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We come to the Big Island annually and regarding food we only have 2 required places. Canoe House is one of them and is the fancier of the two. (Huggos in Kona is the other). We love Canoe House so much that we planned our son's wedding party dinner here and BOY did they deliver! We had a party of 20 which meant a pre-fixe menu. Normally I'm not a fan of those, but Jonathon made the entire process so easy planning and executing. Everything was perfect! The view, the setup, the service, the staff, the timing on courses, the drinks, the communication, and the star of the show, the food! 5 stars. We all felt like royalty. Everyone raved at all I just mentioned, the food was ridiculously good and the presentation of it was just as good. The flavors are exploding and they all danced together in your mouth like a symphony. The bread is non-negotiable. It's a show stealer. The fried rice is also amazing and raved about by so many reviewers. The appetizers were stupid good: lobster tempura, sashimi looked like art and tasted like perfection, along with the ridiculously good shishito peppers that were devoured. The Short rib though was the show stopper and everyone and I mean everyone could not stop talking about it! Holy Cow! Did I mention the location and views! I kid you not, it looks like AI on a screen, but it's real life. It doesn't look real, and yet... it is... perfection. Everything and every detail was perfect. They deliver that excellence every time to every table. The food is always on point. The service is always on point and the view is better than the mind can fathom (if you haven't experienced it yourself). Do yourself a favor and invest in making a memory at Canoe House.
Overpriced for what was offered especially for the presentation aspect. To be honest, I was really disappointed by the menu options. There wasn't anything really calling to me that made it seem like the price was worth it so we ordered small plates. If the restaurant is labeled $$$$, I expect everything to be above and beyond. Food 2/5 'Ula 'Ula Hale $18 - Sangria was delicious, loved it. Voyager $25 - Whiskey, cute restaurant logo on the ice. Chilled Oysters $14 ($7ea) - Worth a try, tasted good. Shokupan $18 - Bread with butter. Not a fan of the seeds on the bread but can't really go wrong with this option. Gyoza $18 - Delicious with a flavorful sauce. Hamachi & Uni $28 - Disappointed by the presentation but tasted just fine. We were offered macarons for my birthday which was lovely. Ambiance 3/5 Gorgeous hotel and the view is great when heading to the restaurant but really dark at night. Dining area is huge, indoor and outdoor. We had a table on the in the back corner on the sand. Great view to see everything but it's incredibly dark with minimal lighting. Service 3/5 Our server was nice but nothing special.
Chef Rhoda from Top Chef iykyk! Had a Mai Tai, glass of red wine, 8oz Prime Tenderloin, and mango sticky rice. Everything was delicious! Exquisite!! Definitely pricey as it's located in the Mauna Lani resort and primarily caters to tourists in the area but the food was to die for, service was attentive when needed but not over-bearing, and it's situated right on the beach. Open air concept and overall beach vibes/ The White Lotus season 1 decor very similar to other restaurants in the nearby. Lol. There also seems to be a house cat named Grumbles that freely roams around. Tell him I said "Hi!"
My wife and I got last minute reservations to Canoe House on a Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. Despite having missed the sunset, we still had a very lovely dinner. We saw from Yelp photos that Canoe House offered a tasting menu at some point in time, but during our visit, it was more of an impromptu tasting menu of sorts -- created by our server, rather than an official one with a set beverage pairing. In any case, we still had a wonderful experience ordering items a la carte. Before diving into the food, I wanted to call out the outstanding service at Canoe House. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and our server started and ended the meal with a round of congratulations. Throughout our meal, our server was super attentive and there was never a moment when our water cups were empty. Empty plates were promptly cleared, cutlery was refreshed when it was needed, and whenever a dish was brought over, he would carefully slide things around on the table so dishes were accessible and not overcrowding. Friendly, professional service of this level is honestly hard to find these days outside of Michelin dining establishments. My wife and I started our meal off with the large loaf of pull-apart milk bread ($18). The milk bread was incredibly fluffy and the outside was finished with some honey and sea salt. The sweet cream butter was rich and had the perfect spreadable consistency. As tempting as it is to want to finish the loaf, you'll definitely want to safe your stomach for the rest of the meal. The next items that we ordered were two