It's pricey for a small portion of food. They add a service charge as well as prompt for tip, so…read morebeware. The food was tasty, hot, and fresh. The fish was good quality. It's cozy, quaint, and cute inside but no air conditioning. Tammy was very nice and accommodating, so service was nice. But again, the portions were so small. They felt like kids' meals but paying adult-size prices. It was nice to try, but I won't be coming back.

The food isn't bad and the ingredients seem fresh, so I understand why this place is popular. That…read moresaid, I was surprised by the pricing and think it's important for visitors to know what to expect. The burger is only available as a combo for about $25, the fish tacos were $36, fries are $7 (and unfortunately not very memorable), and the restaurant adds a 7.5% service fee before prompting for an additional gratuity. By the time everything is totaled up, what looks like a casual lunch turns into a very expensive meal. If you're looking for a splurge, the food is fine. If you're expecting a laid-back burger-and-taco spot with reasonable prices, you may experience some sticker shock. I'd happily come back for the food if the value proposition were better, but next time I'd probably look elsewhere for lunch.

Smash burger done right!!!! Simple menu but that's where the simplicity ends. Flavor profiles are…read moreincredible. From the salt and pepper fries (which is all a fry needs) to the perfectly prepared patties. Everything just flows. Add an adult bev and take it to the next level. Do yourself a favor and put Smash Daddy's on the top of your burger list. Chill atmosphere.

This place is amazing! Highly recommend checking it out. The owner personally took our order, and…read moreyou could immediately tell how passionate he is about the food they're making. We had been having a hard time finding really good food on the island outside of poke and sushi, so this place was a great find. Everything we had was delicious, and we'll probably be back again before the end of our trip! It's also located in a nice shopping area with plenty of other restaurants and stores nearby. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area!

Great selection of beer, food is great and service moved quickly. Patio seating or inside, tvs for…read moreentertainment.

We came in for a dinner after a long day of touring the Big Island. We were craving American food,…read moreand this spot hit our cravings. The fried pickles were a tasty app, and I enjoyed my spicy chicken sandwich. They have a good kids' menu also. They have a bunch of local beers on tap, and I had a few different ones. They also have a ton of TVs for watching games.

We had an excellent experience at Seafood Bar & Grill in Kamuela, and Casey made our anniversary…read moredinner especially enjoyable. She brought great energy and was professional, friendly, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable to talk with. My wife ordered the baked oysters without realizing they weren't smoked and did not like the dish (I loved it). Casey graciously removed them from our bill, which we truly appreciated. Even without that kind gesture, her service was exceptional. I ordered the black bean seafood combo, and my wife had the red Thai seafood curry. Both dishes were extremely flavorful and delicious. We highly recommend this restaurant, and be sure to ask for Casey!

The Absolute Best Meal on the Island--A Masterclass in Food & Service!…read moreIf I could give Seafood Bar & Grill 10 stars, I would. This wasn't just a dinner; it was our absolute favorite meal of the entire trip. We didn't even have a special occasion to celebrate--we just had a phenomenal experience here in the past and couldn't wait to return. They somehow managed to exceed every expectation. From the second we walked in, we were blown away. We loved the Tiki Bar, everyone is family when you walk in, history covering the walls ambiafamily-friendly; ev Seafood We were greeted by Dave Yurtin, the owner, who set up a fabulous table for us inside. But here is the kicker: Dave actually remembered us from our first visit two years ago! Talk about a total legend. We couldn't believe his memory--that is next-level hospitality. Our server, Ryan, provided spectacular, world-class service. He didn't write a single part of our big order down and got absolutely everything 100% right. He was attentive, fast, and incredibly sharp--he even remembered at the end that my mother-in-law had asked for onion rings once she was finished, before changing her mind. Incredible! Now, let's talk about the food and drinks because WOW. We started with the drinks, and these were hands-down the absolute best Mai Tais we have had on the island. Every single dish that hit the table was a home run: - Escargot: Wow, wow, wow, wow! Absolutely phenomenal. The pesto and cheese with the garlic bread? Unreal. - Seafood Quesadilla & Coconut Shrimp: Perfectly executed and delicious. - Braised Short Ribs: Out of this world. Fall-off-the-bone tender. - Pineapple Macnut Slaw: Insane flavor. Do not skip this! - Garlic Bread: Spectacular and perfect for soaking up every last bit of flavor. - Fish Linguine: A rich, perfectly balanced cream sauce packed with different types of fresh fish. Somehow, we saved room for dessert and tried FOUR different ones: the Key Lime Pie was unbelievable, the Lilikoi Pie and Kona Coffee Pie were spectacular, and the NY Cheesecake with Lilikoi Sauce was the perfect grand finale. Between Dave's legendary memory, Ryan's flawless service, and a kitchen that doesn't miss, Seafood Bar & Grill is an absolute must-visit. We will be talking about this meal until our next visit! Thank you for an unforgettable night!

Food is very pleasant! The garlic scallops were huge. I never had scallops in poke before, so this…read morewas a pleasant welcome to that. The sunrise poke was also top notch. The seaweed salad was solid. I would say the rice was a bit on the dryer side, but the sauces of the fish balanced it out. The shop is inside the market, a little tucked away. Mahalo!

