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Vintage Cave emerges at Ala Moana
HONOLULU PULSE STAFF / honolulupulse@staradvertiser.com
Honolulu’s dining scene will enter a new era when Vintage Cave opens Dec. 10 at Ala Moana Center with the ambitious goal of elevating art and cultivating pleasure.
Chef Chris Kajioka left a successful career on the mainland to come home and help open Vintage Cave at Ala Moana Center. (Star-Advertiser photo by Nadine Kam)
Inspired by the anthropological and artful discoveries within the Lascaux and Altamira caves, Vintage Cave is in what was originally storage space and offices at Shirokiya in the mall. The space was envisioned as a private wine cellar and art society before the decision was made to go public.
The 15,000 square foot space was transformed by the laying of 150,000 bricks from Pennsylvania Brick Co., a custom Swarovski crystal chandelier crafted in Czechslovakia and assembled in Japan, the installation of Neolithic to fine art by Picasso and Michelangelo, and glassware by Lalique and Daum.
The kitchen is led by Christopher Kajioka, who worked at Thomas Keller’s Per Se in New York City and Mourad Lahlou’s Aziza in San Francisco before coming home to open Vintage Cave. When the restaurant opens later this month, a prix fixe meal will cost $295 per person, plus tax and tip (add $100 for wine pairings).
What will diners get? A test run on Nov. 30 featured 26 dishes presented in 16 courses. The menu won’t be the same every time, Kajioka said, adding that he may present different dishes to each table on any given night.
Vintage Cave fans who opt for full membership will have access to private wine cellars, priority reservations and wine discounts. Membership starts at $5,000, with “Special” membership priced at $50,000 and “Charter” membership available for $500,000.
Visit vintagecave.com for more information.