chilled oysters ($7/piece), and a hamachi + uni citrus salad ($14). Since we were dining as a couple, our server informed us that we could actually order half-portions of some of the dishes. This was a perfect way to not fill-up before our mains arrived, so we did that for both the salad and the gyozas. The uni in the salad was melt in your mouth tender and had a delicious sweetness to it. I thought the hamachi in the salad was a bit unremarkable: it was certainly fresh and there were two generously sized pieces in the dish, but the fish definitely needed a bit more salt to it. Our next and last appetizer to arrive was the beef and foie gras gyoza ($7/piece). The chili garlic ponzu sauce the gyoza is resting leans towards the sour side, but that's my personal preference when it comes to dumpling sauces so I really enjoyed it. The filling inside the gyoza was on the leaner side compared to your typical pork and cabbage dumpling, but I didn't mind this too much since there was so much sauce in the bowl to accommodate the dumpling. The next four items we ordered all arrived together: the garlic fried rice ($32), the Kona kanpachi ($67), the Iberico char siu pork ($65), and the side of sugar snap peas ($22). Of these items, my favorite bites were the Iberico pork followed closely by the garlic fried rice and the sugar snap peas. If we could've ordered one fewer dish, it definitely would have been the Kona kanpachi. While the fish was flakey tender and the the skin was cooked to be perfectly crunchy, the portion size was far too large for two, and I thought the coconut ginger sauce felt a bit diluted and not as flavorful as advertised. I wish our server warned us that we had ordered way too much food, because we brought 85% of this dish home as leftovers. While I don't necessarily mind having leftovers, having leftovers on vacation -- with less than ideal heating methods available (i.e. hotel microwave), is not great. Overall, I couldn't help but feel this dish was somewhat a waste of money for the two of us. On the other hand, the Iberico char siu is a dish I'd order again and again if I were to come back. The pork was lean and grilled to perfection. The charred end pieces were some of my favorite bites of the night. I didn't miss the fatty bits that are typically present on a piece of char siu pork, and the mustard that accompanied the dish was not over the top spicy like some of the mustards you find at dim sum restaurants. The garlic fried rice was packed with so much garlic flavor. One criticism I had with the dish though is I wish the hot sizzling plate the dish was served on was even hotter. The rice that was in contact with the plate didn't crisp up in the same way that it would with a Korean bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl, or the socarrat at the bottom of a Spanish paella. Nonetheless, the dish was well-seasoned. If you want to save a bit on carbs and not fill up, you might want to skip this dish. Overall, the dining under the stars experience at Canoe House is hard to beat. The service is incredible, the included validated valet parking experience is seamless, the ambience of the hotel where the restaurant is located is breathtaking, and Chef Rhoda has really done an wonderful job with the vast majority of the items we tried. I would not hesitate to recommend Canoe House for celebrating a special occasion if you're visiting Hawaiʻi.
We came here on our last night with a group of eight. The setting was beautiful, and the service was excellent throughout the evening. The prices are definitely on the higher side, but you're paying for the ambiance and experience. We ordered the lamb chops, steak, shishito peppers, a whole fried red snapper, and a variety of drinks. It was my first time trying a whole fried fish, and the red snapper was absolutely delicious. If you plan to visit, try to come early so you can enjoy the sunset, we arrived later, so it was already dark. Overall, it was a great dining experience and a memorable way to end our trip.
Holy cow... the flavors were so unique and I've never had something like this before. You'd think you tasted similar things since it's all the same sauce bases but they pair it so perfectly together to make a delicious dish. The red cabbage salad had a yuzu/soy dressing and came with dates. So. Good. I assumed it was overpriced for a salad with so little but honestly it shined. The pull apart bread was good and warm but nothing special. Filling! The garlic fried rice? Idk how they make it so good it sounds so basic but it was the perfect seasonings where you don't feel the icky garlic breath but each bite was so savory and yum! Mahi mahi dish - the roasted carrots were my absolute favorite. How do they carmelize them that well idk, The pork dish was also killer. I loved the yuzu mustard sauce and the pork was super tender and juicy. Again, not usually a pork fan but this one nailed it!! Friendly staff - they were very attentive and helped clean up a spill that we accidentally made within a matter of seconds :-) thanks!
