Owner Restaurant Picks

Hali'i Kai Ocean Club. Lunch service begins at 11:30. Our menu favorites include: Chicken Katsu with Jasmine Rice, Ahi Poke, Quesadillas, Cheesburger, Calamari. We always order a Mai Tai, Corona Beer, Glass of Wine or Pina Colada with our meal-full bar service is also available. Say hello to Craig the Bartender and Chef Jeff (the former chef from the Four Seasons Hualalai.) Dinner service is usually conducted until sunset or shortly thereafter. Check the club concierge for exact hours.

Kamuela Provision Company. This is located in the Hilton Waikoloa next door. Ocean cliff-side sunset dining for dinner. Request an outside table! Wonderful assortment of food and the vodka martini's are good although they "jacked" us on the price last time so maybe you should stick with wine or beer instead.

Kirin. Also next door at the Hilton. We prefer to go there for Chinese Dim Sum Lunch, it is a great menu and reasonably priced. Dinner is standard Chinese fare and is a bit pricey. Great deals for lunch and fabulous food. Request a table on the patio to watch the boats glide by. When you leave the restaurant and approach the elevator, before you go downstairs walk around on the sidewalk to the left of the elevator and see the buddha with babies. AND while you're looking, check out Halii Kai #6G in the background! It will give you a great perspective of where our villa sits in relation to the Hilton. Here is a sneaky tid-bit. You can actually walk from our villa across the golf course and end up at the restaurant. Just be mindful of the golfers.

Hawaii Calls. This is the restaurant at the Marriott, close by. They often have early bird sunset meals, generally from 5-6pm or 6-7pm depending on the season. Call them in advance to find out. The early bird meal includes a choice of starter, entree and dessert for $35. Nice sunset views and this hotel was just recently remodled so it is very nice. A-Bay (beach) sits just outside.

Merrimans Market Cafe. At the Kings Shops across the street from the Marriott. Try to get a table on the patio, a wide assortment of items, our favorite is the pasta. This is a bistro-style version of Merrimans main restauraunt upcountry in Waimea. We tried the Merrimans at Kapalua on our recent visit to Maui. If you are over there, that one is magnificent!

Waikola Kings Golf Club. They only serve breakfast and lunch at the Kings course. We believe this is the best breakfast on the island and a good value at around $5-$9 for a huge breakfast. Remember, our golf membership allows you to play the course for $50.

Queens Shops Court. Just opened, the Waikoloa Queens Shops has an outstanding food court that isn't your typical "mall style" court. Inside you will find several restaurants serving Hawaiian mixed plates (beef, chicken, katsu, mac, rice) as well as a noodle house and several well known chains (Dairy Queen, Subway, Arby's). Why not carry out a meal and eat it on the lanai of your villa?

Canoe House. Just up the highway at the Mauna Lani Hotel. This ocean side dining experience cannot be missed. Plan one nice evening here. Plan on spending approximately $60/person including a beverage.

Tommy Bahama Cafe. We thought it would be "touristy" but found this place to be a refreshing change. Nice sunset views and shopping downstairs. Located at the Shops at Mauna Lani, this may be the liveliest bar on the coast after hours. Good happy hour food menu in the bar area only with reasonable prices.

Pahuia. At the Four Seasons Hualalai, south of Waikoloa approximately 10 miles. This is truly a "splurge" meal that you will remember forever. Ocean side dining in typical Four Seasons excellent service fashion. Afterwards, or in lier of Pahuia, head upstairs to the Lava Lounge for live entertainment by award winning artists, including our favorite-Charles Michael Brotman who performed at the villa owners birthday bash.

Kona Village Resort. If you are interested in seeing a bit of true "Tahiti" head on down to Hualalai to the Kona Village Resort and try one of their two restaurants, we prefer Hale Samoa because of its ambiance. The atmosphere cannot be beat. Just make sure you call ahead for a reservation or the gate attendant will not let you in.

L&L BBQ. Located up in Waimea, this Hawaiian and west coast chain serves a really good mixed plate for a cheap price. If you are up in Waimea during meal time, it makes a great find. Located in the shopping complex where the grocery store is (can't remember the name of the grocery store, sorry.)

The newly opened Mauna Kea Resort. This resort was closed for 2 years due to the earthquake up north but has recently reopened. We had lunch at the pool restaurant and it was great. There is a wonderful ambiance to the dinner lanai restaurant upstairs (not sure of the name), haven't tried it but it looks beautiful!

Fairmont Luana Lounge. We actually go here not for food but for drinks. The Lilikoi Martini is the owners favorite! It is located inside the Fairmont Orchid Mauna Lani.