The vibe is so relaxing. Beef shortrib loco moco is also very delicious. The gravy is not too heavy…read moreand the egg is perfect. Kids waffle is only 10bucks and is made heartily. Whenever we are back to Kona, we go to this place for a proper meal.

The food here is excellent! I had dinner 3 times at HāLani during my stay. The service is also top…read morenotch. I tried the following: Ahi carpaccio: 5/5 I can't stop thinking about this carpaccio, it is so good! The eggplant and pine nuts add a beautiful touch. This is a must order. Wagyu skirt steak: 5/5 perfectly cooked and seasoned. I'd highly recommend this dish. The potatoes that come with are also solid. Grilled broccolini: 5/5 no notes, delicious Mediterranean orzo: 5/5 great flavor and perfectly cooked. All beef hot dog (Keiki menu): 5/5 Great hotdog! The bread is lightly sweet which comp This was my favorite restaurant on property!

Napua has always been a great restaurant, but the recent changes to the indoor/outdoor dining area…read moreand the new menu are even better than before. Amazing beach-side dining, the food was great and on par with anything you would get at the two 5-star hotels in Mauna Lani, and our server Jasmine was FANTASTIC! We'll be back soon.

Service was excellent. Super friendly and accommodating staff!…read more Food was okay. Overpriced. Not many options on the menu. Wouldn't make the drive to dine here unless you're already in the area or staying nearby.

What an incredible experience!!…read more Came here with family and had Gabby as our server, she was wonderful. I enjoyed everything, from the drinks to the appetizers to the dessert. We started with the Mai tai flight, ahi poke and tako escargot. All were so good, would definitely order again. For entrees we ordered a mix of the spicy lobster ravioli, chateaubriand, and ahi katsu. I love that they allow you to combine two entrees, even if it's for a slight upcharge. Everything was great. No complaints at all. Portion sizing was perfect too, with the addition of the appetizers. For dessert we opted for the pineapple bread pudding which was delicious as well. Perfect with the ice cream. We definitely would've come back if we had more time or if we were in the area. Good idea to make reservations in advance.

We had dinner at Merriman's in Waimea with our family of six, and it was one of the highlights of…read moreour trip to the Big Island. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. Bianca and the entire staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They made us feel relaxed and well taken care of throughout the evening without ever being intrusive. The food was outstanding. Our table enjoyed the day boat catch, macadamia nut-crusted fish, Caesar salad, beet salad with goat cheese, cucumber salad, smoked taro hummus, and desserts including sorbet and seasonal ice cream. Every dish was fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The combination of incredible food, gracious service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere made for a memorable family dinner. A heartfelt thank you to Bianca and the entire Merriman's team for making our evening so special. We can't wait to return on our next visit to the Big Island.

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.

The tables were sticky, picked the menu up and the words stuck to the table. The service was non…read moreexistent. Would have ordered more drinks, but our server was in the back with the kitchen staff. Our food came out before the appetizer, made it halfway to our table and was taken back to the kitchen to sit and get cold. Asked the person to bring our food back as we did not want to eat cold food. The beverages were great the best part of the meal. The corn ribs were horrible and should be taken off the menu, worst appetizer I've ever had. The loco moco with beef short ribs were good. The pork na his tasted Goff as well, although a bit on the cool side, definitely not

Came by here last month on our drive up to Waimea and really enjoyed the food!! Service was…read morefriendly too. Sweet potato fries were sooo good. Tried all the sauces and they were all delicious. Parking is in the back lot, it's a good idea to come when they open to beat crowds but there's plentiful seating inside.

Food 5/5 Strawberry Lemonade $9 - Yum! Absolutely delicious…read more Lava Flow $16 - Tasty and delicious. Spicy Poke Bowl $26 - Just okay, nothing special about it. The flavor wasn't kicking nor was it really that spicy at all. BBQ Sampler Plate w/ fries & grilled pineapple $37.95 - Good price point for a sampler. We've eaten a ton of BBQ around the US and the brisket was one of my favorites. The ribs had a sweetness I really enjoyed. Reuben Spring Rolls $16 - Not pictured but loved them! Chocolate Cake $12 - Since it was my actual birthday, my partner wanted to get me a slice of cake but boy are they huge. It was absolutely delicious but we had to take it to go. I would recommend they have smaller slices as eating a ton of BBQ and devouring a huge slice of cake is due for a heart attack. Ambiance 5/5 Got a nice table by the window minus the horsefly. Service 3/5 The lady who sat us and took our drink orders is extremely sweet and friendly. Our service was just okay, she didn't really add to our experience as if there was something on her mind.

