My husband surprised me with a dinner at Merriman's around the holidays for my birthday celebration. Needless to say, around the holidays reservations are highly recommended, if not already required. The restaurant was packed, but it didn't feel too overwhelming. There were a lot of large groups and families, and we were one of the few tables with just a couple of people. It was a great experience from entry to exit. The service was excellent- attentive and friendly - and the food was delicious, with what felt like a fresh mix of local favorites and items with a more modern approach. The birthday treat was also a nice touch! We really enjoyed our experience here and would definitely consider returning (or visiting another Merriman's location) in the future. read more

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I want to preface my 3-star rating by saying we did enjoy most of what we ordered, and the service was honestly amazing. However, as a vegetarian, I felt like we really just had one option for our entrée. We ended up getting full off starters and sides. The only main we could really do was the mushroom pot pie. It was good and comforting, just not anything super memorable. Lastly, I don't mind spending on a nice meal, but a few things felt a little pricey for what they were. For example, the tomato and blue cheese salad with capers was $25, which felt a little steep for essentially five slices of tomato. That being said, everything tasted very fresh and the quality of ingredients was definitely there. Overall, still a good experience, especially because of the service. read more

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Everything about our evening was outstanding. Inspired cocktails (too expensive though $19 for a cocktail is New York prices. Not Waimea). Salads were amazing. Tomato salad that tasted like tomatoes! And the tomato croutons on the caeser salad was unexpected and fantastic. Lamb and chateaubriand was unbelievable. Hubby said one of the best lamb dishes he's ever had and he grew up in New Zealand! Bread pudding, sorbet and coffee were all spot on. The service was attentive and efficient and efforts they've made for noise reduction is thoughtful and effective. Greatly appreciated. Wine list has variety and price ranges that work well for any budget. Our only struggle was cocktail prices. But it won't stop us from returning! A must while on the Big Island read more

Today is Mother's Day and my children treated me to a brunch here. We made a one hour drive on the strength of other reviews. And we were not disappointed. While the dining area is not large, it is very warm and welcoming and lots is pace between tables. We ordered off the special menu for today and the options were a nice variety. Some of us had Eggs Benedict which included a nicely spiced pork and crispy muffin, both of which complimented each other well. The Hash was very rich and filling. The Frittata was light and fluffy. Everything was cooked to perfection. We took two orders of the banana bread home for tomorrow's breakfast and wish we could have taken more. We had no room for dessert after our meals. Was it worth the drive? Absolutely. Make the trip to experience a great meal in a very nice atmosphere. read more

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Fresh locally sourced ingredients and creativity of each dishes are just amazing. Service is wonderful and we always enjoy dining here at Merriman's, especially on a special occasions. I have my favorites from their "regular" menu (mac nut crusted fish) but always try out their day's specials. Leave some room for desserts!!! read more

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Merriman's is always good, friendly service, fun vibe, no matter the island. Get the mai tai with the lilikoi foam, you will never love another as much as theirs. read more

Merriman's - Mai Tai - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Great food great service. Oli was our server and was fantastic! Enjoyed the salad special of the night - Fresh Tomatoes with fried capers etc. Really good. I had the Ahi and husband had the Mahi Mahi special of the night. Bread pudding for dessert. And don't forget the Mai Tai with Honey Lemon froth! read more

Merriman's - Salad special of the night. This was 1/2 - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

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We visit the Big Island every 2 years and Merrimans is a must on every trip. We typically come twice. The ambience is dark n romantic. Perfect for date night. Service is always always on par. This time Kathryn waited on us both nights. She is amazing and super friendly. Food and drinks are always delicious. I love they use local products. My must haves are the Mai Tais and macadamia cookies. You will not go wrong w anything on the menu. read more

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We had my birthday lunch and our waiter (I think Joseph, he's a Taurus) had excellent customer service. We did not feel rushed, the food was absolutely wonderful and we received a wonderful surprise of the chocolate dessert. Over the course of the time we were there, our waiter told me happy Birthday 3 times. Thank you for employing superb employees. read more

