First Look: Arancino at The Kahala Hotel and Resort

This week, Arancino officially opened its fine-dining, prix-fixe menu concept

Arancino's third location officially opened at The Kahala Hotel and Resort yesterday, in the former Tokyo Tokyo spot. Befitting its new digs, this Arancino isn't a casual trattoria, but is meant to be a fine-dining destination, with a prix-fixe dinner menu starting at $85 and a dress code to match (pants and shoes required for the fellas). Here's a look at some of the dishes from a recent media dinner night; "visually-stunning" dishes were chosen for us for the evening.  This isn't a review, just a first look, but already I can say: I love the outdoor dining aspect.

The bread plate

Bagna cauda, a warm anchovy garlic and oil dip, with vegetables in cremini mushroom "dirt"

Abalone and shrimp in a garden of nasturtium leaves, micro-amaranth, romanesco, dill flowers and other pretty things.

Calamari, shrimp and other seafood over housemade squid ink chitarra (similar to linguine, but made by pressing pasta dough over metal strings, strung like guitar strings over a wooden box).

Okinawan potato gnocchi with a sage brown butter sauce, prosciutto and walnuts

Duck with mushrooms, gobo and fried leeks

Lavender-infused Tajima beef

Monte Bianco: chestnut puree, celery custard and yuzu honey sauce

Four-course prix fixe starts at $85, five-course starts $100. A la carte lunch starts at $30. Arancino, at the Kahala Hotel and Resort, 380-4400, arancino.com