meal costed a pretty penny but hey, we'd do it again.

    (5)

  • Lauren N.

    My boyfriend recently took me here for my birthday and what an amazing dinner we had! I've heard of Michel's from a long time ago. Heard about the tableside preparation of ceasar salad and myself being not the biggest fan of ceasar salads, was never tempted to come and give it a try. We came here on a wednesday evening. I don't know what I had expected Michel's to look like inside but was pleasantly surprised that it was an open air restaurant, oceanside. With the background music of a live ukulele player and the soothing sounds of the waves crashing onto the shore, it proved to be the ultimate romantic setting. *so boys take notes!!* From the get go, I was won over by our server that night. I wish I could remember his name. He was so incredibly nice and helpful. He and the rest of the staff helped make our night very special. The food: Tomato lobster bisque: Prepared tableside. To be honest, this was probably my least favorite dish of the night. It was delicious and creamy, with a few chunks of lobster but there was no wow factor for me. They were nice enough to split it in two for us to share. Garden salad: They were also kind to offer to split this for us to share as well. It was refreshing and lightly dressed, just the way I like it. Ocean Bounty: Here comes one of the high and low points of the evening. When the server described this dish to us, he had said it came with oysters rockefellar among other things. When it was brought out, I hadn't noticed that it was not on the plate (didn't notice until looking at pictures at home and looking back on yelp). Sadness...as a big seafood lover, I really wish I could have tried it. As the service that night was superb, I'd like to think it was an accident that it wasn't on our dish. Sigh. But, nevertheless, it was delicious. The seared ahi was perfectly cooked and the lobster was amazing. The risotto that came with this dish was also very yummy and I could not stop eating it. New York Café de Paris: My boyfriend and I both agree that this was one of the better steaks we've ever had! Not only was it beautiful to look at, each bite was amazingly yummy. Topped with cafe de paris herb butter...this steak was nothing but rich, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. The complimentary dessert was a nice way to finish off our evening and meal. I would definitely recommend that you give Michel's a try. Everything from the service, ambience and food was impressive. It's only been a month since going and I already cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Victoria G.

    We went there for a special occasion. We made a reservation last minute same night and they got us the best table with an amazing beach/city view.Plus we had a chance to enjoy the fireworks too. The service was outstanding. Our waiter was a great guy and very friendly. Food was delicious and very nicely presented. They cut fish or meat right in front of you from the big chunk of meat/fish. Expensive experience but worth it.

    (5)

  • David T.

    If you have eaten at Michel's, you don't need to read any reviews. This has been my favorite restaurant for many years. It is not your everyday restaurant, but rather the special dining location when the occasion calls for over the top service, food, and atmosphere. The menu varies but usually covers all the basics of beef, seafood, and poultry, with the occasional pork and exotic entrees added. Many of the salads, entrees, and desserts are prepared table side. It is fun to watch and almost as beautiful as the sunset views from the restaurant. The wait staff are classically trained in the fine dining without being overly "stuffy" as in some high end restaurants. It is easy to have a good time there and the experience is a must but it is on the higher tier price wise. You can easily expect to pay over $100/person for salad, entree, and dessert. Well worth every cent! If you are not used to fine dining, don't be afraid to go to Michel's. It will be one of your most memorable dining experiences while in the Islands. Head over heels better than ALL the steak houses and less expensive and better food than Morimoto's. One last thing. You will not go hungry at Michel's. Their portions are not experimental cuisine sized. You will definitely be taking home entree left overs, especially if you get the Chateaubriand for two. My favorite!

    (5)

  • Kara P.

    Total best experience at a restraunt...accommodating and peaceful. Wonderful food, the staff are professionals and very experienced. I had an amazing meal prepared vegan by Chef Hardy and it was a beautiful experience seeing dishes being infused with Hawaiian Crown pineapples! I will absolutely return as well as recommend ;)

    (5)

  • Me M.

    We dined on elegantly served blue crab cakes, goat cheese crostini, lobster bisque, potato crusted onaga fish with rock shrimp and a dainty desert plate of pineapple passionfruit cheesecake with a beautiful view of the sunset off the coastline. They offer black tea with desert. The waiters were just the right combination of warm yet formal service. We had a very good experience here.

    (5)

  • S. B.

    I think everyone knows by now the best thing about Michel's is the location, not the fine dinning. I'm sorry to say that my mediocre expectations weren't even met... I remember the lobster bisque to be the highlight of my last visit a year ago, unfortunately it was only lukewarm, shocking considering its prepared table side... We both ordered fish, his salmon was delicious but not 'wow'. My onaga was so bland, boring and dry! I couldn't even finish half my dish. Luckily I had enjoyed the Ahi taretar, but I think the lavash was they best part of my meal :( The service was great especially our server and his wait team-- super attentive; EXCEPT for the hostess who sat us in the middle of the restaurant, and we had to ask to move to the open table on the water... We had late reservations, so why didn't she just seat us there to begin with??? And please class it up a bit, clear plastic heels, decorated acrylic nails and peroxide bleach hair at Michel's? I thought we walked into a sports bar for a split second. Still had a wonderful romantic evening with my love, good company conquers all.

    (3)

  • Anna R.

    The price may be four $$$$ but the food is worth two stars.. We were here for a large group dinner so we had a set menu. There were about 50 of us and maybe 8-12 employees for us all. I ordered a Shirley temple and ten minutes later, still didn't have it. A waiter brought multiple cocktails and sodas out including three Shirley temples but they weren't mine. So I asked and the waitress said it was coming. So I waited ten more minutes later and nothing! Eventually it came but really, twenty minutes for a Shirley temple and meanwhile multiple other drinks came out. First, the crab cakes and shrimp scampi. The shrimp was mushy and the crab cake was just ok. Second, the lobster bisque which needed more flavor and more lobster! Not to mention the amount of soup was about five sips. Third, a caesar salad. The salad was good HOWEVER, my boyfriend and my dad probably got half the lettuce I did! And my mom's had almost no dressing. Next was the main course. I chose the potato crusted onaga with rock shrimp. I got three mini shrimp and a rubbery, obviously frozen piece of fish. My dad and boyfriend got steaks which they wanted rare and they came medium rare. They were very disappointed in the steak besides that. Last was a pineapple passion fruit cheesecake. I don't like cheesecake but I can say it was pretty good. Don't waste your money please. A large bill and a large disappointment.