Ambiance - Amazing. What to expect from this company and all of their locations across the world. Beautiful beachfront location with tiki torches and fire pits right on the water. Our dining spot was a legit wrap around couch which was amazing for our son's 4th birthday. Always a 5 plus star ambiance. Service - 5 stars. Not only was our waitress extremely educated on every selection on the menu, but so were the helpers. Food - the reason for my 4 stars. The sashimi poke was a 3star for sure. Lukewarm, zero to no flavor at all. Hard pass when I end up looking at pricing at the end of the evening and I seriously wanted to see what it costed because I should've sent it back. The boxed bread was pretty good but I felt like it was more artistic in sight than it was in my mouth. The salted butter made it more unique tasting but just bread. Garlic Fried rice we ordered because it was "popular". 4/5 but really was actually what you'd imagine. I could go with or without it. Australia Waygu short rib was a 5/5. It was kinda pot roast feeling but man the curry made it slammin fashooo. Luckily we weren't that into the bread so we had more than half of it left to make sure whoever did the dishes had an easy job cleaning up. I don't think we left any moisture on the plate. I will be recreating this in my slow cooker at home. Amazing Fish of the day aka Mahi Mahi. Man we went against everything we know. Fish of the day, fish special, anything that seems to be mentioned heavily and on the seafood side should always be what you avoided. Well, we didn't. My wife likes it, but for me it was a 2/5 at best. On its own it was a 0/5 but mixed with its dressing and everything else it came with it was a solid 2/5. Extremely fishy and went along with the appetizer. Should've sent it back. Dessert - 2/5 and another letdown. The butterscotch miso was unique but for myself it missed almost completely. Comes with entirely too much sauce that the server actually applies to the desert instead of leaving it as a dipping sauce. By the time you're 2 bites in; the ice cream is mixed in with the butterscotch and it's just lost in translation. Hard no for me. My son for the macaroons for his dessert and I'd say a 5/5 as he threatened me if I touched them, and the sticky rice my wife had I'd say was a 4/5 and something I'd order, but wasn't anything out of the normal for me. The menu is small but in actuality extensive with enough selections to want to go back. I'd recommend this place to anyone off the location and service alone but also knowing the things they did right, stood out.
Drove up from Kona (30 minutes) to enjoy an outstanding anniversary dinner! Arrived at opening time and decided to dine outside with an amazing ocean view of sunset. Waiter and other staff immediately engaged us and we spent the next couple hours eating and chatting (which is to say he made sure everything was moving along well having suggested some recommendations we ordered.) To begin, we shared a Waygu Tataki plate of warmly seared beef and delicious ponzu sauce. We then had broiled Kanpachi farmed off the Kona coast, and finished up with a simple dessert of the Canoehouse Sundae made with miso butterscotch, furikake tuile, toasted buckwheat. I'll admit I had to think whether to order this seemingly strange mixture but, perhaps no surprise, it was delicious. So a marvelous meal in a very special setting with my very special partner of 51 years.
Loved it, very windy when we went but still yummy! The pour over Carmel waffle sundae is amazing! I loved my tofu cabbage and hubby loved the mahi mahi catch of the day. So good. Drinks and service were fabulous ! Highly recommend and beautiful scenery with ocean views!
Amazing food and wonderful experience. We were staying at the Mauna Lani, and had to try its signature restaurant (especially since a few in our party were big fans of Chef Rhoda in Top Chef). Each dish we tried had an amazing mix of flavors. Everything was fresh, even the pull apart bread. I opted for the Ahi Tuna, and it was cooked to perfection. The oysters were excellent as well. We also LOVED the ambiance. It seems most tables, whether indoors or outside, faced the ocean with an open concept. Therefore, even the indoor tables are technically outdoors. This was the perfect set up to watch an amazing Hawaiian sunset during dinner. As expected the service was very friendly and attentive. This is one of those must visit spots on the big island. Even if we don't stay at the Mauna Lani next visit, we're definitely going to still visit this place.
this is the spot for a special occasion. the prices are a little crazy yes, but the view of the ocean is spectacular and the food and service are fantastic. i was surprised to find huge portions as well. we started with the milk bread and wagyu dumplings. i will say the dumplings were the weakest of the night for me, they sauce was delicious but the foie gras was undetectable in the filling. still tasty but nothing groundbreaking. the hit of the night was the massaman shortribs. the portion was very generous and certainly easy to split between two people. it was rich and tender without being heavy or one note. konpachi was also delicate and well balanced. for dessert we received some macaroons for birthday celebration and the wonderful sundae. simple but elevated. it was a magical night!
