Amazing views! Casual place to hang out, bring your own meal to sit there or purchase at the…read morelounge. Live music in the evenings.

I love this beach grill for many reasons BUT first if you are the manager and reading this -…read morereconsider your choice of hostess ! Another review written just before me also noted the same !! We got there and it was clear it was busy - she glared at us and told us it was at least an hour wait - no big deal we planned to enjoy the pool - but she was clearly horrified when we agreed to that and appeared to not want to deal with customers by rolling her eyes as she added us to the list - and it was no where near and hour - we were sat within 20 minutes !! That aside, we had a stunning ocean view table and a great time! Jerry was the bar tender tonight and as always he is the absolute BEST!! Always great to see him and he makes the best sangria and tropical itch!! We began with the coconut shrimp which was delicious then I had the catch of the day which was Ono which was delicious! My kids had the poke bowl and fish tacos and my husband had the ribs ! We all loved our food ! Great way to enjoy our last night for this visit at Hapuna

Resort food was ok. I didn't expect much and it met my expectations…read more Go somewhere if you can, but this isn't bad in a pinch.

Let's just start by taking them first recognizing us by name when we arrived for our reservation…read more The staff, from the valet parking young men to our hostess and beyond, were as polite as we wish to be hosted. Our server, Indana is a lovely young lady. Kind, polite, helpful, and knowledgeable of her treats and establishment food menu as well as beverage. She suggested wine from Croatia that was delicious. The food was delicious, we ordered grilled octopus for appetizer , a local beet and tomatoes salad and a paella with shrimp and clams. Everything was delicious, but.... The smoked paprika added and the caramelized rice gave to the paella a whole new take on the traditional one. Thank you Chef Soto for your creation and for taking the time to talk with us. Wonderful experience!

Rome Meets the Pacific: A Revelation at Meridia…read more There is a specific kind of bravery required to order Carbonara on a tropical island, especially when you are dining with your mother-in-law and your palate is still vibrating from a trip to Italy just a month ago. We had recently dined at a prestigious "Tre Gamberi" trattoria in Rome, so our skepticism was high. We expected a heavy, cream-laden resort interpretation. We were wrong. Under the guidance of Chef Soto, the Carbonara here is not just an imitation; it is an act of alchemy. It is a Roman-meets-Norcia masterpiece--a glossy, golden emulsion of egg, cheese, and guanciale/pancetta, elevated by the earthy whisper of truffle. We were seated at a gorgeous table near the cove often frequented by sea turtles (tartarughe), making this a perfect moment of enjoying a tartufata near the tartarughe. It was, without hyperbole, as good as what we had in Italy. The rest of the meal followed suit in a dizzying display of technique. The Japanese scallops were silken and precise, tasting of the clean, cold ocean. And do not let the whimsical name of the "Poi-cotta" deter you. What sounds like a kitschy pun is actually a dessert of haunting texture and depth--far more compelling and sophisticated than its charming title suggests. Chef Soto visited our table after the meal, his passion for these ingredients palpable. Meridia has always had the view; now, finally, it has the soul to match.

One of the best dining experiences we had during our 3-week trip through Hawaii!…read more I had been looking for Mediterranean food through our stays in Oahu and Maui, but wasn't able to find any til we landed here on Big Island. We went during sunset and it was sooooo beautiful. We ordered: * the 3 dips - loved their muhammara!! Plus the bread is so squishy and soft it absorbs the flavors of the dips so well * burrata salad - very refreshing and well seasoned. I believe it's peach or melon served with it, a very nice touch * grilled octopus - loved the tomato(?) sauce it was served with, and the way they grilled was perfection. Reminded me of the octopus I'd have in Kerekennah, a small island off the coast of Tunisia. Fresh & well seasoned. * Cacio e pepe + chicken: really appreciated how they noticed my husband and I were sharing everything, so they had split the pasta into two bowls. Deliciously made, with it had a bit more sauce tho and that the chicken wasnt so dry. * inside out smores: YUMMY. loved the combo of the graham cracker ice cream with the roasted marshmallow and chocolate sauce + inside the marshmelllw too. In all we spent $190 for 2 people including tax and tip (no drinks). Sure a bit on the pricier side, but we had been spending $90-110 for very average or not even good meals across Hawaii anyways, so didn't seem too bad. Parking is free! Valet only, but give your ticket when you get the check to get a 3-hour validation stamp.

One of the best restaurants on the island. Maybe nationally. Great dinner. The pasta was…read moreamazing. Make sure to get the pasta shells with red sauce. Forgot the name of the dish. We added chicken to it. Drinks were phenomenal as well. -.5 stars since the Smores Deconstructed was wayyyy too sweet. But forgivable as it was probably a kids dish. Next time, probably would the server to avoid the chocolate sauce poured over the dish. Unnecessary and wasteful. But dinner, ambiance, and drinks more than made up for it. Would love to be back.

