21 Degrees North

Very problematic meal for the price. My tomato salad tasted like tomatoes from the grocery with a blob of tuna in the middle. Chicken dish for our daughter not fully cooked and fish covered in mediocre sauces. My opkapala was ok in a pea sauce but wife’s sea bass was covered in a overly strong ginger purée. Nice ambience but otherwise not worth the money. We came two years ago and it was good. Something seems to have happened in the kitchen. Too bad. Olas is ok, but this trip no great food at Turtle bay. Really like the resort though.

The food here was great. We ate here last Saturday and sat at the bar. The bartender was nice and very personable, like most on the islands. I had the seared Ahi which was okay, but my g. f got the sea bass which was excellent and I highly recommend it.

Fantastic restaurant. We came on a special occasion date night. We ordered the prix-​fixe menu and thoroughly enjoyed it (I believe it’s about $ 75 per person). The shrimp course, we both agreed, was the single best bite of shrimp either of us has ever had. And that’s saying something.
Very romantic, intimate atmosphere with a lovely view. Several couples were obviously honeymooning. Excellent service. Our waiter was very friendly, even more so when he found out we live on the island. There was more time between courses than we expected, but we were not in a hurry and had a lovely time. We will certainly return on another special occasion.

I had the New York steak, which was the only one that said it was from local Hawaiian cows, who can say no to an Hawaiian cow?! I got it cooked rare and have to say it wasn’t the best steak I’ve had, maybe top 10, they also didn’t have our seat ready with our reservation… excuse was that they were «really busy» thats not acceptable. we were seated outside as a last resort and it was freezing that night! We asked to be moved since the wind was a little weaker at the other end of the balcony.
if you want good food you have to leave turtle bay, and stay away from ola café, just go to a local city. Let Unilocal be your guide

21 Degrees North is located in the hotel of the Turtle Bay Resort. Big bay windows over look Kulima Bay and the pool of the hotel. As to be expected with most hotel restaurants, it is a little over priced. However, they serve great food, even though they are one of the few restaurants that are open right now do to the renovations.
The Diver Scallops appetizer was amazing. Large, flavorful and tender scallops. BUT only two came with it at a price of $ 15 or so. I’d still recommend it.
I’d also recommend the Crab Crusted Sea Bass. A very unique way to prepare sea bass, and it comes out very good.
Over all its a good restuarant, just be prepared for a dark room with little atmosphere. However, they do have a guitarist most nights (but he played some cheesy-​resort-​style «Hawaiian» music, not contemporary). Another down side was the wait-​staff was really pushy with the alcohol menus, almost insisting that you order a bottle of wine or a martini.

We were in Hawaii for a week and this was some of the best food we had. The steak was tender and tasty. I had the local fish and it was cook nicely and seasoned well. It was romantic and the ambiance was nice. Would come here again. Plus some of the best martini’s around!

open table failed. hostess did not see my reservation but was able to seat us.
no lobster tonight… fml :(
— conn creek cab
— lychee martini
— bread and lavosh w/​butter and garlic was a nice start.
— seafood chowder was mainly a vegetable chowder w/​fish lacking the listed ingredient «seafood»…
— crab crusted sea bass was ok. came w/​beans and a tomato purée
— rack of lamb
not very memorable…

Excellent food, service and ambiance. After we placed our orders, the waiter arrived with a complimentary platter of french bread, roasted garlic, butter and lavosh. I had the foie gras, grilled romaine salad and lamb rack. The foie gras was sauteed to perfection and served with a light citrus sauce. It was delicious and a different change from the usual rich buttery sauces. The grilled romaine salad was presented as a cylindrical tower. Don’t let the grilled name fool you. Only several outside leaves are very lightly sauteed and the majority of the salad had crispy romaine leaves. The pineapple croutons were an interestingly creative garnish and clever way to tie-​in Hawaii to what is basically a Caesar salad. The coup de grace was the rack of lamb encrusted with herbs and goat cheese, it was perfectly pink throughout and served with rosemary port demi-​glaze. The roasted fingerling potatoes was a good-​sized portion as was the steamed vegetables. My husband had the shrimp, avocado and hearts of palm salad and crab crusted sea bass. I tasted the hearts of palm and it was crunchy and tasteless. The sea bass was served with a cannellini cassoulet. The fish was fresh, tasty and moist.
Here is a link to the entrée menu

This is a pricey restaurant and probably best reserved for special date nights, or if you’re lucky like us to have the meal comp’d, even better!