    (2)

  • Kathryn P.

    Wonderful night celebrating our anniversary at this beautiful place on the water. We watched a gorgeous sunset while sipping on delicious cocktails. Dinner was tasty and the cherries jubilee was so worth it! The presentation was fun to watch and our waiter was on top of everything. One of the best dinners in Waikiki.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    So.... I'm a year late. We were lucky enough to have this fantastic spot suggested to us by our wedding officiant. I'll be honest - it was a bit fancier than either myself or my hubby wanted, but it came well recommended, so we went with it. We had the unique honor of dining with our officiant, his wife, and our fantastic wedding photographer. Let me just say this, it was worth every moment. Such amazing service, scenery that couldn't be beat, and the food! OMG the food! Would gladly give them 10 stars.

    (5)

  • Ka'ili H.

    You can never go wrong at Michel's! Ka'ili's Favs Today: - Sautéed Rougie Foie Gras $36 - Helix Escargots Bourgogne $24 - Farmer's Market Salad $12 - Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb $58 - Chocolate Soufflé

    (5)

  • RD T.

    Michel's is where I take my wife for a romantic dinner. The beautiful slack key guitar and sunset is only bested by their delicious food. Anyone wanting to celebrate a special event or special someone should make a reservation a week or two in advance and get a seat along the rail. We had a fantastic dinner and cocktails!

    (5)

  • Celina Q.

    Boyfriend surprised me with reservations to Michel's for my birthday. After all the fancy things I've heard about this place, I was looking forward to being pampered and spending a relaxing evening by the ocean. We were 15 minutes early, but the hostess took us to our table right away. The menu is limited, with no obvious vegetarian options, but the drink selection is amazing! With a great wine list and many specialty drinks. Our server was very knowledgeable with the menu and making suggestions, but lacked personality. She was sort of robotic and simply went through the motions of fine dining. FOOD: Kobe Tartar: a dish the server mixes in front of you; pretty cool how they add the ingredients to your liking. Larger portion than expected. Escargot: Fresh and super garlic-y! Comes with french bread on the side. French Onion Soup: DELISH! Comes with a flaky crust baked around the top of the soup. Not too cheesy like other places. Rack of Lamb: Three pieces with mashed potatoes and greens. Not bad, but not incredible either. Filet Mignon: The grilled veggies were the best part, the meat was tender and juicy, but the sauce they pour over is a little overwhelming and takes away from the meat. IMPRESSION: The restaurant treated me to a birthday dessert of chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream and a "Happy Birthday" solid chocolate decoration which was a nice touch. It added to that high class expectations people have when dining at Michel's. HOWEVER, the Grand Marnier Souffle we ordered for dessert (not knowing about the birthday comp dessert) was to die for! I am a sucker for souffles, but this one takes the cake. A must order if visiting Michel's.

    (4)

  • Kathy D.

    My hubby and I picked this place to have our Valentine's Day dinner. There is free valet when you dine in as finding parking is probably a pain. The restaurant itself has a classic look with a beautiful ocean view. Its pretty close to the shoreline where you can see people coming in and out of the beach if its still daylight. The dining area is also open, so beware of little bugs flying into your drink! The dinner for tonight was a set course, but are are able to choose between the few options that they were offering. When it came time to decide on drinks. I ordered a Dragonberry Mojito (I love mojitos! and this intrigued me). This one I got, tasted like cough syrup. I tried to crush the mint leaves to help, spin it some more, but it still tasted gross. I mentioned to our server (Dwanye, Duane (sp?) who was our server for the evening) how I did not like the drink and requested another instead. He tells me, I still must pay for the other one... I spaced a bit.. and told him that's fine. But really? When someone tells you, what you served me was gross, you are still going to make me pay for it? That definitely dampened the mood for the rest of the evening. Something I will never forget! I ordered a dirty martini straight up to replace it and it was 10x better! I would not recommend that mojito to anyone! Our first course of mushroom soup was great. Our 2nd course, I ordered the raw oysters and he the ahi carpaccio. The oysters was nice and silky with a briny flavor. The ahi was a bit too warm for me. If its one thing I hate, its carpaccio that is warm! The 3rd course we had the lobster and scallop dish. They were both cooked well, nothing to note great about. And for dessert we had cheesecake and gelato. The cheesecake was extremely small compared to the gelato.. I think my chocolate dipped strawberry served as a garnish was bigger! For the price we paid for dinner here, pretty disappointing.

    (2)

  • Cara M.

    I've never had fine dining before. And Michel's made me feel a little uncomfortable about it. BUT! It's a beautiful restaurant. The cons of my experience: The waiter had the demeanor of a bouncer. He was kinda scary! Also a little rude when we were ordering. They had beautiful plates set up when we got there. I started using it to eat the complimentary bread sticks. The waiter quickly took the plate away. Wait. Was I not supposed to use that plate? The waiter never smiled. What's up with that. Plates and utensils kept on getting moved around. Taken, replaced. (It's getting awkward. Just let me eat already.) The lighting was a tad too dark. The pros of my experience: The second waiter checking up on us was super friendly. Or did it just seem that way in comparison to the first waiter? The view was pretty. Noise level was good. Butter for bread was amazing. The second waiter told us what was in it. I wish the second waiter had been our main waiter. Food was good. Water refills were super fast. The table-side Cherries Jubilee dessert preparation was WORTH IT. SO COOL. It was on fire, guys. Liquid, blue fire. A different waiter prepared it. Valet was fast. For appetizers, we ordered the Lobster Pot Stickers (~$24) and the French Onion Soup (~$14). Those were delicious. For entrees, we ordered the Salmon ($46) and the Steamed Onaga ($46). Overpriced. Good, but not that good. Dessert was the Cherries Jubilee ($16). I'd go back again just to see them make it! I don't think this dinner was worth $200 (including tax and tip). The service was there, but it just wasn't enjoyable at times. Shouldn't it be perfect if I'm paying so much?

    (3)

  • Jo C.

