AAA Hawaii Announces Five, Four Diamond Restaurant Ratings

AAA has unveiled 68 restaurants that earned the AAA Five Diamond Rating in the past 12 months, qualifying them for this year’s AAA Five Diamond Restaurants list. Honorees across the country feature culinary trends from frequently changing tasting menus to open kitchens with counter seating. Bali Steak & Seafood, Chef Mavro and Le Mer in the Halekulani repeated again as long-time Diamond rated restaurants on the latest AAA Five Diamond or AAA Four Diamond rating lists.

Just 0.2 percent of the more than 31,000 AAA Inspected & Approved restaurants are Five Diamond Rated. To qualify for the rating, a restaurant will consistently provide leading-edge cuisine of the finest ingredients, uniquely prepared by an acclaimed chef and served by expert service staff in extraordinary surroundings.

“AAA Five Diamond restaurants have evolved over the years to meet the changing expectations of restaurant enthusiasts who are increasingly sophisticated about cuisine,” said Liane Sumida, general manager of AAA Hawaii. “Guests want to learn about cooking techniques, ingredient sourcing and the latest trends. They are looking for a wide-ranging dining experience that includes being educated and entertained. And that’s where AAA’s Diamond Ratings can help guide the discerning diner.”

While some AAA Five Diamond restaurants have lavish surroundings, others feature counter seating or chef’s tables overlooking or surrounding the cooking area. And many AAA Five Diamond restaurants have tasting menus offering a frequently changing array of intricate small dishes prepared from the finest ingredients and presented in an interactive environment.

Restaurants receiving a AAA Five Diamond Rating undergo a number of checks and balances including multiple unannounced evaluations and a final decision by a panel of experts to ensure credibility.  AAA Four Diamond restaurants are also an exclusive group, offering distinctive, creatively prepared cuisine, skillfully served in a notable environment. Only 2.1 percent of AAA Inspected & Approved restaurants – 665 – made the AAA Four Diamond list, including The Banyan Tree in Kapalua (Maui).

Local AAA Five Diamond restaurants and the year first rated:

Restaurants                                                                                             Year Rated

Honolulu (Oah’u)

Chef Mavro                                                                                                     2008

La Mer (in the Halekulani)                                                                            1990

AAA Hawaii also announced the local AAA Four Diamond restaurants: