Fabulous! It was very accommodating and had a polite staff. They knew it was our honeymoon (thanks to the AMEX travel agent who told them so) and gave us a lovely table facing the sea. The decor was romantic yet quaint. The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and most importantly, delicious. I was stuffed and did not have room for dessert, but they brought us one anyway, with a lit candle, to celebrate our recent nuptials.

An unbelievable dining experience! We began with a glass of Dom Perignon and a pair of ham and cheese quiches to whet our appetites.

We chose the prix-fixe menu, plus wine pairing:

Foie gras mousse with a Banyuls wine reduction -- Served with a crisp wheat cracker, this helped to establish a flavor on our palates for what was to come.

Beer-tempura battered foie gras served over asparagus flan with Banyuls wine reduction -- The creamy, delectable texture and flavor of good foie gras, married with a soft and smooth flan, without the heavy grassy notes I expected. The reduction added a hint of sweetness and fruit, which complimented the aforementioned flavors perfectly.

Tartares of hamachi, ahi, and salmon with Ossetra caviar -- Layered atop one another, Napoleon-style, the fish were cemented by a layer of creamy crab, and served with accents of green pea.

Sea scallops Provencal-style with chanterelles and risotto on a rosary of fresh tomatoes -- The scallops, mushrooms and tomatoes were almost secondary to the fine texture and flavor of the risotto underneath. The scallops were still firm without being rubbery and matched well with the buttery chanterelle mushrooms.

Spiny lobster "Tristan" au gratin on a bed of mushrooms and glazed angel hair pasta with bercy sauce -- The lobsters were sweet, with a light gratin covering them. The creamy sauce married well with the pasta, and the sauteed mushrooms still possessed a lot of their flavor.

Sauteed John Dory fillet with avocado in an orange-basil butter sauce -- Firm, flaky fish with just enough of a crust to give it a certain toastiness. The sauce was light and creamy, with hints of its flavoring ingredients without overpowering the fine taste of the fish. Mussel soup with saffron -- In a word, this small offering was sublime. It shows the wonders of a simple dish done RIGHT: not too salty, not bland, not overdone.

Lamb with mushrooms, Monte Carlo, and south of France-style vegetables -- The lamb was barded with bacon before roasting and slicing, imparting a wonderfully smoky flavor. It was accompanied by a small, sweet pearl onion and tomato, stuffed with a rice-based stuffing and a zucchini "tart."

Selection of French cheeses -- The restaurant offers about a dozen different cheeses. We decided on Roquefort, a Pont-de-Neuf, a chevre, and another very sharp cheese whose name escapes me but which I loved -- sharp but very soft. Accompanied by walnut bread, walnut halves, grapes, and dried apricots.

Dessert variation "La Mer" -- A selection: pineapple parfait, garnished with a thin, dried slice of pineapple; a fruit compote of fresh berries; a fruit "tart" with fresh strawberry, blueberry, and honeydew melon; a scoop of mango sorbet; a chocolate cup with almond cream and garnished with fresh fruit.

The service was friendly, timely, and well-informed. The view is undeniably romantic, and the food is sublime. It costs a bit, but it's worth every penny. Treat yourself to a dining experience that is unequalled in Hawaii.

La Mer is the perfect place to take that special someone for an intimate dining experience, especially as a surprise. It is not just a meal, but a gastronomic event that is memorable and will linger on your palate long after the last morsel of food and the last sip of wine are gone.

Upon arrival, my boyfriend was greeted formally by name and with a pleasant smile. We were quickly whisked away to a romantic side-by-side table facing the ocean and poured glasses of complimentary champagne to start the evening off.

After enjoying several sips of bubbly, we were presented with menus that listed selection after selection of amazing French delights using great island-fresh ingredients. It was so hard to choose! We opted for the appetizers for two, and I chose a seafood trio that included hamachi with pistachios, scallops with vegetable ratatouille in a saffron sauce, and shrimp over black risotto in a cream sauce. My boyfriend, who loves meat, chose Kobe beef prepared three different ways.

Before the appetizers arrived, we were given an amuse bouche - I can't remember what it was, but it was excellent! Dessert was their Symphonie dessert sampler (amazing), and the meal was concluded with complimentary assorted nougats, truffles, and marzipans. Did I mention the wines? Excellent as well.

Service was absolutely flawless and not the least bit pretentious. Tableware was beautiful and the china pattern actually complemented the decor of the interior. Imagine that!

La Mer is a definite must for those looking for an unforgettable dining experience. The prices are well justified by the food, service, and ambience. All in all, they serve excellent French cuisine using some local Hawaiian ingredients and produce and great wine and cognac offerings. We will go back as often as we can afford it. It’s very romantic!