Mariposa at Neiman Marcus

Mariposa

Popover with lilikoi butter

When visiting Oahu, don’t miss the best place for a wonderful afternoon lunch~

Sundae time

at Neiman Marcus Honolulu Mariposa. Every time we come visit Oahu for our shopping fix, we dine at the Mariposa. The Mariposa is the winner of the prestigious Hale ‘Aina Award for seven consecutive years!!! They are known for their homemade, hot, fresh popovers and chicken consommé, which is complementary with each entrée. Make a reservation in advance on OpenTable.com and put in a request to dine on the open-air lanai, overlooking the ocean.

I love the Mariposa because it is fancy but not too fancy for the fam. Since this blog is all about traveling with families, we must provide tips on great places for kids to eat. Our kids love to dine there because they have a kids menu “little shoppers” which includes an impressive selection of menu items, a side salad, and ending the experience with an ice cream sundae.

Plantation Iced Tea

We always start off with the Plantation Iced Tea, served as a layered rainbow with iced tea, guava juice, pineapple juice and a fresh slice of pineapple. It is so refreshing!! Mix it up with a straw or just sip it in layers, either way it is sure to quench your thirst!! Sitting on the open-air lanai with ocean view calls for a Plantation Tea with a slice of pineapple year round. The waiter comes around a refills your tea throughout your dining experience.

My two favorite dishes at the Mariposa are the Chilled Crab Salad and the Lobster Club. Yum!

Chilled Crab Salad

If you prefer a lighter fare, than a salad may be the best choice. There are 6 salads offered on the lunch menu. The Chilled Crab Salad has a light, lemony vinaigrette dressing, which Mariposa calls the “green goddess dressing”. In the picture you will notice the bright, purple radish, clumps of crab meat, and a sliced avocado.

Bistro Salad

Another fabulous salad is the Bistro Salad made with spinach, apples, dried fruits, blue cheese, spiced pecans, and chicken. Presentation is clearly everything at this restaurant. Not just with the food but the drinks as well. They take absolute pride in displaying the food, with the use of vibrant colors, fragrances, and exotic flavors.

The Main Selections tend to be very rich.

Kabocha Pumpkin Ravioli

For example, the Kabocha Pumpkin Ravioli & Shrimp made with golden raisins, pine nuts served in a balsamic brown butter. There are 7 Main Selections on the menu to choose from at lunch consisting of Ahi, Salmon, Seafood Curry, Scallops, Natural Chicken Breast, and Garlic Roast Pork Chop. There are also 5 sandwiches on the lunch menu.

Orecchiette Pasta with Alfredo

For the Little Shoppers~ choose from 4, fun, kid-friendly choices. I was pleased that most of the selections are quite healthy, aside from the cheese pizza, and they are all served with a side salad. It is nice to have a place to eat with the kids where the options are not fried. You will not see chicken tenders, fries, quesadillas or greasy burgers on the menu. The kids menu choices are BBQ Natural Chicken, Grilled Garlic Fish Skewers, Pizza or Orecchiette Pasta- choose marinara or alfredo sauce.

The entrées average in price from $16-25. Most of the dishes are fairly large portions which include popovers and chicken consommé. I recommend eating a small bite for breakfast so you have a big appetite for lunch. We were so full after lunch, that we did not eat dinner that night. The waiter comes around asking if you’d like more popovers. Yum! You will be pleased with the Neiman Marcus chocolates presented in silver envelopes for the perfect ending to a splendid lunch. Dining at the Mariposa is an experience and a great place to make memories. Most of all, it is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Ala Moana Shopping Center. Sit down and enjoy a very quite, relaxing, open air lunch with friends tucked away inside Neiman Marcus.

Mariposa

5wheelsto5star was featured in the March 2014 issue of Destinations Travel Magazine