Stayed at Mauna Lani, so we had to try Canoe House for a nice dinner with a few girlfriends. The food came out beautifully. We ordered the lamb chops, roasted potatoes, and a colada. The lamb was tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of fat, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy. The colada was pretty strong, which I liked, though my friends wished it was a bit sweeter and more balanced. The restaurant is stunning at night, and our waiter was so kind -- he even took the drinks off the bill when he saw my friends didn't enjoy them. Definitely worth visiting if you're staying in Mauna Lani. Food: 8.8/10 Service: 9/10 (forgot to take our card for a while after we said we had to leave) Ambience: 9/10
We were looking forward to eat a special dinner at the Canoe House after seeing all the positive reviews. But it ended up being a huge disappointment. The ambiance is fantastic as well as the service - but the food we ordered just didn't live up to the hype What was good was the milk bread with black lava salted butter and the crispy garlic rice. The rest was mediocre at best Amberjack- the fish itself had good texture but it had a gamey flavor. I did like the ginger sauce Gray snapper- this was the special. Supposedly it is like an Ono but it was not. It was also over cooked Corn Riblets - at first I wasn't sure if I liked them, but in the end I did, They have a tajin like seasoning with a citrusy butter and an essence of truffle. Once you started eating them it was hard to stop Cabbage- I didn't have this but my Niece liked it We passed on desert All in all it is a beautiful location and very convenient if you are staying at the Auberge. If I went back, I would order other entrees
It is rare to find a fine dining place that not only provides a dining experience but serves delicious food as well. CanoeHouse is one of those rare gems that gives you both! Came here for my sister's engagement dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it, from start to finish. Our waiter was very friendly (not the uppidty types) and took his time to explain the menu including the fish of the day and recommendations for our table. Excellent views of the ocean (literally steps away) and everything on the menu was excellent. My favorites dishes were the the broiled Kona kanpachi and diver scallops. Highly recommend the ahi kale salad, it comes with 6 pieces but our waiter brought 7 so every one at our table could try a piece, so thoughtful! The garlic fried rice was simple yet tied everything together. Drinks! I don't drink alcohol but they offer some mocktails. For dessert, we had the ube cheesecake which was perfectly made! Thank you CanoeHouse for a wonderful evening we'll never forget. read more
Dinner August 2024. One person (me) gluten free. Giving four stars factoring in the priciness. Roundtable reviews below -- Garlic Fried Rice - Overall favorite; described as "awesome" and "A++". Server brings it to the table then mixes in the sous vide egg (see video). Not GF due to soy Kekela Farms Mixed Greens - Great shareable app. Simple dark leaf greens with parm and light dressing Crispy Maitake Mushrooms - Recommended to us by a friend; group's take was "interesting". Not GF Wagyu Tataki - They prepared it GF for my main entree. Nice paper thin beef slices, though the sauce was overpoweringly salty Colorado Lamb Chops - Good, but similarly over-flavored. Pepper flavor was a "kick to the stomach" Seared Scallops - Very good. The side was more of the Crispy Maitake, so in hindsight we could've skipped the appetizer version Broiled Kona Kanpachi - AKA amberjack. Well prepared fish, but felt that the piece of fish itself was not the best quality to start out with (Dessert) Valrhona Chocolate Banana - GF as-is. It's mainly mousse with a tiny chocolate cake hidden inside. Wished that ratio was more even. Mousse was so rich we could each only handle one bite! read more
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Enjoyable dinner to top off our last night off on the big island. Staff was accommodating and we enjoyed the dinner. Beautiful views for a romantic date night read more
1 year ago
We went to the Canoe house for a birthday dinner. I've been on island for 4 days and this is the best meal we've had. I ordered the yellowtail fish and it was paired with curry base sauce which was perfect for this type of fish. My husband ordered the lobster which was good but not filling. If you want something light then definitely grab it. The best dish was the GARLIC RICE!!!! This rice was so good we ordered one to go. We ordered desert which was good but not memorable. Try to come earlier in the day so you can enjoy the view. We came at 7 and missed it. read more
Valet parking at the entrance ( 3 hrs of stay is adjusted for and the ticket that the valet gives you is stamped at the restaurant checkin). From there you go down the stairs and make a right , walk a few steps and you would get to the beautiful Canoe House. The setting is absolutely delightful as you walk through the Auberge Mauna Lani corridors to the restaurant that's set with the Ocean in the backdrop. Big big shoutout to Ashley who was our host for the evening and boy she made sure we had all our questions answered , gave great suggestions and as well told us about all they had to offer. She was kind enough to make the walk twice to the kitchen to ensure if the Wagyu was Halal ( turned out they didn't have Halal Wagyu though it's from The Miyazaki Prefecture if that's what you like). Much appreciate the effort Ashley. Do ask for Ashley to be your host :) , while you are being seated, at the checkin. We ordered the Grilled Whole Keahole Lobster, Alaskan King crab leg , Radish salad with crispy salmon skin, a couple Oysters and Poke style Sashimi with Tuna as our choice of fish. The Salad was