Merriman's - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Merriman's has been on our list to try for years and we finally got a chance to go during our most recent trip. What a special place. The restaurant is warm and cozy, with one side abutting the large garden. Everything we ordered was fantastic. Started with the charred Hirabara farm beets, and the hillbilly cornbread. The day boat catch of the day (konpachi) was presented with a yellow curry-like sauce. And the roasted Chateaubriand of Hawaii island beef with taro whipped cream was outstanding. Would totally come back to try more of the menu next time we're on the Big Island. read more

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A perfect lunch. Not a single bad sip or bite was had and the service was excellent. I had a hard time choosing between different plates, but I landed on the mahi mahi fish tacos. They had the perfect balance of pico de gallo, shriracha aioli and nicely cooked fish. I also loved some of the appetizers like the hummus plate and the Greek salad which had a sneaky kick of spicy. Would recommend that anyone visiting from out of town should try this farm to table restaurant. It's very apparent that the food is fresh and locally sourced. read more

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You can eat the bread that comes to the table, but still order the cowboy cornbread because that it is that worth it. I had the lobster ravioli which was light and flavorful. I usually go with the macadamia nut crusted fish of the day, but it was swordfish tonight and I've never been a fan of that, which I'm glad since it gave me the opportunity to try the ravioli. read more

Absolutely phenomenal restaurant. My wife says it was the best meal she has had in a long time. After a trip to Napa just a few months ago that is really saying something. The atmosphere is very cute. Very simple setting. Very clean. The service was top notch. Very knowledgeable and personable as well as efficient and professional. My wife started with the rose flight. Amazing range of rose. And when you consider the price of a glass it's a good way to do it. We started with the beets and chevre. Not sure why the chevre is an upsell. Honestly I think it should naturally come with it. Great display of local produce. I love the duo concept. I got the chateaubriand and lamb. It was nice to try everything. My wife got the fish special and filo fish as a duo. All the food was so tasty and fresh and beautiful. It's a bit off the beaten path but this restaurant is truly special and definitely should be on your special occasion list. read more

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We've eaten many times at Merriman restaurants and have always been impressed. This was the absolute exception to that. We were visiting friends on the Big Island, who wanted to go there for brunch. Menu was meat focused and very heavy, not really brunchy at all. No specials or sweeter options or pastry except for some chemically artificial flavored banana bread. No fruit, no orange juice even. Benedict was not well cooked, sauce was broken and eggs over cooked. Steak of steak and eggs was poorly cooked. Servers acted like we should be honored to be sitting in their restaurant. It's been several months since we were there, but the disappointment remains fresh in my mind when I hear the name. Will not go back there again. read more

Best meal on the Big Island. It's located away from the hustle and bustle of the resorts up some winding, hilly, dark roads, and felt like a place locals go. It felt cozy and homey, despite people being so dressed up! Service is immaculate. I love the dining room and the friendliness of everyone we interacted with. The food was delicious and fresh. Prices were high, but honestly I felt like they were low given the portion sizes and quality of the food. We'd paid more for "fine dining" on the island but it was not half as good! Every cocktail was divine. All the appetizers we had were wonderful (especially the Sweet Onion Quesadilla.) The catch of the day, the ono, was perfect. Apparently it is a fish that fishermen tend to give to their families and friends, so it's not common to see it at restaurants. The bathroom toilet paper had very cute bows. The attention to detail is a nice touch. This is a must-visit and it deserves more visitors and reviews and all the best! They've deserved it. read more

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Our recent brunch booked for twenty guest was a wonderful event at Merrimans. The staff had pre-printed menus with the guest of honors name on them. The menu was a customized price-fix meal with amazing options for; salad, main course and dessert. A really excellent choice for such a large group. The manager Ben was wonderful with every detail before our event. I recommend if you have a large group, contact 3 months or more in advance as Merrimans is one of the most popular restaurants on the island. Don't forget to tip your quality hard working employees. read more

