Av - Honolulu

However, the ambiance was not what I expected from a fine dining establishment. The space was rather small, and I had envisioned a cozy atmosphere where I could... read more However, the ambiance was not what I expected from a fine dining establishment. The space was rather small, and I had envisioned a cozy atmosphere where I could enjoy a romantic evening with my partner for his birthday. Instead, we found ourselves in a brightly lit room, feeling somewhat isolated, with our waitress engaging in friendly conversation throughout the night. While it was nice that she wasn't vegan, her extensive commentary on vegan food felt out of place. We also opted for the wine pairing without realizing it would cost $65 – a warning about that would have been appreciated. Given the price of the meal, I assumed it would either be included or offered at a lower price. It would have been nice to have the option of one or two glasses of wine or a cocktail instead of only water or the pricey sake. Overall, I regret the amount spent on this experience. I truly loved the concept and the quality of the food, but I would have preferred to pay half the price for fewer courses. Spending $150 and constantly interacting with the staff felt rather unprofessional, unromantic, and awkward. While I understand the effort that goes into creating such dishes, as someone seeking a memorable dining experience on a special occasion, I ended up feeling disappointed and let down by my expectations.

The dining experience was elegantly crafted, but ultimately, the restaurant seems to be struggling to embody a true identity. During our conversation with the s... read more The dining experience was elegantly crafted, but ultimately, the restaurant seems to be struggling to embody a true identity. During our conversation with the server, we learned that none of the staff, including the servers, chefs, or owners, follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. The owner established the restaurant out of the belief that the vegan food market was overlooked. However, it appears the menu was hastily compiled by a corporate chef in an effort to open the restaurant quickly. This review has been updated from a previous one dated December 31, 2021.

However, my experience at AV was different. The attentive staff greeted us warmly and provided us with a hospitable atmosphere right from the start. After we se... read more However, my experience at AV was different. The attentive staff greeted us warmly and provided us with a hospitable atmosphere right from the start. After we settled in, we were treated to 15 delicious and artistically presented courses, served with care and detailed explanations. The setting was elegant, and the food was absolutely incredible. Everything went smoothly—until we encountered the final bill! Let’s just say that while it was the most enjoyable experience, it came with a price that was hard to swallow. It was truly a case of 'delicious food, expensive taste!'

I will tag this place as Asian influenced vegan/vegetarian tasting. We went to this place to celebrate the wedding anniversary. As said in other recent reviews,... read more I will tag this place as Asian influenced vegan/vegetarian tasting. We went to this place to celebrate the wedding anniversary. As said in other recent reviews, the place was empty. That means we had the entire restaurant for ourselves. We were asked to choose a table or bar, and we opted to table. Good things: 1. Food is loaded with flavors 2. Not all items are supposed to be eaten by chopstick. The crew provides specific instructions on how to eat. If you don't know how to eat with chopstick, don't worry. 3. Staff is friendly and enjoys conversations. 4. There is a happy meal option, in case you are not feeling filled. It is suggested a few items before desserts. It includes a plant based patty and fries and costs extra. A couple of downsides I noticed: 1. Service was too fast. Initially, it felt like they were rushing through items. We had to eat slowly to enjoy the flavors. 2. There are not many pairing options of wine other than sake. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $100+ Food: 5 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4

An amazing, attentive, delicious, innovative all-vegan fine dining experience that I would recommend to all. Delicious, and I left full. Can't wait to go back!... read more An amazing, attentive, delicious, innovative all-vegan fine dining experience that I would recommend to all. Delicious, and I left full. Can't wait to go back! Vegetarian options: It's all vegan. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $100+ Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes: Sandwich Recommendation for vegetarians: Highly recommend Vegetarian offerings: Menu is all vegetarian