delicious and was a generous amount of serving that lasted us till the end. The Alaskan King crab leg was delicious and we were this close in ordering another one for the table. An absolute delight produced by Chef and co. The whole lobster comes with finger lime ( considered the caviar of limes) and you really get to enjoy the combination. As you squish the lime it spits out small boba like balls that constitute the slice and adds some amazing flavor to the lobster. No fighting with the shells as Ashley would say, since the kitchen does all the hard work for you by pulling out the meat, casting their magic spell on it and then carefully placing it back in the shell ( applies for the king crab leg as well). Guaranteed delicious!! The Sashimi and the oysters were done to perfection as well and we took no time getting through those on our way to the crab leg and lobster. We ended our dinner with a coffee along with Panacotta with Honey ( spread in a honeycomb fashion ) and some shortbread. Also got ourselves an Ube cheesecake. Delicious and the combination just worked wonders. Definitely recommend those. All in all a phenomenal experience that we hope and wish to repeat on every trip that we make to the Big Island. Amazing hospitality, phenomenal food, great views, amazing setting with the Ocean in the backdrop enough reasons for you to stop by for a great dinner/date night. read more
2 years ago
The CanoeHouse is in a separate building from the hotel and is right on the water with a beautiful view of the sunset if you come for dinner. They validated our parking, as valet parking is all that's available if you drive here and then hostess sat us immediately outside, there is also indoor and bar seating if you don't want to be outside. I don't suggest sitting inside as it feels like there's not even any ac and only ceiling fans keeping the place cool because it is all open and if that's what you want might as well do that outside with a view. We ordered cocktails and sparkling water which came fast and needed for the hot but breezy day at 6 pm. We weren't that hungry so skipped appetizers and went into ordering our entree. We ordered the Colorado lamb chops $78 that has a rosemary vinaigrette on it and accompanied by roasted Kekelo farm veggies. We also ordered the Koji roasted chicken $52 that had two sad pieces of carrots on some greens on the plate so we ordered more Kekela Farm roasted veggies for $18 on the side. The chicken tasted fantastic with that balsamic teriyaki, and the lamb chops were nice sized and tasty too. I love the farm to table concept here and you can taste it in the freshness of the ingredients. Everything was great except being seated outside means having flies. The servers were so attentive that when they saw us swatting our food they brought over a little fan to keep the flies away. We were surrounded by people that were on dates or celebrating a special occasion so there was a lot of positive Aloha in the air and happiness making the sunset even more enjoyable when it hit 7 o'clock. This is definitely a place to come to for a romantic sunset dinner date if you're a tourist or a local. read more
2 years ago
Where to start? Everything was fantastic. Jhumar and Dione were a fantastic team, making sure we were taken care of at all times. We were sat in the sun during the hottest part of the day and they were nice enough to move us over into the shade. Understand going in that this place is a bit pricey but it is well worth every penny. Jhumar was excellent in walking us through the menu and pointing out what went with what. Incredibly friendly and fun. Dione made sure we always had whatever we needed and was also quite friendly. We ordered the bread as well and the garlic fried rice, but forgot to take pictures. Everything was great. It was our son's first foray into balsamic chicken and it's safe to say it won't be his last. He loved it. I had the tofu and mushroom hot pot and it was great. Mushrooms prepared just right and the tofu had a nice crunch but soft in the middle. My wife had the shrimp and it was delicious. Jhumar recommended having the bread delivered with the main meal and he was right; it was used to soak up the sauce with the shrimp and the clams, while my daughter ordered. For dessert we went with the honeycomb panna cotta, which was light and flavorful, and the banana chocolate mousse, which was as decadent (and delicious) as it sounds. I'm pretty stingy with my stars but this is a well deserved five! read more
Absolutely incredible! We came to CanoeHouse for our anniversary dinner while on the island at another resort. Cocktails were delicious and the food was outstanding - we started with oysters and pull-apart bread, then for meals had the lobster, fresh catch and fried rice. Our service was top-notch and attentive. The open-concept waterfront restaurant is beautiful. Highly recommend! read more
3 years ago
Year after year, this is our favorite place to eat. The food quality remains the same, the service only improves and the view never gets old. CanoeHouse is right on the water. In the winter, you can watch whales play while you watch the sun go down, sipping your Mai Tai. It's just perfection. The Kohala Coast Old Fashioned js so good with the macadamia nut syrup to give it a little bit of sweetness. But it does come with a hefty price tag: $32. But that is my only complaint. The food is delicious. Try to Warayaki- you get delicious food and a show. Make a reservation in advance. If you can't get one, try your luck at the bar. read more
