4. Restaurants

Buzz’s Original Steak House

413 Kawailoa Rd, Kailua, HI, 96734
  • (808) 261-4661
  • Store is closed

Buzz’s Original Steak House Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Kailua for healthy meals suggestion.

Kailua Palace ( 115 Oneawa St )

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  • Glenn G.

    The fish there is great. The salad bar is kinda lame.

    (4)

  • Tara C.

    Well...I got suckered again. With friends in town who desperately wanted to go (OBVIOUSLY they didn't read my YELP reviews...what is WRONG with them?). We made the mistake of showing up at 4:30PM, while they are "setting up for dinner" The patio tables are empty, but we aren't allowed to sit at any of them for "drinks and appetizers". I guess that you have to spend a minimum amount to sit at the patio tables. Instead, we are invited to stand in the entry way (since the "drinks and appetizer" tables are all taken.) They shove appetizer menus at us, but I wonder how or WHY we would eat them standing up. Once again, is not the vibe I am looking for after a day at Lanikai. I see an older couple checking in for a dinner reservation, but they too, are asked to stand and wait until the rest of the party gets there, at least the hostess smiles at them. It's a passive aggressive smile..but a smile none the less. Once they find out we live here, they try and appease with free posters. A nice try, but...you know, too little too late. Good hospitality means feeling at home..I explain to my guests that WE do not go here because of this treatment, and they concur. We have one standing drink and bolt.

    (1)

  • Amanda T.

    Buzz's has been a favorite for a long time now. Let's start from the beginning... Parking...private lot but you can usually get a spot. If not, the beach park parking lot is right across the street! Seating...usually pretty quick. Depends on the time of day. We almost always make a dinner reservation and get seated as soon as we walk in. Lanai seating is our favorite! Make sure you request it when you call for a reservation. Service...EXCELLENT. Never had a bad experience here. Bartenders are friendly and the drinks are great. Lanikai Lemonade is a favorite. And they make a pretty good lemon drop martini too :) Food.. The usual is top sirloin and lobster combo. Hubs orders that and we share. Salad bar and bread is included with every entree. And the salad bar has so many choices! Love avocado and they have pineapple with cilantro. So delicious! Other entrees we've tried: Teriyaki chicken with garlic mashed potatoes - The garlic mashed are super yummy. And the portion of chicken is definitely big enough to have left overs. Fresh Fish - Fish varies day to day and there are 4 preparations (the waitress/waiter will tell you all about it). I think it's steamed, hibachi style, grilled, or the signature chef preparation. Strongly recommend the chef preparation! The sauce is to die for and the fish is always cooked just perfect. We've had the mahi mahi and the opa. And Dessert...oh dessert where shall I start!? First, they come out on a tray ready to be picked out and eaten right there. Not like other restaurants you go to and the ones on the tray are plastic "display only" desserts. How lame is that?!? Not Buzz's. The chocolate cheesecake is to die for...and both the mint chocolate ice cream pie and the mint chocolate ice cream pie are good too. Just depends on what you're in the mood for. The best part is the ambience. It's a small little beach shack...but a nice one. Cozy but classy. Dim lighting, cozy booths. Right across the street from the beach, lanai seating available. They have cool lamps outside lighting up the lanai...and a tree growing through it! Love it. And the menus are wood! Just turn them over when you're ready to order. I love Buzz's. The hubs and I will be loyal customers for a long time!

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    Maybe 2 1/2 stars. Great location and atmosphere. A good spot to link up with friends for drinks and pupus after the beach (the only reason we come here on a regular basis). You can sit outside and miss the lunch crowd, however, only pupus are available after 2pm until the dinner hour. Also, beware, staff think they are doing you a favor when you sit outside after 2. Last time I checked it is the customer who pays so just bring me my drink and pupus and hold the attitude. Could use some improvement in this area. Lunch is good but dinner is way overpriced. Really good burgers and Scampi salad. Won tons and calamari steak are also a big hit. Mai Tais and BFRDs will not fail you, but what is up with the limit of 3? Used to be cash only but now they take credit cards (welcome to the 21st century) All in all you should have a good experience here.

    (3)

  • Stevie L.

    Simple and excellent.

    (5)

  • Anthony A.

    Meat: 2.5 Stars... We ordered our NY Strip medium rare and half of it was mooing, the other half was fine. The strip had a flavor more consistent with being old then aged, but it was edible. We also ordered the ribs which were very fatty, but the bbq sauce was decent. The selection of chops that you can choose from is very laking (NO FILET). Salad Bar: 1 Star... One of the most awkward and un-salad salad bars I have ever experianced. How they get away with charging 13 dollars for this is beyond me. Steak Fries: 5 Stars... The most enjoyable thing on our plate was our fries, I would recommend coming to this restaurant and just eating these. ;) Bread: 1 Star... Cold. Atmosphere: 3.5 Stars... We ate outside where you could hear the ocean just fine. There are nice paper lights everywhere which sets a very romantic mood. Really wish the food lived up to the atmosphere. Restaurant is a bit dirty. Service: 3 Stars... A-ok, nothing great. Payment: 1 Star... Cash only or check... but who carries checks anymore.

    (2)

  • Teresa P.

    I'm really upset I had to give one star. After a day at the beach (across the street), my boyfriend and I thought we should grab a beer or two at happy hour at "that shack looking place across the street." Well, we walk up on the porch and the hostess looks me up and down ( i was fully clothed) and looks around all nervous and another hostess comes out and tells us we have to leave because my boyfriend is wearing a tank top. We drew curious states from people eating (in tank tops) and it was one of the most embarrassing moments ever. I felt like Julia Roberts in pretty woman when they won't let her shop. NEVER AGAIN will I attempt to go here. I'm a hairstylist, I have tons of clients, and I tell them all about this instance and they won't go either. What a snobby establishment. So disappointing.

    (1)

  • Mike C.

    After a day on the beach Buzz's was recommended by some local residents. Our family orders ranged from steaks to ribs to the catch of the day. All were very good. Ribs piled high, grilled fish was excellent and the steaks were very good. Service was friendly and accommodating. Salad bar was very good but the options for the younger children in the group were limited. Overall a fine meal. Great location in Kailua and would return if the opportunity presents itself.

    (4)

  • Myia R.

    Went to dinner twice and lunch several times. Located right across from Kailua beach. Good service, good food. Expensive though. Lani seating which I prefer! I'd recommend for appetizers and drinks!

    (4)

  • Nicole S.

    I threw up all night, everything I ate at Buzz's. Prior to the dinner I had at Buzz's I had eaten nothing all day (and eating on an empty stomach isn't an issue for me). After Buzz's all I ate were a few pieces of coconut from Whole Food's market. I doubt it was the coconut as my stomach was not satisfied to have just expelled that portion of the dinner. I ordered the lamb, two Mai Tai's and this came with a starter salad bar. The bill for one person was over $70.00. (A price which should signify quality.) I called the restaurant the next day and spoke to the manager and she listened to me with an unconcerned tone and said she had had no other complaints about the food so it must be me not the food. She then took down my address after I pressed and said that maybe the owners might want to do something for me but the sense I got was that probably nothing would be done. (And indeed nothing was done.)If one eats at Roy's restaurant and the food is improperly cooked it's served again or a credit is given! I know this only because my folks felt the meal was too salty once and Roy's sent a credit to their home when they wrote to complain...If Buzz's wants to charge Roy's prices... (and even a dinner at Roy's would doubtfully have cost that much) then they need to stand by their creations and offer better care for their customers. And aside from my illness afterward I think that this establishment tries to be cute and cool "old Hawaii" but old Hawaii would not have prices that high (to exclude many people) and would respect Kama'aina like Ohana (family) and honor it when a family member says they were made sick. There is nothing about the look of the establishment that merits these prices and the salad bar is overhyped and not special. Their website has a quote from someone in Alaska saying they think about that salad bar when they are at home from their vacation- clearly that person has never eaten a decent salad. On a positive note if the prices were more fair and the food safe it would be a cute, fun place. Perhaps at one time, before my time, it may have been.... I should add that later I looked at other reviews and saw that other people had gotten sick as well!

    (1)

  • Cindy B.

    So we went to this place on a friends referral of the steak. We get there and are seated, amd wait 10 minutes before someone brings us a paddle with the menu. This place has no cheese for anything. No burgers. Stuff that most steak houses have. We order and the waitress asked us if if we wanted to add fries or baked potato. My husband added fries & I added baked potato. She failed to tell us each of them would be an additional 3 dollars that we found out when we got the check. This place doesn't accept credit either! With the prices they charge how do they not take credit???!?? And the "ATM" machine is a credit card machine. This is a place I'd never go again. 17 bucks for a tiny chicken breast come on!

    (1)

  • LuLu M.

    WAY too expensive for what it is and honestly, the servers act like they are too good for you. We sat at the bar to eat and the bartenders talked to each other about personal stuff for about 10 minutes before even addressing we were there. Our drinks were about $11/each - way too expensive when you can get it cheaper somewhere else. Ultimately, not a very special place, there are better places in Kailua.

    (2)

  • Glenn G.

    I like to stop here when I'm in Kailua -- mostly for the ambiance and location. Food quality and price is average. I always get the fish burrito and have never been disappointed. A couple of negatives- they don't take American Express and parking is limited.

    (3)

  • Lana S.

    I had "fresh fish burrito" for lunch , then I had bright red rash all over my body. 4 hours later I started to vomit , I had to go to emergency room and I missed my flight because of that. Doctor said I had food poison from the fish I had for lunch.

    (1)

  • Jason G.

    The burger i thought would be a steakburger like we have back home (chopped steak) was actually a tender piece of tasty steak goodness. It was one of the best steak sandwiches I have eaten. Boo on the service though. they were not that busy and we sat around for quite a long time waiting for the check. What the heck, Buzz, don't you realize we got beach to sit on!?

    (3)

  • Carrie D.

    My first time here and it was great! My steak was fantastic! Everyone in our party had awesome dishes-of course I sampled lol! Service was prompt, knowledgeable, and friendly! Parking is limited but its right across from Lanikai Beach, where there is a large parking lot. It was empty when we went for dinner, all we did was walk across the street. The place is a little small and cramped but my overall experience was very pleasant!

    (5)

  • Nick M.

    I honestly can't believe people are so down on this place, I love eating here. Do you want to love it here too? Here is how: Make a reservation to sit outside. Wait for your outside table while enjoying a cocktail, they make some good ones. Order a calamari steak! It is fantastic. Get some food and pay in cash. OH MY GOD, I have to pay in cash? Really, since when is this such a big deal? Use their ATM... And get over the 1.75 ATM fee, I rarely see fees lower than that, even at banks. Bottom line, slow down. Get to know the place and you will love it. There is a tree growing through the deck and into the roof for Pete's sake... It's gotta be cool.

    (4)

  • E N.

    I neither hate or like Buzz's. Its kitschy, poor quality service with a schizophrenic menu. Food seems to be okay... I had a boring Avocado soup & a good steak salad with some kind of Southeast Asian flavor combinations. Not great, not terrible.. sort of what Kailua dining is all about.

    (3)

  • Shali X.

    Husband & I came here three times on our recent 10 day trip to Hawaii, and really enjoyed it. On our first day, we happened across Buzz's & came in for lunch. I wasn't too enthused because we were seated right next to the kitchen and there was that dirty-rag smell in the air (barf), but once the food arrived, I actually forgot about it because the food was so tasty. The ceviche was unbelievable, full of ahi & avocado & so much tasty stuff. The fish burrito was pretty good, but nothing to rave about. When it was highly recommended to us by locals, we also came back for dinner. The fish specials were crazy good. The ahi served hibachi style was my choice both nights we had dinner there. My husband ordered ribs on our first night, and on our second visit we split the fish special, because the salad bar left us very stuffed. Great salad bar, excellent fish dishes, I'm a fan!

    (4)

  • Racy M.

    Staff was not very friendly or welcoming. I got burgers to go - they were just so-so, and when I asked for extra ketchup she said "There's already plenty in the bag." Wow, talk about rude.

    (1)

  • Kepa D.

    This is a restaurant that knows who and what it is and makes no attempts to deviate from a very simple and effective plan. Good steaks and good seafood prepared without a lot of complicated preparations. As a result, the natural strength and freshness of the food is allowed to stand out positively. While the restaurant is busy and cramped, it all adds to the charm of the location. By keeping to a simple and effective plan, Buzz's delivers consistently good food and service.

    (4)

  • Kaity B.

    I had always heard great things about Buzz's, but it didn't seem to live up to the hype. I went for lunch and had a Caesar wrap and my friend had a crab sandwich. Neither were that great. Our server was good, but maybe a little age-ist during a busy lunch hour. Maybe I'll try again for dinner sometime given the location and proximity to my place, but I'm not jumping for it!

    (2)

  • Heather H.

    The last time I was at Buzz's, I overheard the table next to me order their steaks medium-well. I was halfway turned towards them with my mouth opening to utter the admonition, "But you're an adult!" before I realized that that wouldn't really be appropriate. Even though it is a steakhouse, I've never actually eaten the steak. I go only with the fish. The Ahi Sashimi (when available) is available because it just got hauled in that afternoon. I order the opakapaka when they've got it, but have never gone wrong with any fish. Cooked "Chinese-style" is delicious. I can't believe people are hating on the salad station, especially when you could just make your salad with a plate full of avocado and some cheese...not that I'd do that...and the dressing is homemade. I will deduct a star for cash only, but it's a quirk I can live with.

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    ::CASH ONLY:: You are gonna charge this much for food and not take credit cards? Get off it already. ::FOOD:: Good local ingredients. That said, the salad and veggies are the best part. Not impressed by the meat action. ::OVERALL:: Fine. Nice atmo. Not really worth the bother unless you are close by and want the atmo.

    (3)

  • Justin H.

    When I walk into a place that doesn't accept credit cards and forces me to use their ATM it's an automatic two rating in my book. The fate of their rating then is left on the food and experience. With both factors on the line, the service was the only factor that was acceptable. I'm not a fan of restaurants with salad bars as it reminds me of a Golden Corral buffet. Any good, well-respecting restaurant would not have a salad bar. When the main course arrived, I was not impressed with the swordfish. I've had better on the mainland in Seattle and I was expecting better considering this was an island known for great seafood. Granted this place may have great steaks (since that's their namesake) but I didn't leave the mainland for a steak! Overall, probably the worst restaurant I've dined at while on the island.

    (1)

  • Dave K.

    This is your prototypical spot with a great location in a place that never needs repeat customers to survive - so they crap on everyone who walks in. We came ONCE (never to return) and ordered drinks. The woman ID'd us but denied someone in our party for having an expired drivers license. She was 29. OK, you take your job seriously, but said person just flew in - and airport security didn't seem to notice or mind. Do you really need to outshine TSA at Buzz's? So the DD ordered a drink so that said 29 year old could take sips when no one was looking. The woman, having the sharp eye of a middle aged professional cocktail server, spied this and felt obligated to inform the group, "There are plenty of other places that will serve minors." We're not minors. We haven't been minors since Clinton was President. Don't take your job so seriously that you jeopardize the reputation of the establishment. You did your due diligence. We left after that round and are glad we didn't stay because I've heard the food is overpriced not very good anyway. Auf.

