Chill out seaside with special meals

A leisurely weekend lunch at Mina’s Fish House makes for a perfect miniature “staycation” that will leave guests refreshed, relaxed and satisfied.

Opened in late 2017 at Four Seasons Resort, Mina’s Fish House is the manifestation of a longtime dream of Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina. Though the James Beard Award-winning Mina owns dozens of restaurants around the world, he’d visited Hawaii many times over the years, and when he was offered his own line-to-table restaurant at Four Seasons, he couldn’t resist.

“Chef Mina has always been in love with Hawaii,” says general manager Thomas Kuiper. “He always wanted a restaurant on the beach where you look at the ocean and ‘see’ what you’re going to eat.”

Mina’s other Hawaii projects include The Street, Strip-Steak, and Mi Almita Cantina at International Market Place in Waikiki, but the Fish House is obviously very, very special.

“There’s so much happening!” says Kuiper with enthusiasm. “There’s so much passion around the vision we want to bring to life. Our fish sommelier, our location, our wine program — it’s truly an amazing restaurant.”

It’s weekend lunch is a delectable assortment of the kind of dishes and plates for which Chef Mina has become world-famous.

For $35, the two-course prix fixe “Lagoon Lunch” includes choice of one appetizer from a list featuring Salt & Pepper Reef Squid, Mina’s Fish House Ahi ‘Poke,’ or Ginger-Lime Hamachi, or one salad (Vegetable Poke, Kahumana Farms Green Salad, Mari’s Little Gem Lettuce ‘Caesar’ or Fish House Chop). Then, choose a sandwich from a list that includes an 8-ounce Grilled Beef Burger, Fish Fry Hoagie, Crispy Chicken Lafa, or the Ahi Tuna Carpaccio Lafa.

Also featured: Rose The Day Away, four carefully selected reds chosen with lunch on the beach in mind, for just $35 each.

For an impeccable lunch, a great glass of wine, and an unparalleled ocean view, an afternoon at Mina’s is the perfect little getaway you’ve been craving.

AHI ‘POKE’ ($18)

Beyond compare, Mina’s Fish House’s ahi appetizer, also available as a prix fixe “Lagoon Lunch” selection, includes layers of rice, tobiko (flying fish roe), wonton chips and ahi, with a light Sriracha dressing.

ICE COLD SHELLFISH TOWER

If you’re feeling truly indulgent this weekend, go ahead and order this Grande tower ($120/Petit; $225/Grande) for your lucky table. It’s always a showstopper! The tiered delight feeds four to five people and includes an entire Kona lobster, a quarter-pound of Alaskan King crab, a dozen ginger-poached shrimp, a dozen Pacific oysters, poke, smoked marlin fish dip and Hamachi crudo. The Petit platter makes a terrific appetizer for a small group, too.

FISH HOUSE CHOP

Salads by chef Mina are simply divine, and this hearty $21 mix, with lightly pickled charred corn, white cheddar, pickled red onion, chipotle crema, avocado and iceberg lettuce, is no exception. Add broiled chicken for $12; grilled shrimp for $14; grilled ahi for $19; or grilled tofu for $8. The salad is also available as a prix fixe “Lagoon Lunch” selection.

AHI TUNA CARPACCIO LAFA

As sandwiches go, this one for $20 bursts with exotic flavors. The lafa flatbread and schug dressing, made with charred jalapenos and cilantro, come directly from Chef Mina’s Egyptian roots. They’re a tasty canvas for an artistic covering of local ahi, garlic aioli and crispy shallots.