Returned to Pueo's Osteria, and once again, it was a great experience!…read more We requested inside seating, and Courtney graciously accommodated us. We started with a couple of appetizers, the Calamari Fritti and Grilled Spanish Octopus. Both were delicious, but the octopus was my favorite. The presentation was beautiful, too. I had seen a fellow Yelper post about the Veal Marsala, which wasn't on the current menu. I asked Courtney about it, and she went out of her way to see if the kitchen could prepare it. I really appreciated that extra effort, and the dish did not disappoint! It was flavorful, delicious, and an excellent choice. I'm glad I asked. Courtney provided awesome service throughout the evening and made the experience even more enjoyable. Definitely five stars!

Went for nice dinner tonight all was going well until the check. 1) ordered eggplant pharm. food…read moredelivery I asked the person to bring Tabasco, our service person Darcy no I will bring her chili, no mentioned that there was $2.00 charge of half teaspoons of chili. As we get the check very surprised of the extra charge. I'm very unhappy that restaurant charges for any additional charge that I did NOT asked for, she Darcy failed to mention of the extra charge. We like coming for happy hour and dinner, but I'm very unhappy tonight. I believe that restaurant is out of control in adding unnecessary charges.

We rarely make it to Kawaihae as we live in Kona but I highly recommend this cute little restaurant…read moreif you're in the area to visit! Mainly Italian but have some Peruvian dish also on the menu. NOT cheap but they make everything from scratch and all the dishes were presented beautifully and tasty!! They are only open for breakfast and lunch except Saturday night dinner. We got lucky to get seated but recommend making reservations for lunch. We had a Caesar salad to start with and had a pork belly sandwich and Italian meat ball sandwich. The pork belly sandwich was delicious!!

Cipriano's Kitchen - Kawaihae's Italian Treasure…read more Cipriano's Kitchen is one of those rare restaurants that keeps you thinking about your meal long after you've left. Chef Gino is generous with both his talent and his portions. Every dish showcases fresh ingredients, expert preparation, and a genuine love of Italian cooking. The menu is seafood-forward, featuring fresh local catches, handmade pasta, and flavors that are both authentic and creative. This family-run restaurant is made even more special by Claudia, Chef Gino's wife and culinary partner. Claudia bakes fresh focaccia daily and prepares the restaurant's gnocchi and pasta from scratch. As hostess, she warmly welcomes every guest and effortlessly serves as the restaurant's "walking menu," describing each dish with passion and detail. The presentation is stunning. Lobster, octopus, shrimp, clams, scallops, and house-made pasta arrive beautifully plated and bursting with flavor. The fresh focaccia alone is worth the visit. Every meal feels thoughtfully prepared, from the first bite to the last. What keeps me coming back is that the food is genuinely craveable. I find myself dining here every couple of weeks for lunch, and more often than not, I leave with a takeout order for dinner because I know I'll be thinking about it later. Cipriano's Kitchen isn't just serving Italian food--it's creating an experience centered around family, hospitality, and exceptional cooking. Kawaihae is fortunate to have this gem, and anyone who appreciates fresh seafood, handmade pasta, and heartfelt hospitality should make it a destination. A true Big Island favorite. "Come hungry. Leave happy. Plan your next visit before you've even finished your meal."

I stumbled across this place because I was passing through the area on my way back to Kona and I…read morecould not be more thankful that I found this place! This is an old school pizza place with giant ovens, an open kitchen and staff that welcomes you like family! The pizza was genuinely incredible, perfectly cooked and made by James, the owner, an artist working his ass off and creating perfection. If you're passing through, a local or anyone in the mood for some delicious pizza, look no further!

We stopped at James Angelo's Underground Pizza while visiting the Big Island and had the pepperoni…read morepizza, garlic knots, and a salad. Everything was outstanding. The pepperoni pizza was excellent. The crust had a great texture with a light crisp on the outside and just the right amount of chew. The sauce was flavorful without overpowering the toppings, and the pepperoni was generous and cooked perfectly. It tasted fresh and homemade from the first bite to the last. The garlic knots were fantastic. Soft, warm, and loaded with garlic flavor, they were easily some of the best we've had. The salad was fresh, crisp, and a great complement to the meal. What really stood out was James himself. You can immediately tell that he loves what he does and takes pride in his restaurant. He was welcoming, friendly, and genuinely interested in making sure guests had a great experience. It is refreshing to visit a place where the owner is so invested in both the food and the people walking through the door. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed, and the entire experience felt personal rather than rushed. Places like this are becoming harder to find. One thing visitors should know is that the restaurant is cash only. That wasn't a problem for us, and there is an ATM available at a nearby gas station if needed. Just come prepared so you can focus on enjoying the food. This was one of our favorite meals during our time on the Big Island. Great food, great service, and a restaurant that clearly reflects the passion of its owner. We will definitely be back on a future visit.

