|
|
|
Batik
62-100 Mauna Ke'a, Mauna Ke'a Beach Hotel, Kamuela, HI 96743 · 808-882-5801
|
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
KOHALA COAST. [Undergoing renovations due to earthquake damage; expected to reopen in December 2008.] The Mauna Ke'a Beach Hotel's signature restaurant, Batik suavely combines Far East-influenced decor and atmosphere with superb Euro-Asian cuisine to create one of the Big Island's most unique dining experiences. Enclosed completely in glass, the two-level, main dining area is accented with stained koa ceilings and bathed in soft, romantic light. House specialties include Thai curries served with naan bread, a veal porterhouse steak with fava beans, and Keahole lobster Provençale. Desserts are equally decadent, and Grand Marnier soufflé and Valrhona chocolate cake are particular standouts.
|
Cafe Pesto
308 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720-2960 · 808-969-6640
|
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
HILO. Hilo Bay's Cafe Pesto enjoys quite a reputation for innovative pizzas, which range from traditional Italian varieties to recipes bearing Mediterranean or Pacific Rim touches. The restaurant gets packed at lunch; everybody from local business types to tourists clamor for a daily fix of pizza topped with shiitake mushrooms, artichokes, chipotle-seasoned chicken, or chili-grilled shrimp. Diners wanting to go a different route may opt for an Asian catch stromboli with shrimp tempura and an Oregon wasabi snow crab caesar salad or a Sandalwood panini (Japanese eggplant, marinated artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and rosemary gorgonzola). Another location is in Kawaihae (808-882-1071).
|
CanoeHouse
68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr, Mauna Lani Resort, Kohala Coast, HI 96743 · 808-885-6622
|
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
KOHALA COAST. This restaurant's Pacific Rim-influenced menu boasts a wide range of scrumptious seafood options. Enjoy fresh-from-the-sea mahi mahi marinated in miso sake, savor lemon-pepper scallops grilled and served with wild mushrooms, or delight in flavorful nips of nori-wrapped ahi tempura and ginger-scallion tofu. The scene is equally delightful, and the rolling surf just a few yards away juxtaposes nicely with the large, outrigger canoe hanging over the enchanting outdoor dining area.
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
KAMUELA. A native of Lorraine, France, Daniel Thiebaut brings to the Big Island distinct French flair and dazzles patrons with his propensity for adding Asian or Polynesian culinary touches. The restaurant, located in the historic Chock In Store building (circa 1900), is set in verdant Waimea ranch country and is a favorite with romantics, who adore its antiques, local curiosities, uniquely appointed tables, and multi-hued Sig Zane fabrics (a must for any Hawaiian restaurant worth its salt). Featured dishes include crab cakes with corn and lemongrass-coconut lobster sauce, Hunan-style rack of lamb with eggplant compote, and wok-fried scallops with Asian-style risotto and coconut dressing.
|
Donatoni's
425 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Kohala Coast, HI 96743 · 808-886-1234
|
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
| Avg. Entrée: |
$$$$31 - $50
|
| Reservations: |
Recommended |
| Outdoor Dining: |
 |
KOHALA COAST. Guests at the Waikoloa Village Hilton have nothing but high praise for the hotel's Venetian-style signature eatery. Donatoni's seductive setting – it overlooks a canal – and Old World decor recollect quaint Italian villas. Handmade pasta dishes are offset by offerings of veal, spicy sausages, or fresh-caught seafood. Highlights include Costoletta di Maiale Ripiena with goat cheese and wild mushrooms, Pesce del Giorno served on couscous, and homemade spinach ricotta dumplings in a plum tomato sauce. Romantic lanai seating along the waterway is available.
|
Hilo Bay Café
315 Makaala St, Waiakea Center, Hilo, HI 96720 · 808-935-4939
|
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
HILO. Don't let appearances deceive you – there are no burgers and fries at this unassuming strip mall restaurant, but you will find dishes like stuffed chicken breast with bacon and pine nuts, and artichoke, garlic, and cream cheese ravioli. Lunch features salads, sandwiches, and comfort food entrees (try the vegetarian pot pie). An even balance of meat and meatless plates keeps everyone happy, and the waitstaff are happy to suggest wine pairings for your meal.
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK. Constructed in 1938 as a YMCA camp, Kilauea Lodge offers unique accommodations close to Volcanoes National Park. When dinner time rolls around, there's no need to drive into Hilo – the lodge's restaurant is one of the best on the island. The menu changes nightly, but several dishes make regular appearances, including a starter of lightly fried Brie in herb-coconut batter, duck à l'orange with apricot mustard glaze, venison medallions flamed with brandy, and the catch of the day prepared to your liking.
|
La Bourgogne
77-6400 Nalani St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 · 808-329-6711
|
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
KONA COAST. South of Kailua-Kona, this cozy cottage eatery prepares the Big Island's finest fare, and most of its top dishes feature Gallic flair. Unpretentious yet elegant, the restaurant is a favorite with local romantics, who adore the intimate setting and admirable wine list. Beautifully presented New Zealand mussels steamed in apple cider and cognac, osso bucco, sweetbreads, and roast duck à l'orange are but a few of the tempting entrees. As one might expect, La Bourgogne boasts a quintessential French knack for creating superior desserts, as the delectable lemon tartlette attests.
|
Pescatore
235 Keawe St, Hilo, HI 96720-2825 · 808-969-9090
|
User Rating:
(Rate It)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
HILO. Residents of the Big Island's largest city surely count themselves lucky to have this Italian charmer in town. Pescatore is known for its intimate scene – koa wood walls, tile floors, dim lighting, dark wood furniture, and splashes of red and green – and traditional Italian-American fare. House specialties include ahi tuna carpaccio, veal Marsala, and Cioppino Classico with fresh lobster, mussels, and scallops.
User Rating: (Rate It!)
My Suitcase: (Add to My Suitcase)
KOHALA COAST. Few things better complement a respite in paradise than an expertly mixed margarita and views of the surf rolling in. Fortunately, the Big Island boasts a place where you can enjoy both – festive Tres Hombres, which comes complete with a beach bum's ransom of surfing memorabilia. Here, Coronas are always ice cold, tequila is always potent, and chiles rellenos are always spicy. A "light" menu is available for those trying to count calories. There's another location at Kawaihae Shopping Center (808-882-1031).
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
|
Print this Page
Email this Page
Click here to share it »
