Andy F.
Yelp
Miro Kaimuki has been on my radar for a long, LONG time. I've passed by it countless times--always curious what's inside as the shades are always down. I finally had a reason to go, and it did not disappoint!
Miro has been in Kaimuki for almost 30 years. It's located at the corner of Waialae and 9th Avenue, next
to Hawaii National Bank. Only open 5-9pm (closed on Tuesday). There's a weirdly configured parking lot with TIGHT spaces and a tight one way lane behind the building. Just cross your fingers people park within the lines.. You can park in the "bank only" spots as it's closed at that time. Reservations are recommended, and you can easily make them online.
Inside is spacious and your usual contemporary look and feel. Tables were spaced out well. However, it gets quite loud in there that it's hard to hear yourself.
The host was pleasant and our server was awesome. Theres only a prix fixe menu that changes every month highlighting seasonal items. My review is for June (I KNOW! I'm behind!). However, there's a LOT of extras that you can add on to your meal, which should be on a menu because I was not able to remember (and hear clearly) every single that was said from my server since everything included a lengthy description of the ingredients and how it's prepared, so of course I did forget an item that I initially wanted to order when I first heard it. Be that as it may, let's begin!
We were given complimentary champagne to celebrate our anniversary, which was a nice touch.
We started with Fresh Kumamoto Oyster with a Mango Salsa, Champagne Mignonette, Egg White Foam, and Basil Pesto. Wow, what a bite! Everything went well together, each accentuating the sweetness and cutting into the brininess of the oyster. Also enjoyed the presentation with the oysters on top of colored stones.
First course on the menu is Hamachi Sashimi with a Watermelon Vinaigrette, lychee and micro greens. This was on the light and bland side. The sauce did not come through to the fresh hamachi and dare I say--watery.
Next was an add on, which seems to be a top favorite, the brioche that's from the Breadshop a block away. You can choose from fresh ahi, uni, and caviar. We choose the ahi and uni. These were smaller than I imagined from the photos, but they were quite rich and delicious. The brioche was quite oily (probably why it's so good), moist, and crunchy. The ahi was fresh and melt in your mouth. The best was the uni. Super fresh, rich and creamy, and went very well with the brioche.
Second course was braised carrots with honey crème fraiche and fried sunflower seeds. Simple and delicious. Looks modest, but the carrots were tender and sweet and went well with the crème fraiche. Sunflower seeds added a nice crunch.
Next add on was Fresh (just flown in) Maryland Soft Shell Crab. It was the first day offered, and WOW!! What a treat! Probably the best thing of the meal!. I haven't had soft shell crab in such a long time, and I have never seen it offered anywhere that's not in a bun or just deep fried alone. It came with a corn gremolata, which paired well with the perfectly seasoned and fried soft shell crab. The meat was tender, rich, and buttery. I'm excited just thinking about it!
Third course was the Smoked Salmon with a zucchini sauce and tomato jam. This was excellent! Perfectly cooked salmon that was moist and tender with just the right amount of smokiness. The tomato cut into the rich salmon nicely. Well balance of flavors.
Fourth course was Roasted Duck Breast with a Cherry Jus and Roasted Eggplant. The Duck was prepared beautifully. Tender and juicy meat. Rendered fat, and crispy skin. The eggplant was surprisingly very good. Maybe even better than the duck! It had excellent char and excellent flavor, and cooked just right. Not too soft or firm.
Last course was dessert. Mahleb cookie with ricotta cheese and grape jelly. It was good. Not overly sweet, and you can taste each individual ingredient.
Since it was our anniversary we were treated to a nice Crème Brûlée Tart. It was very good. Nice crust! Rich and creamy. A nice way to end the amazing meal.
Overall, Miro was an experience! Enjoyed every single bite and every sip of wine. I appreciate the fact they change their menu every month to highlight seasonal items that are at its peak freshness and quality. The freshness of the mango and soft shell crab really stood out. The add-ons are definitely necessary and are where you'll find the best dishes as just the prix fixe menu alone wouldn't be enough for a meal as the portions are just a few bites. It was $88 for the prix fixe, plus $48 wine pairing ($75 for premium wine), plus all the add on dishes. Yes, those add ons can easily push you to spending nearly $500. That's if you're able to catch all the add on items the server tells you. I missed escargot and Foie gras! Service was excellent from start to finish. Everyone was courteous, professional, and friendly. I'll definitely come back again! Soon!