Another fabulous Christmas dinner at Manta at the Mauna Kea!…read more 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 !

Wow, what a nice treat dining here at Manta for their breakfast buffet on a Sunday during my…read morestaycation 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!

A hidden gem. I don't leave many yelp reviews but this experience was so memorial I felt the need…read moreto. Our waiter Warren was amazing. He was so attentive (he saw we were having a moment holding hands together and instead of interrupting us, he came back later to allow us time to enjoy and finish that special moment) and he gave personalized food recommendations that were on point. He was so kind and warm and made the dinner more of a thoughtful, intimate experience. The manager Chris came out to greet us during the dinner as well to make sure everything was going great which was a nice touch. The ribeye steak was out of this world. So juicy and flavorful and cooked to perfection in a red wine sauce. The salmon fettuccini was amazing as well. We sat on the back patio and the view of the golf course in the background was beautiful. We will definitely be coming back here!

Stylish spot with elevated steakhouse vibes near the golf course. Lots of the menu items were…read morepretty darn good. Some highlights include the seared ahi starter, which came bathing in a delicious creamy sauce. The sauce was novel and a nice spin on an already delicious dish. The ono was also done nicely. I have to dock them a little on their steak. With steakhouse pricing, they weren't able to produce a solid steakhouse crust on the ribeye. Without a crust, the cut ended up a little floppy and watery. The desserts were also a little off. The sauce on the passion fruit cheesesteak was amazing, but the texture of the cheesecake itself wasn't great. Their mint ice cream was also a little freezer burned. Overall you can have a good time here, but I think the pricing puts the restaurant into the elite league, and I don't think they're quite ready to play there.

Poor Service! Overpriced! I would like to specify Jacques and his unprofessional attitude. We…read moreordered a Mai Tai, I asked to make it extra strong. He pour the left over bottle into the cup which barely made 30ml of Rum. He unprofessionally prepared a mai tai and throw a piece of lime covered with sand on top of the cocktail! My cocktail tasted like a Fanta with a hint of rum. I gave him $2 tips to show my respect but disappointment about my order. He said loudly to his co-worker l, they gave me $2 tips. You know what I'm saying!? Seriously??? You should be fired for that!!! This is extremely unprofessional!!! If you would like to stay happy, don't visit this location. Poor service and management if they allow employees to talk like this with their clients.

An iconic bar at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. You cannot stay at this hotel and not at least get a…read morefew drinks here. They make awesome tropical smoothies and some pretty damn good alcoholic drinks as well. My two favorite bartenders would have to be Sheldon and Jacob. They get very busy here so service can sometimes be slow but thats not their fault as they are the only bar at the beach. If you are looking for a drink with a huge kick try out the Tropical Itch, the 151 float will make you feel pretty good haha. They also have a signature drink invented by one of the past bartenders called the Fredrico. It has guava juice, rum, and jack daniels all blended with ice.

lava lava doesn't have lava cake! the food was great though…read more ps. my son wrote this.

Came here for lunch before going to A-bay, and I will say, it's a great place to eat along the…read morewater! I ordered the rib taster, intrigued by the guava barbecue sauce. The ribs were super flavorful and tender, and the barbecue sauce was good with a subtle guava taste. The fries and coconut coleslaw that came with it was satisfactory. The only thing that knocked it down a star was some of the service. Our hostess was kind of rude and rolled her eyes at us a few times. When she brought us to our seat in the bar style seating facing the water, we asked if we could sit at a table on the patio. Despite over 2/3 of the tables being empty, she claimed they were all being used for reservations. Fast forward to the end of our meal, and still none of the so called "reserved" tables were full. Still not exactly sure why she denied us seating below but whatever.

We went to this resort to see the mana rays and had dinner here. The drinks were good. My husband…read morehad the catch of the day which was mahi mahi and was really meaty. I had the butter fish which was tender and it had miso and bok choy with it. Overall the fish was good, not great. The app we had was the Korean fried cauliflower and that was the best thing i ate there. We each had two drinks. My drinks were really good, but my husband said his were ho hum. The resort is beautiful and the view is beautiful. Food overall is good, but not spectacular. We were disappointed that the mana rays did not make an appearance, but we went during a Kona storm when the tours weren't running up north due to the waves so I figured that might have impacted it. Would i go again? To see the manta rays, yes, but probably not for the food. Final note: valet parking was free with the validation done by the server.

The view from this place was breathtaking, the service was amazing. The food absolutely delicious…read more I highly recommend the KFC, that was my favorite. I would also get the red dragon roll again, charred fish. I plan to come back and try more foods. Special shout out to John Carlo for taking such great care of us.