    My bf yelped this place and saw it was considered the most romantic spot for special occasions or 'just because' events. And for that, he thought it would be fitting to take me there for a special birthday dinner early this month. As expensive as it was I had a lot of expectations. We were obviously paying for the ambience, food and service. Just one peeve or 2, other than waiting for our dinner and dessert for nearly an hour, was a lil fruit fly in my wine. Our server was an Asian female. I called it to her attention and she came back with the same glass, and looked as if she just scooped the bug out with a spoon. It was clearly the same glass because my lipstick marks were on the rim. I was upset and thought it was a rude gesture to give me the same glass that a bug clearly flew in. Even I would know to switch it out for a clean one. Was it because she thought we weren't going to tip her good? Just because we're local...? Mind you my bf had poly tatts blazing and a mohawk to the sky. We are both in the restaurant biz, although not at a fancy 5* place, but we know to give our customers the right service. Regardless, the standards should be up to par whether we're eating at Ruth's Chris or Zippy's, Michel's should have no excuses. You figure, a 5* place, should have 5* service. Not worth it and won't be a next time. Too bad I'll remember this awful experience since it happened on my bday. I was better off eating at a local, fast food joint, spending half as much, and with better service.

    (1)

  • Edilyn C.

    Favorite restaurant. Celebrated special occasions here. :) Great food & service!!! Will be coming here next week for my fiancé's birthday.

    (5)

  • Teiki K.

    What you'd expect for one of the most renowned places on Oahu: Great food, great service with a price tag to match. As soon as you walk in, you know you've stepped into another level of gastronomy. The five different dudes that welcome you, the waiter who sets your table napkin for you, the insane amount of silverware and most importantly the incredible menu. French food with an island twist? Yes please! I had the lobster bisque (admittedly just to see the cognac fireworks), a few oysters and the warm seafood salad. As expected, all were absolutely delicious. My bisque was perfectly creamy, the oysters fresh and the seafood salad rife with deliciously fresh seafood from abalone to lobster and scallops. We topped everything off with a glass of wine and the soufflé and left feeling very satisfied. Apart from the incredible food, Michel really shines in the service department. You feel like royalty as soon as you walk in and the staff is there for you every step of your culinary journey. Friendly, attentive and accessible. Great views and decor complete with live music (thought the music did put us to sleep and we wished they'd played more upbeat local music). All in all a perfect place for that special occasion.

    (4)

  • Ben C.

    You're going to pay top dollar, but the view, food, ambiance and service are outstanding. You must have reservations, or you can eat at the bar. We did both. The bartender (like everyone there) is a real pro, it was fun to watch him do his thing. Best cocktails on the island. Veal tonello appetizer was a standout, the only thing I was slightly disappointed with was the cioppino - the sauce had paprika in it (not my taste for that dish) however, each piece of seafood was perfectly cooked. On my second visit I had a seafood ravioli that was delicious. The dining room is gorgeous - get there right at sunset. The staff are dignified and justifiably proud of their professional work. Servings are not small, which was appreciated. They do have a children's menu - they serve rude children poached over a bed of frisée, be advised. A top notch dining experience,

    (5)

  • Jason S.

    We were lucky enough to be seated at a primo table overlooking the ocean, Waikiki Beach, and the glimmering Honolulu skyline. As amazing and breathtaking as the vistas were, they were equally matched by the outstanding service and cuisine. My hibiscus martini was one of the best I've ever had, and my entrée, Michel's ocean bounty contained an assortment of impeccably prepared seafood. If you're looking for an unrivaled fine dining experience in Oahu, look no further than Michel's!

    (5)

  • Marianne P.

    Awesome. Gotta try the escargot when coming here, amazing! I had the pork shank and the bone is heeeuge, a lot of meat and a lobster claw on a bed of risotto. The drinks selection is never ending, and my husband and I had the Hakushu scotch... very smooth!!

    (5)

  • Lester C.

    Absolutely love this place!!! Been here multiple times and it never disappoint's!!! Last of one of the best fine dinning spots on Oahu that I can think of from my childhood (early 90's)!!! Ambiance is on point the view is spectacular and the food is amazing!!! Priced just right! I always leave full, happy with a smile and feeling like I got my money's worth! I would highly recommend this place to bring that special someone.

    (5)

  • T t.

    This place is an offense to fine dining...actually it's just an offense to dining. The ambience reminded me of Sizzler or an old folks home. The upholstery was lightly stained, as was the carpet. I made a reservation weeks in advance and requested a seat near the ocean; they told me they couldn't guarantee the seat placement, but would do their best. There was an open table by the water, which shouldn't have been reserved since they say you can't reserve those spots, but they wouldn't give it to us (even though I informed them that it was my mother's birthday). The food was a 3/10 at best. Roy's has much better food and is cheaper. I would have preferred The Cheesecake Factory to eating at this place. They can't even make a decent Mai Tai. I love Mai Tais and was definitely in a drinking mood that week since I was on vacation, but I didn't even finish mine. My mother couldn't finish her drink either. I was told by our waiter that he believed my desert to be gluten free, my mother sensed that he didn't know what he was talking about and requested that he go back to the kitchen to check, he came back and said "it's not gluten free" there was no apology or tone of regret in his voice. People can get sick from such mistakes. I'm convinced that people giving this place good reviews either work for the establishment or are friends with the owner. Perhaps this place was once spectacular, but now it stinks. The price was over $300 for two people, but wasn't worth $30. I mentioned that I'd prefer Cheescake Factory to this place, but now that I think about it, I realize I'd also prefer Chipotle, or even missing a meal. Save your time, save your money.

    (1)

  • DJ Nocturna R.

    Another beautiful sunset at Michel's yesterday at Monday Night Cynners. The food is always divine, one of the best desserts but the view at Michel's tops it all ! If you haven't been to Michel's come check it out. The most romantic restaurant in Honolulu. It's no wonder when I took the bass player of the English band The Smiths, Andy Rourke and his wife Francesca here two years ago, they kept coming back. Thank you to the handsome Brazilian waiter for the wonderful service and also as always the fine handsome bartender Sully. Come join us for Monday Night Cynners. If you want to know more about it, contact me. Thank you Michel's !

    (5)

  • Ina T.

    First impression as you walk in...wow!!! Ambiance and view were on point. We were here to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and they did not disappoint. Everything we had tasted so fresh. You could tell details were important and I really enjoyed her personable they were. The had many hands on board and they all worked as a team to deliver great service. Toddy our server was great and made us feel so comfortable and special. Definitely recommend this place for a special occasion. Your loved one will feel so special I know I did.

    (5)

  • Jason Q.

