It's been several years since we last dined at Manta and heard the Mauna Kea resort had been recently remodeled so we stopped by for dinner to check it out. Valet is free if you're dining at their resort, just let them know. We checked in about an hour before sunset and were seated at a table along the edge with a breathtaking view of the ocean. The sun was a bit glaring initially but as it began to set the trees to the west provided shade. The table bread loaf was served with black sea salt sprinkled whipped butter. The old fashioned I had was very well-made! For appetizers, we went with their fried Brussels sprouts and island tomato soup. The generous portion of sprouts were prepared with fennel, white balsamic, and li hing powder. I wish I had a grilled cheese sandwich to go with the delicious tomato soup! For the mains, the seared wild caught Hawaiian ahi was excellent! I ordered this the last time I dined here too. The ahi was cubed and seared medium rare. It was served with baby bok choy and a side of ube puree. The Cedar Creek prime ribeye was a big slab of beef! Although the steak was quite flavorful, for "prime" I expected the fat to be a bit more marbled. Instead we were cutting out big chunks of fat. For the last main we decided on the kabocha ravioli which came with 6 pieces. The sauce was amazing! I'm always a fan of mashed potatoes when I see it offered as a side. They call it called "potato puree" here. This complemented the sauces in our mains perfectly! The one disappointment was the creamed corn. The kernels were tough and the flavor was off. For dessert, the Manta chocolate souffle was excellent!! It was served with a side of Kona coffee ice cream. The service was attentive, friendly, and welcoming! Will definitely be back the next time we visit the Big Island! read more

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This is my second time at Manta in less than 2 years. I usually don't repeat restaurants during my travels but this place is so good it brought me back. The restaurant is located inside the Mauna Kea Resort and just above the beautiful Mauna Kea Beach. They have a nearby location where you can see Manta Rays at night. The service is always very good at this restaurant and the food is amazing. During my last trip I got many fish dishes in Hawaii and they didn't exactly impress me so this trip I am going for other proteins. I got the bone in New York Strip and my wife got the dried aged pork chop. Our server recommended the pork chop to be cook medium and I already knew it'll be pretty good. My ribeye was very good. It was perfectly cooked to medium rare and it comes with a side of purple sweet mashed potato. However, my wife's pork chop was the most impressive dish. It was tender, sweet, and savory. I had some of her pork chop and I wish I ordered one too. I stripped that pork chop bone clean. The dessert was pretty good but I do wish there were other options. We ordered the Soufflé and the Chocolate Mille-Feuille. The Soufflé was very good but the Chocolate Mille-Feuille was just ok. Our server did recommended us to get the Bombe Alaska but I already tried it during my last trip. After dinner we all went to the cliff to watch the Manta Rays. The kids especially enjoyed this activity. I am not sure when I'll return to the Big Island but if I do, I'll probably be visiting Manta again. read more

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My family and I dined at Manta to celebrate my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary, and unfortunately, the experience fell incredibly short of the standards expected for a restaurant of this caliber and price point. We planned this evening well in advance, making reservations over a month ago and explicitly noting the milestone celebration. My husband even called ahead of time to confirm, and the staff assured us they would do something special for them. The letdown began right at arrival. The hostess was passive and asked our table, "Who is celebrating their anniversary?" Given that our party consisted of two couples under 40 and my in-laws, it felt incredibly unobservant and careless for a luxury resort host team. Later in the meal, my husband quietly asked our server if anything special was planned for the occasion, only to be told, "No, we don't do that." Beyond a casual, passing verbal acknowledgment, absolutely nothing was done. The only true highlight of the evening was the beautiful view. Our server was friendly, though a bit awkward, but the kitchen and bar execution were highly disappointing: * **The Drinks:** Highly overpriced for the size, lacking in flavor, and tasted noticeably watered down. * **The Pacing:** While thankfully, we were in no rush, it took a tremendous amount of time to receive our appetizers and salads, though the entrees did arrive quickly after. * **The Food:** Every dish was exceptionally expensive, yet the portion sizes were minuscule and entirely flavorless. The Caesar salad, in particular, had a very strange, off-putting flavor profile. * **Dessert:** We ordered the $17 cheesecake, which was absolutely tiny. For a premium dining experience on the coast at a luxury resort, you expect a balance of ambiance, culinary excellence, and attentive service. While Manta has the ambiance down, the food and hospitality were entirely lacking. We left the restaurant hungry, deeply disappointed, and feeling that our family's major milestone deserved a much higher level of care than what we received. read more

