Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 

Elegant is the word that resonated with me most after dining at Paris.Hawaii for the first time. I’d heard mixed reviews about Waikiki’s newest restaurant ranging from out of this world and so worth waiting in line to pretty but meh.

The restaurant is located in a refurbished apartment complex in the middle of Waikiki and occupies the entire second floor, while their more casual sister restaurant Zigu occupies the first. The entrance is obscure and you definitely need to know where you’re going, which only adds to the allusion of mystery and exclusivity.

From the moment we walked in, a waiter escorted me to my seat at the counter pushed my chair in for me (love!!). The service throughout the whole meal was outstanding and every dish was broken down and explained in full when served which I really appreciated and helped elevate each course into its own experience.

Otsugi Farms Turnip Soup

Garlic Shrimp on Bed of Seaweed

Paris Poké w/ Kukui Nut & Black Truffle Crumble

I loved sitting at the counter and watching how much care went into the preparation of each dish, especially because Chef Yuya Yamanaka was cooking most of it himself. After sitting through a seven course meal watching him work, there’s no question this guy is serious about his craft.

Black & White Chicken

Abalone & Mushroom Risotto

Special Request Fried Ahi & Mushroom Risotto

He was very quiet and concentrated throughout the night and merely pointed if a dish was not up to standard, and his team immediately knew to re do it without a word or hesitation. I could feel the respect his team had for him, which ensured that each course was presented perfectly.

Maui Onion Soup w/ Brioche Puff

Gorgonzola Cheese at the Bottom!

Each course highlighted a different local ingredient and some pairings were quite interesting, such as the Kona coffee and chocolate crusted fried chicken (which was delicious, by the way).

Big Island Beef w/ Browned Butter, Gai Choy & Avocado

After peeling the avocado skins off, the sous chefs carefully fire roasted each avocado individually so that it recreated the skins (amazing).

I enjoyed the minimalistic, beautiful plating that made each dish look like its own work of art; the star of the night was definitely the chocolate lava cake we ordered for dessert that ended the night with a bang. After the cake was served, Chef Yamanaka came right up to us and prepared the liquid nitrogen coconut ice cream which made for an amazing video moment!

Would definitely recommend for celebrating special occasions or entertaining out of town guests. Be careful as the restaurant is on the second floor and is not wheelchair accessible!