    This is one of those places we bring guests for business meetings because of the view. The environment is okay, and the ambiance is nice when they have live music. I like that the music is never too loud so it never makes conversation difficult. The service is fine. Just keep in mind that this is place that you should expect a 2-3 hour dinner. It is not a place where you can necessarily come and expect to eat and be done within an hour. Once you understand this, sit back and relax and enjoy the meal and the view. My go to meal here is the Chateau Briand. Always perfectly cooked with lots of flavor. It comes with mashed potatoes and some very nice vegetables. I've had the lamb as well, and it okay. Compared to the Chateau Briand, it does not give me the wow factor. They also have a good selection of wine. Some of the waiters are very knowledgeable about wine and can make a recommendation. When we had a waiter that was not able to make a recommendation, he brought the manager to our table who was able to make some great recommendations. To me, this is very good service. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse. It is not served as a traditional mousse. However, it is very good. If you like chocolate, you can't go wrong with this dessert.

    (4)

  • Lanae S.

    Beautiful view and ambiance - 5 stars. The food was delicious and waitstaff was excellent. Perfect place to celebrate my parents anniversary

    (5)

  • Dennis R.

    Our experience at Michel's wasn't either great or terrible. Just so-so in my opinion. The food was ok but nothing to go back for. My wife had a steak dinner and I had a seafood dish as well as a lobster soup appetizer. The plating looked dated. Prices are what you'd expect from a fancy restaurant in Hawaii. The service, atmosphere and view were great. Those were the best things about the restaurant. I would recommend it for those visiting the islands and wanting a scenic/romantic view of the ocean while having dinner. You would need to reserve a table by the open window well ahead of time if you want the better views in the restaurant.

    (3)

  • R P.

    I swear, I was only coming in for dessert! Well, they sweet-talked me into a cocktail. And oh, they said the chef could prepare me a special vegetarian cheese risotto, and who was I to resist? They had me under their spell... And you can't have a risotto without a wine pairing, that'd be a crime, so a nice Riesling came along. Of course we ordered the souffle dessert with grand marnier with a hot coffee and tea. Ah, it was an affair to remember, and which my credit card statement won't let me forget.

    (5)

  • Anthony C.

    By far the most expensive meal I had in two weeks on the islands, and probably the worst. Shrimp tasted frozen and the cioppino was pretty weak. Service was ok but the kitchen was terrible. You'd do better going to Roy's in Waikiki. About 2/3 the price but miles ahead in freshness and flavor. What an expensive disappointment!

    (1)

  • Charlotte Y.

    One of my favorite restaurants of all!!! The service, ambiance and food is excellent! There are ocean front tables but wherever you sit you can hear the ocean and waves roaring! The servers are so attentive they are always serving before you even need to ask for anything, especially Todd, Cy and Keith! Philip is amazing as well! The best saved for the last - the food- some of my favorite dishes, starting with the foie gras or the Caesar salad made table side with anchovies and homemade salad dressing - its to die for, or the lobster bisque, not on the menu the steak Diane with foie gras, it usually comes with in season vegetables oftentimes baby carrots sautéed in butter sauce with thyme herb mashed potatoes etc, It's also important to mention they pay attention to detail and serve you sorbet in between your courses to clean your palette, superb service! Don't forget to preorder the grand marnier soufflé for dessert, it's heavenly with its freshest and creamiest taste, light and fluffy with a creamy sweet finish of grand marnier on your palette. I'll be back as often as I can :-)))

    (5)

  • Al D.

    Came here once for brunch. Beautiful restauarant with a beautiful view. The service was excellent. The food was ok. For the price, I'd rather eat at Roy's, Alan Wong's, or Le Bistro. Glad I tried it though.

    (3)

  • Micki K.

    ONE OF MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS. I love this place oh so much, words can't even explain. The view here is just off the charts especially when the sun sets, just beautiful. The interior and the atmosphere is just so romantic and cozy. The waiters here are also very well trained and friendly. Oh, and to get a better window view, make a reservation ahead of time. The courses here are amaaaaazing and the dishes compliment each other as you eat. I thought my mouth was gonna fall out, it was so delicious. My favorite is their lobster bisque and escargot. Ohhh, you won't be disappointed. Although it gets pretty expensive, I honestly think it's worth that much. I'll forever be a returning customer.

    (5)

  • LL N.

    Having been raised up on Diamond, i use to come here with my dad a long time ago. I brought my husband here for his 1st time. It is still the spot for a romantic evening. We dined at 8:00. Perfect. The uke playing softly in the background totally enhanced the evening. Food is ok. This is not what Michels is about. Have a cocktail, choose a wine and dine away. Do have the Caesar salad. Made to your specs. Dessert is a treat too. Spend the $$. You only live once.

    (5)

  • Mi Y.

    It is a fancy restaurant with a good atmosphere. You can listen to waves and live music. It is romantic enough to have special occasion dinner nights. However, I am not going back there. Here is why. Servers make steak tartar and some deserts in front of your table. If you are cooking in front of me, please have clean nails and hair. My server, Ki*ber*y's nails were very dirty. Also her hair was very messy, and I was scared that her hair might fall off on my dish. I wish her hair was all pulled back and neatly arranged. I do not think I was asking too much in a fancy restaurant, just clean nails. Also I ordered a steak rare. It came out medium rare. I felt like this restaurant is not that professional. If I am paying 60 dollars for a steak, I want it at least with the right temperature. I had to ask to send it back, and they actually fixed it, but I do not want to feel grateful. Steak just felt dry even though it was rare also I had to wait another 10 minutes to get it. At the end, they actually gave us free wines, but I wish it could have been better if they just did not make any mistakes. Very Amateur cleanness for a server and cooking skill for a restaurant like Michel's. It seems like this restaurant has over rated ratings. If Michel's works on those non-careful mistakes, it actually would be a very good restaurant. Good luck Michel's. You will need lots of lucks.

    (2)

  • Valerie M.

    We made reservations for dinner at 6p to be able to catch the sunset. It was a cloudy, humid day but the temperature inside the restaurant was very comfortable. In winter, the sun sets over the Waikiki beach horizon, and in the summer it sets over the mountains. So if youre expecting to see the sunset in the summer, it won't be a beach one. I love dusk, because its so peaceful. The beach-goers clear out and Michel's prime location right next to the beach makes this restaurant a rare find. Service was impeccable, the waiter was attentive, pleasant and efficient. We had a light meal consisting of lobster bisque, Caesar salad, Foie Gras appetizer, smoked salmon, Rib Eye steak special and chocolate soufflé. All were excellent. I love that there's a lot of tableside preparation of your food done by skilled waiters. There was a harpist playing during dinner which also added a nice touch. Michel's is one of the few reataurants that offers this type of classy service. Chef Hardy is one of the best chefs in Hawaii. The service, ambience location and food makes Michel's one of my all time top favorite restaurants.

