Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Kaka'ako

We arrived an hour early to go get sunset pics and the hostess offered to check us in. We then spent about a half hour shooting and though about 25 minutes later I went back to host stand to let them know we were available and ready when they were, the other person hosting said nothing was available and he would text us. Our reservation was for 7:30. At 7:35 we still hadn’t heard anything so I approached again and he said he had texted but we did not receive anything. Atmosphere was beautiful, open air beachfront! Food was excellent! Our waitress seemed fine, but she brought our wine before dinner was out and it wasn’t very cold(white). Once dinner finally came out, we saw her one other time when she checked on how things were, but then not again. Someone different came to offer dessert, bring the bill etc. My husband is thought maybe she took I’ll but we saw her still waitressing so that wasn’t it. Thought the overall service was not great. No one even said anything as we left the restaurant.

Our server was awesome! The food was absolutely wonderful. The portions were very generous. Surpassed our expectations.

Almost amazing. Staff was kind and attentive. Space was beautiful. Parking was no problems. Food was good but I have notes. The competition for this restaurant in Honolulu is Istanbul, though there is admittedly a different ethnic focus on their Mediterranean menus (Greek/Moroccan vs Turkish). Mara is as good as Istanbul in terms of menu potential, but they aren’t getting every dish right. We had a B+ meal compared to Istanbul’s consistent A level. Fish in tomato sauce was great. Beets in the beet salad perfectly cooked (but needed a little more of the citrus). Greek yogurt sundae was fun and I’d go back for it because it’s a unique dessert. Brussels sprouts, squash, and potato sides should have been additional delights but they were for the eyes more than the palette. All of them too dry. Lacked depth of flavor. With a bit of execution improvement, this restaurant could become a total joy.

Amazing atmosphere and the service was perfect! Highly recommended!

The food was excellent, the presentation lovely and the service attentive. The restaurant is attractive. It is however quite pricey. Perhaps it is only a restaurant for serious foodies but we found the lengthy explanations of every course, and of other items not on the prix fixe menu, to be a bit excessive.