Excellent food. Serene setting. Peaceful. Quiet. Romantic. Service was impeccable. Our waitress was so kind and friendly. We felt like we knew her forever. She made our experience so memorable. And the dancer they had was so graceful. We had a beautiful evening to celebrate my husband's birthday. Excellent all around. read more

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Another fabulous Christmas dinner at Manta at the Mauna Kea! It began on a weird note as for the second year running we were relegated to a side table right next to a walkway while all the tables towards the ocean were empty - as we were celebrating a milestone birthday and anniversary we asked if we could be moved and they did kindly accommodate us ! Service was fabulous throughout the dinner which made for a great meal! We began with some cocktails and champagne and a couple of appetizers- the ahi sashimi and the ahi katsu - exceptionally fresh ahi but the sashimi could have been a little cooler and both needed a tad more seasoning! Mains were the standout - I had the Kampachi which was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection served with wasabi gnocchi, my husband had the catch of the day - a snapper, also fabulous. The kids had the seared ahi which was melt in your mouth served with Bok Choy which they loved and a taro mash which was not good and we could have done without! Ordered the chocolate soufflé which was perfection and the Alaskan Bombe which has a delicious macadamia base! So good! A great was to celebrate Christmas and a fabulous meal ! read more

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Wow, what a nice treat dining here at Manta for their breakfast buffet on a Sunday during my staycation at Mauna Kea Hotel. They got busy quick, the reason for the 4 stars and not 5, I checked in with the hostess and she asked me to wait on the side, we waited close to 20 mins. until I wonder why others that came after me were seated, another staff came by to ask for our name, come to find out we were not on the list to be called for table. Luckily the views were amazing & I didn't mind waiting. We got outdoor seating and wow just loving the ocean view, while enjoying our breakfast at the same time. The wait staff were on top of it, checking on us to see if we needed anything else. I took my time just enjoying every bite and the views. The breakfast buffet ($50.) so much food, so many choices, some of the offerings were: hot foods = has breakfast meats, eggs, corned beef hash, Japanese theme with make your own miso soup, salmon & fish, abundant of sweets, pastries, breads, fresh waffle and omelet section. Out of all items from the buffet line, I made a plate of sausage, corn beef, rice and omelet X 2 and waffle. I was stuffed and couldn't go for the other stuff. hehe. Although I wish I made room for miso soup and fish. I really enjoyed my omelet choice requested for fresh eggs. Not every time I get to eat omelet so that was hits. The omelet line does get long, the only guy cooking handles 3 pan, that is talent! The staff at check in mentioned about seeing the Manta Rays here, If you see the light shining at night, that's the Manta. We missed that. So cool that the restaurant named "Manta" for Manta Rays. All in all, such a great experience, lovely breakfast enjoyed by me & my love, at the Manta and we are ready for Sunday's adventure, a day filled with walking, exploring the property and swimming! I would love to check out dinner during my next visit, maybe for our 30th anniversary, hope to spot some Manta Rays- Truly grateful moments! read more

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Requested a ocean side table - it was our 32nd anniversary- went for our 31st anniversary and it was excellent- Michael the GM was fantastic and comped our dessert , walked us to the manta ray viewing and was very attentive to us .. this time it was sub par .. waitress took out order and about 30- 40 " minutes later she came back and said that my husband's filet was not available- really ? Perhaps she should have fired it earlier.. so he ended up having a salad as he doesn't eat fish .. subpar anniversary dinner , service slow and ordered a bottle of wine at 120$ and had to pour ourselves after first glass !! Come on Manta - do better ! I have had great service and meals over the years and quite frankly this time it was not memorable at all !!! Shout out to Jenna the assistant waitress who was great ... other than that not a great experience! Also 150 dollars for a 30 dollar bottle of chard !! I get a mark up but really ??? Come on manta- do better ,,, read more