    (5)

  • SB S.

    The view was impeccable. Right in the beach and views of gorgeous sunsets. We waited a good 10 minutes before someone graced us with their presence. Even then, he came with out menus or a wine list. It was literally 20 minutes before we were offered wine. Another 10 after came the dinner menus. In between, they gave us a little complimentary tasting of something delicious. Don't know if they do this for everyone or because a very famous patron of theirs called our reservation in. Finally we ordered. The tasting menu. It was okay. Nothing at all to write home about. A small salad, a nice scallop bake, a fish, a filet. Basic for the 100 pp price. All in all, we waited about 3 hours for everything to come out. I get it. We are on island time. But I was dying to get out of there. This came recommended, like I said, by an influential Hawaiian person but fine dining to me, means a lot more than price and long winded waiters.

    (3)

  • Katy T.

    We came at 8:30 on a Sunday night for our late Valentine's day dinner. I love open-air dining rooms and though many come for the sunset, the view of the Waikiki/Honolulu city lights was still beautiful after dark. The service was fabulous- could not have been any better. The food was also delicious. My boyfriend had the steamed onaga which was beautifully cooked with asian flavors. It was really simple, but really good. I had the beef tenderloins that were finished tableside (flamed with Jack Daniels) and they were amazing! For dessert we shared the chocolate decadence cake (flourless) and it was also fantastic. They have complimentary valet parking too, so that's nice. On the down side, I wish they weren't so expensive. (Our bill came to $128 for 2 entrees, a beer, a glass of wine and a dessert.) However, you get what you pay for and they're definitely worth it. The other thing is that their dining room is a little "busy" for my taste. There's a lot of different prints happening everywhere... carpet print is different from the print on the chair cushions, which is different from the print on the backs of the booths, which is different from the designs on the etched glass... all complimented by very ornate chandeliers and lamps on the table. It's just an awful lot happening, but that's totally just a matter of opinion so no stars lost for that. All in all it was totally a 5-star experience, but we'd have to save it for special occasions.

    (5)

  • Spencer C.

    The view alone is worth five stars and the service was excellent. Unfortunately the food was underwhelming. We got the tasting menu and while the first two courses were fine it just went down hill from there. Disappointing for such an expensive and beautiful restaurant. Despite the unbelievable view and I regret to say this we will not be returning the food was just adequate.

    (3)

  • Andrew M.

    Tranquil setting with waves, live guitar, perfect light house salad, Col Solare and a killer Cioppino

    (5)

  • LJ E.

    Impecable service. Moano I think the name of our our server was, thank you. Everything was great. I had a Lobster Bisque and the Seafood Cioppino and my friend had the Smoked Salmon and Escargo. Amazing. And its beachfront.

    (5)

  • Chad A.

    Presentation was awesome from start to finish. We started off my birthday with table-side Caesar salad which was simply perfect! The leaves were lightly tossed in the freshly prepared dressing and it was tasty! Next on to the best escargot on the Island of Oahu, I really do love those tasty snails. The main course for me was the seafood crepes which were delicious, and my wife had steak, which was perfect. They comped a free birthday dessert. However, the shining part of the dinner was my wife's dessert. Cherries jubilee was made table-side and was a party in my mouth. The second best dessert I have ever had. It is any excellent place to celebrate any occasion.

    (5)

  • jen K.

    This is solemnly a review for the hostess. Let's just say that the hostess that I talked to about requesting for the ocean view for one of my best friends birthday for her FIRST time at michel's totally ruined mine and the birthday girl's experience in other ways. I initially made a reservation for Sunday brunch through yelp and I requested for a nice ocean view for a party of five. I called michels to double check to make sure that the party will be seated at the ocean view. When I called, the hostess sounded adamant about my request and all she said was "I can request it but it's not guaranteed". Are you serious? It was nothing like she can try to squeeze us in or she can try her best to put is in the ocean view... If this is the attitude of a hostess at a five star restaurant, then she might as well work at mcdonalds instead. And when Sunday came, little did we know, if we hadn't known someone at michels, We would've been placed by the wall when I specifically asked to be places by the ocean. If this so called restaurant is a five star restaurant, then they should be accommodating to guests' needs. My first impression about this place was disappointing and this will probably be my last time here. It's crazy how that one phone call led me to huge disappointment. Besides the rude customer service I received from the hostess, the food was also not that impressive. It's nothing out of the ordinary. The ocean view we had was epic (sarcastic). Michels is known for having a nice ocean view. Yup, some nice view of half naked not so fit people walking around in their bathing suits. I know several other places with way better views... One star for our server, trent for being accommodating to our needs. The servers were very attentive to our needs. It's too bad that the hostess ruined my experience here. I always believe that first impression you get of a restaurant is from a hostess and she definitely ruined it for me. Perhaps they should retrain her about customer service or maybe that the management just doesn't care about accommodating to guests needs at all and only cater to people who spend money.

    (1)

  • Iwalani K.

    This was our first time to Michel's, and sadly I was disappointed. When my husband made our reservations he let them know that we were celebrating our 25th anniversary. I figured Michel's would be 25th anniversary worthy. First off, the service was slow. We waited a good amount of time for everything, from menus to entrees. My husband requested a window table at the time reservations were made, but unfortunately we didn't get that. Usually, when we dine out and let the restaurant know in advance that we are celebrating something they acknowledge the celebration, well that was not the case this evening. There were other tables celebrating some sort of special day, and were acknowledged as such. After we paid for our dinner, the manager came by our table to ask how everything was. My husband let him know that when he made the reservations he mentioned that it was our anniversary, and the manager offered to buy us a cocktail. We've already paid the check and ready to leave. If anything he should have offered to comp our desserts, but he didn't seem to give two beans about the fact that they forgot to acknowledge our special day. We would have gotten better service at Morton's or Ruth's Chris, but they didn't have the view I was hoping for and didn't get. I don't mind spending the money on good food or good service, but sadly that was not the case. Michel's crushed everything I expected of them. I doubt that I would dine there again.

    (2)

  • Sid S.

