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Cheers to An Anticipated Bar Menu

Columns Lite Bites

March 3, 2013

Story By: Yu Shing Ting | Photos by: Nathalie Walker

53 By The Sea introduces a new bar menu today and celebrates with all-night T’s Lounge happy hour specials starting at 4 p.m. (March 3 only). There also will be live music by Starr Kalahiki and Kit Eberbach from 6 to 9 p.m. and the Mango Season from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Located at the site of the former John Dominis Restaurant in Kakaako, 53 By The Sea opened in September serving fine-dining regional cuisine in a luxurious setting with premier views of Diamond Head and the Waikiki skyline. From the outside courtyard to the indoor dining room and T’s Lounge and Bar, it’s as if you’re in a castle-like mansion.

Guests enter through large palace-like double wooden doors and are immediately greeted by a grand staircase surrounded by shiny, white limestone flooring. The restaurant, which cost more than $16 million to renovate, also offers breathtaking views through panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows providing no bad seat in the house. To the right is T’s Lounge and Bar, with a stunning Italian-made Fazioli grand piano and an impressive collection of fine liquor, creating a colorful sight of reflecting bottles, almost like a jewelry box. The wine list also is exceptional, created by master sommelier Roberto Viernes.

The new bar menu features 11 gourmet tapas-style dishes, including Lobster Roll 53 ($19) which is lobster salad encased in a toasted roll, parsley basil aioli and seasoned potato; Truffle Arancini ($21) consisting of truffle cream, chives and shaved truffles; and Tomato Tartar ($15) with burrata cheese, vin cotto, basil pesto and ciabiatta.

T’s Lounge martinis and cocktails happy hour regularly runs from 4 to 6:30 p.m. daily and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. Enjoy special creation cocktails by T’s or martinis for $7 and sommelier selected wines for $6.50. William “Willy” Suarez serves as the new bar supervisor and Connar Barbaree is the in-house sommelier. From the design of the restaurant to the extravagant menu, as well as an over-the-top friendly staff, 53 By The Sea has become a first-class dining destination to remember.

53 By The Sea

53 Ahui St.
530-5353
Dining room Daily, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m.
Bar 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily; 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday to Wednesday; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
53ByTheSea.com
NOTE Dress code: smart casual (long trousers, collared shirts and shoes for men)

Honolulu, HI 96813

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