Everyone on the island told us this place is considered the #1 on the island, and looking at the prices that doesn't shock me at all. The food is excellent, setting and ambiance are amazing - truly, the best; but damn, for the service to be just 3/5 and then paying sky-high prices, I am not sure it's that worthwhile. For the sake of my experience, I am giving 5-stars despite the service being slow because the food caliber and setting were so excellent. Food was exceptional in flavor. If only the quantity matched the commanding prices. I read in another review where someone commented the quarter chicken was $54 meaning a full chicken was $216 and yeah, that's really quite insane. Maybe it's just because in Hawaii everything is more expensive, now add that this restaurant is within a 5-star luxury resort. I think the takeaway is come with your expectations managed knowing this will be an exceptional meal in terms of quality. Tuna Warayaki was good Alaskan King Crab Leg was good, but $78 for a single leg, whew... you better LOVE crab. Garlic Fried Rice was great, again, $32 for a bowl of rice with garlic, sous vide egg, scallions and oil. read more
Service was perfect. The food was great. Garlic fried rice is not to be missed. I loved my lobster better with the chili sauce. The tenderloin was perfectly cooked. It was a windy night, so all tables were sort of inside. I wanted to get the tasting menu but they discontinued it yesterday! They have a mini tasting menu as an appetizer offering. There were a lot of families there. The waiter said that the tasting menu was discontinued to put more focus on the main menu. With the clientele of families, this seems to make sense. Be prepared that this place is very expensive. I think the cheapest glass of wine was $23. The lobster was Not the most expensive menu item. However, the service, quality of food and view do live up to the price. read more
This is a beautiful restaurant at the Mauna Lani Resort. We made a reservation with the concierge and asked for a table to enjoy the sunset. We had a reservation for 5 pm and were seated at a quiet table overlooking the ocean. We couldn't have asked for more! Our server Sam patiently explained a tasting menu and various menu items. We opted to order from the menu and started with a couple of cocktails. The lobster tempura was my favorite appetizer. Husband ordered a couple of raw oysters and seared hamachi. We shared a refreshing radish salad with salmon skins sprinkled on top. One entree was the pork jowl which was a little salty. The whole lobster entree was nicely prepared and cut up into pieces and placed back into the shell. We ended the evening with flourless chocolate cake and Kona coffee ice cream. Canoe House is a must if you're visiting the island. read more
2 years ago
Clarified Milk punch review Velvet sour: elijah craig bourbon, amaro nonino, demerara, lemon, clarified, claret float This was a nice Milk punch. The whisky sour base was clarified and the harsher notes and bitters were smoothened. Had a nice nuttiness at the end. The claret float was mellow and did well with the base read more
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10/10 Location 10/10 Food 10/10 Service Booked reservation for dinner at sunset. Amazing atmosphere ambiance. Started with the tasty pull apart bread and magical lobster tempura. Mains were perfectly broiled kanpachi and onolicious wagyu bavette. Ube cheesecake for desert was yummy. read more
We LOVED the CanoeHouse. Came for our honeymoon and went two nights in a row. Sam is a fantastic server. We got different menu items each night and they were all 10/10. The cocktails were also fabulous. Had one with Yuzu Gin and need to come back for another! The toast specials both nights were fantastic. The wagyu was amazing as was the shrimp. We loved the fried rice, lobster tempura, sashimi, tuna assortment, fresh catch of the day, and all the desserts. Definitely more on the pricier side but this is my favorite restaurant in all of Hawaii. The bar is lovely and the service is fabulous. It's been a long time since I've felt such hospitality at a restaurant! Great sunset views as well. read more
I made reservations 2 days in a row because this used to be our favorite restaurant (see previous review from 2021), but I'm glad I cancelled the second day because the food is no longer the superstar it once was. Shokupan bread is still good. We got 2 orders of it because the kids loved it before, but 1 order would have been enough this time. Corn ribs was okay, not as good as before. Smoked pork jowl looks like fatty bacon, and is no longer the same juicy Jowl cut it used to be. This was so good before, but now it just tastes like bacon that hasn't been cooked to a crisp. The Kona kampachi was good, the mahi was okay, but more on the drier side, and small portion. The 6-course tasting menu is probably your best bang for your buck. Sunset views are what you are paying for, and you can choose from 2 seatings. The earlier seating you are smack dab in the middle of scorching sun (they even provided white Mauna Lani umbrellas for a lot of guests), and you get rewarded by a spectacular sunset right after dinner. If you get the second seating, come early to watch the sunset on the grassy area/fire pit. The food is still good if you pick the right items (and you don't know what it was like before). For us, we went in with high expectations and left disappointed. read more
What an amazing experience at canoe house. We started off with a martini at the bar while we wait for our table. Than continued on to our dinner experience starting with some fresh oysters that was raised in Kona at the OTEC sight. Overall the ambience was perfect and not to mention Mark the GM recommended an amazing bottle of champagne for us to enjoy. We can't forget about Dean our waiter, very knowledgeable and know's how to make your dinner night special. I would recommend to sit where Dean is serving. Overall great place for a romantic dinner for that special someone. read more
4 months ago
2 years ago