    I had never been to Michel's, but at a friend's suggestion decided to give it a try. We went for dinner on a weeknight to celebrate a birthday. We made reservations in advance - easy, no problem. You show up and valet parking is complimentary, but we always give a tip. There is some street parking outside as well but given the far walk into the Colony Surf, and the covered drop off area I think it's worth valeting. Once inside I was a little surprised by how bright it was inside. There is a beautiful ocean view and the sand is literally right outside the massive open windows. It was a great day - a little overcast and cool, but still a nice sunset. We sat at a table right next to the window Service was great - they constantly refilled our glasses and the food came just in time: not too quick, not too rushed. Time just flew by as we were sitting there. Tableside preparation of appetizers and dessert was a nice treat. The tables were a little closer together than I would have liked, and the restaurant was about 70% full. But these are minor issues. Would I go back? Definitely.

    (5)

  • Denise L.

    Michel's is waaaaaay too underrated. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND anyone who ever steps foot on Oahu to try this restaurant. I'm so grateful to have dined here for my birthday (in November) and this meal totally blew my mind. I haven't had time to write reviews lately being a college student suffering miserably during finals and I'd like to start off the New Year with a happy, positive review. (Yes, I am a dork and saving this review for a while now). Words can't even come close to describing my love for Michel's. From impeccable service, to having your meal prepared and even cooked in front of your eyes, Michel's does a fantastic job. To emphasize my point, I had my annual eye appointment back home over winter break and I HAD to recommend my optometrist to try out Michel's because her family booked tickets to visit Honolulu this summer. Okay, onto dissecting the meal I've had at Michel's: Lobster bique- creamy, delicious, fresh, you literally have it all. The sweetness and fresh quality of the lobster used in this dish is top notch. I guarantee it. **Actually, on a side note: for those concerned about spending too much $$$$ here, NO WORRIES. I assure you that your money will be well spent and your bellies will be full. Another great + about Michel's is that they don't give you small portions, you will be well fed! After the lobster bisque, I was 35% full. We had a Caesar salad, which was tossed at a cart that was rolled over to the table. AH-MAZING! Then, the main course came, I ordered lobster, but sampled everyone else's dish as well, all excellent. The BEST part was the custom birthday cake my mother had called in to see if it was possible for them to buy me one since she didn't have time to go to the bakery while flying in from CA, and the most wonderful thing was that their staff just prepared one for me. I have no idea about the cost of the cake, but it was SOOOOO GOOD! Kudos awesome pastry chef & staff! Thank you sooooo much! I couldn't have wished for anything else. Hey, and this review isn't just a 5 star review because it was the restaurant I celebrated my birthday at, but it's a 5 star review because I want to return for EVERY occasion from here on out! :)

    (5)

  • Ariana M.

    SIMPLY BREATHTAKING! I have to say this is one of the best dinners I have ever had! The food tasted great, the view was beautiful and the service here was fantastic. Our server for the evening was Amber. I love how much this restaurant caters to you during your meal. They do so many little things, but it really does add up! When we were seated at our table, our server gave my boyfriend a black napkin and I a white one so lent would not get on our clothes. WOW! The second thing I noticed was when I mentioned it was kind of cold because of the ocean breeze; Amber was so kind as offered me a shawl. Talk about amazing service and consideration to the people who come here. As for budget, this restaurant is definitely not cheap. So don't come here balling on a budget guys :P Come here for that special occasion =) The Grub. Fresh Oysters - Comes with shallot vinaigrette and cocktail sauce. I have to say these are probably the BEST oysters I have ever had. Each one was so clean and delish! Steak Tartar - Raw steak made tableside!! I never had tableside anything! So for me this was a real treat ;D Ocean Bounty - Grilled mahi mahi, oyster Rockefeller, blackened ahi, lobster tail, and caledonian and abalone. The Rockefeller was BOMB! Island Seafood Cioppino - Island onaga, salmon, lobster, scallops, squid, prawns, clams and mussels! OH and it also comes with garlic bread! GREAT FOR DIPPING! Really wanted to try the chocolate soufflé, but was so full =(

    (5)

  • Cindy P.

    This dinner was a meeting so I only had 4 choices for my entrees. I typically pick something that I like as a side, not necessarily for the entree. I chose a steak with mashed potatoes and gnocchi. The steak had some strange spice on top. I did not eat it. The mashed potatoes were not very flavorful. There was one gnocchi on top of sweet mashed potatoes (again they were not flavored enough). This is not what I expect from a restaurant with the reputation of Michele's. I stopped at a fast food restaurant on the way home.

    (3)

  • Chris B.

    Service was impeccable. Super attentive service without hovering. Had the Caesar salad..not hot on min order is for two @$36 sort of steep but was delicious. Had the porterhouse was cooked perfectly. Loved the intermezzo star fruit sorbet. View and atmosphere were stunningly beautiful. Truffled mac and cheese was delicious! Parchment seafood dish was ok. On the pricey side but it is Hawaii. One observation with the exception of us everyoneappearedto be celebrating a birthday, an indication that locals perceive it to bea perfect place for a special occasion

    (5)

  • Mika N.

    I took my parents for their 50th anniversary celebrations last week. We got the table right by the window around 6:30 pm and experienced the most amazing sunset. The table service there was top notch, excellent wine selections, and food was outstanding. I had lamb chops, which my friend lives in Honolulu highly recommended, and it certainly made me very happy. My parents shared Michel's Ocean Bounty, which looked awesome and yes, it was a lot of seafood to concur. Michel's is definitely a special-occasion type of restaurant. Elegant. romantic and pricy, but worth every penny for your special moments extra memorable.

    (5)

  • Cin T.