We had a fantastic dinner with great service. Most restaurants around the area are pricey and we leave underwhelmed. Manta might be a little pricier but the meal, atmosphere, and service were excellent. Walking down to the manta viewing area after dinner was also a highlight. read more

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Food at Manta is absolutely top notch. we've been here for both breakfast and dinner and it never disappoints. First off- breakfast. It's a daily buffet with many options, starting from an omelette station (where you can also just order eggs), delicious pastries, fresh fruit, fish, eggs, bacon, sausage, smoked salmon, oatmeal, cereal, etc! It's every breakfast lover's dream. My favorite is their fish and the miso soup station. The salmon I've had is always tender and juicy, and the miso soup station just fills your soul up with warmth. The service is amazing, they always offer banana bread and a small sample of the smoothie of the day. They are always refilling our water and coffee. The view from the patio is absolutely one of the best. I love how you can just see the entire beach and ocean from your seat. Truly a 5 star experience. You'll have to stop by for a breakfast buffet. I'll do a separate review for dinner. read more

Manta - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

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Located inside Mauna Kea Hotel this restaurant is a must for placing a reservation if you want to get a table with a good view. The views are perfect for sunsets and highly recommend eating here during those hours . Our server Bracel was very attentive the entire evening. We ordered a few appetizers and I will say the burrata salad was outstanding. Not very big on the ham but option to take it out. The uni pasta ! Flavorful each bite ! We also did the steak 7oz and the fish of the day . Steak was the winner for me . Finished off with crème brûlée desert ! Overall dinner was amazing but the views were even better! Thank you. read more

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My review is mainly directed at the service. Food is good, view is spectacular. Review is mainly on the service--Super rude hostess in front. I would expect someone to speak this way or have an attitude like this at a lesser hotel, maybe a 3/4 star establishment. But at a high end restaurant and hotel, the attitude and literally the rude responses were a bit shocking. And I live in NYC.... We had a reservation at a different restaurant which had been canceled due to inclement hurricane weather. We stopped in to inquire about dinner there, they were full... We weren't pressing, I just was asking what options we had and explained what happened. She was very annoyed, and spoke very rudely, and told us to check somewhere else because "that's all she can say about it", and that the copper bar is probably booked too. I asked how to get to the copper bar and she seemed bothered to direct us towards the other restaurant. Btw we're also staying at hotel but in the much more expensive residences... so we're paying even more... not that it matters --but it feels even worse we are guests paying a lot to be there. Everyone else from the gate guards to valet super kind, super professional..., as I'd expect from a true 5 star hotel... so was just jaw dropping at the type of person chosen to represent a high end restaurant and speak to guests. For that alone, I'd probably never dine there again. And food is good but not that great to return and be so rudely and spoken to from a 20 something year old person. High end places typically have excellent trained staff, so perhaps this is a new person or the hotel is short on hires. She was young so I'll assume it's an age thing and complete lack of experience or want to be there, and it really shows. But it just doesn't fit with most people's expectations of a high end hotel and restaurant. read more

The view is great. The food is meh. We were told it's hit or miss and the food just wasn't amazing for us, very much in the sweet side, which just isn't my friend and my thing. Service was ok, everyone was really nice! read more

By far one of my all time favorite meals. First the sunset views !! Unbelievable. The cocktails were delicious. We shared a few plates. The scallop ravioli- is a must order dish!!! We split a salad- the kitchen split the dish for us. The macadamia crusted mahi was perfectly cooked. Then dessert - baked Alaska.... Also a must order!! It was equally beautiful and delicious. Salted caramel ice cream, covered with meringue. The waiter was awesome!! I will dream about this meal. read more

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The ambiance is incredible but the food is very underwhelming. They need to re-think everything in my opinion. Our first experience was very weak so I decided to go with a pork chop the second time because I feel like most places can at least pull off a pork chop. No. They couldn't. It was not good at all and half way through the chop I had a bite that tasted so foul I had to spit it out which has permanently ended my attempt to make this absolutely gorgeous restaurant work. Oh. Yeah. We ordered steak tartare as an appetizer. The meat was light brown and the way it was presented reminded me of cat food. I also ordered a vodka martini. Again. Attempting to order something that is easy to make. It was the worst martini I've had in a very long time. Couldn't finish it. They need to take this place more seriously. read more

