We were headed back home to Kohala when we decided to stop in and check out Cipriano's, needless to say we were NOT disappointed! Claudia was very welcoming and friendly and gave us a quick run down of the menu. It is a bit pricey, however for cocktails we got the coconut lemonade with rum topped with fresh lilikoi (which my gf LOVED!!) and a St. Jermaine spritz which was very refreshing. For food we weren't that hungry so we only got one thing which was the house made Cavatelli Cacio e Pepe with truffle. When I say that was AMAZING, I mean it!! Hands down worth every penny, I would go back just for that dreamy pasta! highly recommend stopping in and trying some authentic Italian food. We will for sure be back! read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - St. Jermaine Spritz + Coconut Lemonade & Rum topped with Fresh Lilikoi - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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beautiful food. the seafood and salad was fresh. Our cioppino was a little bit salty for our taste. We had wonderful service by the wife and daughter. read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - cioppino with octopus - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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We stopped in for breakfast. I order the avocado toast with a side of octopus. The food was amazing! The avocado toast had wonderful toppings and the octopus was tender and well seasoned. All the ingredients were top of the line, well prepared and well worth the price. read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - Avocado Toast - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

A MUST TRY!! The food and service is amazing. We cleaned our plates because the food was that good. I wish we had more time so we can keep going back. But hands down the best food we had on the island. read more

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Cipriano's is incredible! Kicked off with the strawberry calamari spritz made with fresh fruit juices and shared the kale salad with my friend - seriously, best kale salad I've ever had. Like ever. Snacked on their incredible focaccia, then dug into the special short rib ravioli while my friend had the four cheese ravioli. Also best ravioli I've had in Hawai'i (and maybe ever) plus the sauce with these ravioli sopped up in the focaccia was a dream! Ended the feast with a shot of espresso and shared the epic lilikoi mousse. The attention to detail, friendliness of the team, and exquisite flavors at Cipriano's make it a five-star experience. Can't wait to come back!!!! read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - Short rib ravioli - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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Unusual but lovely discovery in Kawaihae. Quality dishes made with love and talent. Friendly and warm service. Expensive, but worth a splurge. read more

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Amazing food, very personal service. We went with friends who are regulars and we were treated like royalty, and even more like personal friends. We can't wait to return! read more

You need to make a reservation. It's a mom and pop shop with limited employees. We got the blank squid ink pasta with seafood and I got the add on octopus leg. Also got the lobster gnocchi and pasta with meatballs. My squid ink pasta had the best sauce I've ever had! My wife also agreed the meatballs were the best we've ever tasted. Highly recommend! read more

Brilliant. The chefs are divine. The flavors to die ( or live;-) for. I never thought a breakfast burrito would leave me thinking of my favorite 5 star and Michelin rated European restaurants. And the breakfast lobster is a must! A delighfully memorable experience read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - Breakfast Lobster with lobster sauce and truffles and the most amazing breakfast burrito - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

The food here is a culinary adventure. It's the best restaurant on the island. Reservations are a must. I've been here at least 10 times and will continue to be a regular here The food is exquisite and above par. Be sure to get the seafood additions and the focaccia . Even the truffle scrambled eggs are amazing. Perfection! read more

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All amazing! Owners A+ Atmosphere A+ Service A+ Food A++++ This is a beautiful place for lunch or dinner. read more

