Tonight we left our resort for the first time to try one of the top restaurants in Bora Bora, Villa Mahana.  Villa Mahana is a restaurant owned by Chef Damien Rinaldi-Dovio, a Corsican chef that was trained in Paris, became executive chef at L’Orangerie in LA before moving to Bora Bora something like 12 years ago.  Villa Mahana serves mostly French food with Polynesian influences, or as Pokin’s hairstylist explained, more like “French food with Polynesian sized portions.”

St Regis Bora Bora is located on its own little island, so getting anywhere else requires transport by boat.

Our reservations were at 7pm, which required meeting at the dock at 6pm for boat ride over to the main island.  We got there and waited at the dock, along with all the other tourists that were ready to get off the resort.

At 6pm we got on a boat to take the 10 minute crossing over to the main island.  Cost?  $50 USD.  From there, we got into a mini bus to take the 40 minute ride around the island.  One group of four and another couple from our resort were going together.  Cost of the mini bus ride?  Another $50 USD.

 

Villa Mahana is supposed to be expensive.  And it wasn’t cheap.  The multi course meal was €150 plus wine paring.  But everything in Bora Bora is expensive.  Our pizza was $50 and dinners averaged $150 anyway, so this didn’t feel much different.  Plus the quality was comparable to the same price dinners we’d pay back home.  This is not to say I approve.  I’d rather this money be invested in my gaming rig.  But just to say it wasn’t really that pricey comparatively.

Pokin got the Menu Epicurien and Nicholas got the Menu Exotique with wine pairing.

First course, the salads.  Nicholas doesn’t even like seafood but he really liked his Tuna.

Pokin’s was a shrimp salad topped with caviar and tossed in truffle oil. Needless to say she enjoyed hers.

They served french bread that had the crispiest crust.  That got Pokin really really excited.  She even tried to take the bread home with her, before she realized it was too humid for that bread to stay fresh.  Instead, she tried her best to eat through that whole loaf.

Next course, a mahi mahi for Nicholas, a foie gras for Pokin.

And then the mains.  By now Nicholas was already past full.  And then they gave him this much beef, followed by a whole little pot full of creamy gnocchi.  He was on his own on that one.  Not. My. Thing.

Pokin got it too.  PLUS a lobster risotto.

Pokin tried.  She didn’t finish.

Then the mango sorbet palette cleanser.

Then dessert.

Definitely the best course.

I had to go and give my compliments to the chef.  And also check out the kitchen.

            

Great meal.  I recommend it for sure!   Thanks Chef Damien!

Villa Mahana has very limited seating : 7 tables on the ground floor, a few more tables on the terrace and a private table.  It was packed when we were there, so make sure to make your reservations early!