What a lovely place. My wife and I had dinner at The CanoeHouse in early December and make a point of eating here every year. The atmosphere and service here is second to none. We always book an early seating, they open at 5pm, so we can take in the breath taking sunset in concert with the soothing ocean waves. They have some interesting craft cocktails but of course can make you anything that you are in the mood for. The wine list is extensive. This evening we went with: Cocktails: Grey Goose martini's Starter: Half a dozen chilled oysters. They were prepared with sweet onion tosazu, hawaiian chili pepper water, ogo. I am a huge oyster fan and these were some of the best I have ever had. Salad: Split the Radish Salad with Crispy Salmon Skin and Garlic Fried Rice. Wine: Billecart Salmon Brut Rose Champagne. Entree: Poke Style Sashimi and The Fresh Catch. Everything was spot on. The CanoeHouse is an elevated dining experience and a must while you are visiting the Big Island. If you are having cocktails and are drinking a bottle of wine along with starters, salads and entrees you can expect dinner for two to be around $350-$600. Not an "every night dinner" for most people but a nice treat while you are on vacation. Bar Seating: They also have a charming bar area towards the back of the restaurant. This is open seating and you can order anything from the menu here as well. We came back for a quick bite later during our trip and ordered the Koji Fried Chicken which was awesome! read more
Oh. My. Gooooodness. Our favorite dining experience of our entire Hawaiian honeymoon!! No more beautiful setting... book your reservation before dark so you can catch the sunset and actually take in the spectacular beachfront view. Our server was so great. Drinks were amazing.. an ube piña colada and a mai tai. Food was fantastic!!! Highly recommend the tempura lobster, garlic fried rice, and ube cheesecake. YOU CANNOT MISS THIS PLACE WHEN IN KONA!!! Also the entire resort is just gorgeous... worth the visit in itself. Valet parking is free when validated by your server. read more
1 year ago
This place was awesome! My husband and I decided to have our first anniversary dinner here while we were vacationing on the Big Island and we were not disappointed. First of all, the location right next to the ocean made for an incredible atmosphere. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining alongside the sound of the waves and the light of the tiki torches. The service was also incredible. Our server was so knowledgeable about everything on the menu and was able to make great recommendations. And the food was delicious. The meat was so tender and cooked to perfection, we did not want the meal to end. All in all it was such a great experience. And the casual dress code made for such a relaxed dining experience as well. We could not have asked for a better first anniversary dinner! read more
8 months ago
Atmosphere: par none. Come a half hour before sunset and experience the classiest and most romantic digs on a coastline overstuffed with imperious beachside resort restaurants. But the food at CanoeHouse is mid at best, a solid B. After multiple trips to Big Island, we've canvassed the usual suspects: Brown's Beach House, Meridia, Napua, and the Mauna Lani resort's slightly more modest cousins, Ha Bar and Halani's. Pricewise, you'll be tempted to take out a reverse mortgage on your home, and that's before alcohol. Note that if you want side dishes, those are a la carte. VIBE Elegant yet smooth, not trying too hard yet still delivering serious sophistication. Think of a slightly retro 60's surf shack but if a billionaire took it and expanded and outfitted it with sleek dark mahogany and abstract Polynesian ceramics. The dining room opens up via accordion doors to an expansive patio overlooking the shore, tiki torches, and fire pits. There are no bad views here. SERVICE Casual yet refined. Our server had very clear dude mannerisms, but was somehow perfectly suited to his environment - he struck me as like the most interesting and well-read guy in a violent surf gang. He was helpful adjusting dishes to accommodate my girlfriend's gluten allergy and comped us a roasted mushroom dish when I balked at the crispy maitakes (more on those later). My drink did take a long while to arrive, and I had to ask for it after 20 thirsty minutes. FOOD Ugh. We know enough about eating on Big Island to know to gird your loins for the sticker shock at resorts and that there's an almost inverse ratio when it comes to price to satisfaction on any beachside restaurant. We were hoping CanoeHouse would be the (very pricey) exception to the rule, but alas, it continues to prove the point that if you want good food on island you go to the farmer's market or the local shack or food truck at the side of the road. We ordered: OYSTERS From the Pacific Northwest, they were creamy and briny. Pretty good and very expensive. But for a sudden urge, do you really need to come to Hawai'i to eat oysters from the PNW? HOKKAIDO SCALLOP SASHIMI This dish is a messy cacophony of everything everywhere all at once. Just too much going on here overpowering the sashimi, which did have the most silky texture. Would it be to much to ask to be able to taste them, too? CRISPY MAITAKE MUSHROOMS You'll see a lot of mushrooms on resort menus on Big Island. Most of them are pretty solid because that centuries old formula of fungus + butter + thyme + salt is nothing but failsafe. So what happened here to make these so utterly flavorless? Yes they were crispy, but completely devoid of seasoning. For $18, I'd skip this. SEARED SCALLOPS Okay, here's where I got a little peeved. The trio of scallops are seared perfectly, but first you have to dig and dig to uncover them under a thick blanket of.... more flavorless crispy maitake mushrooms!!! Now, this is the last thing I want after ordering a bland