Oof. An incredibly embarrassing (for them) dinner here. Have never been so rushed out of a mediocre table. The service was pretty dismal. Never got the specials; rushed through every. Single. Course. From grabbing every dish, glass, utensil away from the table like they can't get rid of you fast enough (while trying to upsell all the things), this was the worst experience here thus far. We've been coming for many years and we always make it a point to have dinner at least once, but the past few visits have gone downhill. From mediocre food to cold dishes (that should be served hot/warm), to workers not understanding the basic etiquette of fine dining, I fear this may be our last chance we give them. Just a heads up-- your server can't wait to get rid of you despite the $200/pp average check. He can't even wait the two minutes for you to leave before he grabs the check to check his tip. Yuck. If you're looking for both excellent food and service, I'd recommend almost any restaurant at the FS Hualalai -- especially Ulu or Noio omakase bar. Give Manta a pass. I'd venture to say I've had better food and service at Roy's. read more

We love the Mauna Kea resort, but the Manta restaurant is way overpriced for the quality of the food and the cocktails. If you want a great experience with exceptional food and drinks, the Canoe House at the Mauna Lani is legit. read more

This place was the biggest disappointment I have had on any of the islands. The view was stunning but everything else was a real let down. I will say that our server was outstanding. Bread was warm but pretty bland. Nothing special. We got a rosé that was pretty bad. None of us finished it. I got the chicken dish since I am allergic to shellfish. It was so bland. It came out white like it was boiled. It came with egg noodles that I thought was an odd choice. The sauce on the noodles was pretty good. I told the server I had disliked my meal and he was kind enough to take it off even though I didn't ask him to. I have no reason to come back to this place which makes me sad since the place and views were so nice. read more

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Came here twice on the trip. The best night was at the bar with apps. We enjoyed the sashimi, uni pasta, burrata and foie gras. Service was top notch and everyone is so kind. The first night hubs ordered local Parker Ranch NY and I had the mahi. Both times delicious given a resort and the price point. read more

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Review is mostly for the gorgeous setting, ambience, and service. Mauna Kea, the hotel where this restaurant is located, is magical and the view from Manta is spectacular. I always must eat here once when I visit the Big Island even if I stay elsewhere. The view and ambience were just as spectacular as I remembered. Sunset against their trees and the sparkling water is just such a special view, even compared to other places in this area. The food here varies from visit to visit. Tonight, the food was creative and interesting... but unseasoned (nicer way of saying bland?) Cocktail: Poi-pounder. Coconut vodka, guava, lime, mint. Refreshing, but watery. I liked drinking it, but it gave me no buzz at all and I'm a lightweight! Complimentary sourdough bread: One of the better courses. Bread was good, butter with sea salt was very nice. Appetizer: I got the island mushrooms en papillote. The dish came steamed in foil. The mushrooms were local and a very interesting variety, and the dish was healthy. But it was pretty bland! There was also tomato and feta, but it was not terribly flavorful. It was missing salt, or herbs, or acid, or something! Entree: Kona Kampachi meuniere. Fish was cooked well, and I liked the Al dente local green vegetables with it. But the butter sauce was pretty boring. I am the girl who will stop up every ounce of a meunière with bread. But this sauce was not worth doing that to the bread! For dessert, because I was still hungry, I got the chocolate Mille feuille. You can see in the picture that the three pieces of pastry are little thicker than traditional. I liked the chocolate mousse, but the pastry itself was not terribly exciting. The Matcha ice cream that it normally comes with was a mismatch, in my view. But our exceptionally nice server (Kanoa?) hooked me up with a little scoop of coconut ice cream, which I had meant to substitute. Let me tell you, that was the most perfect little coconut ice cream I have ever eaten. Absolute perfection! So between the fantastic ending to my meal, and the amazing view - and I forgot to mention they have live jazz on Wednesday nights - I still had an exceptional time, even if my appetizer and entrée were a little boring. I love Manta and will look forward to returning if I can come to the big island again! (last thing, this hotel is under renovation, so it's a little complicated to walk to Manta. But it's still so pretty to walk around the hotel grounds!) read more