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I planned to come here for lunch after beach bumming at Hapuna Beach one day on my first trip to Big Island. I had no idea this place is primarily reservations only, nor how upscale it would be. So I walk in wearing a tank top and sand on my sandals and on my shoulders. The vibe was rustic beach house so I was still ignorant. There were maybe 2 tables sitting when I arrived, the restaurant was almost empty so I figured I would get sat right away for my party of 2 +1 baby. Wrong. The owner, Claudia, came by and said she would seat me after she took one of the parties' order. 20 minutes later she gives me a large table on the empty patio. I wasn't stressing, I was in Hawaii so island time was cool with me, but I did find it strange at first. When Claudia finally came to our table she explained that they usually only take reservations, and that she only serves one table at a time. Meaning she won't seat a new table until the table before them has been helped and has their order placed. We just got lucky, a couple that came in just after us, looked like they were turned away. She also explained that the menu is very intricate, and everything is fresh, nothing frozen. Although there is a printed menu, she said that a better way to order is to look at the pictures and reviews on Google and yelp, as the menu does tend to change. I ended up ordering the Cioppino and adding octopus, my wife had the lobster, stuffed ravioli, and we got the Burrata as an appetizer. The Burrata portion was modest but delicious. The presentation was amazing and I was savoring every bite. The fresh focaccia goes through a 95 hour process and you could taste it. We even ordered a second side of the focaccia with our main course. Our seven month old daughter got to try the focaccia, and she looked like she liked it a lot! While we were waiting for the main course, the other owner, Gino, came out and asked if I liked black pasta. I told him I had never tried it, so he told me he would add it, and went back to the kitchen. The cioppino was a dish I will remember forever. It was plated masterfully and each of the meats was cooked to perfection. Until this day I had only tried octopus once, and I didn't like it the first time. This time was a new experience. The black ink pasta was amazing and although they told me, it would likely not be as good if I order it elsewhere, I have to try it again if I see it. My wife really enjoyed the stuffed ravioli, and although the portion was also modest, she said she was full afterwards. She commented that the lobster was cooked perfectly, and tasted very fresh. The sauce was divine and had everything you would want from a home-cooked meal away from home. We had the tiramisu for dessert, I didn't get a picture of it, but it was delightful. The drink that's pictured is the Lilikoi & Hibiscus tea, refreshing. I can't recommend this place enough, especially for a special occasion. Make the reservation, bring your wallet and your patience, and know it's worth it. 5 stars. read more

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Back again at our favorite Italian restaurant! Food was amazing, I am now dairy free and gluten free and they were so accommodating and wonderful (as always). If you want amazing food with great service go to Cipriano's Kitchen! read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

Likely the best restaurant on the Big Island. There isn't a bad item on the menu - the salads, the pastas, the seafood are all amazing, not to mention to osso buco. The only complaint is that I frequently eat too much. read more

If your hard earned money is piling up and you need a place to dispose of it you should try this restaurant, where for the lovely price of $98 dollars you can get an oversalted plate of pasta that you can always put on octopus on for the additional $32 up charge. The food was edible as we were in the area with limited options and hunger is the best spice. As the saying goes, don't hate the player, hate the game - so props to them for running an establishment that is able to run a low CAC high LTV business in an otherwise industrial area of the island. We noticed that they asked every table upon seating how they found out about the restaurant, and then asked tables who seemed to enjoy the food to write online reviews for them (repeatedly). likely why these reviews heavily skew toward one end of the curve. I'm writing this mostly as a warning to my future self to not to inadvertently get caught in their funnel again. read more

Delicious. Everything. Truly. Love in the food. We start with Burrata, served with Prosciutto is our favorite. The focaccia bread here puts the F in Focaccia! *Kauai Shrimp Bucatini a must try. And if your a seafood lover go ahead and add a Lobster and a Octopus to feel like Aquaman himself ~ a meal truly worthy of a Ocean God. The Tako (octopus) here is gonna be up there with the best you ever had. So indulge while you can, you're here after all. *Pasta- Lobster pasta best we ever had. Braised short ribs pasta- ahhhmazing. Gnocchi friggin delicious. You can't go wrong, chose whichever you desire. *Pork Belly Sandwich. If you love Pork belly it is a must try. Unbelievably crispy and yet moist and tender. My mind blown. Pickled onions gases this thing up and takes you on a flavor ride. Mahalo to the Cipriano's Ohana. Service is top notch. Ambiance is Kawaihae harbor vibes, seating is outside. Cool little spot. read more

Very high prices for very average food. You eat right on a road and pay price for Michelin restaurant

We stopped by for breakfast on our way down to the airport and we're so glad we happened upon this place! I had the avocado "toast", actually a croissant and it was the best I have ever had because in addition to local avocado, it had fresh micro greens, cherry tomatoes, red beet slices , white radish slices, julienned carrots, zucchini ribbons and sweet red onions. All of the veggies were perfectly portioned so they blended into a delicious medley of flavor. I had a side of scrambled eggs which were the best I have ever had since they were flavorful and fluffy yet still moist but not oily; I don't know how they did it. Husband and wife owners were very friendly and made sure we were comfortable and satisfied. All ingredients were fresh. My husband had scrambled eggs and homemade focaccia bread fresh made with a delicious spread on top. If you are in the area stop by... you won't be sorry! read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - Scrambled eggs with focaccia - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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DELICIOUS food! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service. We will definitely go back! Gino and Claudia were lovely hosts and made us feel like family. read more

