Must try restaurants Big Island
 

heading to Big Island for a few days in September before going on to Kauai. Haven't been to Big Island in a very long time. What are some great restuarnats that we must visit?. Already have a reservation at Browns at the Fairmont Orchid. Need some low key good places as Browns will be our "ritsy" night out. We especially love fresh fish, Italian including pizzza...thaks for your help

I really enjoy Kona Brewing Company...great beers and really good pizzas! Very much at the opposite end of the spectrum from Browns (which was fabulous when I was there Nov 2008).

My family and I enjoyed the pizza and pastas at Cafe Pesto, located at Kawaihae Harbor. A very low key place would be the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook, a popular local institution.

http://www.cafepesto.com/
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/R...e-manago-hotel

I'll second Cafe Pesto...particularly if you are staying in the Kohala District. I was there for lunch; when I'm on a budget I usually eat lunch out rather than dinner.

In Kona there are many restaurants. We like the Kona Brewery

We haved great meals at Merrimans..but that is pricey.
Kona Brewery is good too.. for a lot less $$.



www.merrimanshawaii.com

Here's the list of Kona Bob's recommendations from Kona Web http://www.konaweb.com/konaweb/island.shtml

Restaurants we always try to go to when we're on the BI--Ke'ei Cafe, Mi's Italian Bistro in south Kona, Ceviche Dave's for lunch the day we arrive before going to Costco, Huli Sue's in Waimea http://www.hulisues.com/, Bamboo in Hawi http://www.bamboorestaurant.info/, Hilo Bay Cafe in Hilo, Hana Hou in Na'alehu (if you're driving around the south end of the island) and Holuakoa Gardens in Holualoa *nice for brunch).

Not on Kona Bob's list are Paolo's in Pahoa (if you go to Puna)a Tuscan chef and BYOB- and Lava Rock Cafe in Volcano (good for lunch).

I forgot to mention my favorite breakfast place:
Aloha Angel Cafe in Kainaliu, a bit south of Kailua-Kona.
It is in a historic old theater building; you eat outside on a wrap-around veranda surrounded by lush greenery. Very
old-time tropical feel.

We enjoyed Fuijimama's for upscale asian food. They are award winning in Japan.:
http://www.fujimamas.com/food-drink.html

Teshima's: For the authentic Hawaiian/Asian food & atmosphere - not high end at all - 'locals' atmosphere. Try the fried Spam - it's even good! They do 'take out' if you want to take a boxed lunch on a hike or snorkle. Order by phone & pick up on your way.

Kilauea Lodge Restaurant: Wonderful all the way around (Service, food, lodge atmosphere).

And, while not a restaurant, you can pick up some healthy foods/sandwiches made to order/smoothies/fruit, etc. at
South Kona Fruit Stand - here is a Utube link showing it but arriving from the opposite direction of Kona. I highly recommend a stop!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BbhBeIJfr4

In Hilo, we ate at Harrington's which was also very good & loved sitting by the window, watching the fishies & crabs & school boys steal a swim in the Ice Pond right next to us.
Here is a link that shows a picture/review of Harrington's at the very end of the article:
http://www.hawaiitravel.me/big-islan...t-dinners.html

Great fresh fish sandwiches and outdoor patio by the water: the Cafe Grill at the Kona Inn:

http://www.windandsearestaurants.com/konainn/home.htm

We liked it so much, we've eaten there more than once during a one week stay. Because its reasonably priced, good food, and the setting can't be beat.

If you make it up to North Kohala, in addition to the Bamboo, which has great Hawaiian music on Friday and Saturday nights, there are some other restaurants that are special.

One is Sushi Rock http://www.gokohala.com/business/dining/Sushi_Rock.html , in Hawi, which has innovative sushi and other interesting dishes with fresh, local ingredients. The atmosphere is low key and quirky, but it is not inexpensive, although you can just try a few things.

Another casual restaurant is Pico's Bistro in Kapa'au, which is fresh Greek/Hawaiian, with great spanakopita, quiche (I'm a vegetarian) but also great grilled lamb, fish, steak and salads. Dining is outside on the patio or upstairs on the deck. It is part of a charming tiny museum (Kenji's House) and an art cooperative http://www.kohalaartists.com/history .

If you are on your way to a hike at Pololu, there are a couple of good lunch places, Short & Sweet in Hawi http://www.shortnsweet.biz/, and the place across from the King Kamehameha statue makes good individual pizzas and sandwiches.

