Wedding Reception Dinner Location recommendations please!

[strawbee]

I've searched around the boards and didn't really find anything helpful.

My party will be 13 people, and I would prefer a place with good food (obviously!) and a private room (although this is not imperative), in and around the Waikiki area. If it makes any difference, there will be one vegetarian in the group. Budget-wise, I've allocated about $100 max per person, optimistically including alcohol.

Help?

[Bellachefa]

With all due respect to this board, you might find a bigger circle at tripadvisor. How nice it would be to find a venue that happens to have some type of hapa haole entertainment.

[killersmile]

actually I also think that trying to get some help at tripadvisor is a good idea. the people there would probably have more experience with a question like this since a lot of people do take trips to hawaii for their weddings.

[strawbee]

thanks!

[macaraca]

I think Willows might be a reasonable choice, although I wouldn't say the food is "to die for." The setting is charming, old Hawaii style and the private room is quite nice. I was at a 90th birthday party there in that room some years back for a kama'aina friend and it was lovely. The food options would offer both some local favorites and safe choices for Mainland visitors.

[hideawaymaui]

There are three separate kitchens @ The Willows.
The main Kitchen caters to the main dining rooms, the bar area and the function rooms around the lower levels of the property.
The Papaakea Kitchen Caters to the Papaakea Room, which is geared to handle larger wedding receptions, especially if the wedding in being held there, at the chapel.
I was thinking that a smaller group could easily take one of the four, or two of the four rooms upstairs to create a memorable event. Something the bride will be happy with, creating a special memory that will last a lifetime. They too, have there own kitchen, an elevator, an aquarium, a Grand Piano and "PRIVACY".

[strawbee]

thank you for your recommendation. The Willows is currently on the list of restaurants to be considered, but I have read reviews talking about the food not being that amazing. The Honolulu room would be perfect for my sit-down wedding reception dinner however ...

[killersmile]

As for the Willows, the food is definitely NOT amazing. The buffet is barely passable, while the a la carte menu is certainly better, but nowhere near amazing. Maybe at the pretty good level. The ambiance is certainly nice though.

[hideawaymaui]

I think you need to be @ The Willows. It's a local hideaway that has the perfect venue for your wedding reception. In fact, it even has a wedding chapel. The food is to die for, and offers a complete a la carte menu you can create for you event, or a buffet that is served daily. Check out their web site, and get a visual of the possibilities.
I hope you have a great event. Send us an email, if you like the recommendation. I assisted in the opening, back in 1999. Aloha, Eddie, owner..Cary & Eddie's Hideaway, Maui, Hawaii ...hideawaymaui.net

[strawbee]

What do people think of the Yoshitsune Restaurant?

[scottca075]

Halekulani would be my first pick, but $100 max is low any place "good" if you are trying to include alcohol.

[strawbee]

interesting that you should say that. most places I looked for a packaged deal at least were max around $82 per person without alcohol ... and I doubt people would drink a lot of alcohol in my group. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Beach Chick]

Aloha..
Roy's Waikiki with Jason Peel as executive chef, cranks out some of the best food we've had on the island..not your typical Roy's from the mainland.
Diva, the GM, has so much Aloha spirit and will be so welcoming to you and your party...they have semi-private rooms...restaurant is large and you can sit out on the patio too.
$100 pp is completely doable with alcohol.
You can all start at the Mai Tai bar at the Royal Hawaiian hotel across the street for mai tai's and then walk over or drinks at House without a key at the fab Halekulani.
I was married in Kauai and there is nothing like getting married in the islands..

Aloha to you strawbee!

www.royshawaii.com

[strawbee]

thanks so much for replying so quickly! I will definitely check Roy's out!

EDIT: At first glance, the semi-private room at a minimum of $2000 is a little over budget =(

[Beach Chick]

Aloha..
Been many time to the Roy's Waikiki and with only 13 people and the layout of the restaurant, I believe you can hold court at your price point and have a good time without the cost of a semi-private room.
If you were 50+, I go for it but the layout of the restaurant is such that they can locate you with your 13 top and accomplish your needs.

Hawaiian board has so much Aloha that will be very helpful to you as well.
Where are you staying?

Mahalo

[strawbee]

I haven't figured out where I'm staying yet, but it will definitely be in the waikiki area =) I'll probably update on here where I am for better recommendations. Roy's sounds really good though ... I'm willing to forfeit the private room.

It's just that it's going to be a wedding reception dinner, and I know the parents will want speeches and stuff, so a private room would have been preferable, but price-wise it's not. It's not imperative, like I said, I think just being able to hear each other and having good food would be nice.

What's Hawaiian Board?