The food, service and décor of Chef Mavro restaurant have earned the establishment a Five Diamond award, the top rating from the American Automobile Association.

Chef Mavro is the only independent restaurant in Hawaii to earn Five Diamonds and is one of only a handful of independent restaurants with Five Diamonds in the U.S.

AAA ratings are based on anonymous visits by highly trained AAA inspectors. The Five Diamond award is "reserved for those outstanding restaurants that exemplify the highest level of excellence in every facet of operation," according to the American Automobile Association.

In a statement, chef/owner George Mavrothalassitis said, "Five Diamonds rewards the whole dining experience at Chef Mavro — recipes, service and ambiance. Todd Ashline, manager and sommelier, has worked to fine tune the staff on Five Diamond service details. Kevin Chong, chef de cuisine, and our culinary team are always stepping higher with each menu, and our interior design is a credit to Hawai'i's star designer Mary Philpotts and the lighting magic of Barnhart & Shuckburgh.

Chef Mavro earned recognition last month as the only Hawai'i restaurant in the Gayot "Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. 2008."

Mavrothalassitis, a founding member of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, has also been recognized with the James Beard Award, a one-time lifetime achievement award and the top culinary honor in the U.S.