    (2)

  • Miss M.

    bring your appetite cause you are going to need it here! Everything is delicious and the ambiance is so amazing. I had the lanakai cut prime rib and it was not only tasted great....it was HUGE! Along with the soup and potato and salad bar and bread....everything was fresh and delicious. After gorging on dinner we couldn't help but have a piece of the peanut butter/chocolate pie....overboard!!!! But oh so good! :) I thought buzz's had a lot of charm and the food was great. It's not a casual place that you would go for a quick meal. It's a full on dinner experience in a beautiful setting. It's making me hungry just thinking about it! :)

    (5)

  • Vince T.

    Would not let my service dog and I inside. Instead of causing a ruckus I just left and went to the classy deli, Kalapawai, down the street. You are an overpriced beach pub not a steakhouse.

    (1)

  • Rob G.

    This place smelled like mildew. The food was fine, but it was the kind of thing you can make at home. Four of us went for lunch, none of the food stood out. It was a dark dining room on a sunny day (disappointing). The decor was a little cheesy. The only really positive thing about it was the polite service.

    (2)

  • Bethany N.

    An old standby in Lanikai. Many dinners were shared here with a girlfriend, also some food on lazy Sunday mornings and a stroll to the beach afterwards or the man & I to get some late night dinner.. The last time I went the man and I had the clam chowder, NY steak, stuffed ahi & the peanut butter cheesecake with oreo crust concoction. I also had a tasty adult beverage, and like always, they don't play when they are pouring. Very strong. The chowder was very good like always, such a comfort food and Buzz's definitely does it right. My ahi was delicious with a béarnaise over it and a crab stuffing. I ate a couple bites of his cooked to order (read as: undercooked) steak which was tasty as always. The pie... well, I felt like I was going into a diabetic coma afterwards but it was so worth it. It was like a Reeses peanut butter cup to the 10th power. I don't really know; I guess you either love or hate Buzz's. I'm with the former for some delicious, simple, honest food and great memories.. I've never had bad service here. Oh, and about not taking credit cards, as long as you have a debit card or a pin number for your credit card you're able to get cash to pay your bill in house. And Dave K.. Cry me a river. TSA should have caught it, shame on them, and Buzz's is just trying to maintain their liquor license and they're cracking down on them here in Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Lyndsay V.

    Really amazing food! Dim lighting. Setting is a gorgeous old house, palm trees, candles and very good staff. Garlic mash potatoes are amazing and salad bar has so many choices i overflowed my plate! Deserts come fresh and ready on a tray ready to choose from after your meal and they are big and plenty ! Loved this place. I'm not much of a seafood fan but I went with another two and they said best seafood ever ! Definitely great all around!

    (4)

  • Angie T.

    I went to Buzz's on recommendation of a few locals in Oahu, so I had high expectations... we made reservations to sit outside, which was a good thing, because even on a Thursday night, it was well... buzzing. The salad bar was unimpressive... We ordered the fish, and it was meh. I've had better food/steak elsewhere. But the hostess was very accomodating and always around.

    (2)

  • Daisy S.

    The steak is... hmm... the same with steak house anywhere. But, I must admit that the location they have... is nice! I also love the cheese escargot appetizer they have... awesome!

    (3)

  • Anh V.

    look, if you are expecting fine dining at a place called buzz, you might be setting yourself up for some disappointment like when you found out about the tooth fairy not being real. buzz's is casual and laid back with hit or miss service. cliff notes: - menu printed on a heavy wood chopping board a la fred flintstones. - glass of wine came with a very wet glass. drying cloth anyone? - salad bar highlight was pineapple with mint. - filet and prime were good but the pork chop was the clear winner. forgo the grilled veggies since the mashed taters were creamy and delicious! we opted for the coconut icecream dessert. overall 2.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Andrew S.

    Great steak house with good fish options as well. Located in my favorite city on Oahu, Buzz's is a neat little place with really unique decor (it basically looks like a tree-house) Yeah its Cash-Only, but they clearly advertise that they are. Not like you've ordered everything your bill comes and you'll be surprised they won't take your Visa. Anyways, if you want to have a special night in Hawaii, Buzz's is the place to go.

    (4)

  • Gerg P.

    Wow!! You should have ate here back in 1970! The food!! the Service! Buzz and Bobby Lou working together. The floors were 2x6's, and you could see the sand bottom below. Palm frond roof, a real Hawaiian adventure. I followed Buzz from the Iron Mask , The Red Vest and then his own place. Maybe I should come back and train his crew on Celebrity Service? It's what he taught me. Raymond Valentine Schneider RIP

    (5)

  • Doug M.

    See Duane P.'s review. He hits it on the nose.

    (2)

  • Vanessa O.

    The best part of this place was definitely the atmosphere. It is steps from the beach, and has a great deck where you can sit outside. there are a bit too many friendly birds there that are around looking for food to eat. I had the fish burrito and after going to an amazing place in jersey, i expected my second fish burrito ever to be just as delicious. there was a lot of fish in it but it was very dry. I only give this place three stars cuz of the atmosphere and service. i think i probably just ordered the wrong thing.

    (3)

  • Keoki H.

    I just don't understand why everyone talks so high of this place. But reviewing the reviews they did not fare well more low scores (3stars and below) than high (4 stars/5 stars). Sorry just not impressed with Buz Kailua. I have been twice. I ordered Filet Mignon and it got it butter flied both times and I did not ask for that. I did not return do to stories I have heard about how the kitchen staff get upset and sabotage your food before returning it to you. The folks I know that have done this are not sorry about doing it either they take it as your to picky and just eat what you got. We argue about it all the time. NOTE: The people I know DO NOT work at Buz. We had friends visit and wanted to go there since they heard about it. I could not make it and warned them about the Filet Mignon he wanted. He mention my problem to the waiter and the waiter said they never butter fly unless requested by a customer yet both times I did not ask sooooooo what happened??? I believe they do it for speed both times I have been have been packed and any time I drive by there is a line waiting for a seat. Note our friends found it okay. Not great but not as bad as I complain about it. They both ate steak. Be prepared they always have a line and also a rather small place to sit and wait and you can order drinks and enjoy the drinks while waiting for a table. They right off the beach so you got nice view while waiting to go in. Pres. Clinton ate here. Salad Bar is good but so is Western Sizzler. My wife loves the fish and I agree that was great. But I go to a steak house for steak. Note, last time I went it was cash only no credit card. Parking is difficult the little side parking area is generally full and parking across ain't any good either. Not good for groups it's a rather small place. I would rate this not good for kids because long waits and the cramped waiting area most are drinking alcohol while they wait. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Andrew R.

    Love this place. Been coming here for years. Best Mai Tai on the island. The calamari steak is awesome. Friendly atmosphere, friendly staff

    (5)

  • HY L.

    After a long day at the beach, I love going to Buzz's for dinner. Although they are a steak house, they always have a great fish selection. And I love the salad bar. Make a reservation, and request the outside by the tree.

    (4)

  • Food Mongol M.

    Worst steakhouse ever. Sizzler is better than this place.

    (1)

  • Phil J.

    I seriously feel that friends and family are giving really bad restaurants really good ratings. Nothing in my experience here, except the location, is worth a visit. Went around 3:30 for pupus and drinks. Sat on the front porch next to 3 young tourists. I specifically asked for 'the exact same drink' that those three were having. Did not get it, but of course later on was charged for it. I asked about the 3 ahi preparations prominently listed at the top of the pupu menu, nope, no ahi available at all. Ordered the salmon carpaccio special and the shrimp crab and avocado cocktail, (not listed on menu, nor told about to anyone unless they asked about ahi). The crab avocado cocktail was old school good and really delicious. The salmon ended up being ok, except that it was previously frozen and smoked (never told that). It tasted a bit old. Had to ask for bread. The service was slow and the place was only semi busy. The thing that really blew me away was when a lady in a silly pink dress came and basically told the tourists they had to move to an inside table because someone else wanted to sit there! What the heck? Here you have three people eating and drinking, ($140 tab, I asked) and you have the nerve to tell them to move to accommodate two people only having a drink ?? Wow! Being the kind local I am, I invited them to move over and join us. We then proceeded to quickly finish our expensive ($10) mai tais and leave. Management should be ashamed of themselves for ever allowing this behavior from staff. That makes 5 of us who will not only never go back, but tell everyone we know as well. Aloha Buzz's!

    (1)

  • Dara H.

    I only go to Buzz's when they are between lunch and dinner and only serve appetizers and drinks. Its the best time to go. No wait, and a perfect place to get some food after going to Lanikai and have some cocktails. Food&Drinks 10/10. I LOVE the calamari and its somethings I have to get every time I go there. Hands down the best I've ever had. It literally melts in your mouth. Its not chewy and tough like normal fried calamari. And to finish off my mid day meal... a bloody mary. Warning to those who do not like spicy... they put a generous amount of horseradish in the mix and it can be pretty intense. Service 9/10. I went to high school with a couple girls that work there so I usually don't have any complaints. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I know how expensive it can get and the long waits during dinner hours. And up until a few months ago they only accepted cash or check which was kind of a pain.

    (4)

  • Wade H.

    My wife and I decided that we would take my cousin and his family to this restaurant. Why? Because it was in Kailua (Windward Side), my cousin likes steak, and we've never tried it before. There aren't too many steakhouses on the windward side. Actually there aren't too many restaurants on the windward side. The food was so so. The artichoke appetizer was full of oil/butter. The salad bar reminded me of something that came out of the 70's or 80's. It was so so. The main dishes were also okay. Everyone ordered steak. Steaks were cooked to our liking. My cousin and I ordered a baked potato. I had to ask the waitress for the sides (butter, chives, and bacon). She didn't offer to put on the sides for us. Her comment to us was that she could only leave it on our table for 2 minutes. We don't know if she was joking or not. See my comments about the waitress. We decided not to get dessert. We were too full from dinner. The waitress was disappointed. Then it started to rain. We started to get wet. We were in the middle area and of course the staff decided to put down our shelter. We only got a little wet... Our waitress had a bad attitude. Her attitude only changed when she realized that her tip wasn't going to be very decent because of the way she was treating us. She didn't smile. She told us to put down our menus on the table and she would come back to take our orders. We didn't order any "drinks" because we don't drink. She made a sourpuss face when we asked for water. If you do decide to go the restaurant, make sure you don't get this waitress. The seating was tight as we had 5 people and we were seated around a table meant to fit 4 comfortably. They don't take credit cards which I knew ahead of time. It is a pain though. I wouldn't go back. There are lots of other restaurants in Honolulu that provide much better service and decent fare.

    (1)

  • Autumn B.

    Buzz's is worth it for the Freshies alone!!!

    (5)

  • Wolfgang S.

    Food is really good, service and location too. We have come back over the years because Buzz's is reliably good. Great fish and steaks.

    (4)

  • Sara H.

    My fiancee & I decided to stop in and have dinner here on our last trip to Kailua. The nite we were there the special was a pepper encrusted steak. The fiancee decided that he wanted to give it a try. I got a small filet & we both got the salad bar. My filet was great, and the salad bar was good; Not big, but fresh. The pepper encrusted steak was another story. It was if they took peppercorns & just cut them in half......the pieces on this steak were HUGE! To the point that they were so hard it was if the meat was coated with rocks. The fiancee had to scrap all of the pepper off of the meat before it was even partially edible. But it was too late, as there were little bits everywhere, they were in the sauce, all over the plate & were flinging themselves all over the table! : ) It was so strong the meat was almost inedible. The meat was cooked perfectly but it was hard to enjoy. It the pepper had actually been ground up, I think this would have been much better. We will probably give them another try.....but we will shy away from any specials!

    (4)

  • Lauren C.

    I really like the atmosphere and the BFRD's (Big F****** Rum Drink). I like to go when my parents visit so they can pay for it :) The salad bar is awesome and has lots of avocados. The steak is yummy!

    (4)

  • a. b.

    Okay, so I've actually never done this before, I NEVER complain about any place I go...I'm pretty easy going and if my food sucks, bummer. I'm over it 5 minutes after leaving. But Buzz's has driven me to actually want to complain. I've been there a countless number of times...and pretty much, I've decided, its the worst place in Kailua. My friend and I went there the other night because we wanted drinks and pupus....and Formaggios (always our first choice) was wayyy too busy. So we show up at 9:15....the already giving us attitude as we walk up to the door hostess pulls out her cell phone to inform us that the kitchen closed at 9:30. Um, it was 9:15 idiot. She tells us we won't be able to order any food, just appetizers, and only if we hurry. So around 10, we finished our appetizers, still had half full glasses of wine and some random waiter starts clearing our entire table, obviously waiting for us to leave. He gave us the check, and basically turned around after 30 seconds and came back to see if we paid yet. We still hadn't even finished our wine. He rudely informed us that we "are the last ones in the restaurant, no hurry, you can finish your drink but we are waiting on you"....Um, okay, so you close at 10, we get it. He came back to grab our napkins... and then our wine glasses.... okay, we were there an hour....and the infamous waitress bitch i usually get stuck with everytime I'm there (our 3rd server of the hour) came up to our table and very rudely said, "we're closed" and grabbed our candle from the table. It was 10:15 when we left.... I am so over Buzz's...the food sucks, overpriced, but overall, the service is ALWAYS the worst I've ever had in my life. They all have childish snobby attitudes and just are flat out bitches. I don't care who you are, I don't care if I'm a freakin haoule and you hate me for it....you're in the service industry, grow up. Oh, and the best part of all of this was that I woke up at 3am and threw up my entire meal....apparently something was wrong with it. I wouldn't be surprised.

    (1)

  • Maged R.

    very good food,i enjoy going there

    (5)

  • holland h.

    get a freshie and it will all be worthwhile

    (4)

  • Mace S.

    Not impressed. Burger was way small to start. Definitely a tourist joint. Not a place to go more than once.

    (1)

  • Gabriel B.

    Order carefully and you will be OK. The salad bar is limited and expensive (12.95 or was it 13.95). The fish (there are many choices) prepared with a teriyaki glaze and buerre blanc sauce is great. It comes with mashed potatoes that rock. That's what my wife had. If, like me, you are watching your cholesterol, the blackened fish is decent, just decent. The atmosphere is casual and fun. Don't go out of your way for it, but if it is local to you it is fine.

    (3)

  • Peter T.

    We stopped here along our annual drive around the island for our first and last time. Mai Thais taste like animal urine and the service is slower than democratic progression in the middle east. And bathrooms are as accommodating as a 20th century outhouse. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

    (1)

  • Annie W.