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Ambiance and service was good. It's a wonderful venue. However the food was not that great. In fact, it was disappointing if you consider the prices. 1) the old fashion drink that's infused with vanilla was excellent 2) uni pasta missed the mark. The pasta was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was lacking. It needed more salt and more rounding out to really highlight the uni. I felt the sauce can use more work. For $48 and the portion and the sauce, I wouldn't order it again. Now, I know the uni is salty, but there's wasn't enough uni on the plate to compensate the salt and lack of flavor in the sauce. 2) macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi: first time I ordered it, I had to return it. It was over cooked. 2nd time they brought it out it was cooked a lot better and juicer. The sauce on the mahi mahi wasn't that great and also fell flat. Overall, for $68? Some dollars, I would probably skip. Overall, the 2 dishes I ordered really were not great. I was hoping manta would knock it out of the park, but my expectations were high. May be come here for the drinks and some apps, but I wouldn't do a meal here. Also note I'm a total foodie and pretty discerning when it comes to food- I grew up with a French mother who is a chef. Please take that into consideration. My review is based on the food itself: portion, price, and quality. Ambiance and location: can't be beat- it's the best water view you'll get. 2.5 stars on the food 5 stars on old fashion 5 stars on the location and service read more

You can't beat the atmosphere here it is a beautiful location. The service is awesome and the food is okay. I don't want to say that but it is average at best. It didn't wow me. We went for Sunday brunch here. The poached eggs was not run it was all cooked. The pastries were average. The sausage was not savory more in the sweet side. The thick bacon was yummy. The smoked salmon was delicious I made it with the capers and red onions The freshly made waffles was better than the ones they have out. For ten people it was over 600.00. See my photos read more

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Some of our favorite food we ate during the entire trip. Our server was helpful and had good insights on the menu. Loved the view: simply amazing. The burrata salad was to die for. Everything we ate was incredible. Only downside was portions were smaller... but the quality of food was incredible. read more

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This upscale restaurant is located at Mauna Kea. Mantas apparently swim up right outside the restaurant, but we weren't lucky enough to spot any (although my kids got to swim with Mantas the next evening, which was even better). We did see a bunch of little ones chanting "Manta! Manta!" as we were looking so loved the Manta spirit. Everyone in the fam agreed that this was our best dinner in Hawaii. The bread basket alone put a smile on my kids faces and I have to admit it was pretty good bread! We started off by sharing the scallop raviolis (SO good that we got 2 orders) , sashimi and the beet root salad (i'm not typically a fan of beets, but this was good). For my main entree I shared the mac crushed mahi mahi with my daughter. It was good, but i had food envy with my husbands tuna. Fortunately, he was nice enough to share with me. Dessert was a goat cheesecake and a baked alaska. I thought both were great, but the kids didn't love the cheesecake. The baked alaska took forever so the waiter was kind of enough to remove it from our bill. The service was some of the best we had in Hawaii. Our waiter kept the drinks flowing and got the food out right on time with the exception of dessert, which was out of his control. We got here right after sunset, but i imagine this is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset so I'd recommend a 5:30pm reservation if possible. read more

Walking from the valet area to the restaurant can be quite a trek, but you get a view of the beautiful grounds, decor, and surrounding landscape where Mauna Lea resort sits. Although construction was happening throughout the hotel, it didn't diminish the beauty of the restaurant nor the views of the sandy beach below. First greeting at check-in podium was less than stellar but our server, Richelle, was top notch. She gave great recommendations and bantered with us without being intrusive. I devoured everything I ordered that night. I started off with the Poi Pounder cocktail, as recommended by Richelle and from the initial sip it seduced me with its coconut and guava ambrosia. The uni pasta is an appetizer for two people if they are being "so mindful" "so demure". I am neither and I enjoyed every bite. The lamb chops were bathed to the bone in flavor. For dessert, Richelle once again came through when she recommended the lilikoi soufflé. I thought I'd only get through half of it but I scraped that ramekin clean! I don't know when I'll be back on the Big Island but we will be more than happy to dine here again. read more

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We met friends here on a Thursday night. Watched the sunset, enjoyed cocktails. Service was good. We split a Garden salad followed by Macadamia crusted mahi-mahi and a Kona Kampachi. Both seafood dishes were delicious. After dinner, we walked out to the manta viewing area. What magnificent graceful animals. read more