Solid poke spot, very tasty and quality fish for sure! When I went the service of checking out and…read moreplacing people's orders was slow, it must have been the day but many people were standing in line waiting for one persons order to go through. Other than that it was good value and portions!

Pro Tip: Enjoy a Luxury Resort Without Staying There…read more Here's a little Big Island travel hack... You don't have to be a guest at the five-star Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection to soak up its incredible atmosphere. Simply tell the valet you're dining at Surf Shack, enjoy a bite, a drink--or both--and they'll validate your parking. The complimentary valet alone feels like a win. The resort is consistently recognized as one of the Big Island's premier luxury destinations. Once you've eaten, take your time exploring the property. Stroll the beautifully landscaped grounds, relax in the open-air lounges, wander the shoreline, watch the waves roll in, browse the upscale shops, and enjoy one of the most peaceful resort settings on the Kohala Coast. The ambiance is worth the visit all by itself. As for Surf Shack, the setting is fantastic. The food? Good, but definitely priced with a luxury resort zip code. We enjoyed our meal, but you'll likely pay a premium for what you order. So here's the hack: Pay for lunch... get the resort experience for free. Between the validated valet parking, stunning grounds, oceanfront setting, and laid-back luxury vibe, it's one of the best values on the Big Island if you know the secret. Just don't tell too many people.

We happen to be in town for Taco Tuesday. They offered fresh Al pastor, from a spit and a mushroom…read moretaco. I had two Al pastor tacos and they were heaven. The green salsa was a winner. We also ordered the fish tacos, which is always on the menu. They were fresh and delicious.

Solid food. Great service and views…read more I like the poke, tacos, and ceviche. Very fresh and flavorful. Drinks are yummy too.

We came here for dinner on a Saturday night. We had a reservation because we had a party of 6 but…read moreyou probably could have walked in if you were 2 or 4. The service was very friendly and cautiously recommended the Sinaloa Chicken for spice lovers. I went with it and I was VERY happy!!

A co-worker highly recommended Lava Lava to us, and we are really happy we decided to go. They only…read morehad 4pm reservations, but we got there at that time and slow played our dinner to ensure we were there for the sunset and live music. We had a prime table right on the end of the sand. It had an amazing view, and the sunset is fantastic here. You will see a bunch of people taking photos. The live music was a great touch, though you won't be able to hear it if you are seated on the other side. In terms of food, we were generally happy. The kids enjoyed the parmesan garlic bread and edamame. My favorite dish was actually a salad called Spinugula. It was huge, and a great mix of arugula, spinach, gorgonzola cheese, strawberries, and candied macadamia nuts. My wife had the coconut crusted tofu, and said it was solid. I had the ahi poke nachos, and they were disappointing. They just didn't wow me like I thought they would. Dessert was good- we had the Kona coffee cheesecake. The beer menu is also impressive with a ton of local draft options. They also have TVs at the bar, so this would be a good place to catch a game. And the waiting grass area out front has a ton of fun games for kids.

I don't understand why LLBC doesn't have a higher overall rating! It almost kept us away but I'm so…read moreglad we checked it out on recommendation of friends. We were seated promptly upon arrival at our reservation time. The hostess was super friendly and chatty. Our server was not one of those big personality type of servers, but she was friendly, polite, helpful, and very attentive. She was exactly who we needed at the end of a long week. The food was so wonderful. There were 5 different entrees among the 6 of us and no one had a single complaint. The seating on the beach and the spectacular sunset view is unmatched. There is nothing like seeing sea turtles on the water from your table. Everyone was casually leaving their seats to go next to the water, taking photos, enjoying the scenery. It was a really cool vibe. When the sun peeked through the clouds at sunset almost everyone got up from their seats to take photos and enjoy the moment. It was beautiful and peaceful. The live music with a dancer topped the ambiance off in a way that I find difficult to describe. I'd like me you read the negative reviews and wonder if you should check it out please do yourself a favor and GO! The food, service, and views are hands down the best we've had after 8 days in Hawaii.

Great food, great service, and amazing atmosphere. Truly enjoyed our mini family reunion that we…read morecelebrated here.

We went for dinner. We had reservations, so we were seated immediately. We were not having drinks…read moreso straight away ordered burger to share. Service was good and quick. Burger was ok, nothing extra ordinary. Ambience is good and I think they have good drinks on menu. Will revisit sometime.

What a great place! We went to the bar one night, just to get out of the house after the hurricane…read moreand had a wonderful time. Great cocktails, the bartender was friendly and attentive and we even had some pizza (which was fabulous!). The next night, we went back for dinner and again, the hostess and wait staff were amazing! The food was delicious too! Our favorite dish was the Tako. Wow! We will definitely dine here again when we return to Waikoloa!

This is an open restaurant/bar, meaning it is covered but not completely enclosed (no windows)…read more You'll need to make reservations if you're not staying on this hotel property, but it's worth a visit because if you're here on a clear night (no rain & storm), you can walk out to the edge of the property and see manta rays when there are tours going on, usually around 7pm and 9pm. Anyway, food was actually pretty good. The tako (octopus legs) were amazing. Service was ok, could have been more attentive.