    I've only been to Michel's for dinners and pau hana drinks (their table-side STEAK TARTARE is a must-order! I always ask for extra hot sauce and Worcestershire), but this last visit was to check out their Sunday Brunch with a friend. Sunday Brunch is held every 1st Sunday of the month, with reservations being avail from 10am-1pm. Their menu changes every month. Their monthly brunch menu is just a 3 course prix-fixe meal: $48 for adults and $24 for children. - Choice of appetizer (6 items), main entree (6 items) and dessert (2 items): - Comes with complimentary champagne, coffee or juice. FRESH OYSTERS w/a shallot vinaigrette & cocktail sauce: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… You get 5 plump and juicy oysters. The accompanying 2 sauces were blah, so ask for shoyu and tabasco instead!! -The shallot vinaigrette needed more acid. I didn't get much vinegar or zing from it at all. -The cocktail sauce was too sweet and absent of horseradish. It also could've used a touch of salt. CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP w/cheese crostini: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… A simple, yet delicious soup full of umami flavor. I loved that it wasn't overpowered with heavy cream, a mistake that lots of chefs make with any cream-based soups or bisques. SALMON SAINT JACQUES: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… I couldn't help but just gawk at this dish when it arrived, it was a beautiful plate of food. Unfortunately, my pic didn't capture it well as I'd hoped. 2 thin fillet of salmon were layered w/thinly sliced scallops and a velvety scallop mousse. It was then placed under the broiler, giving it a nice caramelized crust and sheen. The moist and delicate salmon meshed really well w/the perfectly cooked scallops. The delicious scallop mousse on top successfully tied the whole dish together. The Dill Vin Blanc (dill and white wine) & buerre rouge (aka "red butter sauce" made from red wine) sauces complimented the seafood really well and didn't overpower one another. MADRAS SEAFOOD CURRY CREPES: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… The crepe filling consisted of Blue crab, Kona crab, rock shrimp & fish - all perfectly cooked. With the variety of seafood used, it was like getting a taste of the ocean all in one delicious bite. However, the Coconut Saffron Curry tasted more like a coconut cream sauce. The sauce was definitely the weak part of this dish. I didn't taste any saffron, I barely tasted any curry in it. BIG ISLAND "GOAT CHEESE" CHEESECAKE yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… I don't like sweets, but given that it was a prix-fixe menu, I picked the one that was more savory. The cheesecake was topped off with a pineapple-mango chutney and drizzled w/a creme anglaise. The fresh fruits on that accompanied this cheesecake helped in toning down the intense taste of the goat cheese. Yeah, not a fan of goat cheese. BAILEY'S TIRAMISU: yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… This was my favorite out of the 2 desserts. The sponge cake was gently soaked in Baileys and layered with chocolate ganache & lightly-whipped mascarpone cheese. I LOVED the very slightly-salted layer of macadamia nuts on the outside. More chocolate ganache is drizzled on the side for dipping. This menu was from July 1st (can you tell I'm a bit behind on my reviews?). -It's a bit blurry, but you'll get the jist of it if you squint hard enough. Lol, sorry! yelp.com/biz_photos/jabB… Whether it be for dinner, 'just drinks' or brunch, Michel's has never disappointed me and my friends when it comes to service and taste. If only they had a happy hour, then it would be a 5 stars in my book.

    (4)

  • Kristen K.

    This place is amazing, so this will be a short & sweet and matter of fact review. Went there years ago....that's where I had escargot for the first time and before I had taken a liking to wine (I was young, give me a break) Went there again a few weeks ago and was blown away. I got taken there for my birthday this year....I had the nicest time EVER. The view was breathtaking....we had one of the best tables in the restaurant. Service/bar was impeccable. 10 stars. Dinner was AMAZING: of course I needed escargot (hands down THE best on the island, in my opinion), and yellowfin ahi tartare. Split a island salad (dressing was really good). THEN onto the REALLY good stuff....the entrees. I got the Ocean Bounty....Grilled mahi, oyster rockefeller, blackened ahi, Tristan lobster tail, a couple huge prawns, and Kona baby abalone which was served over risotto in the abalone shell...but the winner ended up being the special of the night, which was amazing. Foie gras over venison medallions served with risotto and green beans. It was so rich, every bite felt almost sinful. It was to die for. Our server helped select wines for each course and they paired perfectly with each dish. For dessert, a birthday cheesecake came out, and by then I was just too full for much else, although we had wanted to try the foie gras strawberry flambe dessert (guess we'll just have to go again!) We got some after dinner drinks instead...they make damn good choco espresso martinis. This is no rush-and-go spot....we were there for nearly 4 hours...hence why this is one of the most romantic restaurants on the island and one of my ultimate favorites. Top notch service, beachfront location, and all-around an amazing dining experience.

    (5)

  • Mely G.

    The ambience, view and service was excellent. Only thing is their selections on their menu was not what I expected. (Not enough variety) Overall I enjoyed it!

    (3)

  • P M.

    This place lives up to, and surpasses, the billing. Unforgettable evening, and some of the best cuisine I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Stanislava K.

    My husband and I went for our anniversary few months back. We made a reservation and I made a point of asking, what is the dress code. The nice reservation lady told me casual. So, of course, I got all dolled up. My husband, on the other hand, wore dressy slippers, for which he got scolded by the host, who made a point that next time he will not tolerate his footwear. He seated us all the way back by the live music, so his manager wouldn't see us. Btw, every guy eating there was wearing flip flops. For the starter I ordered lobster bisque soup, which was delicious and because I am not use to eat that late, as a main course I ordered their steak tartare, which I am a huge fan of. The tartare was delivered by a special "chef" who made quite an incredible ceremony out of it. She made me choose what ingredients and how much of it I wanted to be mixed in. Very nice. My husband ordered Osso Bucco. As he never had the dish before, he was shooting blind with his choice that didn't pan out. He didn't like it at all and was disappointed that he didn't go with steak instead. At the end we shared a chocolate cake that was absolute heaven. I would give it a 5 star, if the staff learns how to lighten up and treat their customers better. The service was excellent and if you stick to what you like, you won't leave disappointed.

    (4)

  • Josie C.