    First time I passed by Buzz's a local woman from Kailua told me Bill Clinton ate there! So finally I came back to hawaii and tried it out for myself. I have eaten there twice and both times I was very impressed. It does get quite busy so don't neglect to make a reservation and parking can be an issue too. If lot is full just park across the street in the beach park lot. They have a nice little salad bar but getting up to get my salad felt a little Sizzlerish. For what they charge, you should not be serving yourself. The menus on the wooden paddles are a nice touch. If you are in the area and want a nice dinner it is definitely a solid choice. I wouldn't drive out from Honolulu just to go there though.

    (4)

  • Julie R.

    I came here on vacation with my friend who's from the area. I thought it was weird to have fish at a steakhouse, but I'm so glad that I did! I had one of the specials of the day which was walu. It was probably one of the best fish dishes I had during my entire stay in HI. So. . . if you go here, definitely try one of the local fish!

    (5)

  • B W.

    I ate there last night. My waitress was good. Prime Rib and mashed potatoes were great. Pepper corn crusted New York strip was awesome. Prices were very high but a really nice place and location overall. I would come back again on a special occasion.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    been going here for years love the food esp. the fish chinese style, artichoke surprise and calamari.

    (4)

  • PK A.

    I've been here nearly a dozen times and Buzz's has never disappointed. It has its quirks (no credit cards!) but it's a great lunch or dinner spot after spending the day at the beach.

    (4)

  • brewgirl b.

    Good salad bar with real bacon bits! Fish is very fresh. Not airconditioned, so the room toward the back is a little stuffy. Bathroom left a lot to be desired. Ginger ale isnt real--just a combo sprite and coke. Very good key lime pie.

    (3)

  • Sita L.

    Wow, people have had some really bad experiences here. Well, after 20 some years, you either hate it or love it. Today was a good night. Yes they don't take credit cards, I still don't know why and it makes no sense. But the servers where friendly, the artichoke was not the best, but the meal made up for it. Steak was cooked just perfect, I had the lobster tail too and yes, it was a little tough, but so it always is no matter where I eat it. I wonder sometimes why I even bother!! lol My favorite is the key lime pie. I guess the whole experience was made better by my daughter and son in-law being with us.

    (3)

  • Kathy M.

    The food is fine...the drinks fun! But the best is dessert when those slices of ice cream pie come toward you, I dare you to say no. This place is famous and a throwback...old school salad bar...try the pickled onions. Staff was friendly.

    (3)

  • Peter H.

    Worst steak on the island. Crowded. Loud. Save your money. Go to Mortons Or Ruth's Chris

    (1)

  • Ron A.

    MickyD's $1 burger just as good as Buzz $10 one and McD takes credit cards. Like I always take loads of cash in my swimsuit. WTF How rude to customers and their servers by not accepting ccards. We would have spent twice as much on a ccard but only had $20 cash to work with. Staff seemed more interested in turnover than providing a welcoming, inviting experience.

    (1)

  • ElleDee R.

    This place is great. We went here for lunch and they were cool for two big reasons: 1. My friends and I ordered the sashimi and chicken thai salad to split. They were totally fine w/ us just ordering these two items and sharing. The food was very very good. I'm taking away only one star because my friend noticed that the chicken was not "fresh" and believes that it was processed or prepackaged. But let me stress that it still very good (so maybe the one star is a bit harsh but we only ordered two items.) 2. Our waitress was AWESOME. Our thrifty (ok, KINDA GHETTO) butts carry with us a "tropical" drink when we drive around which consists of delicious tropical juice, sprite and, rum. We had taken a few sips from our big water bottle when our waitress comes by and asked, "Would you like me to provide you with three glasses of ice?" She was so cool! I'm sure she knew what it was but she had no problem w/ us providing our own beverages and she sure as heck didn't have to offer us glasses of ice. So a big ol' four stars for this restaurant. Not only did they provide yummy food but (and let me be ghetto for a quick sec) their staff are hella cool.

    (4)

  • a m.

    Lunch menu is great! Good local place to chill for a bit. Highly recommend. It is one of our favs.

    (5)

  • Jesse W.

    7/28/07: Chilled out for dinner with the extended family. We arrived alittle late for our 7pm reservation, the staff was very accommodating and didn't give us too many problems for straggling in. The atmosphere is was what one would expect for a steak house. It seems that reservations are important, there weren't many free tables and the place was packed. We ordered the (fried) calamari steak and (butter) sauted artichoke appetizers. Most of the family ordered beef dishes, I had the New York steak - so did my father in law. My steak was undercooked from what was ordered, it was supposed to be medium rare, but it came out more rare. The steak was cooked over a fire using kiawe charcoals (local wood) - it had a very distinct and unusual taste (alittle game-y or maybe cooked on the same grill with lamb dishes). I can't say that it wasn't spoiled, but it wasn't what the juicy steak that I was expecting (a bit disappointing after a long day in the sun). Neither of us finished the steak, we both probably left one third of it (we are normally carnivores). All the main course meals come with the salad bar - nothing extraordinary, smaller selection of toppings. The desserts were presented on a serving plate, pretty impressive variety of cakes, including a huge slice of mint chocolate cake. Service was excellent. I'm rating it lower than I originally intended because of the disappointment factor in my main meal. Parking can be tough if you come for an early dinner (will compete for parking with beach goers). No credit cards accepted, CASH ONLY.

    (2)

  • Cobra K.

    Not bad. Good atmosphere. Yummy burgers...maybe it was the unlimited salad bar with avacado.

    (4)

  • Abby S.

    In a word, dreadful. Here's a helpful suggestion: get a sandwich at the nearby grocery store and JUST DON"T GO IN THERE. Kailua town has a lot of interesting non-chain spots that are way more respectful of you as a person than this (pause while I read review guidelines...) spot. Vacationing on Hawaii, I was tres amazed at how much better the dining is now that I can use Yelp. This restaurant was our one and only disappointment. YELP -- You failed us! Now I know you're wondering, "Does she care about the same things I do? Maybe the positive reviews over there are more in my line." Okay, you judge. Walk from beautiful day into dank cave. TGIFriday quality Hawaiiana covers the walls (okay some was interesting, I'm being cranky about the decor). Our waitress was plastic fantastic and failed to put in our drink orders. The MaiTais (hey, it's Hawaii) were watery and full of that canned essence of bottled mixer -- I blurted out, "Hey, you make a better MaiTai" to my husband. Of course, since the drinks arrived well into our lunch, we were already disillusioned. The Portuguese bean soup? More water is featured. There's a real theme here of "stretching" My husband's Buzz-burger was aptly named: about the size of a regular McDonalds hamburger but not as good. No ketchup or other taste drowning devices were provided. We were beyond asking at that point. Here's where we started laughing. I ordered the artichoke. (In Hawaii? well, I like artichokes, but it's a bad sign that that was the most tempting non-meat object on the menu). The waitress encouraged me to forswear my honest artichoke and go for the "artichoke surprise." "That's the most popular," she said. Well, having tried to eat it, I can only guess that it's popular with crackheads who are not hungry or drunkards who are beyond tasting. But it was a surprise! First, the artichoke was not cooked -- oh, it looked cooked, but it wasn't. I pulled a leaf off and scraped it through my teeth -- nothing. Pristine leaf. Too raw to eat. All of it. In light of that, it seems petty to mention that the choke had not been removed before the "surprise" was glopped on. It was trying to be a garlic Parmesan sauce. The "Parmesan" was just sawdust. Not even as good as the shiny green can cheese in your mom's refrigerator. The garlic was raw and lavish, and the cream, well, I hesitate to say. The "generator was down" which excused the impossible to get check. The check was completely wrong in its items and -- well I guess we can blame to generator again -- the addition of the incorrect items would have got my daughter grounded. We threw money down and ran back out into the sunshine. My only bad meal in Hawaii in 2010. At least we were laughing.

    (1)

  • jake d.

    Total ripoff, low quality meat and crazy high prices. Don't waste your time or money this place, is not worth either.

    (1)

  • Robert E.

    We love this place. I always have one of the fish specials. Great location, cool staff, great drinks. Make reservations.

    (4)

  • Nunnya B.

    Some of these reviews are astonishingly unfair to this restaurant. So instead of blathering out my own sappy review I will address the "faults" one by one (yeah I am gonna bash someone here, if you don't like it then don't friggin' read it!) Kristina - Michelle Pfeiffer does indeed own a home on the beach in Lanikai (asking price - $12.9 million), it's the one with the turquoise roofs. And I would love to know where you eat out, because it sure as heck ain't on Oahu. There is no fresher meat or fish on the island, IMHO. Insanely fresh, simply prepared meat and fish is Buzz's specialty. If you are looking for better, I suggest, well, Buzz's in Pearl City! I can't suggest anything in Waikiki, that's for sure! Those complaining about waiting for/not getting a table: make a friggin' reservation, this is Hawaii, it ain't your local neighborhood hangout. Everyone eats out, and everyone likes Buzz's. There is a reason they have a "Bill & Hilary Clinton table". Deal with it or go someplace else. I have to agree that their failure to implement VISA/MC card processing because, presumably, Lulu doesn't want to give the "man" 5% of her till (yeah, credit card processing fees are a ripoff) is annoying, but it doesn't detract in the least from the food. Again, deal with it, it won't kill you to use the ATM, ya friggin' sissies. Salad bar: if ya don't wanna eat off a salad bar, then don't! I didn't, and didn't miss it. You don't need it anyway with the huge portions here. I do agree that it seems out of place here, like a Sizzler throwback. Jess J: The fish is identical to Lucy's. If it is fresh at one, it is fresh at the other, since the owner and her son (who owns Lucy's) use the same suppliers for ALL their food (I asked her; she lives in Bluestone which is where my sister lives). The ahi sashimi is truly outstanding, I swear it was moving :D I have had better quality sashimi exactly once in my life (Yamabuki in the Disneyland Pacific Hotel, believe it or not). The mahi mahi was the freshest I have ever had, and I eat a lot of mahi mahi. The other fish looked equally impressive. In short, I don't know what you were smoking that night, but I bet it wasn't legal. My "steak expert" brother in law was impressed by his steak (I forget the cut, I don't eat the stuff anymore), and he is a hard one to impress. Gamey? I think not. Grilled over local firewood? Absolutely, and it smelled delicious. Jesse W: I am willing to bet that you have never had a firewood-grilled steak in your life. And to the spoiled little brats who rate this place two stars: read your own reviews, then change the rating. What you say is not what you rate, IMHO.

    (4)

  • Tiffany A.

    Sooooo good! We stopped in here after kayaking and luckily got in early enough (around 5pm) to avoid a wait. The service was EXCELLENT, our server was very attentive and knowledgeable. They gave the boys coloring pages and a basket of crayons to keep them busy. The salad bar was very good and fresh, the bread was fresh too. Our steaks and fish were excellent! My husband ordered the Hawaiian Ribeye and I got the NY Strip. My boys shared the kids steak meal. One of our friends ordered the Mahi Mahi and said it was as good as the Mahi Mahi we caught and had prepared for us last June in Cabo at Grand Solmar - This is a very big deal as that was the best fish we had ever eaten and now is the fish we compare everything to. Since we were celebrating two birthdays, they brought out brownies with ice cream and candles! Then, they gave us lunar calendars as well. This was a fabulous dining experience; we will visit again on every trip to Oahu!

    (5)

  • Heather M.

    If you are looking for a fancy restaurant near the beach this is not it. If you are looking for a relaxing place with good food, then this is it. We sat outside in the lanai and it was cozy there and nice. the ambiance is great!the staff was nice and very friendly. A lot of people come here and they do a great job to accommodate everyone. The food is great but the selection is minimum thats why they get a 4 not a 5. They have great desserts where they entice you by bringing the tray of awesome desserts to your table.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    Poke was amazing! Didn't really love the calamari steak but the cocktails are delish as well

    (4)

  • N S.

    Value for money and good food and great ambience too! We sat outside and it was nice and airy.

    (4)

  • Aley M.

    My honey had a Ceasar Salad sandwich that was exceptionally good, cuz I had some ad I had chicken tortilla soup and we split the fries. I got a plantation iced tea and a Christmas Tee shirt! Loved going there after our swim in the ocean across the street...!!! GREAT place, nice ambiance and full of people.

    (5)

  • Leslie W.

    I just had a negative experience that felt extremely personal at Buzz's. The older hostess with shoulder length brown hair basically shooed me and my out-of-town friend away and said the restaurant was booked and the bar was full so we had to sit outside on the benches in front of the restaurant. There were no tables out there and we were looking for dinner. I went back in to ask if we could put our names on a list and she said they were fully booked and it would be about an hour and ten minute wait for a table. I asked if we could be on the wait list for the bar and she reluctantly wrote my name down. About 5 minutes later, a couple came in and asked for a table... The older hostess asked the younger hostess to offer a table to that couple and to let them know they could only have the table for an hour and 45 minutes. I immediately walked in to just let her know we would not be waiting and we were offended that a couple was seated after we had just requested a seat. She could've cared less.

    (1)

  • Jonny R.

    went here because we were staying in Kailua and some mokes recommended it. It's pricey, and not a great place if you're not into meat. My first clue should have been the sign "Steak House" DOH! Also not kid friendly at all. Drink menu seemed fun, bartender was a good pour, and portions seemed decent. Our waitress was nice and helpful, other staff members not so much. Did I mention this place is pricey?

    (3)

  • Lisa K.

    I had guest in town and they wanted to try this place . I had never eaten here, and had no desire to eat here because it reminds me of Hawaii's version of Sizzler with mediocre and boring food ( no offense to those that like Sizzler). There are so many other exceptional steak restaurants to go to, why settle for less? Unfortunately, we were in the area and my guests persuaded me to give it a try. We walked up to the restaurant, and initially were confused by lack of hostess stand outside when you arrive. A person who was dressed like a waiter and a woman, who I later found out was a hostess, walked passed us without acknowledgement. I asked my husband to go inside and see if there was a hostess while I waited outside. As I waited for him, I saw a couple walk in. Shortly thereafter I went into the restaurant looking for my husband. At this point I witnessed my husband standing at a hostess stand watching the "hostess" assisted the couple who had come in AFTER us. I thought maybe my husband didn't realize where the hostess stand was until after seeing this other couple come in, and that the hostess decided to help the other couple first because they were at the stand before him. I went back outside to wait. My husband came out and says it will be a 45minute wait. The group is starving by this point, so we leave. As we leave the restaurant my husband proceeds to tell me that he had found the stand and was waiting to talk to the hostess. However, she never acknowledged him and only came over to the hostess stand when the couple who showed up after us walked in. She then felt it was appropriate to assist the other couple FIRST. My husband said they had reservations and it appeared the couple knew the hostess. He also was very certain the couple and the hostess knew he had come before the couple and had been waiting, but neither the couple nor the hostess felt it necessary to acknowledge the fact he was there first. RUDE hostess & RUDE guests. No thank you. We ended going to Prima in Kailua and having amazing food and customer service.