I found this place completely by accident after being invited to dinner by the manager's mother…read more Honestly, that's the kind of accident I hope keeps happening. They opened with beef tartare that ruined me for every other beef tartare I've ever had. The osso buco is legendary. Then came the double cheeseburger... and I need everyone to understand that I don't hand out compliments like ketchup packets. This is, without question, the best burger I've ever eaten. It's so good it makes you want a cigarette afterward--and I don't even smoke. I've come back many times just for that burger because nothing else I've tried on Hawaiʻi Island or Oʻahu comes close. Their tater tots have developed their own fan club, and the little bar with beer, wine, and cocktails makes it dangerously easy to linger. The staff is consistently warm and welcoming. After being away for six weeks because of a family emergency, one of my first stops after returning was this burger. It was still outstanding, but I did notice the beef patty seemed about a third to nearly half thinner than I remembered. At around $20, that's noticeable. I'm hoping it was just an off day because this place has earned enough goodwill for me to give it another shot. Don't overlook the butcher shop itself. The meat quality is miles beyond what you'll find in a grocery store. I bought their ground beef for a ragù alla Bolognese, and it was so spectacular that I went back specifically to buy more for homemade burgers. Bottom line: this is one of the hidden gems of the island. Come for the butcher shop, stay for the burger, and if you leave without wondering whether you should light an imaginary post-burger cigarette, we clearly ordered different meals.

Heard such great things about this butcher shop on social media so had check them out…read more It's a small hole-in-the-wall store in Waimea (Kamuela) butcher shop/restaurant l. Came to buy their well-known Laulau sausage and to try their burgers. Meal prices are a tad bit high, but as they say, "you get what you pay for." We decided to try two different items on their small menu; a pastrami and hamburger. Both were so fresh you could actually taste the difference. Nothing like fresh meat! Both were well-seasoned and TENDER, the bun on the burger was a brioche which was very moist. We also got their version of Mac salad which was quite good The laulau sausage was very good, just never had laulau in a sausage before. GPS gave us the incorrect directions, but we found it. It's across the Ace Hardware store. Open parking.

The Absolute Highlight of Our Honeymoon! If you are looking…read morefor an unforgettable dining experience on the island, Canoe House is an absolute must. It was hands-down our favorite meal of our three-island honeymoon! The ambiance here is incredible. We arrived a bit early and were lucky enough to score a front-row table right on the water for the sunset. Our waiter was flawless- he perfectly paced our drinks and courses so we never felt rushed and could fully soak in every minute of the sunset. The cocktails are phenomenal and beautifully balanced. My husband loved his spicy mango guava margarita, and I started with a mango drink that wasn't overly sweet but tasted wonderfully bright. Afterward, I had two of the "Nikko" cocktails, which were divine - essentially a bright, refreshing cucumber gin martini that went down way too easily! The Food * The Box Bread: Served warm with a perfectly crusty exterior and a pillowy, delicious interior. Paired with their incredible butter, it's a stellar start to the meal. * Kushi Oysters: These came pre-dressed with a seaweed topping. While I usually prefer dressing my own oysters (or having a standard vinaigrette on the side to compare), these were still wonderfully briny and delicious. * The Famous Garlic Fried Rice: It's good, and we completely finished it, though it wasn't the absolute best fried rice I've ever had. However, the presentation is genius ... it's double-plated, which kept it steaming hot throughout the entire meal. * The Beef Tenderloin: Cooked to an absolute perfect medium-rare, served with a sweet, savory glaze and very yummy broccoli. * The Ahi Kasuyaki: The absolute star of the night! They torch the fish right in front of you! The pieces of fish were incredibly tender and paired beautifully with a spectacular mustard sauce. Divine. * sticky rice and coconut icecream. Just trust me find out for yourself. It is indescribable. Between the show-stopping sunset views, the table-side torching, and the impeccable service, Canoe House gave us a magical evening we will be talking about for years. Don't skip this place!