Fantastic lunch! Claudia was absolutely amazing in front of house. She literally sat with us as we picked our selection for the meal. She had the kindest disposition. The food itself was beyond - some of the best Italian food I've had in ages. The drinks were also amazing. Cant wait to come back next time I'm on the island. read more

Wowowow 3rd time on the island and this is hands down THE BEST meal I have had here, and honestly, better than most meals I've had between LA to Italy. The drinks, phenomenal. Ask for Claudia's mystery drink. The ceviche, burrata, Caesar salad, osso bucco, homemade ravioli, phenomenal. They make their own pasta and focaccia. The tiramisu, ice cream, chocolate cake and cannoli, phenomenal. Gino and Claudia have a gem on their hands here. They make a great team. 3 things make a restaurant fantastic - service, atmosphere, and food - they have it all. Make your way over here now. read more

Hidden Gem in Kohala Worthy of a Michelin Star (or 2) It's just like that scene from Ratatouille--when Anton Ego, the food critic, takes a bite and is instantly transported back to cherished childhood memories. That's exactly how I felt dining at Cipriano's, my favorite restaurant on the island that delivers a reliably delightful meal every time. We arrived at 2:30 pm today without a reservation, but Claudia, one of the owners, quickly arranged a table for our family of six after a brief 15-minute wait. She was wonderfully accommodating, setting us up outside so our golden retriever, Moku, could join us. Moku was treated to a delicious pork belly snack shortly after we were seated. Claudia made us feel like family. She sat with us to go through the day's specials in a way that was thorough yet easy to understand, ensuring we didn't miss out on any of their standout dishes. We chose a mix of pastas and panini sandwiches, and each was a hit. The presentation of every dish was a feast for the eyes--vibrant, beautifully garnished, and as tasty as they looked. The food arrived quickly, each dish perfectly heated and bursting with flavor. It's rare to find a place that maintains such consistency in quality, but Cipriano's nails it every time. I've enjoyed both breakfast and lunch here, and every menu item is top-notch. Dining at Cipriano's is more than just a meal; it's an experience. We all left very happy and relaxed. read more

This was by far the BEST meal I've ever had! We were welcomed by charismatic Claudia who sat us at a quaint table outside. She offered us mystery cocktails and shared the specials of the day. As she talked about the cioppino, she proudly stated it would be the best we've ever had. Well, not only was the cioppino the best we'd ever had, every dish was an absolute delight for the senses! Everything was deliciously fresh and cooked to perfection. The specialty mixed greens salad had a symphony of flavors, the cioppino was a seafood delight with incredible pasta, the veal was impeccably tender (no knife required), and the focaccia was heavenly. We finished the feast with a white chocolate limoncello cake topped with a delicious marmalade. I had no idea food could be this wonderful! Mahalo nui loa Gino & Claudia! We are fans for life! read more

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The food was good but very very overpriced. The service was extremely slow, but friendly. The ambiance was casual, a bit run down, hot & no AC, & definitely didn't match the price point. We ordered two dishes: Short Ribs Ravioli $42 & Kona Lobster Ravioli $37. The dishes only came out with three pieces of ravioli in each dish! We paid a total of $95 plus tax & tip for just six pieces of ravioli!! That's ridiculous!! The sauce was way too watery & there was not enough filling for that price. I've gotten more food at higher end restaurants for paying that much money. read more

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This was one of the best Italian restaurant we have ever been to! Everything is homemade, the fish was all super fresh and the environment was inviting and comfortable. I had the scallops with lemon and caper sauce, it was so perfect, the sauce was luscious and the scallops cooked perfectly as well as the pasta, chef's kiss read more

One of the most talented and unique dining experiences on the entire island! This is such a special place with outstanding and passionate service. read more

What a great little gem! Family owned and run. The service was perfect and so friendly! The girls are amazing. Then the food Wow! A great farm to table experience. Best food we had. We will be back next time. Thank you read more

OMG BEST FOOD EVER!!! I can never eat squid ink pasta ( my fave) anywhere else ever again - anything else will pale in comparison. Get it with the additional octopus- grilled to perfection. Will come back here anytime I'm in Big Island. The owners are so lovely and their daughter such a gracious and amazing server. Perfect meal, perfect service, perfect restaurant!!!! read more