Last night on Oahu and staying at Turtle Bay Resort had us looking for something good. Had already eaten at Ola’s on the beach, which was very charming and the food good, already eaten at Leonardo’s, which was decent, decided to try this instead of driving elsewhere. Most disappointing meal on our trip yet. Our service was incredibly slow. Table next to us came later, had specials description and food on table sooner and left the restaurant way before we did. No problem, we don’t like to rush. Problem was the food. Turned out to be the most boring, uninspired, tasteless and expensive meal yet. Filet was tasteless, crab-​encrusted seabass with white beans and tomato a weird mishmash of flavors and the mango pork tenderloin, subpar. I don’t mind paying the price for good food. This was subpar and not worth the money. Would not recommend.

My wife and I ate at 21 last night — made last minute reservations for 7:30. They were able to accommodate us with an outdoor table which suited us fine.
However when shown to our table we learned the beach bar below us had an entertainer that would have drowned out ANY conversation. The hostess graciously found us a table inside which we greatly appreciated.
The meal and service were excellent. The rack of lamb and peppered ahi both were perfect, the quiet ambience was perfect with lively table talk going on all around but never interfering with our own conversation, and our waiter, Justin, managed everything perfectly. Justin was knowledgeable and attentive — not by asking every two minutes if everything was «OK» but by being available with a nod or gesture. He really warrants a star all on his own.
The only reason our review is not 5 stars is we found the wines overpriced. Otherwise the experience was a 10.

We were doing a girls getaway from SF/​DC and decided to stay in quaint Haleiwa town. For our «fine» dining experience,
recommended 21 degrees north and boy, this is the last time I listen to frommers’ editors. The food was so overrated the steak so off in flavor and the scallops so bland… it was the worst food we had on the trip. Add to that the funeral home vibe of the austere dining room and well, this was a huge overrated experience. The next night we ate in this same resort at Ola’s and the casual beachside hawaiian resturant blew this place away, at ½ the price to boot!

If I could, I’d give this 3.5 stars. Let’s talk about my food. I ordered a filet mignon. Anyone who knows red meat knows how to enjoy your filet. Medium rare! When I got my filet it was medium well. :o (BUMMER!!! I know! I should have sent it back, but I’m always nervous to send anything back. You never know what kind of day the chef is having. So, that knocked one star off my rating. The other 0.5 was for my vegetables served on my plate. It was a mix of carrots and asparagus– over an oyster sauce. Tasty, but my carrots were not cooked at all! I should have asked for ranch dipping sauce and some celery sticks. Disappointing.

Made reservations for Valentine’s Dinner a month before for 6 p.m. for a Sunset and Ocean View Table. I have to say the staff was great making our moment special.
Not only did they give us a great view table near the window… they didn’t give it away when someone had asked if they could have our table instead. Watching the Sunset & Ocean Waves at the same time was breath taking.
Although the Tasting Menu looked good, and for the price we decided not to order it. Instead we had:
Complimentary:
The Bread Platter with the Garlic, Butter & Balsamic Drizzle
*Bread was soft and warm, and the garlic was on point reminded me of Bagna Calda from The Stinking Rose.
Starters:
Seafood Medley Platter & Seafood Chowder
*Seafood Medley was actually great tasting, and perfect 2 share for 2. The chowder was kinda runny to me… Definitely not chowder from Seattle, or even Northern CA Coast… so skip the chowder.
Main Entrée:
Crab Encrusted Sea Bass
* The fish was good, but didn’t like the beans it came with… Would’ve preferred it with Asparagus, or a Rice Side instead.
Dessert:
Chocolate Soufflé
*Was Phenomenal… Tasted good like making love good!
For Dinner of 2:
With Boyfriend having a Pina Colada
Fillet Mignon Dish
and 2 glasses of Riesling with tip $ 200
Ladies Beware! If you don’t pay 4 Valet Parking, or get dropped off in the Lobby are of Hotel Entrance… Then I suggest you don’t wear heels, or bring it with you to slip into in bathroom like I did. Otherwise you have a long walk from the bottom of the hill.

