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  • 53 by the Sea

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Reserve at 53 by the Sea

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53 by the Sea
53 by the Sea

53 by the Sea Details

  • Dining Style: Fine Dining
  • Website: http://www.53bythesea.com/
  • Phone: (808) 536-5353
  • Hours of Operation:

    Dinner: Daily 5:00pm-10:00pm

    Bar: Sun-Th 4:00pm-12:00am

    Bar: F-Sa 4:00pm-2:00am
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Contemporary American, Seafood, Steak
  • Executive Chef: Thomas Ho
  • Dress Code: Jacket Preferred
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Entertainment: Nightly 6:30pm-8:30pm
    Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9pm-11:30pm

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Olomehani St.
  • Parking: Valet
  • Parking Details: Complimentary parking available on site.
A word from 53 by the Sea
Designed around its breathtaking view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head, 53 By The Sea offers you the opportunity to experience Hawaii dining like never before. Delight at Chef Thomas Ho’s artistry as he combines fresh local ingredients with succulent seafoods and the finest hand-cut meats. Just as… exquisite are the melodic sounds of local pianists playing on the Italian made Fazioli piano in the adjacent T’s at 53 lounge, featuring wines and spirits from around the globe. 53 By The Sea is truly a celebration for all the senses! Collared shirts are required please.Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
  • Diners' Choice WinnerContemporary American
  • Diners' Choice WinnerRomantic
Diner Reviews
  • "My dinning experience at 53 By The Sea was excellent! All of the employees were very friendly and welcoming, even the valet guy. Our server was Matt and he was excellent. He took the time to explain the food menu and how it's prepared and had impecable timing. I don't usually dine in places as fancy as 53 By The Sea, but I have to say it was a lovely evening to spend celebrating my anniversary❤️👌"
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "It is definitely a very good place for lunch or dinner. The food is good, the service is superior and the view is fantastic. Highly recommend!"
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "After reading reviews, I decided to take my wife for dinner for our anniversary here. Thrilled that I did! Beckie provided wonderful service, was highly helpful and sensitive to a food allergy, and helped us enjoy an extraordinary experience. Our only regret...wish we would've been able to arrive earlier to better enjoy the great view. A terrific place we look forward to visiting again!"
    Dined on 7/8/2014
  • "Everything was very good. Only thing was my sandwich was kind of salty."
    Dined on 7/8/2014
  • "Absolutely excellent service and food. Ambiance is geat."
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "This is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, especially if there are fireworks involved. We came here to celebrate our anniversary in perfect style. Great food, great service and the settings, top notch. The staff will open the doors, and dim all the lights or sit outside to view the fireworks. When it is done, your food is on the table waiting. Can't get any better. 53 by the Sea is The Place to Be."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "We went there for our 22nd Anniversary. The food, service, and view was everything we hoped for!"
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "Service was slow. Lobster bisque was the worst I've had & the lobster tail..i guess I can't get over the Tristan lobster tail from Ruth Chris. Pricing not too bad. On a good night the view and ambiance is amazing! My cocktail was fabulous. Loved the pasta, risotto, and beef."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Everyone there was very professional and customer oriented, from the people who check you in to the bell persons. Our server Nate, was very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu and what's being served. Our food was excellent and very delicious. It was our first time there and our son recommended them to us. We will be returning again soon. I highly recommend them to others too."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Great value for what you pay. Our meals came with tasty and unique bite size appetizers that were perfect complements to the meal. My rib eye on pieces of bread was excellent with great fries (or salad). Lilikoi sorbet with a meringue roll topped off the meal. Crab and lobster salad was enjoyed by one friend. Second time here and the general service was good, but again the coffee service was bad. I waited and waited, but no coffee refill so finally I had to ask for refill."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "As always, the food, ambience and service was great. Makes celebrating an occasion special."
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "Great ambience; good meeting location. Great staff very attentive to customers."
    Dined on 6/19/2014