    (1)

  • Jeff K.

    Great stop between Hanauma and the north shore. Stumbled upon Buzz's and had a great lunch!

    (4)

  • Adam K.

    Food was decent, but the floor plan is terrible. We ended up being seated in the middle of a high traffic area with our backs up against the people sitting at the bar. I was lucky enough to get a seat directly under an air vent that was dripping ceiling water into my fish. They were gracious enough to replace my dish and move me to the opposite side of the table, but it struck me as odd that they were so nonchalant about the whole thing - as if it's standard routine or something. I don't expect handouts, but in this instance, I would have thought that they would at least acknowledge that there was something wrong with the whole situation, but at the end of the night, they charged us full price and pretended like nothing happened. That being said, unless you're into roof water accompanied by an entirely complacent wait and management staff, I would probably pass this place up in favor of something a little more buttoned up.

    (1)

  • Jimmy J.

    We ate here once and drank outside another time. So not worth it. When we ate there, I came in wearing a tank top and was told that was a no-go so I had to go out to the car and change. We were then squeezed in behind the bar. The food was OK but you really need to try to screw up a burger. I would not want to be seated out on the floor - it looked way too crowded. If you are sitting outside for drinks, it's OK but the price points are high for what you are ordering. You are better off price and space wise to just drive a little ways to town and eat/drink somewhere else. You'll have more room and likely a much better experience.

    (2)

  • Reginald F.

    Went on a Thursday night with some Friends- very busy- recommend reservations and to come early for parking atmosphere- family local with the bar inside taking a good deal of th space (u shaped) with tables outside menu is standard fare-steaks, fish etc with a average type salad bar. guess the attraction is the portion sized- definitely for American appetites although the locals Kahlua folk like it- thought the prices were a little on the higher side for a neighborhood place. OK place if you don't want to go into town.

    (3)

  • Amber B.

    Buzz's deserves four stars for the whole experience and location, not really the food, which can be hit and miss. However, if you order the right things, you can have a good meal. We went three times on our last visit to Kailua a week ago and we thought the best lunch item was the fish sandwich, which is on a soft bun with wasabi mayo. It comes with crunchy seasoned fries. I personally like the calamari steak, which is breaded and fried and topped with butter sauce. My husband thinks it is too much, so it is not for everyone. At dinner, you can get one of a couple fresh fish of the day prepared one of a few ways. I loved the Chinese steamed version on cabbage. The markup on otherwise cheap wines by the glass is ridiculously high, but you go for a great Mai Tai, so the wine list does not really matter.

    (4)

  • Venesa S.

    This was my second visit to buzz's. First time was for lunch. This time was for dinner. It was okay. It wouldn't be my first choice . But the group I was with really love the calamari steak.

    (3)

  • Kyle M.

    After a full morning of fun at the beach and you want a quick bite to eat, this place is located right across the street from the Lanakai Beach Park. Get here before their lunch service starts so that you can sit outside. The dinning inside was a little to dark for me. The service here was ok. I have been here a few times and have noticed that the service outside is much better. While I dined inside, my order came out in a fairly good amount of time; however it always took forever to get a refill for my drink. The outside service personnel were more attentive and we're always there to ask if I needed another drink once my glass was empty. The Food: If you like mushrooms, you must try the sautéed mushrooms, they are excellent. The mahi mahi was cooked to my surprise pretty darn good. They have a great Top Sirloin Steak and Calamari. My next trip here I will be getting the lobster. Yum. I can taste it already.

    (4)

  • Caitlin A.

    I went to buzz's with some girlfriends of mine for drinks. We had a blast- our server kept the lava flows flowing as we chatted and munched on pupus. The calamari steak is sinfully good- I'm drooling just thinking about it. We also had the spring rolls and the meat sticks. To end a girl's night of cocktail drinking and fried food, we topped it off with none other than their chocolate cake... That was devoured in about 2 seconds flat. It's a nice atmosphere with good service. I give it my seal of approval.

    (4)

  • Angela S.

    Not what I was expecting but pleasantly surprised.......nice atmosphere with a VERY friendly and attentive staff. Wish they had a little more seating but it does add to the atmosphere......the food was perfectly proportioned and prepared. The Salad bar was the freshest I have seen in awhile and had a great selection.

    (4)

  • Arielle B.

    We love Buzz's and return every year on our annual family trip to Hawaii. The service is great (Cheryl is our favorite waitress) and there is a casual and friendly vibe here. The steak teriyaki, fresh fish and the calamari appetizer are among our top choices. One thing we have noticed is they stopped making some of our favorite desserts like the Oreo ice cream cookie pie-We're anxiously waiting for them to come back on the menu! Overall Buzz's is one of our favorite spots in Kailua.

    (5)

  • Tyler J.

    It was just ok, not coming back. Server was kinda rude when I asked questions about fish, what is that, where does it come from, how is it cooked... I should be able to ask those questions. I might want to know where my Ahi comes from, how its caught.... overall service was just ok. Fish was well cooked, sides were ok, potatoes were average, special sauce for fish was ok but not super special. The salad bar earned .9 of the 1 star rating... the lettuce was fresh, there was a huge bowl of local avocados, I piled my plate full! A little pricey for what I thought was average food. It appeals to someone who might not want different flavors but still wants to experience a little Island flavor, but honestly there are so many other places with better food for this price.

    (1)

  • Lisa T.

    We've eaten here every time we are on Oahu. We had a 10 minute wait, which isn't too bad considering we've had longer in the past and well, it was October, not exactly high season. We were seated in the back, so not much people watching. The food & service was decent. I loved the scallops and my husband liked his fish. The salad bar was just so-so. Bonus, there was a keiki menu, which appealed to my child and we could save a little money on his dinner.

    (3)

  • Darby C.

    After 15 years of driving past this place, I finally decided to stop and eat here after playing at the beach in lanikai. My date and I arrived shortly after sun down and it was fairly packed. We waited on the lanai and had drinks and the artichoke appetizer which was awesome. We understood it would be a long wait and after 30 min we were sat. This place reminded me a little of chucks, where you order your food and help yourself to the salad bar. I thought the salad bar was great, but the steak was just ok. I will definitely be back to try other dishes.

    (4)

  • Christine L.

    This is based on two visits here in the last month. Normally I'm not on the Kailua side, but the family has been in town and they love this place, hence the two check-ins just weeks apart. I really want to like this place, but the service is just SO AWFUL that I can't even give them 3 stars for their food and drinks. First impressions are important, so maybe they should hire better FOH staff. Just sayin. So the first time I cam here was a few weeks back. My mom and I just wanted a drink and an appetizer. It was 5, right when they opened and there were maybe two customers already at the bar, and a few people outside in their "drinks" area. They're entire "dinner" area outside was empty, let alone most of the restaurant. We asked the hostess if we could be seated outside and were told that the outside area was for dinner guests only. So we made a snap decision and asked if we could be seated for dinner, whats another $80 meal when you're dead? I do love me some steak. The hostess told us that the dinner reservations were full and we would have to wait an hour for a seat. Um...there is no one here? My mom not wanting a confrontation headed over to sit at their dark and dingy bar, but I had to ask "Well when are you expecting guests?" Hostess says nothing and WALKS AWAY. Are you kidding me? This is how you treat people who want to eat in your restaurant?? So we sit at the bar, and luckily had a pretty nice bartender who took our drink orders and recommended some yummy appetizers. He gave a great tip to order the artichoke surprise with the "surprise" on the side. That being a huge bowl of foamy garlicky melted butter. YUM. It was a great tip as I imagine it gets pretty messy when just poured on top. Due to great conversation with our bartender and other patrons, we ended up staying much longer than intended and didn't leave until about 6:30. By this point the bar area was packed. I'm guessing because the hostess is STILL not seating anyone outside. The balcony area had two tables filled, out of 10. Customers were openly grumbling at the bar on why they couldn't be seated for dinner when there were so many open tables. I don't know if this is a strategy of theirs, but making people pissed off generally doesn't help your business. Being well known and in a desirable location won't float your business forever. Second time I came was with a group of family that just wanted a quick cocktail for happy hour, we were grilling steaks at home that night. Once again every single table in the restaurant is empty with a huge amount of people squished together in the bar and outside drinks area. I understand that you would prefer making more money on dinner reservations. But people aren't going to eat there ever if they cant even get a table. Lucky for us two tables outside were willing to squish a little to accommodate my party of 5 so we could have a quick mai tai. The waitress was super unhelpful, and made us move our own seats and generally ignored us the whole time. Family has gone home, no reason to ever come back. EVER.

    (2)

  • Steve T.

    Great food and fair prices during lunch time. Call ahead for reservation!! Dinner is awesome, but a bit pricier... Still a great value though for a terrific steak.

    (5)

  • Mak L.

    went on a lunch date with my friend and we both ordered an ahi dish. she had an ahi wrap and i had the burger. everything was fresh and yummy. The place gets pretty packed. Its a nice lunch date spot!

    (3)

  • Paul N.

    They seem to have a dress code for men in the evening, after 5 pm, men cannot wear a tank top kind of shirt. Only women can. This seems strange to me. If you don't have a shirt that has sleeves, then they give you this uncomfortable shirt to wear. Absolutely ridiculous. This is one case where its best to be a women. The coffee isn't very good, very weak. The food is less then average. The atmosphere is nice.

    (2)

  • PJ P.

    stop by for dinner on our vacation... read the menu at front door before going in. customer service wasn't as friendly as we would expect from a $$$ place. had a quick burger and left.

    (3)

  • Jenni D.

    People have written some pretty harsh reviews... Sure, it can get loud, and busy. You want some romantic dinner by candlelight?! Go to Waikiki for Hula Grill or another quiet staple with zen ambiance. There are so many great restaurants to try on Oahu, but it's not like Kailua/Lanikai have a billion to choose from. When visiting family in Kailua, we always make at least one or two trips to Buzz's. This trip was no different. I always enjoy a chilled Kailua Passion and/or Lava Flow. The Hibachi-style Ono was "Ono-licious"! The portions are large, so be prepared to indulge. You also get the salad bar, and I always order the Artichoke starter. For lunch, I would recommend the Fresh Fish Sandwich. The tempura fries are super tasty, and the lunch pricing is very reasonable.

    (4)

  • Chandler P.

    Really STRONG drinks and yummy pupus. We only had appetizers and drinks (no dinner) but you can pretty much get the entire dinner menu in the cocktail outdoor seating - just not the salad bar. We enjoyed: -Calamari Steak -Artichoke Surprise (surprise! your breath will smell like garlic for a week!) -Gazpacho -Key Lime Pie -and we drank the Mai Thai or better called the BFRD (see the menu for translation) Everything was good. The outdoor seating was beautiful, right next to where the river meets the ocean. The waitstaff was really friendly. Parking was a little difficult.

    (4)

  • Nicholas D.

    Absolutely atrocious experience! Was barked at by one of the chefs behind the salad bar, coincidentally being a hawaiian islander (Im white) for picking up a plastic jar of pickled onions that were randomly placed with everything else. I told him there was no need to be rude and that there was no way for the customer to know that they weren't supposed to be touched, to which he aggressively informed me that he'd "tell me". Ruined my experience and ruined any possible potential for having a nice night. I will never return and will never suggest this place to anyone as a result. Your hard earned money is worth much more elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Noreen L.

    The reviews for Buzz's in Kailua are all over the place but we decided to give it a try anyway. Made reservations for 7:15 on a Monday evening for 3 people. Restaurant was very busy when we got there. Checked in with the hostess when we arrived and we were asked to wait outside while she checked that our table was ready. That was fine as the inside of this establishment is pretty confining. The hostess came out to get us in less than 2 minutes and we were shown to our table at the back of the restaurant, behind the bar. My first impression was that they have way too many tables crowded into the available space. We could hear the conversations on either side of us as well as from the bar behind us. It was quite loud and boisterous at the beginning of our meal but quieted down after 8 pm. Go after 8 pm on a week night if you don't like noise. John, our server, was great. Our drinks came quickly, he described all the specials to us and after ordering he made sure to let us know that he would not be putting our order in until after we came back from the salad bar. (Soup or salad bar comes with every dinner). While the salad bar was small, it was still good. Not the best salad bar I've been to but not the worst either. I liked the berry vinaigrette dressing and seaweed salad! All 3 of us enjoyed our dinners. My son's prime rib was nicely medium-rare with good marbling so very tender. He was impressed with the baked potato condiment tray (sour cream, bacon & green onion) that came out with his dinner - this way he could pile on whatever he wanted and as much as he wanted! My fish special, stuffed ahi, was incredibly yummy! It was stuffed with crab, goat cheese, spinach and a couple of other things that I can't remember at the moment. My husband opted for the surf and turf - teriyaki steak with shrimp scampi. He said both tasted good and the shrimp were very large. I can't comment on dessert because we were too full to have any. Overall we had good food and good service. My main complaints would be that I did not like the tables so close together and the noise at the beginning of our meal. And, yes, we would go back.

    (4)

  • Daniel S.

    For a family with a young one under 2 our lunch could not have been easier! The service was exceptional with 'Angie' regularly checking in to see that our little one was okay! Food was fresh and tasty with the calamari steak for appetiser being a wonderful surprise. Simply can't fault it.

    (5)

  • Christian V.

    Really confusing and inhospitable service and attitude. At no point did we feel welcome and we left after having been at our table for about five minutes. Y'all might have a good location but that's about it! Booooo!!!

    (1)

  • Rosa O.

    Calamari steak. Definitely a concept I hadn't given a lot of thought to, but I'm glad I took our servers recommendation for it because I was blown away. Lightly breaded, served with capers and a lemon beurre blanc = heaven. I paired this with the Kailua passion, a really tasty rum and passion fruit concoction that was exactly the tropical refreshment I was craving. For dinner, I had the Ono fish, grilled simply with cabbage salad and mashed potatoes. Delicious, huuuuge portion. While I didn't really have room for dessert, I couldn't pass up a key lime pie with lilikoi butter on top...and wow, If I didn't just finish all of it. My belly was ways too full, but I enjoyed every bite.

    (4)

  • Will F.

    Worth coming to if you are in Kailua. The Food was great and the service was fast and very friendly.

    (4)

  • Ihz O.