21 Degrees gets four stars from me and here’s why:
1 star for having pineapple croutons on their Caesar salad, creative, delicious and left me wanting more.
1 star for having good food, nothing to write home to mom about besides the croutons though.
1 star for the bread plate with roasted garlic and a balsamic reduction, mmm.
As for dessert, we left and went down to the fire pit just below the restaurant and picked up a s’more kit from the pool bar — yes!!!

Had dinner here for anniversary. Food was great service was ok. I had crab crusted sea bass it was excellent! Wife had surf and turf (steak and lobster) this item was not on menu. So ask about items that are not on the menu.

Food is only okay (bread plate with garlic was delicious though!), service is alright, and ambiance is nice, but there really aren’t enough people around to make it worthwhile. I had the seabass that was mushy and bland. My boyfriend had the filet which was only okay. Drinks are pretty good, but overall the price isn’t really worth it. Dessert was amazing though… mm… chocolate mousse.

I ate at 21 degrees north last night, which is considered to be the flagship the Turtle Bay resort dining. The food was pretty good and the service was fine right until the end.
There was some confusion at the end of the meal. Our food was thrown away instead of boxed. This was upsetting to say the least as we paid easily 50 $ dollars a steak. When we asked about the mistake with the waiter he was more than rude about it raising his voice and becoming loud enough for the tables around us to hear.
We spoke to the manager who offered to replace the steaks. He also promised to get back with us on something else he could do. He never did…
Finally the Hotel manager got involved and upgraded my sisters room to a super nice cottage on the ocean! Way to go hotel manager :)

Can I just say that the food here is DE-​LISH! My boyfriend decided to bring me here for no special occasion, but simply to treat me to a fancy dinner. I know, right? Such a sweetheart! Anyway, enough about him! Let’s talk about the experience!
Before we got to the restaurant we had to walk through this mini-​indoor garden-​like walkway. The description is poor, I know, but it’s difficult to describe. It’s a cute, yet small area, nice enough for a little bit of picture taking.
We came on a weekday night and my bf had made dinner reservations ahead of time. Although it wasn’t busy at the time we came, I would still recommend making reservations just in case it does get very busy because you DON’T want to miss out! When we got to the restaurant the hostess was very pleasant, and immediately sat us at a small table right by the window. It was PERFECT! We were able to see the water, as well as the sunset.
Everything we had was plated well, including the bread and butter! (Which by the way was amazing as well, as it came with roasted garlic, and a bit of olive tapenade). To start I ordered the Jalepeno Martini and the Kahuku Shrimp, Avocado & Heart of Palm salad (about $ 13 for the salad). The martini was just as spicy as I expected it to be, which was great because I LOVE spicy! The salad was fresh, the shrimp was cooked well, and the dressing (a passion fruit vinaigrette) was nice and light. I despise thick and heavy dressings! I was pleasantly surprised at how well the passion fruit vinaigrette went with the shrimp!
For my entrée I opted for the Salmon Fillet which ran close to $ 30. It came with herb couscous, shaved fennel and asparagus, and a bit of mango salsa. I was so glad I ordered it! Let me tell you… I love me some salmon, and I absolutely dislike when salmon is overcooked! This salmon though was beautifully cooked, and it wasn’t the least bit dry. Also, the fennel slaw that they «decorated» the top of the fillet with was SO GOOD!
My bf opted for the chef’s menu paired with wines. His meal was a total of 5 courses all of which I had a chance to taste. If you have a hard time choosing what to eat, and have the opportunity to try it, I definitely recommend Chef’s tasting menu.
Overall, dinner was wonderful! If it hadn’t been for the fact I was sitting in such nice restaurant with a few other couples sitting nearby, I would’ve licked my plate clean! Now that I think about it. I don’t think there was even a single grain of couscous left on on it! Yes. it was THAT good! If you’re looking for a nice place to take your significant other, I definitely recommend this place! The drive out may be long, the food may be a bit pricey, but the scenery is beautiful, the staff are attentive, and the food. OH the FOOD is amazing!