Forgot about Sushi Rock on my previous post--I second Kailani on that. We loved it!

wow thanks for all the great tips. Won't hit them all but it gives us lots of choices. Anywhere else for Hawaiian music o the big Island or Kauai. Love it, love it love it.....

Huli Sue's in Waimea.

The Chinese resturant at the Waikoloa Hilton... but the other resturants at the hotel were not up to par. The Italian resturant was closed and they had an italian "buffet" with 5 offerings... that was AWFUL. So if you're staying at the Hilton... Leave for dinner. Merrimans excellent

You've already chosen your "ritzy" restaurant, so maybe next trip you should consider the Hale Samoa at Kona Village Resort. Very romantic, just a foot-high wall separating you from the beach, lighted predominantly by tiki torches, and splendid food. (Sunsets are included at no extra charge, but no guarantees on the green flash.) Reservations are a must, so you can get your name on the guard's list.

Another suggestion...head to the Fairmont Orchid between 5 and 6:30 (every day) to enjoy a gorgeous view of the sunset and 50% off drinks and pupus at the Luana Lounge. You'll have to pay for parking, but you can't beat the deal and the view. One night a friend and I shared (but did not finish) 3 cocktails and 5 pupus (trio of hummus spreads, vegetable summer roll, beef ribs, cheese fondue, and flatbread) for $54. Total bargain, and very tasty.

I loved Cafe Pesto - good service, good food, good wine! And a moderate price.

Let's see, Kee'i Cafe (bring cash), Don the Beachcomber (beautiful view), Kona Brewing Company, Sensi Sushi (waikoloa), Merriman in Waimae, Thai Thai, Volcano Village, Cafe Pesto both restaurants, Kona Village Luau, Hawaiian Style Cafe for breakfast (in Waimae)

Thanks Beanweb24 for the tip on the Fairmont Orchid. We are staying there so will take advantage ....Also mumpsimus...thanks for the tip on Hale Samoa. Might cancel our reservations at Browns and try this one. Nothing is written in stone yet.... Just a few days to go before we head out and we are sooooo ready.......

Shar, I'm very partial to Kona Village, as you may have picked up. I did a website just for the heck of it, and you might want to take a look: www.davidskvr.net. If that doesn't work, go to Google and do a search on "Kona Village Life in the Soft Lane." When I did that my website was the second listing. Anyway, it's got 265 pictures of the village, including pictures of the Hale Samoa. Enjoy!

I will say that Browns is not a "must do" restaurant. I ate there in November 2008 for Thanksgiving dinner, but on my last visit over Labor Day weekend I was less than impressed. I had two appetizers as my main...a beet salad (wonderful) and a ahi tuna poke (ho hum). My friend ordered a steak prepared medium, and it came out well done and tough as leather...she had it sent back, and the waitress asked for the cook to prepare it medium rare, and of course it came back more on the rare side. Sigh. It was an expensive and unenjoyable dinner.

I found that our service and food was far better at the Luana Lounge. For a splurge meal, I would much rather spend my money at Pahu I'a at the Four Seasons Hulalai than Browns at the Fairmont.

again thanks for the comments.

You can make it to Bamboo in Hawi easily, and I urge you to go because it is so off-beat, and everyone who works there is so friendly. The last time we were on the BI, after a year, we went to Bamboo, and when we walked in the waiter knew exactly what our drinks order would be. Of course, every time we go we have fun talking with and joking with the staff.

And the food is sort of hawaiian/Asian. Their coconut sauce which they put on their veggie stir-fry and some other dishes is divine. And you can buy their cookbook, too.

I loved the "Hilo Bay Café" in Hilo, odd location in a shopping area but staff, ambience and last but not least food was to die for! I was early (for dinner) and lucky to get a table but a little while later the place was packed! People waiting in line outside, so make sure to either be there early or have a reservation. For lunch I can also recommend "What's shakin'" at the end (or beginning, depending on where you're coming from)of the 4 mile scenic drive outside Hilo. Very fresh, very neat, very delicious. When up north, yes, go for the "Bamboo" or "Sushi Rock" in Hawi. And one of the greatest little Greek places is "Pico's" in Kapaa, excellent deal for lunch and sooo cute...

I'll add something else to this old thread: Kenichi Pacific, a Japanese restaurant in the Keauhou shopping center in Kona. It's not a glamorous loction, but the food is excellent. DH and son love their sushi, we all love their "dynamite shrimp" and I think their veggie tempura is really good. It's a fairly expensive place but not outrageous, IMO.