    Simple Pie Song for Simple Love Song youtube.com/watch?v=O5XG… See the way the workers walk into the room and then they speak. So caring every word from their lips is like money. I know Buzz's loves me. Here the way customers laugh around me like well-played instruments. The way workers jam and the way they treat their family. Customers are family. I know Buzzs's loves me. Although your search for pies are super complicated. Just play this pie song when you need a lift. Cause baby, I'm finally.....I'm writing you this simple pie song. After searching long, baby. I'm finally.....I'm writing you this simple pie song. Ohhhohhh! Ohhh. I still can't get enough even though price of pie is rough. And boy Kailuas a trip a bit because you're not around. But it's okay, babe. You got me pied, baby. I'm going to drive to Kailua for you. I'm going to sing this song for you, focus on your pies for you. You know I would drive for you, baby. I know it's crazy. Although your search for pies are super complicated. Just play this pie song when you need a lift. Cause baby, I'm finally....I'm writing you this simple pie song. After searching long, baby. I'm finally....I'm writing you this simple pie song. Ohhhohhhhh! It's funny how traveling for ice cream pies can tell the truth in so many ways. Been feeling it all the while, and will always have the time. You know I'm here to stay. I'm finally....I'm writing you this simple pie song. I'm finally...I'm writing you...I say I'm finally...writing you...Baby, I'm finally writing you a simple pie song...baby.

    (4)

  • M F.

    Two words: tourist trap. I want to like Buzz's, I really do seeing as it is so close to where I live (Lanikai), I would go more often if it was enjoyable but every single time I have been there it hasn't been the least bit of fun and leaving I feel like I didn't get my money's worth or the enjoyment I was looking for overall. Here is my opinion: -The salad bar is nothing spectacular - I have had about the same, if not better at Sizzler's. The bread that they give you is delicious though, I must say that. -The crew that they have here is clearly inexperienced, and needs some more training. -That whole "wait for twenty minutes before you have to chase down your waiter/waitress to get a refill" is true. - The steaks are overpriced and almost never cooked the way you requested them to be so good luck with that one. - The ambiance is nice but it just depends on what time you decide to go. Lately, it has mostly just been tourists who have been trapped into thinking this is a great place. \ - Last but not least, Buzz's needs to stop advertising that they are in Lanikai! I am from Lanikai, and I consider it to be anything in loop or past Lanikai point. Buzz's is directly across from KAILUA beach. Geeez...

    (2)

  • Cathi B.

    Loved Buzz's! My husband brought me here for dinner and we really enjoyed our meal. The whole experience was a great one from the time we got there until the time we left. Everyone was so nice and accommodating! We had two people waiting on us and we never had to ask for anything! They anticipated what we needed. I loved the Artichoke Surprise and the Coconut Shrimp. The waitress suggested a really great wine, which went well with my Teri-Steak and Opah fish. The Key Lime pie with Lilikoi sauce was sooooo delish! I can't wait to come back here again.

    (5)

  • Peter S.

    We were so pleased on the first visit we came back a couple of days later! Came here by chance, while driving the leeward side of Oahu, and arrived at the peak lunch time, meaning a forty-five minute wait. No problem we sat at the bar and were on island time, enjoying a cocktail and a beer! Our inside table didn't have a view but we were here for the food and service, both were very good. Teriyaki Thai peanut chicken, and a fish burger were both delish! On our second visit we arrived early (11:00) and were seated right away. Staff is very friendly and attentive, several waitpersons not in our assigned area stopped at the table to clear dishes or refill water glasses. Dessert selection is from a tray, when items are sold they are not necessarily replaced, so get there early!! Popular spot doing a great job with the tourist trade. Available parking nearby.

    (5)

  • Missie W.

    Buzzs is our favorite place to take visitors on their last nights visit to the islands. The fish is always outstanding and the salad bar, while it's not the biggest, has the freshest ingredients such Maui onion, mixed greens, bean and alfalfa sprouts, fresh avocado, shredded carrot and fresh made dressings. It's also a great place to go after a great day at the beach as they allow beach wear until 5:00pm. Sit outside and enjoy some fresh sashimi and a refreshing drink from the bar.

    (4)

  • Melissa H.

    Great location for a celebration excellent service very accommodating with special request!!! John was the best server we had in a long while love to find great place in paradise

    (4)

  • Jenny C.

    We went to Buzz for dinner because an old friend suggested the location for our meeting place. I was quite amazingly underwhelmed by the quality of the food. This is the kind of place that old people think is fancy, but in actuality rests on decaying laurels. Our mahi mahi fish was undercooked and flavorless. The green beans were overcooked, oily and again, flavorless. I don't even remember a starch, which is telling. The bread basket was forgettable Wonderbread. Our older friend raved about the salad bar, but it was pretty basic with a few special items. The price for this astounding platter of mediocrity was "market price" for a common fish, which was absurd. When your Hawaiian grandma asks to come here, show her you love her, and say no.

    (2)

  • Casey R.

    I was hosting some visitors from the mainland who were staying in Lanikai so I figured they'd enjoy a touristy place like this for some drinks before hitting up the Thursday night Farmer's Market in Kailua. The view here is great from the lanai but is on a pretty busy street with lots of car and foot traffic. This is expected though as Lanikai Beach gets pretty busy. The drinks are good but small. They are also of course very pricey as this place caters to tourists mostly. The service was good but they do have some pretty particular rules as to where you can sit in the bar and lanai area. This usually occurs before they start dinner service. Not a big deal but can be inconvenient with large groups. I most likely wouldn't come here again unless I was with some tourists.

    (3)

  • Rachel S.

    Great things about Buzz's: right across from Kailua Beach Park (I like it better than Lanikai), the absolutely delicious calamari steak, and the salad bar with amazing ingredients (I always get lots of avocado and seaweed salad). Downsides: I have noticed that when they think I'm a tourist they treat me WAY different than when they realize I'm a local. I recommend ordering off the menu so they take you more seriously: they have the calamari steak listed as "a la carte," but tell them you want it as an entreé and watch the service change from crappy to wonderful! Another downside is the limited sunday brunch menu and the so-so eggs benedict. I've had better for less at IHOP. Also, I recommend making a reservation and specifically requesting one of the outside seats by the tree, which is alive with screen built around it into a little porch area. The inside area has a good atmosphere too, but I like it out there even better. Also, the teriyaki steak is great.

    (4)

  • Phil K.

    Three of us had dinner last night. The food was excellent. As good as anticipated. HOWEVER, the service sucked. Shaun, our waiter was not on it. He brought the wrong artichoke appetizer, the more expensive one the price of which was not taken off my bill. I had to chase him down for that. We had to remind him of our drinks. I had to go get new eating utensils because he failed to notice the ones taken away earlier. Our waters weren't refreshed. They must be low on water or something. All-in-all, while the quality of the food held up to the somewhat pricey cost, the service was kindergarten; sadly lacking. The most words I heard from Shaun was "I'm sorry." For a tab of $175 before tip, I was disappointed. I don't what to have to police my waiter. I expect them to notice things on their own. Why I left him a 15% tip, was only because i enjoyed the the people I was with. (Go figure) I always leave 20% for decent service. Shaun deserved 10% at most.

    (2)

  • Christine C.

    We arrived here in-between lunch and dinner, so only cocktails and pupus were available. We had the calamari steak and the spring rolls. Both were delicious!

    (4)

  • Wickerlady V.

    delicious food, great drinks and great value for money! We stumbled into this place after a tiring swim at Kailua beach. Yelp helped us decide on the place, and it was right across the beach so it worked! We had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated for dining, during which time we ordered some drinks and sat outside on the patio. Cocktails were good and strong. We went with one local seafood dinner, which included a salad bar, bread and opa fish cooked hibachi style. The salad bar had great variety and was more than filling and satisfied my vegetarian tastebuds. Husband loved the hibachi style opa, and the mashed potatoes and veggies were done to perfection. The chicken soup, however, was too strongly chicken-flavored. Definitely recommend this place! PS- Be careful parking your car at the beach park across. The car a few rows from us got broken into, and the policeman was telling them its a common occurrence there.

    (5)

  • Angela R.

    What is all the whining about! I have been coming here for 20 years. I LOVE the Mai Thai- It is an authentic experience in Hawaii. Our family loves this place. Many babies were conceived after a night at Buzz's (or an afternoon:)

    (5)

  • Deanna P.

    Brilliant! One of my favorite places to go sit back, relax, enjoy a mai tai and some great food in Kailua. Be sure to try the BFRD - the Big Freaking Rum Drink. It's just a really awesome big mai tai, with a little pineapple juice. Yum! If you want to have the most delicious escargot - here is the place.

    (5)

  • Tracy H.

    okay, so the food is not amazing. but that should not stop you from coming here. it is a great place to hang out and is a regular hangout for the locals. you will get lots of stories about the various famous people who frequent it. obama apparently has his own table. the sashimi platter is very large amd yummy; i definitely recommend it. don't be detered by my three stars. you need to go anyway. really. you don't want to miss it.

    (3)

  • Cara S.

    Such a neat place tucked away in a beachside neighborhood. The steak is good, the salad bar high quality. The service is top notch. I recommend reservations for busier times.

    (4)

  • Jenny L.

    One of our favorite dinner spots...but show up early....it's small and fills up fast but so very worth it!!!

    (5)

  • Vanessa K.

    Tasty cocktails horrible food... But just saw waitress sneeze all over the olives/cherries/lemon at the bar and throw cherries into drinks with her bare hands, so gonna pass on anymore cocktails too

    (1)

  • Richard M.

    Stick with lunch, not dinner. Nice location, outside seating is great, a nice salad bar, good sandwiches at lunch. However, dinner was not very good. Other than the escargot, most all other dishes were mediocre. We had the scampi, which consisted of four shrimp over a bed of pasta saturated with garlic butter. The Mahi Mahi was overcooked, tough, and not tasty. All the other dishes were about the same. My wife was smart, just getting the escorgot and the salid bar. The desserts were better than the main course.

    (3)

  • Grace N.

    3.5 stars... Food & service was good! Slightly pricey but I remember the portions being big and feeling satisfied after.

    (3)

  • Karen L.

    4 of us stopped for lunch & drinks before going to Lanikai Beach. Everything was ONO. We had burgers, fish burritos, specialty drinks. We were all very satisfied!

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    This place is a joke. Menus are on wooden boards, they gave my table ONE menu for four of us and they sat us right next to the hostess stand. Awesome to watch the lack of professionalism at a place thats minimum $20 a plate. We started with drinks and fries. Our plate of fries literally had 5 steak fries on it. Let me break this down, bag of potatoes = $5-7, our five french fries =$3. We didn't stay for dinner for 2 reasons. #1 two of us don't eat meat and after telling the waiter he made zero effort to accomidate us #2 way too expensive for the kind of establishment it is. Never coming back.

    (1)

  • Claudia Z.

    I remember back in high school, Buzz's was a chill place to grab a burger or salad after a day at the beach. Servers were warm and friendly, food was good, atmosphere was relaxing. No more. They have changed to be this uptight, stiffy, Mortons-wannabee that lost all the charms of a local establishment. I've since moved off the island, but came back to visit one summer. After hanging out at the beach, we walked across to Buzz's thinking we'd be welcomed with Aloha. "No ma'am, you cannot enter our restaurant with a bathing suite top, you must be fully dressed." You are across the street from Kailua Beach, literally in the sand still, you are not sitting on top of Hawaii Loa ridge, take a chill pill! Service was so slow, took 20 minutes to even bring us water! The waitress "forgot" to put our order in after we asked twice! I got a stuffed blue cheese burger with creamy tomato soup, it was only ok, not nearly as good as I remembered it. There's a table that apparently the Clintons have sat at, Buzz's actually put up a plaque to show it. So what, now you think you're all that and can be rude to regular customers? Every time I come to the islands to visit my parents, I so look forward to eating at all the yummy familiar places of my childhood. Buzz's ruined it for me.

    (1)

  • Paul S.

    Nice location, inside is to dark and crammed.. We had a table out on the deck area, I had ordered the soup of the day which was ok. Wasn't very impressed with the menu, The chicken was pretty good though. I don't think I would go back unless I knew I was going to sit out on the deck area.

    (3)

  • K R.

    HORRIBLE SERVICE when we checked in - asked nicely if we could sit down even though 2 of our 6 parties is not here and Mani (the front host) rolls her eyes as we were escorted. Is that how you treat your guests - is it worth a bad review??!! BUZZ'S need to get rid of her - you will lose business because of Mani!!!

    (1)

  • Crystal W.

    I'd suggest not trying to park in the lot in front of the restaurant unless there's obvious room. Otherwise, just go across the street by the beach. The lot is small and you can't properly turn around in a vehicle. I had a delicious rum cocktail called Kailua Passion (apparently not found anywhere else) and my spouse's drink, the Lava Flow, was even better. We tried the Calamari Steak, which was amazing. I've never had such tender calamari. I ate the Artichoke Surprise for a small main and it was a surprise, all right. What an insanely high calorie mess. The presentation is beautiful and it was tasty, but I felt kind of gross afterward because of the crazy amount of fat I had consumed (including the garlic butter and melted parmesan cheese). Unless you REALLY love artichoke, I wouldn't recommend it. The atmosphere is very casual and every table was full on a Thursday afternoon. I was shocked. Food and drinks aren't cheap but I can justify going once as a tourist.

    (3)

  • Joseph F.

    Buzz's is an island staple over in Kailua. Right behind the main beach park and next to the channel. The view from the patio is great and the atmosphere is fun and relaxing island style. They definitely offer a great family atmosphere and some wonderful food and drink options as well. We came here with a party of 13 and definitely took up the largest area they could spare. They aren't designed for large large groups but can comfortably accommodate small groups of 4-6. On my last visit, several years ago, they still didn't accept credit cards. These days they do so it takes the hassle of carrying enough cash for your meal. I had the Crab Louie which was truly delicious. Fresh lettuce and greens with fresh king crab meat and a delicate dressing on top. It was a very large serving and could probably feed two easily. One of the other people in the group had the chicken curry salad. It was another seriously solid dish. The curry was very flavorful and not subdued at all. The chicken was tender and infused with the flavor and not just coated in it.

    (4)

  • Dea S.

    I live less than 1 mile from this place and try it out once every few years. Unfortunately in my case they have never gotten it right, for 20 years! The joke within my family is that they have a picture of me in the kitchen and when I walk in the conspiracy begins. Terrible service, lousy portions of mediocre over priced food. If it wasn't for the beach side location they would have out of biz along ago. Avoid. Before i forget , salad bar is disgusting. Kalapawai Cafe , Cactus, Primo.

    (1)

  • David M.

    Buzz's is the kind of place you really want to like. You want to think, "Hey, yeah, Buzz's! RIght around the corner, great food, always friendly." But unfortunately, it's not... at least, not in the two times I've been. The first time, I went with friends to check it out. The food wasn't bad... but it wasn't great, either. Meh. I remember thinking that the check adding up pretty fast, and the service was pretty surly. A full year later, I went back, alone, and asked about a table. It was a 15-20 minute wait, unless I wanted to sit at the crowded bar. (I didn't.) I pointed to the four empty tables on the patio (where it's nicer anyway), and said, "How about...?" Well, if you've read the other reviews here, you'll know how that went. Maybe it's really awesome for lunch. I want to give it a chance. But the no eating outside rule is really stupid-- especially when the evening happy hour cocktails are over and there's no one left. And the service seems to say, "We're quite busy here with all the tourists fighting each other for a seat, please don't bother us with your quibbles about service and value." P.S. I went to Mexico Lindo instead and ordered a grilled rib-eye. It was awesome!

