Merriman’s Honolulu, the newest restaurant by Hawaii Regional Cuisine founder Peter Merriman, will open June 23.

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant is the anchor tenant of Howard Hughes’ Anaha tower in Ward Village, and is the fifth in the Merriman’s portfolio and the first of its kind on Oahu, though it joins Moku, Merriman’s restaurant under Monkeypod Kitchen, a chain he launched alongside Bill Terry.

In a previous interview with Pacific Business News, Merriman said the “farm-to-high rise” restaurant will be “more expensive than Moku but less expensive than Merriman’s Kapalua.”

It also aims to attract more of a local customer base than his other Merriman’s restaurants, which are typically located in resort areas.

Merriman’s Honolulu, the newest restaurant by Hawaii Regional Cuisine founder Peter Merriman, will open June 23.

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant is the anchor tenant of Howard Hughes’ Anaha tower in Ward Village, and is the fifth in the Merriman’s portfolio and the first of its kind on Oahu, though it joins Moku, Merriman’s restaurant under Monkeypod Kitchen, a chain he launched alongside Bill Terry.

In a previous interview with Pacific Business News, Merriman said the “farm-to-high rise” restaurant will be “more expensive than Moku but less expensive than Merriman’s Kapalua.”

It also aims to attract more of a local customer base than his other Merriman’s restaurants, which are typically located in resort areas.

“It’s definitely resident-centric, and we are going to try and produce a type of experience that is not in Honolulu today to give the community another option. We are going to do what Merriman’s has always done, which is a minimalist approach to food, local and organic ingredients whenever possible and serve high-quality products in an unpretentious setting,” Merriman said. “We will have a large bar area with more approachable items like burgers or brasserie items, where it’s relaxed but still really good food.”

The 200-seat restaurant will have indoor and outdoor seating, and will be located on the corner of the building beneath the tower’s eccentric swimming pool, which juts out 15 feet off the edge of the building.

It is being led by Executive Chef Jon Matsubara, whose most recent venture was launching his own concept in Bloomingdale’s at Ala Moana Center, which he led for about two and a half years.

Matsubara previously said the restaurant will be “a white tablecloth, elegant establishment but with more relaxed ambience and service.”

“We will have some of the signature items that are in his other restaurants, as well as new items for Kakaako,” Matsubara said. “We are testing out our own fresh, handmade bread, as well as ice cream. We have this Waialua chocolate ice cream, which is very simple but when made fresh it is like magic.”

The other Merriman’s restaurants are located on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. While there are no current plans to expand further, Merriman said he is looking “for more resort locations” in Hawaii for potential new restaurants.

Original Article Link：Peter Merriman to open newest Hawaii restaurant this month in Kakaako