A reservation is a must for this restaurant and I see why. It gets very busy since it's one of the…read morebest places to eat while watching the beautiful sunset. Food and service were excellent! They provide free valet parking . Everything we ordered tasted fresh and delicious! Portions were a decent amount and the drinks were unique. I highly recommend to come here when you're in the area.

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.

Lava Lava Beach Club came highly recommended for its beautiful beachfront sunset ambiance, so I…read morebooked our table two weeks in advance after hearing how quickly reservations fill up. I'm glad I did! I made our OpenTable reservation for 5:30, knowing sunset was projected to be around 6:30ish. Right off the bat, this felt like the ideal place for our last dinner on the Big Island. Oceanfront dining, a beautiful sunset, and live entertainment featuring a slack-key guitarist and ʻolapa? Yes, please! We started with the ceviche, fritto misto, and Parmesan garlic bread. The ceviche was delicious! If you're sharing like we did, be prepared to break up the tostada with your fork to make it more like chips. The fritto misto was also a hit. Well seasoned, not overly breaded, and a nice ratio of calamari, shrimp, and artichokes. The Parmesan garlic bread, however, was mid. Nothing particularly memorable. For our mains, another friend and I ordered the sizzling shrimp. We weren't terribly hungry to begin with, and the appetizers had already done a pretty good job of filling us up. The rest of our party ordered a burger with sweet potato fries and Huggo's teriyaki steak. The burger was good, but not WOW, and the sweet potato fries seemed a bit stale. The teriyaki steak, on the other hand, was a winner. Our friend did a whole lot of yumming while eating, so I think that speaks for itself. Sadly, the sizzling shrimp didn't quite deliver. Some of the shrimp had sizzled a little too long, leaving them overly curled and not as tender as I would've liked. Some of that buttery goodness had also burned, discoloring a few of the shrimp. Not exactly what I was hoping for when I ordered a dish where the shrimp and butter are supposed to be the stars. Would I come back? Maybe. I absolutely loved the ambiance and entertainment, and I'm glad we chose this spot for our final Big Island dinner. Watching the sunset with good company and live Hawaiian music was a beautiful way to end our trip. Would I return strictly for the food? Likely not. There are too many local grindz I'd rather explore. But if I were traveling with friends who weren't feeling quite as adventurous with their food choices, Lava Lava would certainly be worth considering for the setting alone.

I've been to Lava Lava many times and never written a review, maybe starting in 2006-ish with my…read morefirst visit to the HI. I've never reviewed because while the setting is PERFECT, the food was "fine." Now? They have REALLY stepped up the food. This was our last dinner and I was stuffed to my eyeballs with good food, because Hawaii. So I tried to go light, just ("just" lol) soup and poke nachos. Son and husband split a steak because no one was that hungry (hot out, and so much good food already). First the soup was GREAT. Super chunky with good seafood. Poke nachos were correctly put together (IMO) with wonton chips (not tortilla chips!!) and great seasoning and toppings. Steak was great. Garlic bread was great. I was excited about the location, now I'm into the food too. Only had non-alcoholic drinks, but those were also very good! 5 stars, no notes.

So we went in for breakfast just as they got slammed with 20 walk-ups. Brandon and Frenchie…read moresurvived the onslaught with aplumb and delivered tasty, wonderful meals for us all. Try the french toast, the breakfast sandwich or eggs benedict. The wait is woth it and if you have conversations going it is quick enough to be just under an hour

We ordered the Sweet Bread French Toast with strawberry compote and the Mauka & Makai Benedict. The…read moreFrench toast was enjoyable, though fairly typical, while the Benedict was the standout dish, especially the grilled filet medallion lobster, which added a unique touch and great flavor. Beyond the food, the view created a pleasant ambiance and made for an enjoyable dining setting. Unfortunately, the experience was overshadowed by a cleanliness issue when our coffee was served. Both cups had visible lipstick marks on the rims. Although the staff promptly replaced them, it was an unpleasant first impression and raised concerns about attention to detail in dishwashing and quality control. Clean tableware is a basic expectation, so this was disappointing to encounter. Overall, we appreciated the food, the beautiful setting, and the staff's response, but the cleanliness issue significantly detracted from the experience.