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I've been on the big island for a week, this is the most pleasant meal I've had here. The scene is very local, sustainable, and service is top notch. Took the recommendation of the Manhattan to start, was not the best as touted, but was decent. The Manhattan needed a higher rye bourbon, IMHO. The food was all perfect. Had the hummus and the mushroom pie - both prepared beautifully. The wine list is well rounded. The spirits selection is good, decent but not their strong suit. Desserts were good, bread pudding was awesome. The lilikoi mousse had a bite to it, not bad but jarring. The dining room is small, cozy, but big enough for larger groups. Worth a shot. read more

Merriman's - Mushroom pot pie - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

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Was debating whether to cancel our reservations because I was fully mentally prepared to be underwhelmed/disappointed hahaha. Thought it would be another expensive restaurant that didn't live up to the hype. Verdict? Yes, it was expensive but the food was actually good and very fresh. You could taste the "farm-to-table" with each item on their thoughtful menu. Service was nice and our server actually changed up his spiel with reviewing menu options with each table. Thought it was a nice personal touch since it shows he actually knows the menu well and not just repeating the same script over and over. We had a 7:30pm reservation and were one of the last parties of the night. The place started getting pretty empty as our meal progressed, which is a little interesting vibe-wise since we could clearly hear the entire conversation of the table next to us (a dramatic story about a creepy uber driver LOL?) Complementary bread was really good and loved the recommendation of buttering the bread and then sprinkling a little of the sea salt. We finished the bread so fast they brought us more! For drinks, they recommended the mai tai since it was their signature. Both the regular and non-alcoholic versions were nice. For appetizers, we got the sichuan peppercorn cucumber salad and kalua pig quesadilla to share. The cucumber salad was a stand-out. Everything was super super fresh and I loved the mango and lettuce that comes with it as well. Good nice and very refreshing. Kalua pig quesadilla was also tasty - not too heavy or overly salty and comes with a side of their "kimchi". Not the traditional Korean kimchi but their interpretation of pickled cabbage. For entrees, I had the macadamia nut crushed kampachi and my husband got the roasted beef chateaubriand which they explained is fillet mignon sliced and with sauce. Both were tasty but I think the beef was actually a little better than the fish. I guess I prefer my fish a little softer/flakier and the kampachi is a firmer fish (never had it - still delicious though!) For dessert, the chocolate purse was mediocre. They describe it as their interpretation of lava cake and I LOVEEEE lava cake. It was a thin piece of edible paper and the "lava" chocolate inside - just not my thing texture wise. The paper texture was kinda weird and didn't add anything to it. The vanilla ice cream that came with it was very good though. Bill came out to be $250 for 2 people after tax, their 4% kitchen staff service fee, and tip. Pricey for sure, but not ridiculous...? (I think my judgement of food prices in Hawaii is messed up though after paying $60 for shitty lunch in to-go containers earlier during our trip. ) read more

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This was one of my favorite restaurants to eat at while we were visiting the Big Island. I made a reservation several weeks out to ensure we could eat here. We were coming from the Kona area so it took us about 30 min to get here. Temperatures were very different. We were seated quickly and because of our anniversary they gave us complimentary Prosecco when we sat down. I also ordered one of their famous Mai Tais. It was fabulous. I ordered the beet salad and I will tell you it was the best beet salad I've ever had and it had local goat cheese and papaya on it. I also got the macadamia nut crusted Mahi and it was amazing. Also we ordered the mushroom pot pie. If they have those on the menu do not skip it!! I sadly did not have room for dessert. I would go here every time I visit. Mary menu highly recommend it if you're a foodie and love farm to table. read more