What an incredible experience!!…read more Came here with family and had Gabby as our server, she was wonderful. I enjoyed everything, from the drinks to the appetizers to the dessert. We started with the Mai tai flight, ahi poke and tako escargot. All were so good, would definitely order again. For entrees we ordered a mix of the spicy lobster ravioli, chateaubriand, and ahi katsu. I love that they allow you to combine two entrees, even if it's for a slight upcharge. Everything was great. No complaints at all. Portion sizing was perfect too, with the addition of the appetizers. For dessert we opted for the pineapple bread pudding which was delicious as well. Perfect with the ice cream. We definitely would've come back if we had more time or if we were in the area. Good idea to make reservations in advance.

Our waiter did a wonderful job reciting each dish, all sounding irresistible. Unfortunately,…read moresomehow, the elements on the plate didn't quite live up to our expectations, nor did they melt in harmony. Each dish seemed to stand apart from one another. The appetizers were yummy. We started with the Tako "Escargot" and a half portion of the Spicy Lobster Ravioli. The ravioli was phenomenal; I regret not ordering the full size entree. The complimentary bread is excellent as well. For the entrees, we got the Lamb Chops and Half/Half of the Curried Hamakua Macadamia Nut Fish and Roasted Chateaubriand. The fish and chateaubriand were ok. I personally preferred the fish over the chateaubriand. I liked the curry/coconut flavor of the sauce, but my friend thought it was a bit bland. My friend liked the chateaubriand over the fish. I thought it was good, but nothing stood out especially given what the price was on it. The lamb chops were the real disappointment. I asked for a medium-rare cook, but some parts of the lamb chop were blue. I loved the Passion Fruit Mousse for dessert. The tartness of the passion fruit is brought out in this dish but not overly tart. The texture of the mousse was very fluffy and nice as well. Considering Merriman's was going to be THE fine dining experience during our stay in Hawaii, the entrees were not it. I'm glad they use organic produce, fresh fish, organically green cows, etc. but their execution as a farm-to-table restaurant needs work. I could not really taste the benefits of a farm-to-table restaurant in any of their entrees and was especially disappointed being served nearly inedible lamb chops. Decor is nice; the place has a calm and inviting atmosphere. Staff is very friendly as well.

Stopped by a little after 10 AM on a Tuesday for lunch. The staff were nice, and the shop has a…read morevery homey feel, with a large communal table in the middle where you can sit and enjoy your food. It wasn't too busy when we first arrived since they had just opened, but it quickly picked up as a large party came in. We ordered a few things, and everything was delicious! Banh Mi: The bread was soft on the inside with a nice crunch on the outside. The filling was flavorful and delicious! Beef and Cheddar: So savory! The meat-to-cheese ratio was perfect, and the bun was soft yet sturdy enough to hold everything together. Smoked Beans: Amazing! Hint of sweet, tang, and wonderfully smoky. Definitely a favorite! Lilikoi Plantation Iced Tea: Refreshing with a nice tartness. You can really taste how fresh everything is! Our food took about 15 minutes to come out, which was reasonable, although the tea took around 30 minutes. We had already finished eating by the time it arrived, but the staff were able to put it in a to-go cup for us. I also appreciated that the staff bring the food directly to your table and bus the tables when you're done. There are plenty of products throughout the shop to browse while waiting for your food, too. Overall, a great spot with fresh, flavorful food and a welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu!

Heard such great things about this butcher shop on social media so had check them out…read more It's a small hole-in-the-wall store in Waimea (Kamuela) butcher shop/restaurant l. Came to buy their well-known Laulau sausage and to try their burgers. Meal prices are a tad bit high, but as they say, "you get what you pay for." We decided to try two different items on their small menu; a pastrami and hamburger. Both were so fresh you could actually taste the difference. Nothing like fresh meat! Both were well-seasoned and TENDER, the bun on the burger was a brioche which was very moist. We also got their version of Mac salad which was quite good The laulau sausage was very good, just never had laulau in a sausage before. GPS gave us the incorrect directions, but we found it. It's across the Ace Hardware store. Open parking.

