Ciao Mein Honolulu

While in Honolulu last month, Dr Desert Flower's boss took out all of her employees and their spouses attending the ASHG conference to Ciao Mein, at the Hyatt on Waikiki. I have to admit, I was initially skeptical of the concept of a "fusion" restaurant, and all the 'trendy' implications that can be conveyed in that label, but I was more than pleasantly surprised with their "collision cuisine". Ciao Mein had a warm welcoming atmosphere, with a comfortable large dinner party central room. The service was superb, exemplary, highly attentive, experienced and discretionary - cautioning our party that we had perhaps "ordered a little too much" when we'd placed a mix of individual and family style orders. We had, in fact, ordered too much as there was a bounty of left overs.

The wine list had excellent variety, and I was able to locate and recommend a relatively inexpensive Prosecco to go with Appetizers for our party of nine persons, and a delicious reasonably priced Sangiovese for the meal - each approved by DDF's Sr VP of course, who had not previously dined with us. The head waiter doubled as sommelier and kept our glasses topped off quite nicely.

The menu was an eclectic mix of Italian & Chinese, and was flawless. I sampled more than 1/2 a dozen dishes, and as we were 2/3rds through dinner, I asked the head waiter "do you have anything that is not delicious on your menu?" It was one of the best meals I've had all year. I highly recommend, if you are in Honolulu, it's worth the walk over to the Hyatt to indulge, whether you are a foodie, a skeptic, a fusion lover, or just curious.

Don't believe me though, there are other reviews that concur with me here, here, and here.