Chef Mavro, owned and operated by George Mavrothalassitis, has become the first stand-alone, non-hotel restaurant in Hawaii to earn an AAA Five Diamond award.

AAA announced its 2009 AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurants and lodgings yesterday. Hawaii's winners, in addition to Chef Mavro, included La Mer at Halekulani, for its 19th consecutive year, and among lodgings, The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua for a 13th year; Four Seasons Resort Hualalai for an 11th year; and Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, 18 years. Nationally, of the 58,000 lodgings and restaurants that receive diamond ratings, only .28 percent earn five diamonds.

AAA Hawaii Regional Manager Richard Velazquez presented Mavrothalassitis his award at his King Street restaurant yesterday afternoon.

Mavrothalassitis was executive chef at Halekulani when La Mer won its first AAA Five Diamond distinction and has toiled in Michelin-starred restaurants as well.

He is also a James Beard Award winner and a founding member of Hawaii Regional Cuisine Inc., which put true island cuisine on the global culinary map.

“;This is recognition of excellence and it seems like it's the maximum. It is beautiful and scary (laughs) because, what is next?”; he laughed some more.

“;You know it is not my Five Diamond ... it totally belongs to all my team,”; he told the Star-Bulletin. AAA's paid inspectors, who dine anonymously, rate everything from the reservations process to the service, food, decor and other aspects.

Mavrothalassitis credited Todd Ashline, manager and sommelier; Chef de Cuisine Kevin Chong and the rest of the culinary team, as well as interior designer Mary Philpotts and lighting experts Barnhart & Shuckburgh.

Chef Mavro joins internationally renowned restaurants such as The French Laundry in California and Alinea in Chicago and acclaimed restaurateurs including Alain Ducasse, Guy Savoy and Jo l Robuchon in the AAA Five Diamond upper crust.

“;I think Joel is the best chef in the world,”; said Mavrothalassitis, who dined at Robuchon's restaurant in Paris. “;I think I am in very good company.”;

Chef Mavro received five out of five in service and in food preparation among its grades, he said.

Chef Mavro is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and was also recently listed as one of the 40 best restaurants in America by Gayot.

“;I think this is the best month of my life.”; Gayot, AAA and Mobil Travel Guide are guides he respects as arbiters of quality and excellence, he said. “;They send a paid inspector ... and check all the standards one by one.”;

Diamond ratings are compiled each year for AAA publications used by millions of members and non-members for planning travel, Velazquez said.