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Elegant Restaurant on Big Island To Top Off Vacation?

rmb

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Any suggestions for an elegant, upscale restaurant for a nice finish to a week on the Big Island? I'd like it to be somewhere with a nice view, but also great food with decent-sized portions.

So many of the 'expensive' restaurants with a vew serve just 'ok' food and petite portions... in this economy, if I am going to pay for it... I want my money's worth.

Also... any nice lounges to have a drink and dance that is not '20 or 30 something'? Yes, I'm getting old to ask that question! :bawl:
 

lynne

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Any suggestions for an elegant, upscale restaurant for a nice finish to a week on the Big Island? I'd like it to be somewhere with a nice view, but also great food with decent-sized portions.

So many of the 'expensive' restaurants with a view serve just 'ok' food and petite portions... in this economy, if I am going to pay for it... I want my money's worth.

Also... any nice lounges to have a drink and dance that is not '20 or 30 something'? Yes, I'm getting old to ask that question! :bawl:

Check out the Blue Dragon in Kawaihae. No views but great food and entertainment. Web site will have the calendar of music and a biography of the artist. www.bluedragonhawaii.com
 

rmb

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Which side of the island will you be on?

Kona Coast Resort... but I'm willing to drive North if necessary. It would probably be on Friday as we will be leaving the next day. I always like to top off the week with a wonderful dinner.... we eat 'cheap' through the week. :whoopie:
 

fnewman

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Maybe things have changed or perhaps we were not savy enough, but when we visited the BI several years ago, there did not appear to be anything close to an "elegant" restaurant.
 

TerriJ

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We really enjoyed the golf course restaurant that is in the developlment area that you drive through to get to the Bay Club, in fact just down the road from the Bay Club. Nice golf course views and the menu was tapas style at the time, but the food was very good and we had plenty to eat. And room for dessert.
 

lynne

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Maybe things have changed or perhaps we were not savy enough, but when we visited the BI several years ago, there did not appear to be anything close to an "elegant" restaurant.

Brown's Beach House is an elegant restaurant with a fabulous ocean setting, really good food and a high price to match. It might be the perfect way to end your vacation.
Here is the link: http://www.fairmont.com/orchid/GuestServices/Restaurants/BrownsBeachHouse.htm

You can read the reviews and make reservations online via opentable.
 

Liz Wolf-Spada

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Roys in Waikoloa Beach area has good food. Maybe do the luau called Kings (something) at the Mauni Lea (I think) really good food and wonderful show and great ocean setting. We ate at Huggos and it had a good view, but the service wasn't good, the food was overpriced and not large portions.
Liz
 

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We have limited experience with fine dining on the Big Island, but by far the most elegant we tried was the Kamuela Provisioin Company at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. We had a brilliant sunset view, and the food was superb. It was not cheap, but we thought the experience was worth it. There are some more fine dining restaurants ther that may be even more, Imari and Kirin, if you like Japanese and Chinese. The loked nice on the outside, can't give a review. Some of the other nice hotels may have some comparable, but I suspect we will return to KPC next time out.
 

Liz Wolf-Spada

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I did want to second Blue Dragon. We ate there and chose to go on a night with Hawaiian slack guitar. They have different people playing different music and you can check all that on line. It was great food and service and a very memorable evening. We went on the recommendation from Tuggers Lynn and Ken who live on Hawaii and it was primarily a local scene.
Liz
 

rmb

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We have limited experience with fine dining on the Big Island, but by far the most elegant we tried was the Kamuela Provisioin Company at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. We had a brilliant sunset view, and the food was superb. It was not cheap, but we thought the experience was worth it. There are some more fine dining restaurants ther that may be even more, Imari and Kirin, if you like Japanese and Chinese. The loked nice on the outside, can't give a review. Some of the other nice hotels may have some comparable, but I suspect we will return to KPC next time out.

I absolutely would love a great Japanese restaurant... two of my favorites:

Kaua'i: Kintaro (Kapaa)
Maua'i: Sansei (Kapalua)

Anything comparable to these two would be PERFECT! Suggestions?
 

daventrina

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The legendary “Don the Beachcomber”
Set right on the water’s edge with impressive ocean and sunset views, diners will enjoy the Polynesian retro-tiki chic atmosphere, flavorful award-winning cuisine and legendary original Mai Tais at Don the Beachcomber Restaurant and Don’s Mai Tai Bar.
http://www.hawaiihotels.com/Main/Sub.cfm?ID=202&Ref=RKR
 

jbrunson

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As I said, I haven't tried it, but the menu for Imari is on the HWV website. It seems fairly consistent with other Japanese restaurants. Since I've never found bad food at a Japanese Restaurant, I would go there were I in the mood. You can visit it to get an idea of ambience before reserving I suppose.
The Waikoloa area is interesting enough to be worth the trip. Odds are that what you are looking for will be found up there.

Apologies for the typo filled first post.
 

Luanne

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Okay, I know my post is too late, but we just got back from two weeks on the Big Island and I wanted to add my two cents. ;)

We celebrated our dd's 21st birthday at the Pahu i`a, which is located at the Four Seasons (just north of the airport). It was incredible. The restaurant sits almost right on the beach. The service and the food were wonderful. Pricey, but worth it for a special occasion. I had specifically asked for a table with a view.

We've also eaten in previous visits at Browns and the Canoe House.

I haven't been to the Blue Dargon, I think it might new since our last trip. However, we tend to like Cafe Pesto, which is in the same area.

We've also eaten at the Kamuela Provision Company at the Hilton and weren't blown away. Maybe if we'd had a table with a better view we would have been more impressed. The food was decent, but we haven't been back since the first time.

We ate at Roy's our last night. Good food, but the restaurant is VERY noisy and the only views are if you're by the windows looking out at the fake lagoon.
 

Hawaii123

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Kona Village Restaurant

Right on the water, wonderful food & desserts. Pricey, but well worth it.
 

Darlene

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Jamison's By the Sea would be my choice. There are tables on the balcony, and they feed the eels for you to see.
 

Jan Handlers

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I would second Pahuia. It is always our "special occasion" restaurant. It is expensive but the view, service and food are terrific. I would rate The Canoe House a very close second. It has had several changes of chefs over the past several years, but on our last visit in May, it was fantastic. It also has an elegant feel and beautiful setting on the beach. Brown's Beach House is also great. The only problem is that they sometimes have private parties on the beach across the lagoon from the restaurant. This takes away from the setting. We have never thought that KPC (Kamuela Provision Company) has been that great. Ruth's Chris at the Mauna Lani has consistently great food and service, but there is no view.

Enjoy!
 

Luanne

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Ruth's Chris at the Mauna Lani has consistently great food and service, but there is no view.

We love Ruths' Chris, but have one near us at home. So we prefer to eat places that we can't get to elsewhere. :D
 

nazclk

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Big Island Restaurant

Two places we went to the last time we were there(2 years ago) Jamison's which is right on the water on Alii Drive, and the restaurant at the Sheraton at the end of Alii Drive. Also in Wailkoloa in the King and Queen Shops there are a few nice places as well.
 
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