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What a perfect experience to end our Big Island visit. I recommend making your reservation the night before you leave to commemorate your trip. It was perfect. The service was friendly and impeccable! Everyone is knowledgeable about the menu, drinks, and even what products are locally sourced by the owner. My son had the pineapple soda. Refreshing! It was fresh and homemade. We recommend this. I had the No Ka Oi - Ocean vodka, thai basil, honey-lilikoi puree, and fresh lime juice. Truly was No Ka Oi, "the best". I don't normally mention the house bread, but it is freshly baked and perfectly yeasty. Served with a soft, whipped butter, and red sea salt to top if preferred. We only ate one slice each for fear of getting too full, but could've easily eaten the entire basket myself. Hillbilly cornbread - Grilled and resembled a slice of pineapple to me. It had great texture. The Honoka'a smoked taro hummus comes with taro chips and a bowl of veggies. The smoke flavor was subtle, but definitely there. It was really good and I would order this again to share. The tako "escargot" was wonderful! We are pretty picky when it comes to ordering tako at a restaurant, but this has got to be our 2nd favorite presentation and preparation to date. Served with some crisp bread perfect for sopping up the garlicky butter in the escargot pan. IYKYK. I ordered one of the fish specials, kampachi, and it impressed me from the first bite. I don't often order fish dishes, but this one had many surprising elements to hit all of your senses, like the hint of wasabi in the bok choy, prawn dumplings comprised of the most interesting ingredients and delectable texture, and a sauce beneath it all that was creamy, miso, and just the right amount of tang to it all at once. At the end of the meal, our server inquired with the chef about how the dumplings are made. Chef handwrote the ingredients and measurements with tips on how to cook them and the ripeness some of the ingredients should be. Amazing! I'm definitely going to try them at home. The keiki (child) menu had great options. Was very happy to see items other than macaroni and cheese and chicken tenders. My son ventured out and ordered the goat shepherds pie. He loved it. The goat cooks for 12+ hours and the first thing he noted was how the meat was so tender and just falls apart. We also ordered the goat special, but the preparation topped with a mango salsa was the only item that did not hit the mark for us. It was a bit underwhelming and dry. This dish came with perfectly cooked green beans and another shepherds pie. I would have opted for maybe the lamb or any of the other fish dishes to try instead in hindsight. Desserts we tried and loved: Bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream, kona coffee ice cream with shortbread cookies, and coffee. My coffee was taking a little longer than the other items that were brought out so I was given a small scoop of the coconut lime ice cream to try. So sweet! I was wondering how that tasted and it did not disappoint. You get your own coffee press, but for $16, the medium roast was just okay for me. There's a place near home where I order in similar personal coffee press fashion, it's half the price, and is SO delicious. If you are sharing one with multiple people, it may be worth getting. They did note adding 4% to each bill for the kitchen staff which we normally then factor into the tip depending, but everything was so stellar, we tipped greatly on top of that and were happy to do so. Parking - Small private lot. You should've have trouble finding parking. I do recommend making reservations in advance to secure your dining experience. read more

Stopped by here for lunch while exploring the northern environs of the big island. Definitely not disappointed. It was amazing. It's a very cute space and all the staff were very friendly. We tried the smoked taro hummus and it was great. The vegetables that came with it were super fresh and crispy and the hummus itself was very unique and flavorful. I also got a fish sandwich which was a giant chunk of fish on a bun and also delicious. It wasn't very crowded for lunch and it's a really interesting part of the island. The owner or manager came by to chat with us and see how our experience was. We also got to taste test the macadamia shortbread cookies which were delightful. I highly recommend this place. read more

Merriman's - Fish sandwich - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

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We made reservations for dinner at Merriman's at a friend's recommendation. High end dining in the Big Island. We enjoyed their catch of the day (an Amberjack finished with a pineapple sauce) and Curry Macadamia Crusted Pacific Swordfish. Service was fast, friendly and efficient. read more

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An absolute must! Went in with decently high expectations and was still blown away. The staff was incredible. They were very on top of checking on us, refilling waters and they gave awesome recommendations. We were here for our anniversary dinner and they made us feel very special! The restaurant from the outside is fairly low-key looking, but inside is polished, and nicely decorated. The food was top tier. Please try the lobster ravioli appetizer! Probably the best app I have ever had. The entrees were also delicious. Very fresh, very unique and cooked to perfection. Zero complaints or critiques of this place. All I can say is wow, and this is a must-try restaurant on the big island. read more

