Carte Blanche 1133 11th Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816

"One of the most creative restaurants I've eaten at. It is a little off the beaten path from Waikiki, but it is well worth the Uber ride out! We came here for my girlfriend's birthday dinner and were not disappointed. We were the only guests there for 8:30 dinner on a Thursday. The place is small and only opened four months ago, and it felt like an exclusive dining experience. The waiter gave us a great recommendation for wine that paired well with both of our dinners. Everything was amazing! What stood out to me us the way they pair Hawaiian flavors with fine dining -- it is arguably more of a Hawaiian culinary experience than anywhere else. The waiter was knowledgeable and explained the source of ingredients and all the meticulous work that goes into preparing the food. If you want a luxurious meal in Honolulu/Waikiki, this is the place to be!"

"The world food tour resumed its journey with a stop at Carte Blanche, one of the three restaurants operated by the XO AV & CB Group. We tried XO a while ago and found it interesting and very reasonably priced. We learned that they changed their menu after our visit and we had intended to return but we heard about Carte Blanche and decided to try this place first. It’s located on 11th avenue, across the street from Kaimuki Community Park. There are a limited number of parking spaces in front of the Carte Blanche and AV but we parked in the Kaimuki Municipal lot. It’s a very brightly lit space with white / gold wallpaper, white / black floor tiles and whitish marble tables with white chairs with large pillows as backrests. There’s an open kitchen to your left as you enter, manned by three people. I thought of Peik Lin’s family home in Crazy Rich Asians. The only discordant note was the rock music being played. They offer an extensive wine list with two prices; you can opt for corkage at $30pp and pay a lower price for a bottle or go with the “regular” price. This would work well if you’re going to consume more than one bottle as the price difference is substantial. As it was just the two of us, we went with a 2019 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir from DuMol Vineyards. Purplish and raisiny, with lots of fruit. We chose two appetizers from the Carte Blanche Eats for Two menu, A5 Kagoshima Wagyu Tartare and the Seared Foie Gras. Our server Anthony recommended we order the foie gras off the kid’s menu as it eliminated the hash browns and garnishes but you got three pieces instead of two. The more foie gras, the better for us. The tartare was roughly chopped and came surrounded by chopped cornichons, herbs and crème fraiche and two pieces of gold leaf. It was left to us to determine how much of each to mix with the meat. I mixed all of it, including torn gold leaf. I found the hash brown to be somewhat at odds with the tartare and would have felt the same way with the foie gras. I would have preferred toasted bread or small blinis. However, each dish was superb. As an intermezzo, we were served some granita with an interesting flavor profile … I don’t recall what it was but it was refreshing. We had the Dry Aged Duck Breast Pretzel Brioche Wellington and the 72 Hour Not Just Braised Short Rib “Steak”. The duck presentation was interesting … It was shaped like a large carrot with latticed brioche surrounding the duck breast. It was surrounded by an ume port wine sauce. The duck was very tender and the brioche mimicked the puff pastry used in a Wellington. Inventive. The short rib came sliced and served with a large bone acting as the vehicle for the dollops of guava / BBQ / Smoked Water that added flavor accents to the beef. Under the bone was an arugula salad. I used the foie gras drippings to add extra richness to the meat. One can never have enough foie gras. We shared a Foie Gras Butterscotch Pudding for dessert and I had a French Press of Kona coffee. The dessert was probably the least successful dish for us; my fellow foodie doesn’t care for butterscotch and I don’t like tapioca. Carte Blanche needs a dessert with dark chocolate. What did we think? I thought the food was inventive and prepared well. We would have preferred more subdued lighting and music more conducive to fine dining. Having said that, we enjoyed our meal at Carte Blanche. Recommended!"

"Having dined at Carte Blanche in Honolulu, I am compelled to award it a meritorious five-star rating due to my profound admiration. This establishment provides a unique dining experience that surpasses the mere enjoyment of delicious food, making it a culinary marvel. The chef's proficiency and ingenuity are immediately apparent in each course. The culinary selection combines indigenous Hawaiian components with global gastronomic methods and is inventive and irresistibly delicious. Every course is meticulously crafted, featuring harmoniously balanced and robust flavors, resulting in a lasting sensory experience. Carte Blanche exhibits exceptional skills in the presentation of its dishes as well. The meticulousness is exemplary, as evidenced by the artistic arrangement of each plate, which elevates each course to a visual delight. This promotes the dining experience to the level of an artistic creation rather than merely a repast. Furthermore, the atmosphere of Carte Blanche significantly enhances its allure. The intimate and sophisticated ambiance provides the ideal setting for a momentous evening. The ambiance is perfect, whether it be a special occasion, a romantic dinner, a celebration, or a night out for fine dining. Additionally, the service at Carte Blanche is noteworthy. The staff is well-informed, cordial, and vigilant while avoiding any sense of intrusion. They create a warm and inviting atmosphere, guaranteeing that each patron feels esteemed and attended to. In conclusion, Carte Blanche is an exceptional dining destination in Honolulu. It provides a memorable culinary experience, including inventive and delectable fare, exquisite presentation, beautiful ambiance, and outstanding service. It is a dining establishment I would enthusiastically endorse to any individual in Honolulu seeking a beyond-ordinary dining experience."

"Loved it here! Food and wine were amazing!! And the decor was super unique. Will definitely be back."

"New restaurant in Kaimuki, on 11th Ave, between Av Restaurants & Subway. We were lucky to find parking right in front of the main entrance (on 11th Ave). But they also have a big paid parking lot on the other side of the building. Parking rates are pretty good. Every dish had a surprising element. Looking at the pictures brought back so many yummy memories. Ulu Tempura: the ulu was good by itself! But both dips were amazing too! So many ways to eat this dish. Arugula Salad: Love the crispy element they added. House-made Tofu: so soft! Love the components! Hot Mustard Cauliflower: the sauce reminded me of McDonald’s fileo fish tartar sauce but this tasted much better. Palate cleaner: it wasn’t on the menu and we didn’t know it was coming. It was nice and refreshing. I’m not sure what’s in it but I’m taking a guess. Dragon fruit shave ice, Naengmyeon flavored relish. 72 hr Briased Short Rib: it was fun to try each dot. Then all of them together on the meat. ORA King Salmon: I was a Hawaiian plate theme! Pinakbet w/ 16 hr pork belly: it’s big. Cute presentation. Dry Aged Duck Breast Pretzel Wellington: I appreciated the details on the pretzel. I ordered one of each dessert. All the desserts were very good. But my favorite right now would be the Frozen Fried Ube Pie."