    (2)

  • Victoria B.

    I went here for the second time this Sunday. It was exactly as awesome as the first time, four years ago. The lychee martini is one of my favorite drinks in the world. The calamari stake was perfection and the service was friendly and fast. Try to sit outside if you can, then walk across the street to the beach afterwards. The place is in paradise!

    (5)

  • Easton H.

    Food was decent but it's not worth the price. Paid $30 for a salad, 6 shrimp, and a handful of half-cooked vegetables. Also the first time I've been given a time limit At the table (told we could only sit at the table and enjoy the entrees for an hour).

    (1)

  • Liana S.

    Ambiance - 4 Teriyaki steak - 0. I ordered medium well and it came out bloody in the middle. The waitress passed by 10 times but never asked how my steak was. Potato - 0 (it's better at jack in the box). Salad bar - 4 No military discount. Needless to say, we won't be back. There are better ways to spend $134.00 for the family.

    (2)

  • Kevin W.

    Food: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Wait Staff: 5 Hostess: 2 (If you don't like greeting and interacting with people, maybe you shouldn't be a hostess.)

    (4)

  • Biglolagirl N.

    My husband and I have been coming to Buzz's for years. Every trip to Oahu would include a trip to Buzz's. Our last trip here two years ago we split the fish burrito. It was good, but we both got food poisoning. We called the owner to let her know and she so busy that she cut us short and we didn't even get apologies. Today we decided to give Buzz's another chance. Again, we both got ill after leaving the restaurant. Unfortunately that will be our last trip there.

    (1)

  • Andrew T.

    Had a nice lunch here with a friend and her disabled daughter who is in a wheelchair. They were very accommodating to our needs. The lunch menu seemed reasonably enough priced (a lot of options for $9- $12) and we had a great teri steak lunch that included a huge and delicious caesar salad, a huge curried chicken salad, and the fish burrito, which also came with a nice salad. Of our three items, my least favorite was the fish burrito which was more "cooked" than I expected and was only 'OK." I wouldn't order it again. My only complaint was the somewhat cold waitress who definitely did not give us any Aloha at first... my first impression was that she was peeved we were not ordering cocktails.... but she seemed just "too busy" to actually connect with her customers... not just us, but other tables around us too. I watched her literally turn her back and walk away from another customer that was still talking to her. The warmest she got was when she found out my friend was leaving her over 20% tip. Then she actually cracked a genuine smile and said thank you. Sadly it was as we were walking out the door. Overall, though, the rest of the staff was very friendly, we had a nice lunch, and I am looking forward to going back for another lunch and trying a mai tai.

    (4)

  • Derek S.

    Stopped here on our way to Lanakai. I had the fresh fish burger which was really mediocre. I was kinda expecting better based on the reviews of this place so my expectations were understandably high and unfortunately not met. Megan had a ceasar salad which tasted bland. Can't win them all... This place is better for a few beers on a beach day to get out of the sun for a bit.

    (2)

  • E A.

    I went in expecting rude service based on the reviews I've read here, but the staff was pleasant and attentive. I did go in for lunch, but was seated immediately outside once I managed to find parking, which was limited and irritating. It did look like the party before me was turned away for wearing tank tops and bathing suits, so this clearly isn't the place to go straight from the nearby beach. The drinks were strong, and the food was good (I ordered the ahi wrap, seared). I think the seared wrap was really just raw, but it was tasty. The wasabi aioli was a bit strong given that it was not very well distributed. Overall, it was a pleasant if not stellar experience.

    (4)

  • Alexander A.

    Too crowdy, food is plain, service is extremely simple. Will look for another stakehouse....

    (2)

  • Kayla N.

    The food was delicious! I got a steak special and it was really good! The staff was friendly enough and very efficient. You get a salad with most meals but you go to a salad bar which doesn't have very many options. The atmosphere is pretty nice as well but I'm only giving it 3 stars because for all the hype my overall experience wasn't what I had thought it would be.

    (3)

  • Leah R.

    My bf and I came to have a drink at the bar. We both ordered a Mai tai. When the bartender served us our drinks he told us that their policy was 3 mai tai's and we would be cut off. After our first sip, I knew why. It seemed like it was a glass of rum with a splash of juice. It was too strong to enjoy. They also close a little early. At 9pm they were putting chairs around us as they were cleaning up for the night. I doubt I would go back. The location is nice but it's small and has a beach vibe. There are also no tank tops 5pm.

    (3)

  • Suzy C.

    The drinks were good but the staff makes the entire experience miserable and it's really not worth it. They are rude, and won't let you in if you're wearing a short dress even though it's a beach restaurant. It's really the most terrible experience I've had with the wait staff at a restaurant.

    (1)

  • Margit C.

    Love it....great salad bars and perfectly prepare delicious meals. The environment is superior !!!

    (5)

  • Wolf L.

    Buzz's was recommended by everyone I know. My wife, her uncle and auntie, cousins, friends on the mainland--all said Buzz's is a must. Who am I to argue with such rave reviews? At first look, this would appear to be a pretty standard steakhouse, but it's right on the beach in Kailua, wihch is worth one star all alone. We were staying in the grandmaster of all beach rentals in Lanikai with a family of vegans. I'm not very picky about what I eat, but after a few days, I needed some animal protein in MY BELLY. I was craving a steak and I was pretty sure I'd find what I was looking for at Buzz's. When I called for reservations, I was told in no uncertain terms that tank tops are not allowed at dinner. Ha. Like I'd ever be caught dead in a tank top, but I'm glad the place has some standards. I wondered what would happen if I showed up in a tuxedo with flip flops. Hmmmm... The menu is painted on a plank, so it probably doesn't change too often. One of the specials was an 18 oz. Porterhouse served atop garlic mashies. That's what I got, and I was not disappointed. The steak was prepared perfectly. Medium rare. I ate the whole thing. The service was appropriately attentive and everyone in our party was satisfied with their entrees. All meals apparently come with a trip to the little salad bar. It's certainly not the most awesome salad bar I've ever seen, but I came for meat, not veggies. The next time we're in Lanikai, we'll go back to Buzz's for sure.

    (4)

  • Shelley V.

    I was recommended to go here by a friend who grew up on the island. I happily made a reservation and then started reading all the negative reviews on Yelp. I started to get anxious- would the service be as bad as all the reviews kept saying, would the food be not so great, etc. I am happy to report that my experience was top notch from start to finish. The hostess was very friendly from the get go. While we waited outside for a brief time, a server took our drink orders and before we knew it, our table was ready! Btw-drinks were good and my Mai Tai was hella strong!! We had a nice booth inside and a very friendly server named Rose took our orders. Upon the recommendation of some other Yelp reviews, we started with the Calamari Steak. This was very good! A breaded filet that was tender and not rubbery. A nice butter sauce with capers was the accompaniment. I did have the salad bar with my dinner and yes, it is small. Luckily for me, there were two of my favorite items-chopped eggs and avocado. M had the navy bean soup. The soup was tasty although more salty than we are normally used to. For my main course I had the steak/scampi combo with a baked potato. It came with 3 large shrimp and melted butter to dip into. The petite filet was cooked well, although a little more salted than I am used to. Next time I'll ask them to go easy on the salt. Baked potato came with real bacon-whoohoo! M had the special fish-Opakapaka served sauteed in butter with capers. It was really good! Both meals also came with a side of green beans. We were so full there was no dessert be had!! Buzz's rulez!!! We passed on dessert as we were stuffed!! I will definitely go back to Buzz's next time I'm in town.

    (4)

  • Bryson L.

    Came here for a family dinner, I've eaten at this location once before, and have eaten at the Pearl City location too many times to count, but only because my parents enjoy the early bird specials (Only at Pearl City). I reviewed the Pearl City a two star and this one a one star mainly because this place lacks everything! The food here is mediocre and not quite worth the price in my opinion (I'd spend it at another venue). But if you're looking for atmosphere, then I guess eating here would be an experience. For starters, I ordered lemonade, which was fountain brand lemonade, not fresh at all like I had hoped for. Another person in the party ordered a fruit punch which was more like a smoothie, it looked good. Ordered the sashimi here, granted it was good, but a little tiny and cut paper thin. Had the Teriyaki Steak for a main course, this was average. But the salad bar at this location is lacking by far! Unlike the Pearl City location, this salad bar seems to be lacking in dressings, and they're delicious garlic bread! We were served regular bread which was very disappointing. Also the pineapples in the salad bar were mixed with mint leaves, which tasted no where near refreshing and appeared as if it had been sitting there for some time. The watermelon salsa like thing in their salad bar was also disgusting, a combination of watermelon and onions mixed with some other things, I tried it, boy was I sorry. At least dessert managed to cheer me up a little, I had the key lime pie, although my favorite is the mint chocolate chip pie. But anyways the key lime pie was average and the lilikoi sauce made it slightly above par. Granted I was let down so badly at this point, nothing could really save this review. But overall this place isn't very good, if you're looking for some nice eating near the beach, well you'll have the beach part at least. I would much rather settle for the Pearl City location for the slightly better food, although Buzz's is a place I'd rather pass on. I would recommend elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Omar R.

    I only had drinks and appetizers but had a positive experience.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    I read the Yelp reviews, I warned the fam, but they insisted on going somewhere for dinner near where we were staying on Lanikai beach so I reluctantly came along hoping we'd catch Buzz's on a good night. Ambiance: We were a party of 7 with a reservation, and were seated at a make-shift table at the center of their main room right next to the bar...it was a really weird spot, like we were seated in everyone's way. The place is outfitted with your typical islandy tiki-meets marina hangout decor. Food: The salad bar...move along...this isn't the salad you're looking for. I ordered a Top Sirloin (medium rare) and Shrimp Scampi combo with mashed potatoes. The sirloin came medium well and the scampi were a bit cold. Overpriced, overpriced, overpriced. Someone else at the table got the ribeye and that was tough and completely devoid of flavor. My girlfriend (wisely) got the "hardest thing you could screw up" on the menu in the Teriyaki chicken and that actually wasn't too bad. My sister got the Ahi Poke and the tuna was a really deep dark red (almost burgundy) and was borderline tough. Beer selection was poor, but they seem to have a decent menu of mixed drinks. Service: Meh. They came around once in a while, but to be honest the ambiance and the food combined made me not notice the service one way or another. If anything it was unmemorable. Overall: When you see all of the one and two star reviews for this place, please please PLEASE just listen to them. This is the real deal. It's expensive, the food is marginal, and the service is whatever. They have no business charging what they're charging for the food and experience they provide. I plead to you, fellow Yelpers, please heed this warning and move along.

    (1)

  • Susan N.

    Just had dinner at Buzzs. The teriyaki steak was stringy and just awful. The salad bar was ok. I think you should choose another place for a steak dinner

    (1)

  • karen r.

    Took my Uncle and Aunty (who live in Cincinnati) for lunch. Although they have visited Kailua often, they had not been to the Original Buzz's....so off we went. Great old style setting. Very disappointing food. I had the 'teri steak' sandwich. The meat was so tough I couldn't bite into the sandwich without dragging the entire piece of meat out of the bun. It was even difficult to cut into pieces because there was so much gristle. They had salads. So.... if you go for lunch, skip the teri meat sandwich.

    (2)

  • Melissa B.

    Their ribs are exactly what I remember 10 years ago! Salad bar was great (seaweed salad was the best!) had their Poke too it was a little salty but eatable. Now the beef ribs are HUGE really this dish can be shared with two adults. They are fall off the bone tender. I can't wait for another visit to Hawaii!

    (4)

  • Gin N Juic E.

    good food, good service, and nothing out of the ordinary. I would say though that its relativity to kailua beach is a big bonus but has them confused with their focus group. when youre across the street from the beach why make your restaurant fancy? sure its nice you give me a glass to pour my beer in but.. *whispers* -nobody cares- so just give is the bottle :) then I noticed there was some odd dress code dependent upon the time of day. Your patrons came to the beach not to some downtown joint. so overall it was an enjoyable experience but I feel they might be trying to appeal more to the tourist then to their surroundings and the people therein.

    (4)

  • Vanessa F.

    Meh. This place is OK, nothing super special about it in my opinion. My friends and I ate here one Monday afternoon before we went kayaking. The setup of the restaurant itself is nice and clean which I appreciate especially when I'm near a beach. The photos are reminiscent of the older days of Kailua with a Beach Boys kind of flair. The service could have been better. The staff was nice but lacked knowledge of prices and the kind of substitutions we could make to our order. And at one point the waiter dropped a knife on my plate which hit my sunglasses and could have totally poked my eye out. With that said, I wasn't feeling too great about this place. I ordered the garden burger which is originally a veggie burger with sprouts, avocado, & aioli. I substituted the veggie patty with a regular medium beef patty. The final product was okay. The meat wasn't spectacular and lacked that juiciness factor. I probably won't come back to this place because I feel that there are other restaurants in Kailu that are worth my time & money.

    (2)

  • Nicole P.

    Waitress was very friendly and knew the menu VERY extensively. The menu on the wooden cutting board was a nice touch. The streaks were perfectly cooked and the sides were well seasoned and presented. The salad bar was very hawaiian traditional but didn't have a whole lot of choices I was expecting; to refill the items, they reach from the back of house and a hand will just dart out unexpectedly. It is a a very cozy and tropical atmosphere but didn't feel cramped in the smaller space. Prices are about average for a steakhouse but the fish and lobster I felt were a bit over priced at $45. I had the prime rib, it was great!

    (4)

  • Natalie A.

    We called as soon as Buzz's opened on a Monday to make reservations for that evening since we had family visiting from the mainland. When we arrived for our reservation that night the hostess showed us to our table RIGHT in the middle of the restaurant with foot traffic all around it. The table was also attached to another table where strangers were eating. There were three open booths and we asked if we could sit at one of them and the hostess told us that those tables were "reserved WAY in advance." Really? At Buzz's on a Monday in March? Yeah right. The hostess was rude, unfriendly and annoyed at our one request. We decided to wait the estimated 45mins for another table but then decided to take our business elsewhere. It will be a while before we try Buzz's again. I could have handled that table if we had been treated nicely. There are way better places to eat in Kailua with friendlier staff.

    (1)

  • C J.

    Ono (wahoo), AMAZING fish. Service, great! Calamari steak, AMAZING. SHARE.. there's a salad bar that's awesome. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is b/c it looks like a crab-shack.

    (4)

  • Riley F.

    The food was really good especially their grilled fish burger!!