larger appetizer version. I wish our waiter had warned us about this, which I mentioned and he felt guilty enough to comp us a side of roasted, which was better if somewhat heavyhanded. CATCH OF THE DAY (Mahi Mahi) Sigh. I hate to compare dishes to those in other restaurants, but my gf ordered this because we'd experienced a transcendent mahi mahi dish at the One Hanalei Bay on Kaua'i which tasted, well, not like mahi - it was delicate and flaky in a way that we've been chasing ever since. Most mahi I have on the mainland is like this one at CanoeHouse was - bland, a little too dense and tough, and in need of strong flavor components to compensate and stand up to it. We were disappointed by both the quality and the portion, although we ultimately had a hard time finishing it. DESSERT - UBE CHEESECAKE Delicious! AND YET: it's notable that the single best thing we had at this restaurant was not made in its kitchen; we were told this came from Sweet Indulgence up in Waikoloa Village. Maybe next time we'll just eat dinner up there, too. I'd come back here again for the sunset ambience, but totally rethink my strategy - instead of going whole hog and being disappointed, I'd just order a couple simple things like the garlic fried rice and another app (not the mushrooms!), a drink, and just soak up that view for an hour. Then, I'd drive up to Waikoloa Village and have a real dinner and even the same dessert. read more
9 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
We had a wonderful 5-course omakase tasting menu that included oysters and sashimi to start, lobster tempura, local fish, a Wagyu-style beef course, and of course dessert. We also shared a wine pairing that went perfectly with each dish. The omakase is hands down the best deal that is not on the menu. It's not always offered but if it is, it's worth every penny! Our server Sam was exceptionally gracious and knowledgeable on both the food and wine. The hostess Ariana squeezed us in last minute and we are so glad she helped us. All of the other staff were very friendly and helpful as well. Most importantly we appreciate everyone at CanoeHouse for saving our evening, after we had an unfortunate experience at another "nice" restaurant nearby that didn't honor our reservation. The hospitality at CanoeHouse embodies the Auberge name, where we felt welcomed as friends. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a beachside fine dining experience on the big island. read more
11 months ago
11 months ago
This was a surprise dinner on our last night in Kona for me and my friend. Just to get to the restaurant is a spectacle! You enter the open air hotel and it is simple and elegant! There is a canoe at the bottom of the stairs! The restaurant is level to the beach and the grounds are manicured with seating and tiki torches. Wow, wow, wow! The food lives up to the view and the ambiance. Our server Sky and Anton were so great and even took photos of us! I am pretty sure the Jane Seymour walked by our table!! We didn't go for the chef's tasking menu, but opted for family style and every entree was delicious! Complete with a raspberry chocolate torte and a candle for me and my friend, I literally wished that I could come back as I blew out my candle! read more
We booked a parents only night (while our kids all were back at the hotel) and boy this did not disappoint. We were recommended to come here from a friend that has a house on the big island. They were able to accommodate our party of 9, only after booking for a table of 8 via OpenTable when the res opened up (2 weeks ahead of our date). We were seated outside in the patio area and the view was absolutely stunning. Had a 5:30 dinner time so that we could enjoy the breathtaking views at sunset. Absolute standouts were the maitaki mushrooms, wagyu tartare, radish salad, kale salad, sake clams and pull apart bread. Only passes were the grilled kanpachi (a bit overcooked) and the panna cotta (a bit grainy). I find good and memorable food hard to come by in Hawaii. read more
More info about CanoeHouse
68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr
Kamuela, HI 96743
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(808) 885-6622
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https://auberge.com/mauna-lani/dine/canoe-house/
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Ask the Community - CanoeHouse
Is it good for large groups?
I think it could be with enough planning. The patio outside has a lot of wiggle room to move tables around. We saw a party of at least 10-12 there.
How far in advance can I book reservation online? Is the tasting menu worth the price? We have a…
I believe you can book as far out as open table allows. Is response to the tasting menu, let me first say that I'm a foodie that loves great food and value. So answering the question of worth going to be relative to your idea of value. You pay…
What is the dress code?
There is no dress code. I recommend Hawaii casual i.e aloha shirts for men and sundresses for women.
Does this place have gulten free bread?
Call them. I'm pretty sure they don't. But their bread is awesome if you can break your gluten rules for one night. Only place I've ever had shokupan bread like this.
Do they only have a prefix visit or is ala cart available?
A la carte is totally available. I was just there a few weeks ago. I honestly prefer the ala carte menu compared to the tasting. Have fun! What an incredible meal you're gonna have.
Can non resort guests get a reservation?
Yes, check open table about 2 days before you want to go
Hello :) hope all is well ,Is there a reservation available for tonight for 2 people?
No, there is availability. Sorry.
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CanoeHouse - japanese - Updated September 2026
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