Staying at Turtle Bay for our anniversary, my husband and I decided to make this our big fancy splurge dinner.
It. Was. Incredible.
Definitely make reservations. We made them for kind of late because we had a full day. The restaurant is quiet and dark, nice ambiance. They put us in this cute little booth in the window with a couch. We sat next to each other on the couch instead of across the table like you usually would. Really intimate.
They have this fabulous water (yeah, I know, that sounds funny), that they infuse with not only lemons, but limes, oranges, and pineapple. Wasn’t sure I was going to like it but wow! It was so good. The flavors were subtle and just hinted at, adding to the whole thing.
They brought out bread and some flat crackers with butter and roasted garlic before our meals. It was very good.
For appetizers, my husband got the tomato soup and I got the grilled hearts of romaine. He loved his soup. It was thick and creamy and came with these little pastry puffs to add texture (no flavor), and a bit of basil pesto in the middle of the soup. I don’t like tomato soup but I tried some and even I liked it. My salad was incredible. The pineapple croutons were literally fresh chunks of pineapple, lightly breaded and deep fried. So good. with romaine lettuce, big slices of Romano cheese, and an amazing garlic dressing. They don’t put much dressing, but it is more than enough, and goes surprisingly well with the pineapple. I wanted to go back just to get another one of those!
For dinner, my husband got the filet mignon and I got the Kona lobster. He got his filet rare, and it came out perfect. It was a nice portion, big, and the outside was perfectly cooked and the inside was perfectly rare. The meat so tender. It came with truffled mashed potatoes which were good too and some veggies around it in the red wine sauce. The sauce was a really nice addition.
I got my lobster without the asparagus and with the garlic vegetables instead. Substituting was no problem, which was nice. It was a whole lobster, already peeled and put on the plate. It came with saffron risotto– which was probably my favorite part of the dish. It was the best risotto I’ve had outside of Italy, and it was salty and you could taste the saffron just enough that it flavored it well without being overpowering. The white wine sauce on it was wonderful, and not too lemony, which was nice.
We also both got martinis. My husband got the Sandy Peach, which basically tasted like a peach ring (his favorite!). I got the Haupia Pie, and it was the best drink I’ve ever had in my life. Rich and creamy and just so, so good. Apparently they have a woman there (Alison, I think her name was) who is known for her drinks and created all of the martinis for the restaurant. They are like nothing you can find anywhere else. Delicious and worth going there just for the drinks!
This was our favorite dinner of the trip. Yes, it is expensive, but so worth it to save up and eat there. Try as much as you can– the simple sounding appetizers are incredible (as we experienced) and the dinners are delectable. I wish we could have gone back again!

We stayed at Turtle Bay for our honeymoon, and heard great things about this restaurant. We ended up staying an extra day just to come here, and it was well worth it.
This is fine dining at its finest on the North Shore.
The restaurant was very elegant, and the service was impeccable.
We started with fresh warm bread, butter and an olive spread. We also ordered the foie gras which I highly recommend. It was to die for… :) My husband got the lamb, I got the wagyu beef and we shared. Very juicy, cooked to perfection. The portions are big, so come hungry. For dessert, we had the crème brûlée trio, i believe it was vanilla, pistachio, and coffee. Great way to finish off an awesome meal.
We both rave about this restaurant to this day. :)