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Another incredible lunch yesterday with clients, that literally could not stop talking about how delicious their meals were. He ate the whole massive bowl of the Cioppino, then ordered desert! Mine was the Lemon Lobster Tagliatelle, which was the first time I've had it and my taste buds are still blown away! Thank you Claudia and Gino, you are simply the best! See you soon! Jan Nores read more

Food was good but I ordered no mushrooms with my pasta and she brought it anyway with mushrooms after telling me a big story of her daughternot liking mushrooms. Food was very overpriced. Will not go back. read more

What a delicious little lunch spot. We headed here after a local beach stop and I'm so glad we did! We liked that they had an earlier opening time than some of the other restaurants at 11 since we are still on CA time. The taro latte with oat milk was the best latte I have ever tasted. Just the right amount of sweet and hint of a different flavor. My husband got the salted caramel latte and he was a little jealous of mine, but his was great also. The service was very friendly and we even met the nice owner. The restaurant just opened this month and you can tell they have put a lot of care into everything and use local ingredients. The little greens on the side are such a nice compliment to add a healthy aspect to balance the carbs we ordered. ;) The eggs were cooked just right and the meatballs had a really yummy flavor. Thank you ~ we will be back! (perhaps just for the taro latte) ;) read more

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We had the pleasure of dining at Ciprianos twice during our stay on Hawaii. Best food on the Big Island. Peruvian and Italian inspired cuisine, fresh ingredients and made to order dishes. Don't worry about the menu online (although I'm sure it's fantastic) - you'll want the daily fresh specials. There is always a handful of them. Will get pricey if you try everything on the menu like we couldn't help ourselves, but no more expensive than anywhere else on the island and super affordable considering the quality. Yes. Pasta for breakfast is a thing. And it was glorious. Highly recommend! read more

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Look, I don't care what any other review says... you need to stop and eat here! I work at one of the nearby resorts and this is one spot that I ALWAYS recommend to guests and every time I do that could back thanking me. Whether you go for breakfast or lunch you will leave with a full stomach. As a certified picky eater I have to say everything here is amazing. If you're not sure if you want to order it the owner will convince you to order it and you will be happy in the end. The food here cost a pretty penny but I always tell all my guests, "your pockets might be sad but your stomach will be happy." Enjoy it and thank me for the recommendation later! read more

This is REAL Italian food!! The only one around. The chef , owner is very accomplished . Very friendly and talented

Four stars for the food, service was good. The outdoor seating is quite loud during lunch due to the Matson site across the street. Inside seating atmosphere didn't match prices. Food: Pricing is NOT commensurate with pasta. My wife had gnocchi which was a bit bland and the crème sauce , thin. $44. I had the pomodoro which was very tasty and perfectly balanced. The cost again was not ok for pasta. The Cesar salad was AMAZING! Crumbled focaccia crumbs on top. Delicious! read more

Claudia and her family are amazing cooks and hosts. We came here 2 months ago for lunch and had to come back for dinner. Literally the best food on the island, but also the best I've ever had. Seriously treat yourself by coming here you won't be disappointed. read more

Everything we ordered was fantastic. Best Octopus I have ever eaten and the Ravioli was to die for. We ended our meal with a delightful Tiramisu for desert. Owners were personable and warm, highest recommendation! read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - Octopus and Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

Everything about this place is magnificent! The exquisite food, relaxed atmosphere, friendly local patrons, and Claudia's welcoming presence made this lunch dining experience extra special. We can't recommend this restaurant enough. Make sure to put on the top of your Big Island list. read more

The food was delicious, the service was so warm and welcoming. They made helpful suggestions on what to eat and their recommendations were spot on. The restaurant was clean. A must place to eat if you are near Kawaihae, but be sure to call ahead for reservations. read more

Delicious and Fresh Seafood with Friendly Service If you're in the mood for authentic Italian seafood on the Big Island, this is the place to go. The seafood here is fresh and absolutely delicious. Keep in mind that they're only open from morning until 3 PM, so plan your visit accordingly. Be sure to ask Claudia, the friendly staff member, for her recommendations of the day--you won't be disappointed! read more

Cipriano's Kitchen - Kanpachi Ceviche - Italian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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