    (4)

  • Shellaine C.

    two words for buzz's steakhouse: buzz kill. or is that technically one word? anyhoo, after receiving word of mouth accolades from a co-worker, the hubs was literally chomping at the bit to try buzz's steakhouse when we hit the ground in kailua. we popped in after a quick jaunt to the beach across the street, with all 3 kiddos in tow. we wanted to inquire on kid meals, reservations, dress code etc. because when you will be descending upon a restaurant with 5 kids and 4 adults, you want to have all these details worked out. beforehand, waaaaay beforehand. the hostess on duty that day was so friendly and welcoming - we were totally smitten to come back. she assured us there was a kids menu - small but available. patio seating was available - great because we would be in possession of so many kids - 2 7 year olds, a 4 year old, a 2.5 year old and last but not least a giant 15 mos old. totes casual - diners walked in from the beach across the street (like us!) , so they were accustomed to all types of dress. and the ahi was delivered fresh every AM and transformed into yummy for your tummy ceviche. our return trip for lunch the very next day was so very disappointing. we had hoped for an outside lunch but the porch was reserved for a private lunch.. we were seated inside fairly quickly but as the hostess led us to our table, a time ravaged blonde who was prolly considered lovely in the 1960's, stepped in front of my stroller and apparently left her aloha spirit home that day, went on to inform me that strollers were not allowed in buzz's. although the hostess had not made mention of this. usually, we get to the table, get giant baby into high chair, fold up stroller and ask staff to kind stash it out of the way. which most establishments are happy to do. or the staff offers up this stroller storage to free up floor space and avoid accidents. minus 1 buzz's. seated and now ready to get our buzz's steakhouse experience on, we are informed that there is no kids menu. just teriyaki chicken. no keike sized versions of the adult entrees. uh. oh. minus 2 buzz's. and there is no ahi ceviche today. plus i think our waitress forgot about us. for almost 20 minutes. we were able to cobble together kid type meals from the appetizer menu (chicken soup - yum, yum, yum and tempura french fries which weren't really tempura battered but really more just twice fried but still delish) and a burger for the young mister. i ordere up the fish burg for myself and it was big and fresh and yummy and served with the aforementioned tempura but not tempura fries, but strangely, our waitress was not familiar with the fish being used that day (it is typically the ahi but they decided to switch it up that day and she was unable to describe it. hmmmm). we also ordered the ahi sashimi which was a big, generous platter of fresh ahi tuna - very good, super fresh but not ceviche. the mai tai was good but unfortunately does not come with a babysitter, so i was limited to imbibing only one. buzz's is a small joint, vintage-y hawaiian theme, lotsa bamboo, cozy but probably betts for a couple or a group without young children. which at this time, is not us.

    (2)

  • Sean B.

    I have been going to Buzz's for years, and it never gets old! The food is 5+ stars; I could eat the Calamari, Sashimi, Teriyaki Steak and Salad Bar every day and never get sick of it! Only reason for a 4 star rating is the price (a lot of bar drinks are over $10 and dinner for two with a couple of drinks is guaranteed to come out over $100) and the service (most staff is great, but some definitely need some additional training!) Buzz's is a MUST for anyone who hasn't been before but just be prepared to spend $$ and receive good not great service....

    (4)

  • Roy M.

    The entrees would have earned one star; I added a second for the good salad bar and knowledgeable, professional staff. The best parts of the meal were the salad and an appetizer. The salad gets such high marks because of the freshness and the items offered. The appetizer was the artichoke surprise, which is apparently a favorite with people who know the restaurant. But the part of the meal that ultimately costs the most was pretty disappointing. The steak was over-seasoned and the seasoning itself didn't have good flavor. The chili con carne was not what I expected from the description, including the fact that it was described as having sour cream but there was none. (Our server apologized after she realized it was missing and offered to take it back to have the sour cream added.) I also had to ask about a mystery ingredient - I thought it was either fried onion or calamari, turns out it was crispy wonton strips. It should also be noted that during dinner time some of the items that other yelpers recommended are not available, and there is a minimum order amount per person. I won't say that this place should be avoided altogether, since some of the items that I read about and hoped to order are only on the lunch menu. It may be a great place for lunch...but for dinner it's disappointing. You'll pay enough to expect an exceptional entree, and find that the highlight of the meal is either an appetizer or the salad bar.

    (2)

  • Vickie N.

    I'm going to be more critical with this review because I expect a lot from restaurants that charge $$$. I was generally disappointed with Buzz's, especially after reading positive reviews in our tour book "Oahu Revealed" which gave it an "ONO" rating. (I have since decided that a lot of the reviews in this book are sadly off the mark.) Anyway, my husband and I agree that this restaurant lacks in the following ways: While the location is in scenic Kailua, the ambiance falls short at Buzz's. Not much of any particular view. We sat inside near the salad bar. Speaking of salad, this was possibly the best part of my meal... which shouldn't have been the case since my main entree was the opakapaka fixed with the Asian teriyaki sauce. My husband got the black bass with the cajun marinate. We were underwhelmed. I've had better fish at hole in the wall restaurants in Chinatown at 1/3 of the cost. My glass of pinot was sour and bitter, like it was from an open bottle that had gone stale, so I asked the server if it would be okay to switch it to the other pinot from Cambria. She gave me attitude before saying okay. She had me try a sample. I did and she gave me a full glass.... and tried to charge me for two glasses of wine at the end of the meal, which I thought was so classy. And yes... after all that, we had to hand over a pile of cash because they don't accept credit card. VERY inconvenient when you consider that most patrons have spent the day at the beach and don't have wads of cash at their disposal. Overall, a forgettable experience. Not going back. Sorry!

    (2)

  • Judy R.

    This AWFUL restaurant sits across Kailua Beach. We saw that there were a lot of people in the restaurant so we didn't think it would be that bad. Boy, were we soooooo wrong. #1 cash only. They used a DEBIT CARD MACHINE as an ATM. I had to swipe my card and specify it being a debit card charge! Then I had to sign the receipt and they paid me the cash from their register. And on top of that, i get charged $1.75. SHADY! #2 OVER PRICED food. Who pays $13 for salad bar? And it was not even that good! #3 Overpriced steak was so salty, I was only able to eat have of my Baby Top (6oz top sirloin $16. My bf ordered medium rare. Not only was his regular top sirloin ($23) steak saltier than mine, half if it was RARE (practically seared). #4 Ambiance was the worst of all! Lighting was dark. Only to hide the dirty furniture. The booth bench had little dust bunnies along the back. Gross! In addition to that, we had one soda and a cup of soup. Our total bill before tip was $47. All in all over priced food, mediocre food, and terrible ambiance. PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COST.

    (1)

  • Lisa K.

    I'm partial to Buzz's because of the log history with dining here as a teenager and now adult. We go hang at the bar every few months as locals in Kailua and usually order the salad bar and an entree plus an appetizer. Our favorite bartendresses are Rose and also Mahina (she is my older daughter's cousin). Go and have a good time people watching and also order any fresh fish grilled. Ono, you know!

    (4)

  • pracheta t.

    We had fun here and I know why they call is Buzz's. I was pretty buzzed after half a drink...which is probably why they only let you have one drink at a time. Terrible vegetarian options but luckily all I really wanted that afternoon was a strong drink and something light (salad). Good location too.

    (4)

  • Evan F.

    I've been going to Buzz's for well over a decade. If you're looking for some down right good steak and BBQ, etc, then it's not the place to go. I've actually never been impressed with the place in that sense. To me, it's always been about the environment and, of course, salad bar. I love avocado, and Buzz's let's me get my fix of it through their salad bar.

    (3)

  • Cleaner T.

    Here is the trick with Buzz's. You have to KNOW what you are doing. It IS possible to order the wrong thing. It is also very possible to order many of the right things and have a great experience. Below are my 8 rules to ensure a great Buzz's experience. These work for me. I hope they come in handy for you. Also, this mostly applies to the dinner experience, not so much lunch. RULE #1: Make Reservations Unless you really don't mind hanging out for hours and likely standing most of the time, you really want to make a reservation. The good news is you can usually get away with calling at 2pm or 3pm that same day and get the dinner time slot of your choice. (Those of you who show up as a surprise, get frustrated with seeing empty tables and not being seated.... please don't show up at all. You don't understand the restaurant business and you are killing the 'Mana' of the place.) RULE #2: Veteran Server When checking with the hostess, ask if you could be seated with a veteran/experienced server. Sometimes they are able to do this and you can avoid the once-in-a-while newbie. Actually one young girl we had serve us a lunch was exceptional! It can happen. --let's talk about drinks-- RULE#3: Get A Signature Drink In Your Hand 1. The "Freshy" My all-time favorite. This is a scratch, fresh lime margarita shaken and poured straight -up martini style, in a martini glass with salted rim. Sometimes they offer variations like, Li Hing Mui rim or Patron Silver. DO NOT DO ANY OF THIS GARBAGE. Tell them you want the 'Old School' original one with salt. 2. The "Buzz's Mai Tai" Best bang for the buck. Classic and potent. I think they will actually refuse to serve you more than three of these. The secret is that it tastes like tropical liquid candy yet there is not a single drop of juice. Pure gasoline. If you want a little pineapple juice do the B.F.R.D drink. --ok food stuff now--- RULE #4: Don't Poo-Poo The Pupu's (Appetizers) 1. Calamari Steak This is breaded, deep fried yet amazingly tender. Then drowned in lemon-butter frothy heaven. Not chewy at all. 2. Sashimi They will only make this available when it is good. This comes on a bed of shredded cabbage that is shingled in pieces of stained glass fish. Amazing how thin they cut this stuff. These will melt in your mouth. No chewing should be required. it will evaporate into your glands. 3. Meat Sticks These have amazing and powerful flavor. They cut try-tip on the bias and slow cook for hours on the Kiawe wood grill. You won't see these on the menu. You have to ask for them. They are reserved for the outside cocktail seating, but I think you can get them to cheat and bring them to you anyway. RULE#5: Seek The Salad Bar of the Knowledge of Good & Evil I hear and read that people are disappointed with this Salad Bar and I can only think that this is a function of their expectations. I think you really have to UNDERSTAND this Salad Bar to truly enjoy it. If you approach it with the idea that you are nearing a Salad Bar, I think that may be the first sign of trouble. This is not RUBY TUESDAYS. You have to think of this as an Antipasto Pickled-Veggie bar with a few traditional salad trimmings and outstanding home-made dressings. Having the knowledge that you are entering a mostly pickled zone will help you come away with what you like. Grab some hunks of avocado, bean salad, and my favorite and the most feared item there: the baby maui onions. Don't be afraid, they are like sweet like candy. With all that pickled stuff going on I suggest you cut the acid with the house Sour Cream dressing. Just when you think you are done. Continue down the signature uneven floor along the salad bar and don't forget to reach across the aisle to the toasted sunflower seeds, croutons and fresh pepper grinder. RULE#6: Just Say 'No' To Steak I love steak. Good steak. But you need to avoid all the regular steak offerings. I know, I know, the title reads "Steak House" but once you realize it's just not their thing, you'll be much happier. However there are two exceptions: 1. If they offer a special Hawaiian Rib Eye (and you like rib eye) then you'll love it. 2. The Filet Mignon is also a 'Special' that is very good. Unfortunately, it hardly ever comes around. RULE#7: Just Say 'Yes' To Fish The daily fresh fish is where they shine. They always have a nice selection. I caution against cooked Ahi. Ahi is good raw but gets fishy when cooked. It is pretty easy to over-cook fish. They don't. Buzz's has this process dialed in! Of the four preparations they offer I highly recommend the Hibachi Style prep. RULE#8: Look And Listen You are in a historic Kailua spot. Soak it in. You are right next to the beach. They don't make old wooden-walled places like this anymore. That natural wood is what absorbs the noisy people. Appreciate that you can still comfortably hear each other across the table and yet feel the energy of the feast around you.

    (4)

  • Reagan G.

    We went here for Fathers Day & they had a special brunch menu. The seafood omelette was delicious, and I think it had more than $12.95 worth of seafood in it. The Mexican eggs benedict (made with fish) was amazing! Very big portions & delicious!

    (5)

  • Justin L.

    Sign at the front says "we take all major credit cards" except there is a line through american express, which you can miss at first glance. It wasn't till we finished my dinner did I find out that they wouldn't take my card. Good steak, good service, should take amex like the other upscale steakhouses

    (3)

  • Mike P.

    Started out OK, then turned into the Worst dining experience just about ever. Arrived here in afternoon while they were still very slow & almost empty. There's a kind of a "rule board" as you go in to this beach restaurant, warning you of what kind of styles they don't "cotton to," such as nothing sleeveless for the ladies &tc. Seemed a little stuffy an approach for a "casual" dining experience, but OK fine, we pass, we're in. We were seated in the nice area inside with a great view of the ocean. The waitress was OK and took our order. Ordered 2 glasses of good red wine, 2 appetizers for starters. The escargot was great (once we got to eat it, see below) and the calamari was so-so. We'd come to relax, and wanted to have a slow meal, but this expectation evidently set off a red flag when I said that, after the waitress returned with our drinks, and prodded us again to order our entrees, that we were snacking for the moment and would decide later. So off she went and we enjoyed our drinks for about 5 minutes. All very pleasant, low key, & friendly so far. We were enjoying the breeze, our wine, our solitude (we were the only ones sitting in that area) when suddenly appeared "the manager" and everything went immediately south. She told us that she would be re-seating us in the less comfortable benches of to the side, as this area was reserved for people ordering "full dinners." I am embarrassed to say that I didn't just pay for the drinks, cancel the rest of the order and leave. Instead I tried out a couple of reasons on this business amateur why that was a bad idea: 1- I was already seated, & 2- even if I didn't order another bite or drink, we were the only ones there! The place was empty, except for a few folks drinking fairly loudly out in the "cheap seats" where she evidently believed we should be more comfortable. Well if I wanted to sit in a crowded, relatively noisy environment with no view and uncomfortable seating, there's the Harbor Pub for that, but we weren't in Waikiki, and don't like the place anyway. Well the good manager stuck by her guns and so we "enjoyed" the rest of our drink, the so-so calamari, and the snails while seated in the far back corner of the benches outside. NEVER AGAIN.

    (1)

  • Scott K.

    Great for lunch or just a quick drink right next to Kailua beach. The food and service is great. After 4 pm it becomes more formal and the menu is higher prices but very up scale too.

    (5)

  • Paige F.

    This place was great to stop in for some cold drinks and moderate food. The ambiance was pretty good inside. Outside would have been nicer though. It is quite dark inside. We had the B.F.R.D which was pretty good. We definitely left with a buzz, so at least they lived up to their name.

    (3)

  • Audrey S.

    I have only been once and I got the fish sandwich...horrible! I Couldn't even finish the sandwich and would have told the server had she ever returned to my table. Filled up on greasy fries and left unsatisfied...maybe I should have ordered something else? But after that i won't be going back.