Manta - Sunset at dinner time - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

The location is extravagant, however the service definitely sucked. Looked like it was pretty busy, our service was terrible. Our server wasn't rude but just seemed rushed the entire night. He only checked on us one time to see if we needed anything but besides that I do have to admit the food was very delicious. Everything we ordered was what I expected from a high-end place. The food bill was higher than a local crack head, for the price I'd expect top notch service which that was far from what we experienced. Would I go back? Absolutely not. read more

Must-visit for brunch or dinner (which has live jazz music!) and views. The walk there is an experience as well. I heard that pre-pandemic, the breakfast buffet was better because it had sushi. Regardless, it's still worth $50/pp IMO for the huge variety. They have lots of lox, fish, meats, other proteins, and fruits, and the chef can make omelettes on the spot! Service is attentive and pleasing. read more

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Everything about this experience was 10 stars! From walking in and soaking up the views to all the delicious food. There were just two of us so we got two appetizers and split one entree and it was enough food. They also bring bread! The Mac crusted Mahi-Mahi had a sweet sauce that was to die for, cooked to perfection. My favorite was the Manta Sashimi!!! All the servers were kind and lovely! I hope to go back one day read more

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Absolutely spectacular!! Service, food, setting...could not have been improved. We had dinner twice and the breakfast buffet every morning of our 5-day stay. Our dinner server Richelle (sp?) was flawless...the quintessential mix of excellent service and personality that makes a special meal memorable. The food was outstanding...the scallop and prawn dish was extraordinary. The tomato soup was not as humble as one would think...satisfying to the core. Fresh salads, fish, pastas, bread, desserts, etc...all delicious! Cocktails and wine choices were outstanding. The breakfast buffet was over the top. I don't know what more could be added to the choices. If nothing else, go for the macadamia nut sticky buns...oh my goodness. The woman who kept the buffet line stocked and running smoothly was amazing...she's been here for 30+ years, impressive...this says a lot about the establishment. Every single staff member we encountered provided excellent service...professional, friendly, welcoming, respectful. Wonderful dining experience. read more

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Service and ambiance are top notch. Wait staff are on top of it and the view is amazing. However that's about where it ends. The food was about the worst we've had period. Not let me clarify here and admit that we didn't come to Hawaii for its cuisine. To be perfectly frank the food here is not really as good as we have it back home. We're in so cal. So our expectations are certainly tempered to take this into context. With that being said and in all brutal honestly I think we would have preferred KFC over manta. My wife had the seafood bouillabaisse, I had the Parker ranch steak and my kid had the smash burger. My steak was cooked fine, but lacked any real taste and they completely omitted steak. My kids was fine, but he's 5 and one ate styrofoam and thought it was food. My wife's bouillabaisse though was wretched. Overcooked shrimp, lobster, and scallops. The tomato based sauce was bland and awful. They also used no salt at all. It was honestly about the worst thing I've had in some Time. We also did get some oysters which were ok at best, they were sold as being in an liloki soy base however came to us plain with a little side of the sauce to put on them. They were also not recently shucked and were dry and not very tasty. We joked they bought a jar of oysters and just reuse the shells and refill them as that's what they tasted like. We've eaten at pretty much all the most popular places in the big island. Canoe house, Merrimans, Roy's, ulu, noio, browns, and literally every other restaurant and every hotel and this is far and away the worst food we've ever had on the island. The only saving grace was the excellent service and nice view. I would avoid the food, hit the bar and just enjoy the view than go somewhere else to eat. Also fyi for three people two adults and one child it was almost 400 bucks. We are not heavy drinkers either and just ordered 3 drinks total..... read more

This place has two things going for it- an amazing view and good service. Unfortunately, the food is not good. There was so much salt on the fish and the Brussel Sprouts, they were barely edible. The goat cheesecake was pretty tasty/m- no salt read more

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WEAK SEAFOOD PLATTER I wasn't impressed with their portion size. Especially for the seafood tower that was $180. The crab legs were two thin pieces. The poke had zero taste we had to sprinkle soy sauce. Ambiance of the restaurant was dark and gloomy. I wish I ate at the Meridian at the Westin instead. read more