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Divine experience. From the relaxed ambience, cool air, soft sounds to the attentive, polite and well trained staff to the various tastes that encounter your tastebuds you will not regret choosing Merriman's! I enjoyed everything posted below but a few that I particularly remember was the pot pie and the steak. Eric Dong took such good care of us and made sure we had an exceptional experience to celebrate a momentous occasion. Quality food, quality service worth the drive from Kona town. read more

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Outstanding food! Very fresh and everything tasted amazing. The only drawback was portions are a bit too big for one but not enough to share. Service was fine and dining room small but cozy enough for that true Hawaiian vibe. Pineapple bread pudding could have had more ice cream - maybe on the side in a dish so it doesn't melt. read more

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Fine dining as good as it gets here at Merriman's. The ingredients are SO fresh and local. The flavors are intense and pure and the colors of everything are vibrant. This is the first time we have had lunch there after several wonderful dinners over the years. Lunch service was more casual, but the attention to detail was spot on. read more

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I'm one of the few people I've met who was underwhelmed by Merriman's in Maui, so I was hesitant to come to this one, especially because it was pretty far from Kona, where we were staying. I was extremely happy that we decided to go ! We shared a few different things, including the tomatoes, curries Hamakua macadamia nut crusted Hawaiian Kanpach. I also can't remember exactly what the dessert was but it was some sort of crisp or pineapple upside down cake, Hawaiian style. Whatever it was, I could eat it every day of my life, and never feel guilty. The food was so great here and the service was incredible. Everything was honestly delicious. This was absolutely my favorite dining experience on the Big Island! read more

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Amazing food, service, and ambiance. All of the above. The kalua pork, the housemade ginger ale, etc. Get reservations, it's hoppin'! read more

Merriman's - Kalua pork sandwich - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Where do I start? Hands down the best meal of the trip. I made a reservation about 3 weeks ahead since we couldn't get in last time. I had the wok charred tuna. Hubs had the chateaubriand. We were lucky to catch the tomato blue cheese special. Service by Howard was impeccable. Can't think or say enough good things about Waimea read more

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Wow! Everything here was so amazing! Our server, Cayenne, described the specials and favorites in exquisite detail and our meal lived up to expectations. We tried the hillbilly cornbread as an appetizer and then had the specials for lunch. I had the "catch of the day" - 4 large shrimp in some sort of amazing cream sauce with rice and sautéed vegetables. My husband had the prime rib French dip with a red wine au jus. This was the best French dip either of us has ever had - quality meat and delicious au jus that was so much more than salty beef broth. All around, the service, drinks, food and ambience were perfect. We'll definitely come again during this and all future trips to the big island and highly recommend it for others. Quick tip - make a reservation. We came for lunch and were able to get a same day reservation but dinner reservations fill up much more quickly. read more

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Always our best dinner experience while visit the Big Island. Waiter service is impeccable. Ambiance is top notch. Only complaint was mai tai this visit was off. Way too acidic and lime forward. The amaro manhattan was great ! read more

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Best meal we had in Hawaii. Outstanding flavors and presentation, graceful service, overall amazing food. Mellow Hawaiian upscale vibe inside. Would go back in a minute. read more

It's been a long time since my last visit to this Waimea institution. Luckily, it hasn't changed appreciably in that time ... That's a good thing, IMO. I ordered a bottle of 2018 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir from Los Caneros in Napa ($109). Deep ruby in color, there were hints of raspberry, tobacco and earthy tones. It was a good choice with our entrees. We shared the Spicy Kona Lobster Ravioli ($28) ... This is how lobster ravioli should taste ... a light butter sauce and toasted croutons. Yum! My friend ordered the Kahua Ranch lamb cooked two ways ($55) and I ordered the Chateaubriand ($59). We shared an order of Mushroom Pot Pie ($22). My beef came perfectly cooked and was served with mashed potatoes, haricot vert and a mushroom sauce. The lamb looked good ... I tried a piece of loin, and it was delicious. The mushroom pot pie was delicious! I was hoping it contained morels, but the button mushrooms were fine. It was the crust and the sauce that made the dish a winner. We were too full to attempt dessert, so our meal ended there. $293 + tip for a fine meal is reasonable to me. Four and a half stars ... Highly recommended! read more