  • "View - Service - Food were impeccable. Much kudos to the chef. Wonderful Father's Day lunch - could not imagine anything better. Mahalo!"
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "We celebrated our 42nd anniversary with friends who were also celebrating their 42nd anniversary. The view was so beautiful. The waiters were attentive but gave us time to have cocktails and talk. The house seafood soup and the huge scallops were a hit with the wives; the lobster & steak with the husbands. Then we were treated with a very special dessert and a Happy Anniversary message. A wonderful evening-a wonderful experience."
    Dined on 6/14/2014
  • "Service is excellent, all staff very friendly. The mushroom chicken we had was too salty but the rest of the food was terrific. The server, Iris, was so professional and friendly. I will still go back there, employees are so inviting. View of the city is hard to beat, right on the ocean. Fresh catches are hard to beat!"
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "Took family for my mom's birthday --- Server Matt was very friendly and attentive with wonderful lunch recommendations. Each lunch comes with chef's appetizer and a dessert. The appetizer that day offer 5 delicious morsels. We had the Tiger Shrimp Salad, Club Sandwich and Filet Mignon...all wonderful. For dessert sorbet and my mom received a special trio of desserts: strawberry shortcake, sorbet and pana cotta with "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate and a candle -- very nice. Would definitely come back again."
    Dined on 6/8/2014
  • "A pleasure to dine in such a beautiful location. Initial impression was very good - the outside of your building is very attractive and the grounds neat, clean and orderly. We were met by a very polite man who helped us with parking and who then ushered us into the main dining area. The view of Honolulu was outstanding. The dining area was visually appealing - lots of light and airy. Understated elegance. Restaurant designed well - easy flow for servers and patrons. Pleasant ambience and noise kept to a minimum. The support staff/servers were very professional, polite and helpful. The food was excellent. Thank you for a very pleasant evening."
    Dined on 6/7/2014
  • "Absolutely everything was top notch. It was the best special occasion dinner we've had. Usually when we try to have a special dinner, we end up crammed next to a table of tourists in jeans with bored kids on handhelds. The ambiance at 53 was stunning - ocean view, nice linens, live music, and generous space between tables. The service was superb - everyone attentive, knowledgeable and friendly - no condescending attitude. The food was divine - we had oysters and shrimp to start and they were so fresh and delicious. Then we had lamb chops and filet mignon and it was perfect but we couldn't finish. Can't wait to come back!"
    Dined on 6/6/2014
  • "The view of Diamond Head and the ocean is awesome! The food is very good, a bit expensive, but worth it for the view. The price for lunch included a complimentary amuse bouche and desert."
    Dined on 6/6/2014
  • "I took my wife to 53 by the Sea for our 10th wedding anniversary. Pros - The location is one of the best in Honolulu and has the best view of Diamond Head of any restaurant. The new building (replacing John Dominis) is beautiful, Mediterranean style architecture - a different aspect for Hawaii. Parking is easy, valet. Our table by a window as requested. Wait staff was professional and very friendly. Drink menu was unique. View watching surfers and sunset over Diamond Head is terrific. Gratis anniversary cake was beautifully presented. Cons - One of the most expensive restaurants in Hawaii. Food, beautifully presented, was mediocre. Shrimp was overcooked and dry with no flavor. Pesto linguini unremarkable."
    Dined on 6/5/2014
  • "Great place for that special occasion. One gets a beautiful view of the Sea, Diamond Head and city views. The food was good and the service excellent."
    Dined on 6/3/2014
  • "Excellent setting, ambience and food. Highly recommend to all."
    Dined on 6/3/2014
  • "Treated my friend to Birthday lunch. A lovely "presentation" of slice of cake with candle much appreciated. Platter embossed with "Happy Birthday" very nice touch. Fantastic view and nice, quiet surroundings. Would like to return for my BD!"
    Dined on 5/29/2014
  • "This was a special lunch for my mom. The restaurant is the old John Dominis but looks totally different. It caters to the Japanese tourists, but the wait staff dont speak Japanese - strange. The waitress we had was ok. You'd like a person who was much more engageable but she seemed distant. The food was presented in a delightful manner and when we asked our waitress what the items were she was hesitant and stumbled to describe them to us. It was telling when I asked the bus staff person if they enjoyed working at 53 by the Sea, they smiled paused and said, 'no'. Wow, management needs to work on their staff... "
    Dined on 5/26/2014
  • "The view is fantastic. A very beautiful place for having lunch or dinner."
    Dined on 5/19/2014