    Okay, I know there are a lot of other 5-star restaurants out there that are considered "oh so much better". But today I'm just reviewing Michel's without comparing it to any other restaurants. The first time I came here was during my birthday 2 years ago, which if you don't know, is on Valentines. Although I remember the food and service being exceptionally good, I was somewhat disappointed. Because of Valentines, they, along with many restaurants on this day served prefixe menus. I really dislike prefixe menus. I'm the type that wants to eat what I want, how I want, when i want. Because of valentines, our reservations was for 8pm which means no sunset view. BUT since we all know my birthday happens to be on the most religiously "sucking up day" to mankind, I''m the one who had to suck it up, look at my husband with a sweet smile and say, "Thank you honey, this is so beautiful!" Which brings us back to the present. Well, this past Monday to be exact. Since it was our anniversary, I wanted to give this place a chance to offer me something I didn't get on my birthday. Something I "wanted" to eat and a unique experience. So here we go: The top 5 reasons (there's actually more) for my 5 star review 5. Lobster Bisque: It was a a great blend of creamy and buttery. The lobster flavor was not overpowering but I was amazed to find chunks of lobster. Which carried most of the flavor. 4. Escargot: how can any fine dining establishment mess up on escargot? Michel's did not. The butter and garlic; so yummy. I wish we had more bread to dip all the sauce out. Escargot was tender; not rubbery at all. Even my husband enjoyed it and he's a very picky eater. 3. Warm seafood spinach salad: I really don't think I've tried anything like this before. Abalone juhn (not fish juhn), scallops, shrimp, mango, tomato, grapefruit (or was it a red orange), and sautéed spinach salad with a hint of lemon zest. The flavors mixed in so well with each other. And the seafood was cooked perfectly. I seriously can't stop thinking about this salad. 2. The service was top notch. Not just one waiter waited on us, it was any waiter that passed by. Checking if we're okay, refilling our drinks. I personally like to converse with our waiters when we dine anywhere because I believe it would make them feel more at ease serving me, thus giving great service in return. And I must say, some of them were very humorous, telling stories of who makes the biggest fires when making the flambés. But that certainly did not take away from their professionalism. 1. The ambience, the sunset!!! It was perfect. Being next to the beach, watching kids and families on the beach spending time, laughing, and all of a sudden, in unity, everyone just stood there, in awe, gazing at the sunset. The appreciation you feel towards something so simple, something we overlook each day. Another chance to spend time with loved ones. The fact that we made it. We made it through another day. We made through another year. Yes, this place may be underrated or even overrated in some other people's eyes, but if you can leave your dinner feeling a sense of appreciation for good food, amazing service, and genuine company, you've just experienced a five star level. Thank you Michel's for the experience.

    (5)

  • Torey S.

    I have dined at many exquisite restaurants worldwide on many tropical islands and Michel's is by far the finest restaurant I have been too! My wife and I celebrated our honeymoon here eight years ago when a dear friend, a native Hawaiian gave us a gift card to enjoy. On another trip to Oahu, my wife and I brought our mom's here and they were in tears as we sat ocean side enjoying the beautiful sunset and peaceful setting. What makes this most amazing is the open air seating with the awning blocking the sun and as the sun sets, the awning is retracted to enjoy the views! The service is wonderful, the food is always delicious and the ambiance is so peaceful and relaxing! If you are traveling to Oahu and want to dine at the most romantic restaurant with all the bells and whistles, don't hesitate to stop by Michel's!

    (5)

  • Takanori W.

    nice location, sp' ocean view. but gave 1 star...because, food: 2 star. no taste, steak was over cooked. over price. service: no pay attention. varlet: worst

    (1)

  • Helen F.

    Beautiful evening! Had view of the sunset, felt pampered by the staff, the lobster bisque was served table side ( I love this type of service, can't find it these days) and was absolutely delicious! We also had the spinach salad served table side, another love it! We had the steamed Onaga and ribeye for our entrées and desert and port to end the evening. Our biggest compliments to the staff, they make the experience!

    (5)

  • Jeff A.

    Service last night was excellent, food presentation and taste was superb. The cocktails hit the mark perfectly. Thank you!

    (5)

  • Roel U.

    This review is mainly for the events coordinating staff and service staff at Michel's. Events coordinator: 5 STARS Me and my wife had our wedding reception at Michel's last Sunday and I must say the service our party of 12 received was nothing short of amazing. It all started with events coordinator Amelia and one of her staff Liz.They were always a phone call away leading up to the dinner to answer every question and went out of their way to accommodate each and every odd or quirky request we had . From our menu, seating arrangements and wedding favors. Amelia was there to greet us at the front the moment we arrived and had everything set-up like my wife envisioned. Actually above and beyond what we expected . All of this event enhancement service was complimentary with a menu that had more courses and comparable price to other places we checked. SERVICE : 5 STARS Haylee and the entire staff at Michel's she supervised that night for our table were really amazing. Haylee was there from the moment everyone was seated to helping us call our taxis.Despite the language barrier ,she and her staff made sure each of my guests felt like royalty. The service we received from one course to the other was probably the best I've had . I almost never say this ....but it was worth every penny. Sunset was amazing that night and the staff at Michel's capped off what was already an amazing day for us. For that I am extremely grateful.

    (5)

  • Leah S.

    Went here for my husband's birthday!! LOVE this place, food and atmosphere!! Right on the beach and great service!! Go here for a special occasion and you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Cat W.

    First time, the ambience was nice. We had a Brazilian, NY transplant server who was very focused and attentive, and professional. I liked the black suits, nice to see people dress up for work, esp. fine dining. We ordered the Foie Gras, Warm Seafood Salad, NY steak and their lamb. Rich food. My husband loved the size of the wines, pricier but nice selection. We were eating with our eyes, esp. with other tables ordering things and getting served. Next time, we will order the Ocean Bounty on Ice and maybe the Lobster Bisque. If you want some TLC and some great-tasting food, Michel's can offer you that. Oh yes, and nice simple guitar music, too.

    (4)

  • Victoria C.

    Michel's.. perfect place for a romantic night with your significant other or celebrating a special occasion. Came here for my sister's birthday and sat with a beautiful view of the sunset! Food was excellent and service was great. I started off with the French onion soup and then had the Madras seafood curry crepe. Everything was delish.. no complaints there! Only thing I wasn't too impressed was there dessert. I think we had a chocolate souffle which was okay but not great. This place of course is a fine dining restaurant so be prepared for a big fat bill :) Overall, great experience.

    (5)

  • Moe O.

    Totally overrated. The view is phenomenal. The food is marginal. The staff is a little snooty... I can't stand going to a place that charges a premium price for everything and acts like they are doing you a favor by letting you eat there, that's what it felt like when I was there. The hostess was bitchy and our server was very slow and unattentive. Their only saving grace in my eyes is the fabulous view, and one of the food runners was really good. I have a background in fine dining, overall this place is a poor execution of that...it wasn't even very busy when I was there.

    (3)

  • William M.

    Love this place, have since the 80's when Tom Selleck hung out here. Amazing food, excellent service, and a lovely setting. Yes, it is pricey, but this is cuisine, not just chow. And look around you, how beautiful is everything? And aren't the staff nice, too? C'mon, have a good time, at least. I had a great time, and you can too. Enjoy!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:30 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Michel’s

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