Manta - $180 seafood tower was small - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

They refused to serve us because we weren't staying at the hotel. After some back and forth the explained they want to reserve occupancy for guests but all we really wanted was to do a take out. read more

I recently dined at Manta with my family of 6 adults. The overall Hawaiian ambiance and location were outstanding but the food and service were very disappointing. The plate servings were extremely small and the service was very slow. Considering the expensive cost of our meals and drinks, I felt the food and service fell extremely short of expectations. Manta can do better. read more

Walking through the doors you're greeted with ocean views and a Hawaiian palatial grandeur that's awe-inspiring and almost spiritual. As you descend the stairs to the restaurant, you'll get a warm welcome from the Manta greeter (who this evening happened to be the amazing Monte who runs the restaurant), and a hint of pleasant and natural aromatherapy. Every person working there we encountered was exceptionally pleasant. Bronson, our waiter, was superb, a perfect mix of vigilant, easy going and friendly. We started with two drinks from the bar, both delicious-- the signature Mai Tai and espresso martini; we drank them while watching the sunset along the horizon, pink hues of clouds across the sky above a long stretch of beach in a lovely cove. Next we sat for dinner on the wide and open veranda. All seating (as is the resort the restaurant is housed in) is open air, with tall ceilings overlooking the ocean. The goat cheese beet (locally sourced) salad and brussel sprouts hit the spot (though a bit salty, which is a plus for me). Both of these starters are packed with flavor. The cheeses in both dishes are quality, as are the vegetables. We ended with the lilikoi (passion fruit) soufflé-- mouth watering! Top notch dining experience. Note for chef-- We also ordered the bread, and my suggestion for the chef is to serve it heated, maybe in a skillet. Parking-- there is complementary valet, and it's the only way to park. read more

Manta - Outdoor sunset dining - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Quick Summary Excellent breakfast and dinner experience. The views and service are spectacular. Marriott platinum elite free breakfast is nice with a breakfast bento box, but it's mostly carbs (need to pay extra for the standard buffet). Highly recommend the kona abalone, but their filet and catch of their day were solid as well. Highly recommend to book reservations to ensure a seat with a good view. Food- 4.5 stars Breakfast was good but as mentioned above, it's mostly carbs. Pastries are a hit or miss, but the banana bread is really good Dinner was great. The Kona abalone was the star of the show. We also ordered the beet cheese salad, filet, and catch of the day which were really solid as well Service- 5 stars Servers were fantastic both times I dined here. No complaints at all Views- 5 stars Fantastic views in the morning and evening. Would recommend coming early for breakfast and getting reservations for dinner to get the more desirable outdoor tables Bottom Line Great food, excellent service, and beautiful views. Definitely a must if you are staying at the Mauna Kea Beach hotel read more

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(Daniel Craig voiceover) The vibe is utterly exquisite restaurant here in the Big Island! Florian warmly greeted us! Bronson served us. He is sooo nice! The men seated at the table went with his recommended Bone In Veal. And of course the ladies tried everything else. And may I say they enjoyed every morsel of the culinary delights presented. mmhmm. It was a most splendiferous meal with some of my favorite people on planet Earth. Especially the athletic females...shhh. They were all athletic. Indubitably. The ambiance was tropically surreal, the cuisine absolutely delectable, and the exceptional service was impeccable! Would order everything again! Thank you for facilitating such a splendid evening, Bronson! Woohoo! read more

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Yummiest breakfast ever! And the view is incredible! The service was great, very attentive.

food and service were excellent. we had onaga and kampachi. for dessert choc souffle. after dinner we walked to water and watched manta rays. beautiful setting also. read more

Manta - manta rays feeding - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

We had a great time! This hotel is half empty because of the renovations so it was nice a quiet, but there was a nice Jazz band playing in the background. Our food didn't take long and the food was very good. The BEST dessert I've had on the island-- the Alaskan bombe? I forget the name, but you will know when you look at the menu! It was our Anniversary so they signed a postcard to give us, which was really nice because none of the other restaurants did anything personal like that for us (even though our concierge added it to all reservations) Thanks for that nice touch.. we'd definitely be back. read more

Manta - The postcard they signed for our anniversary and the Cream of Tomato Soup - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

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