  • "Beautiful scenic view, makes dining very enjoyable. Service was very, very good, everybody is very attentive. Food was good, thought lunch menu was limited. Celebrating a birthday, they made a special "Happy Birthday" dessert plate, which was nice and made the occasion more special.......thank you!!"
    Dined on 5/16/2014
  • "Beautiful restaurant with great view! Food very good - well prepared with great presentation. Had prix fixe and all courses were very good. "
    Dined on 5/15/2014
  • "外に見えるダイヤモンドヘッド、アラモアナの青い海。素敵なお料理。最高でした。夜に訪れる時は少し周りに何も無いので怖いかな。"
    Dined on 5/12/2014
  • "Good cocktails and service, food OK. Restaurant interior and view excellent. Never a good sign for freshness and quality of food when the bread that is served with the meal is stale - poor reflection on the supposed quality of the restuarant"
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Gorgeous establishment!! Professional staff and romantic atmosphere. Food and drinks were superb. Live music added to the great ambience. "
    Dined on 5/3/2014
  • "Everything was awesome! The only thing I didn't like was the chairs were kind of uncomfortable. Other than that AWESOME!"
    Dined on 4/26/2014
  • "It was my dad's 67th b-day. I made reservations about an 1 1/2 before on-line. Very convienent! My dad was so surprised & appreciative! He was impress w/ the renovations & he loved the food. His b-day cake & mango sorbet was a special touch! He said he will be bringing his wife back there soon!"
    Dined on 4/22/2014
  • "I took my other half hear for his 26th bday and out 9 year Anniversary celebration and I couldn't have been more pleased. We were seated as we checked in..I made reservations for 8. I requested for a table that would give us an ocean view and they gave us the perfect table. We sat side by side in a love seat and it was "perfect". The food was great..however what made our first time visit memorable was our server "Iris". She was awesome....I highly recommend 53 by The Sea...I would definitely come here again maybe next time during lunch or before sunset...I'm sure the view would be breathtaking. But my other half loved it and we were both very pleased. Request Iris as your server...she is a sweetheart <3 "
    Dined on 4/18/2014
  • "53 has, of course, a great view, and also excellent service, wonderful atmosphere, and ambiance and class. To have this level of a gourmet caliber meal and service at lunchtime is very rare to find. This is now our go-to place for a quiet, elegant lunch. My wife has chosen 53 for her friends' special occasion lunches also. Living on the North Shore it is always exciting to find a fine dining experience serving lunch as we don't drive in for dinners. This restaurant is first rate and world class, reminded us of fine dining in Sydney, Vancouver, etc. The menu for lunch is limited, but the price for the quality and presentation are very reasonable. "
    Dined on 4/18/2014
  • "departed with an afterglowoif contentment that a great fellowship with a friend was hedged by welcoming staff & amazing table service. my guest & I truly enjoyed our lunch. well worth the expense as it isn't easy to find a quiet lunch spot with great service & special preparations."
    Dined on 4/14/2014
  • "Absolutely beautiful view, excellent internal ambiance, and professional presentation are wasted on a restaurant that fails to deliver on the food. Prawns overcooked and tasteless, mushrooms flavorless, fish too salty. And then a charge of $18 for a Manhatten. When I saw that on the bill I complained to the waiter who regarded it as none of his business. Only the valet took an interest in our experience. It was not very busy on a Sunday night and I guess I know why."
    Dined on 4/13/2014
  • "Food meh. Everything overcooked. Nothing special or exciting. Only reason to go is the spectacular view! Amazing. But only day or sunset."
    Dined on 4/8/2014
  • "The title is not a joke - this restaurant is amazing. My husband and I ate there for our wedding anniversary and it was absolutely perfect. The hostess greeted us at the door and took our reservation information (definitely need a reservation). Once we were seated, our waiter (Erik) was prompt and knowledgeable. He had the perfect mix of attentiveness (always arriving when we needed another drink) while allowing us to share our dinner in private. We asked about the Japanese steak Miyazaki Wagyu and he highly recommended it. When it first came it we both thought it was small (3 oz. steak) but it was so tender, highly flavored and worth every penny. The kitchen sent a complimentary dessert for our anniversary. We will definitely return!"
    Dined on 4/5/2014
  • "I love this place! Very beautiful Diamondhead and ocean view.... Sooooo romantic! Foods and services are very high quality and everything is perfect!!"
    Dined on 3/30/2014
  • "You will not be disappointed. We went back several times. They had live music and the view cannot be beat."
    Dined on 3/29/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Hawaii Winners
  • Best Ambiance
  • Contemporary American
  • Romantic
  • Scenic View
  • Oahu Winners
  • Best Ambiance
  • Contemporary American
  • Romantic
  • Scenic View
Learn more ›