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The service was excellent with orders delivered hot and constant refills of water. The ambiance is simple and natural; this is Hawai'i after all! The Mai Tai was strong! With a distinct pineapple taste, you can't go wrong with this dish. The Purple Sweet Potato Chips were perfectly cooked with just the right amount of salt. They were an excellent appetizer with all of the sweetness of Ube intact. The Beef Tenderloin was our favorite dish of the day with a delicious herb butter, pristine meat quality with zero tendons, and fresh green beans. The Fresh Catch of the Day was well complemented with a tomato sauce that elevated the entire dish. Again, the green beans were just as good and the tomato sauce made it even better. read more

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We returned to Merriman's in Waimea for the fifth time last night for a birthday dinner. This time, there wasn't a line at the door when we arrived, but when we left at 7:30PM, there were 5 people waiting to be seated. The wait staff seemed attentive and a little intense. They waited efficiently, but we flagged down our server a few times. They asked about food quality but didn't stay long enough for me to complete my answer. The bread was amazing, but the butter was over-salted. I had the Caesar salad, which had an overwhelming cumin taste and didn't taste like a traditional Caesar salad. We both had Duo combinations. We both had the catch of the day, which included gnocchi, a jumbo shrimp, and ono. The shrimp was great. The ono was dried out and not even hot. I also had the macadamia-encrusted Kanpachi. It was great. The accompanying spinach was extremely over-salted. My wife had the Kahua Ranch Lamb (meat balls) and liked it. I thought the meat balls were good, but not great. She had a Lilikoi Martini with basil, It was good, but it had an overwhelming basil flavor with just a touch of lilikoi. We were served a complimentary chocolate tarte, which had a great flavor served chilled, but the flavor increased as we let it warm to room temperature. We also shared a French Press decaf coffee, which was good, but lacked depth. Overall, the restaurant had good food, although the chefs were too heavy with Cumen in several of the dishes. I felt like they had production down, but service lacked a personal, caring touch. read more

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Classy but casual Hawaiian ambiance. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. The mac nut crusted mahi and the local chateaubriand steak were delicious! The local beet appetizer tasted good but was small and slightly underwhelming. Hands down best mai tais on the island with the lilikoi foam (and if you go to Maui or Oahu too try the Merriman's offshoot- Monkeypod kitchen for the same signature Mai tai) read more

Merriman's - Local Beets salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

The food was delicious The ambiance is so welcoming and the service is beyond comparison . Our server knew every answer to our many preparation questions off the top of her head . They remembered and celebrated our 40th anniversary with a glass of champagne for us . It was a very pleasurable experience !!! read more

Fantastic lunch, Joseph's service was amazing, loved his energy! Robin had Swordfish special and I had Big Island steak special, both were over the top! Must have their Mai Tai's best on the Island Highly recommend read more

This is probably one of the nicer restaurants on Big Island and definitely a popular one. We were seated next to the open kitchen which was fine since we enjoy seeing all the action. Ordered the caesar salad, charred beets salad, and octopus escargot (the big favorite). For our entrees, we got the day boat catch of the day, chateaubriand, and the NY steak. All of the food was delicious. I will forewarn you that they are generous with the Szechuan peppercorn rub so you will get some of that heat and tongue numbness. Definitely worth the trip! read more

We made a reservation for Saturday night and were seated immediately. Our waiter was super nice and food came out at a good pace. We ordered half the menu and everything was good. The beet salad may have been the best bite, it was absolutely delicious! My dad loved the kalua pig quesadilla. The poke plate was ok but it was cool that it came with fresh wasabi! For the entrees, the scallops were nicely cooked and my parents loved the lamb. I love that they had the duo option to pick two half-sized entrees. I got the special of the day which was a fish and shrimp and then the Hawaii Island beef. For dessert, the bread pudding was delicious and the chocolate purse was unique and rich. read more

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