La Villa Mahana, Amanahune, Bora Bora
French Polynesia
Tel: 689 675 063
damien@villamahana.com
www.villamahana.com
Concierge.com's insider take:
This exclusive restaurant—well-off the beaten path, and housed in a yellow Mediterranean-style private villa—is harder to get into than French Laundry. There are just six tables (one is located on the upper floor—try to snag it if you can), so reserve at least a month in advance or hope your concierge has a hookup. Once you're in, chef Damien Rinaldi Dovio's French cuisines—inflected with Asian and tropical flavors—doesn't disappoint. He likes to change the menu frequently (don't count on what the website says), but typical dishes include mahimahi with curried bananas, mashed potatoes with coconut cream, and roasted beef tenderloin in red wine–vanilla sauce. This is likely to be your most memorable meal in French Polynesia—especially once you get the bill. A meal for two with wine here can easily set you back $400.