This is THE pizza on the west side! They have perfected sourdough crust, soft and structured, with…read morea little tang. It's an order at the counter spot, sometimes there's a wait - for best pizza in town. You came here for a little slower pace than the mainland, chill out & wait for it, do some deep breathing or go check out Uila Records, next door. Sometimes they are jamming busy and focused - don't expect them to be sugar sweet - customer always right. Expect really good pizza with really good ingredients and work out your need for them to be really really nice to you in therapy ;)

Inconsistent service and food. We have gone here for a year and the last time I was there the…read morepizza was the best I had on the island. This time there was a new server (female and brown hair). She seemed new and very overwhelmed. I order a pizza, coke and IPA for inside. After 15 minutes my husband inquired about the beer. She clearly forgot and said the pale ale was up next. I reminded her it was IPA. After 40 minutes of waiting for the pizza I asked what the status was and gave my name. She looked like a deer in the headlights with no clue about the order. I reminded her what the order was and the blonde server asked if her if she put it in the "by the slice display." They found the pizza there. I asked how long it was there and she said it just came out. It didn't- it was cold and burnt. No apology or gesture to make it right. I tried to find the owners email but it was not public. Please ensure you have proper training and oversight of your pizza makers and servers. You can be the best but you do have tough competition from Underground Pizza. I'll give you another try but if you continue to be inconsistent, I won't come back.

This was one of our favorite experiences while in Kona! It was 100% because of our waitress (I…read moreforgot her name, I'm sorry!). We brought our friends here to celebrate a couple things (engagement + wedding) and we loved the special service. It started off with complimentary bubbly, and ended with cakes for both couples. The food was SO good. But the customer service was what made this experience so memorable. We ended up having to do a later reservation due to airplane delays and our waitress stayed to make sure we were closed out properly. We tried to hurry because we felt bad being the last ones, but they never made us feel rushed. On top of the beautiful ambiance... I mean who can complain with such a grand view of both the ocean, sky, and resort, I definitely would return.

We ate here twice, once on the first night and then again on our last night. The service, staff,…read moreand food was great. If you can, sit in Toni's section. She's a great server and has great energy. The entire staff was were warm and friendly. We met the chef on both occasions and he remembered us from our visit night. The restaurant is huge and has many different seating areas. You can sit at the bar, behind the bar, on a patio overlooking the beach/ocean, or inside. It's even a fun place to just meet friends for a drink. When you walk, take a minute to appreciate the large, round space, and lighting structures. Funny enough, even though we came twice, most of us ordered the same dishes from the first night. Between our two visits, we got the fresh catch crudo, oyster crudo for appetizers. Both were great. I loved the oysters because of the unique flavors. For mains we got lamb chops, paella, filet, and beef ragout. The lamb chops were so good, I ordered them during both visits. I loved the smattering of cannellini beans. They had a fresh citrus flavor to them. It brightened up the dish. The olives and mint chutney were great accompaniments too. The filet was another dish that was ordered on both visits. The truffle gratin potatoes were delicious and came served in its own cast iron dish to stay hot. The vegetables added a nice balance to the dish too. The beef ragout was nicely presented atop a bed of thick ribbons of pasta. It was a nice twist, rather than a traditional bolognese. The paella came with a variety of mixed seafoods and saffron rice. It was served in its own skillet. Desserts were also great. We got the Spanish cheesecake and the warm chocolate torta. Both were really good.

Hands Down amazing restaurant!…read more Our waiter Garratt was outstanding--friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down. He was knowledgeable about the menu, checked on us throughout the meal, and made the entire experience even better. I ordered the special Macadamia Nut Snapper, and it was absolutely amazing. The fish was perfectly cooked, incredibly fresh, and the macadamia nut crust added the perfect flavor and texture. My wife ordered the ribeye, and it was very tender, juicy, and flavorful Between the incredible food, relaxing atmosphere, and exceptional service from Garratt, this was easily one of the best dining experiences we had during our trip to Hawaii. We will definitely be back the next time we're on the island. Thanks again Garratt! Sea Bass and the fellas all the way

Always ahhmazing!!! I've been on a salad streak lately after beach time, either the Mango & Chicken…read moreor the Filet Mignon. You cannot go wrong with either one as they are so fresh, tasty, and truly filling. Love the fish tacos and coconut shrimp too during happy hour, chased down by a frozen Mai Tai is absolute bliss! Awesome friendly staff, very clean restaurant and super sweet manager Jason. My favorite #1 hang out!