Mariposa’s spacious, airy dining room, with its slowly turning fans and judiciously paced service, will always be appropriate as a place to bring your mom or turn out for with a shopping partner. It might be less well known that with its full bar and hearty, Tex-Mex-influenced happy hour offerings, Mariposa deserves top-of-list consideration as a happy hour go-to as well.
Mariposa’s happy hour will likely please a hungry surfer fresh off a session just as well as your feisty tutu.
THE EXPERIENCE
Neiman Marcus’ flagship Honolulu restaurant is a welcoming location with truly tasty fare, under the seasoned guidance of general manager Duane Kawamoto and executive chef Lawrence Nakamoto.
Most of the time, the restaurant will envelop you in a hazy graciousness, as parties speak in murmurs or gaze out the window toward the ocean — but it is possible that a rowdy table of family members at the restaurant to celebrate a special occasion will add some raucous energy. Either way, to my way of thinking, it’s all good.
It’s a big, airy room, and there’s plenty of room for all. Seating is available throughout, including at the bar, during happy hour.
THE FOOD
Items on the Mariposa happy hour menu don’t correspond directly with the
elevated fare offered on the main menu, but they are prepared with the same attention to pleasing presentation and good taste.
My top choice from the food offerings is Mariposa’s Petite Loco Moco, at just $8. Not so petite, in real life, as it turns out, this dish is full of umami — made with a patty of grass-fed beef, a generous portion of polished white rice and a mushroom gravy that will have you licking the plate. I found it big enough to share, though someone with a larger appetite will think it’s just right.
Grilled salmon tacos, $10 for a set of two, are a close contender. I went back to Mariposa a second time to have these, just to test whether they were as tangy and delicious on a repeat tasting, and the answer was yes. As you might expect, Mariposa’s salmon is luscious and fresh, as is the topper of Kamuela tomato salsa. Meanwhile, the just-spicy-enough embellishments of pickled jalapeno and ancho (poblano pepper) ranch sauce, legacies of Neiman Marcus’ Texas roots, kick up the tacos’ flavor profile.
If you’re there to socialize, consider the Chef’s Charcuterie, $10. It’s big enough for two to share as an accompaniment for drinks. Maui Fruit Jewels, a tangy-sweet fruit candy cut in cubes, are the surprising element here, a delightful palate cleanser served alongside meat, cheese, lavosh and spiced pecans.
The dish closest to a regular menu item is the pork belly sliders, including braised kurobuta pork, pickled vegetables and ginger aioli — even a side of hurricane fries, at $10. A larger sandwich on Mariposa’s menu is $22, and comes with a dipping broth, but the happy hour sliders have enough bite that you aren’t likely to miss the dip.
THE DRINK
Mariposa’s happy hour margaritas, made with Herradura Reposado tequila, get the thumbs-up from me. At $8, they provide all the good taste and kick you’d expect from Neiman Marcus (it’s that Texas thing again), at a $6 savings from the margarita on the regular drinks menu. This is definitely my top choice.
You can get a glass of the house-labeled Sonoma County Chardonnay for $8, regularly $13 — also a good pick!
Choose a Svedka Vodka martini, or other house wines for $8.
I personally wouldn’t choose to drink Primo or Coors Light here, but they would probably go just fine with the loco moco or tacos, particularly at $4 (regularly $8).
THE VERDICT
It’s hard to conjure up a better experience than looking out over boats on the ocean here, during a glittery, sunny afternoon. Add a margarita and a couple of salmon tacos, and you’ve hit the happy hour jackpot.
Mariposa’s room is relaxing — just what you want for pau hana, right? — and the food is delicious. Don’t overlook this chilled-out pau hana option.
MARIPOSA
Neiman Marcus, Ala Moana Center; 951-3420, neimanmarcus.com
Happy hour: 3-5 p.m. Fridays, 3-6 p.m. Saturdays through Thursdays
>> Grilled salmon tacos, $10
>> Petite Loco Moco, $8
>> Margarita, $8
>> House wines, $8
