This is a truly magical place. The view was spectacular. We sat under the canopy but looked…read morestraight out on to the Pacific. Tiki torches and all. The food was tremendous. The service was fantastic. I highly recommend it.

Ordered take out here recently by placing the order directly at the bar around 7:30pm on a weekday…read more Even though the restaurant was empty the food still took about 25-30 minutes. I did, however, order an old fashioned to enjoy while I waited. It was well-made and the bartender was not shy about the bourbon pour. For the food/appetizers, we ordered nachos, which were great. The light and crispy chips tasted house-made and reminded me of the Taco Light shells back in the day at TB. The hurricane tots were a hit with a generous amount of furikake tots! $18 for the kids grilled fish, rice, and steamed vegetables was a bit steep for the small piece we received but they said it was tasty. Overall, you're paying resort prices here but it's not outrageous. If you're looking for a drink or some apps in the evening, check out Luana Lounge. They are open til 11pm.

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!

Showed up Friday afternoon to a gathering of a bunch of angry white dudes that for the entire time…read moreit took me to finish a drink complained about illegal border crossing, fentanyl and justifiable wars etc. I eventually just put my ear buds in. The drink and service were fine but Friday must be a hangout for people to air their grievances with life.

First, it's hard to find. But after being there I think they want it that way. The karaoke DJ…read morefavored the locals, the tourists barely got to sing, I felt like this was a locals only bar, tourists are welcome to buy drinks, but don't expect to sing at this karaoke bar. It's too bad too, because the vibe was good, and it was 40% tourist. Not like it was 100% locals juicing the vibe. I felt like the 40% tourists were more electric than the locals, but the locals got to sing 90% of the songs. Bottom line, if it wasn't for a good bartender would give a lower rating. The guy running the karaoke at this karaoke bar favors the regulars, which I understand, but it also means tourists feel unappreciated and left out. If you want to sing, stay out. If you want to hear locals sing this is your place. For example, one local lady sang 5 times in 2 hours, I put in 2 requests and got to sing 1. So if you want to hear other people sing and get treated like an unwanted tourist, this is the place for you.

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.

It's been several years since we last dined at Manta and heard the Mauna Kea resort had been…read morerecently 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!

This is my second time at Manta in less than 2 years. I usually don't repeat restaurants during my…read moretravels 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.

The property is spectacular, and the views are endless However the highlight for us was employees…read morelike Virgil, who took care of our every need with a smile. Thanks again, Virgil, Tym & Bee Yean

This is most awesome beach ever (I've been to many beaches), and the hotel is very good too…read more One caveat is if you have mobility issues, this might not be the place as there's a bit of up and down stairs to get to the pool and beach. But we enjoy going up stairs for fun. I'm sure they have some accommodation, tho. One disappointment is they don't great each other by saying HaPuna matata. I got blank stares when I tried this. But it is really good pun, no? Food is expensive, out of compound restaurants are distant, so pay and enjoy as it was very good.

Food was what to expect from an Auberge resort facility. Ambiance was also what you'd expect if…read moreyou've ever visited any of their establishments. Kabob was our main with hummus for the appetizers. We ended up not ordering enough for the main because I think when I'm sitting down you can't tell I'm 6'8" 220lbs and they advertise their meals as shareable. If you eat a lot, the kabobs aren't shareable. Pay attention at the desert layout; we decided to go with the unhealthy route which was to top off with some sweets instead of ordering more mains . The frozen milk cake for me was it even though they pushed the pavolova as the one. The smores is pretty average tasting s'mores but definitely a luxury version so I'd never say don't get it, I'd just say it's obtainable elseware if you're trying to decide on a space you might not visit again. The service was also on par with the establishments well earned reputation and they also had eats for our 3 year old (pizza, which somehow he ate the entire serving of and threatened me if I tried some). 5 star experience

THE BEST HAPPY HOUR AND PLACE TO EAT CLOSE TO THE WATER HANDS DOWN…read more Hā Bar is lights out on ambience, service, and food. Literally all components were off the charts. We loved the hotel that this bar resides in. It's been renovated and looks incredible. We tried to check out 3 other spots in Waikoloa and all of them looked terrible. This was A BIG WIN, and we wished we could've gone more during our stay. Everything was solid so you won't be sorry.

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.

I swung by Tikehau on a recent work trip to Maui. Tikehau was a great Tiki lounge and restaurant…read moreand I highly recommend it. Ask for Dominic behind the bar. I stopped by first as part of my Mai Tai crawl. The $23 "1944 Mai Tai" was excellent and nicely balanced. The rums had enough backbone to stand up to the rest of the ingredients. It wasn't too sweet and the mint bunch was just the right size. Definitely recommend. I went back the next night for dinner and another drink. For dinner I had the poke bowl which was great though a bit on the small side, even by Maui standards. I paired this with the Fortaleza Still Strength Chartreuse Swizzle ($40): Green Chartreuse, Fortaleza Still Strength tequila, Maul Gold pineapple, Maul falernum, lime, served with custom pineapple cocktail pick. The cocktail pick was fun as you get to "choose your own weapon" and select a custom pick. Dominic was running the bar both nights and he was great. Friendly, knowledgeable, and he poured a mean Chartreuse swizzle. While he was making the Swizzle he served me a shot of their "Rum Cannonball" which I enjoyed much more than I thought I would. I definitely recommend Tikeahau!

What an amazing spot for happy hour! They have a great little outdoor seating area that's perfect…read morefor enjoying the weather. The staff was extremely friendly, our food and drinks came out quickly, and always with a smile. Everything we tried was high‑quality and clearly made with care. Their happy hour menu is surprisingly robust. Drinks The Tropical Mai Tai was a standout. The flavor really popped without being overly strong, just a genuinely great drink. The Rum Cannonball was delicious as well, with a bright pineapple flavor that's perfect for a hot day on the patio. They do have a nice selection of local beers on tap. Food The Kalua Pork Sliders were the highlight. The pork paired beautifully with the curry slaw, so many layers of flavor, and the toasted roll was a perfect finishing touch. The Mini Poke Bowl was fresh and vibrant. Adding avocado really elevated it, and the sesame brought a nice depth of flavor. The Onion Dip was a fun surprise. Loved hearing the story behind it, they once over‑ordered onions and created this dip, which has since become a best seller. It's easy to see why. Finally, the Ahi Slider was excellent. The ahi was high‑quality and seared perfectly, and again, the toasted bun made a big difference. The sesame oil added a great finishing note. If you're in Wailea, this place is absolutely worth a stop!

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.