    (1)

  • Tom S.

    We are tourists and based on a mixed bag of reviews and proximity to the beach we tried Buzz's. We had 4 in our party and waited about 15 minutes (as advertised). The service was fine. My glass was rarely empty. The food was tasty and came out quick. The setting is nice. All in all, it was a good experience and I would go back.

    (4)

  • Meredith R.

    Buzz's is located on the much less touristy side of Oahu, so that automatically says something. It's one of the more famous spots and located just minutes away from two of the most beautiful beaches in the state (Lanikai and Kailua Bay). We came here after a *perfect* day of the sun, and while it wasn't the best food in the world, it wasn't poor. Artichoke was ok - served with hot butter and mayo. The salad bar is intense - $10.95 gets you much more than bad quality cucumbers and tomatoes (like other spots) but rather, think: beets, seaweed salad, asparagus and exotic fruits. Shwing. The ahi sashimi was fantastic; fresh as it comes. But it was served with mustard, not how I'm used to eating it, ok, that's cool. My friends had tataki and seared ahi - both enjoyed their dishes. What else did we see? Massive stuffed potatoes and mud pie and lots of alcoholic drinks to sample. We were just too hungry and tired to partake. Bring cash, don't be bitter, it's all good....it's Hawaii, people, you're on vacation. Don't be grumpy about "no credit cards."

    (3)

  • C K.

    My husband and I were here for dinner today. The service was good. Before you start your main meal, you can take salad as much as you want at the salad bar... We ordered medium rare steak and Chinese style cooked snapper (fish). The medium rare steak was like a rare steak instead. It was chewy and hard to cut! However, the snapper was great. In conclusion, I would say that it is an over-priced restaurant mainly set up there to capture tourist! As both of us have only ordered cocktail which cost USD9 each, steak and snapper and guess how much was the bill? the total bill amount was USD80+ before adding the tips....

    (3)

  • Billy C.

    Went there on Jan 4th, 2012 since I was staying at Lanikai. Really wanted to give 2.5 instead of 3 star. I ordered the Ribeye and Sirloin rare for my girlfriend and I.... how do you manage to make rare steak nasty? Well, Buzz did. I went to a steakhouse and enjoyed their mash potato more than their steak... the customer service is good, salad bar buffet came with meal and price was reasonable as I expected to pay higher for another overrated restaurant.

    (3)

  • Mikayla H.

    ONLY BEACHFRONT RESTAURANT IN KAILUA ! I LOVE coming here for appetizers with my family ! You can come and sit at adorable little tables out front and choose from many delicious appetizers, including ahi poke, sashimi, and ceviche occasionally, and much more ! They have lots of tropical drinks ! One of my favorites ! Right on Kailua Beach !!!

    (5)

  • Trish S.

    Honestly, this place is a gem, and it's celebrating it's 50th year in business for a reason...great food, great drinks, great service! Lunch or dinner...it doesn't matter how you get here... Just GET here! Love u guys!

    (5)

  • Binnie N.

    My husband and I tend to go to a lot of steak houses. This place is definitely over priced due to the fact that it is across the street from a tourist attraction. The steak is not priced well for a dry tasteless piece of meat. The salad bar does not have good options either

    (2)

  • Deborah M.

    2 stars for the food and pricing, 4 for atmosphere/location: makes 3. Fun to take visitors once in a while.

    (3)

  • Art B.

    Overall a nice experience and certainly no problems with our prompt, cordial and attentive service which seems to be the main and recurring complaint. For sure make a reservation or be prepared to wait or go elsewhere. I liked the atmosphere which was like Frank Sinatra meets Duke Kahanamoku and reminded me a bit of a Mafia hangout in Providence, Rhode Island or some similar venerable dive. The menu is a bit limited but I created my own surf and turf by adding a mini top sirloin to a Opakapaka grilled fish. The fish was very tasty as was the bed of mashed potatoes, the oriental slaw and a sauteed chard or other green it came with. While not a fan of salad bars generally this one was nice, clean and fresh with some interesting items and an array of lettuces and other greens.The steak was a nice piece of meat and perfectly done but ultimately I fund the rub a little sweet and cloying; ymmv. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass/bottle, though I did not see anything exalted, and a full bar of course. I availed myself of the mai tai to warm up and yes it is very strong. So it's not cheap but neither is it grossly expensive: after all this is Hawaii and this is Kailua and it's at the Beach Park. Ours was $120 for two with tip, two drinks each and no dessert. PS, forgot to mention we liked it enough to make a rez for Easter Brunch.

    (4)

  • Tara G.

    I lived in Lanikai when I first moved to Oahu and this place was obviously a staple (I still went frequently even after I moved to Kaneohe and Hawaii Kai). I prefer their lunch menu 10x more than their dinner (in my opinion the dinner menu is higher priced, more restrictions, and the food is mediocre for the price). While at lunch you can get an awesome burger, tempura fries for a decent price and a great view (at the atmosphere is more laid back then as well). It's right off Kailua Beach, and while it has it's own parking...if it's busy (IE Friday or weekend at lunch time) be prepared to sit and wait for a spot. The entire time I lived on the island they were cash only (had an ATM machine, with a lovely high service charge)...I went back to visit family last month and WHAT?! I see a sign out front that says they "sadly" turned to accepting major credit cards! REJOICE! I never thought I'd see the day, Buzz's. Had some rude waiters, had some friendly and pleasant ones as well...service is hit or miss (as far as attitudes go - but Lanikai and Kailua are generally local and not tourist-y...so if you act like a tourist, you might get the 'tude). Service time is hit or miss as well, but you're on island time anyway - if you're in a rush go down into town in Kailua for the CPK or another mainland chain- they'll be faster. Burgers are exceptional, fries are my favorite on the island, and they do great drinks at the bar (even if they do skimp you on the size and they price it a little high...they're quick about the drinks and they aren't watered down!). Overall, lovely place, great atmosphere and view, great lunch menu! Few drawbacks, but so what *shrug*.

    (4)

  • Megan C.

    Delicious. We came in at 7pm on a Saturday without a reservation & were seated right away. Parking was kinda tough, but we found a spot. We were seated inside, it's a little dark, but I guess that's supposed to make it romantic? I don't know, but it didn't really bother me. My husband & I both noticed though, and commented on it. We were immidiately served ice water, and our server was really quick to get our drink order. My husband got the BFRD, which was very strong, and I got a girly Lava Flow, which was not. The drinks are a bit pricey, but not the most expensive i've ever seen. I decided to order a combo of the baby top (a 6 oz. Top Sirloin, rare) with Scampi, and my husband got the 10 oz. Top Sirloin with rice. They both came with a trip to the salad bar, which was very fresh, and yummy. The Berry Balsamic dressing was really good. Anyways, our food was out pretty quickly, the steaks were both cooked perfectly, and the serving size was just right. We had somewhere to be, so we skipped dessert, but i'm sure it would have been awesome too! For 2 drinks, and 2 meals our total bill was about 70 bucks (before tip), so I won't be here every weekend cuz that's a bit more than I like to spend on an average evening, but I didn't mind paying it because the quality was really top notch. Overall, a very positive experience, we will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Caitlin L.

    Much like a bad first date, we decided Buzz's deserved another chance...we had planned on heading out to North Shore for dinner, but it was a blustery day in the neighborhood, we didn't feel like driving...so Buzz's it was. Our last visit left a bad taste in our mouth (figuratively, thankfully!), but we wanted some seafood close to home. I am elated to upgrade them from my last review and both my hubs and I decided that we would definitely be coming back more regularly! It was never really the food that was not our taste at our last visit, more the service. I don't know if we caught them on an off night before, or if they upped their game, but tonight was phenomenal! For starters, I called at 5pm on a Saturday night trying to get a reso at 630p. The hostess told me they didn't have anything til 745, but when I asked if they had anything earlier cause we just lived down the street, she said to just get there as soon as we could and they'd squeeze us in...sweet!!! We showed up at 545 and were seated right away! Not only that, we had an awesome patio table with a sick view. I'm sure it was a beautiful sunset...not that we would know since anyone on the island this week knows mother nature is on her rag and is b***chin it out all over the windward side. Our server, Lei, was right with us, got our drink orders right away, and our glasses were never left empty. At one point I said I felt like we had our own personal busboy! We both went for fish habachi style, which is grilled with a lemon and teriyaki glaze. I had the opa and hubs had the mahi mahi, both were fabulous! I am definitely gonna miss all the whitefish they have here when I am no longer living aloha! (Thankfully, I have a few years!). We were in and out in less than an hour. Pleasantly full, and pleasantly surprised a the wonderful experience! I had to minus one star because they don't take American Express...I need my reward points!! :)

    (4)

  • D S.

    I know that many consider Buzz's to be a premier establishment, but to me it was barely acceptable. Too many tables crammed into service area. Servers were barely acceptable, food mediocre at best. The blue cheese dressing was the most tasteless and thinnest - in fact watery - and there was no blue cheese that I could ascertain. Very unpleasant to my palate, making my salad a waste. The menu listed a "baby sirloin" at a reasonable price, first few bites were delightful, cooked to perfection, but quickly went down hill from there. A serious strip of gristle ran through the remainder of the steak of both my wife's meat and mine. We did not complain because we felt it would do no good, we were never asked how our meal was, nor how it tasted. Our server should have recognized my dissatisfaction with the salad when I said I wished the salad plate to be removed because of the state of the dressing. I could never recommend this place to anyone without feeling I was cheating that individual out of a nice dining experience.

    (2)

  • John B.

    Food is ok, not great. Drinks are good, especially the lava flow and BFRD. If you're a hard core meat and potatoes and old school salad bar type, you'll be happy. If your tastes lean to something more complicated or nuanced, grab a cocktail and skip dinner.

    (3)

  • Tom I.

    We went to Kailua and Lanikai beaches for our first full day on Oahu and easily worked up an appetite by noon. Buzz's was the first option we saw while walking and we took a chance on it and ended up loving it. The service was incredible, our waitress Angie (I think) was super nice and very attentive, and the food was very good. It's obviously going to be slightly expensive (it's Hawaii, it's across from a public beach, it's accessible), but they do a great job and all of our food was very good. Drinks came in what seemed like 30 seconds or less, food was also fast and good (the crab sandwich was great), and the pineapple sherbet for dessert was perfect and simple. Would easily come back for lunch.

    (5)

  • Antonia G.

    We decided to stop for lunch and drinks before our day excursion at Lanikai Beach. This restaurant is in such a great location, right across from the beach! The restaurant itself is a little run down and the bathroom was dingy, but the service was great and the food really good too. I had a glass of chardonnay and the BLT salad and Brian had the teriyaki chicken sandwich which came with french fries. The BLT salad had romaine lettuce, spiral pasta, bacon, broccoli, and a creamy dressing. It was really good, I got the half too and I still didn't finish it. Brian's sandwich was really good and the french fries were really crispy. Great lunch spot!

    (4)

  • Charles B.

    Awesome location, awesome feel to it, great service this place has everything going for it. Their mixed drinks were great (try the pear-tini and makalua sunrise). The open face soft shell crab sandwich was amazing. And I couldn't believe how good their desserts were!!!! Not to big a dent in the wallet either. Would definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Brittani T.

    1 star- worst service EVER!! Our party of 6 arrived to Buzz's this afternoon and we were completely ignored for the first few minutes. We were then seated by a very sweet young lady named Alia, but then asked us to close our tab because they were switching shifts. This was the worst shift change. Our new waitress named shay or Tay- blonde and fake- was our new server. Many rude things happened: 1) fake server 2) I was asked to change my clothes (even though was in a bathing suit cover up 100 feet from the beach) 3) when standing in line for the bathroom, all of the servers were gossiping about multiple customers, including talking about another man that was sitting on the patio near us, in which they gave him "loner clothes" to be able to sit at their restaurant because his shorts were too short (to a mans mid-thigh). Another young customer lady was sitting at the bar (near the bathroom line) and talked to my friends and I about how disgusted she was listening to the waitresses talking about the customers - including us. 4) after we paid, waitress rudely reached over our whole party to grab her black book where her tip was. In my opinion, you never grab your tip until your customers leave. And we should have left $1. 5) all waitresses were caught rolling their eyes at customers and even ourselves when one of them tried to take away a plate that we weren't finished with. Food was good- can't complain, but I will NEVER come back here, feeling as uncomfortable and disgusted as we were. It's sad this restaurant probably doesn't care how they treat their customers because they know they are the only restaurant near the beach and people will dine there no matter what.

    (1)

  • Kelli B.

    It was good and my 1 year old even enjoyed being there. But I got a mad case of food poisoning just a few hours later. It makes me not want to try again even though I think it was just because of the salad bar.

    (3)

  • Nicki K.

    Both visits to Buzz's have brought mediocre experiences..the waitstaff seems grumpy and inconvenienced by having to serve you. They will only take 2 forms of payment (go with a group of 10, and you have to remember to remind everyone to bring their cash as they won't do a "divide the bill into 10 equal shares" as most places will). The inside of the place seems pretty dingy especially for their high prices. The menu is basic and unimpressive. The parking can be tough. I got the "Chinese Style Fish," which was pretty good, but a bit too salty for my taste. The upside to this restaurant is that it is the only restaurant convenient to Lanikai.

    (2)

  • Katie S.

    Ambiance: laid-back, casual and fun Service: friendly and attentive Food: very, very good. Their steak and seafood is really good. We also ordered burgers for lunch while hanging out on Kailua Beach one day and those were delicious! Full bar with good drink selection. Their dessert ice cream cakes are really good, too! Fore-warning: Parking can be kind of tough if the beach is busy.

    (4)

  • Tommy B.

    Two entrees tested today, Thai chicken salad and teriyaki steak salad. Desert was vanilla bean coconut ice cream pie. I've gotta day that both salads were accented with mint in the mix, and the desert was amazing. Well worth the price!!! Gotta add that the service was actually amazing. My drink was never empty. I tried.

    (5)

  • don m.

    Buzz's has been there forever---i.e. 35-40 years. it's your perfect beach side location restaurant situated across from Kailua Beach, one of Oahu's best. You want it to be good. It's the perfect setting for out of town visitors. The menu is simply prepared fish, steaks, chicken with basic side dishes. Also, they've always been known for their salad bar with its extensive assortment of choices. Now I might add, they mastered the heights of mediocre. The last time i was there my fish was over-cooked. that's easy to do, but unforgivable. The salad bar was pathetic. Sizzler's is better. Not to be left out, the wine list is poor, too. When i was there 2 days ago at Happy Hour (4:30) with a local friend who just got off a construction site wearing a tank top, the hostess and waitress gave us an over-sized plate of attitude. the place was virtually empty, we wanted a cool place out of the sun. "Sorry, that's for dinner only." Hey, no one's here and no one's going to be here for at least an hour. So, we find a tiny table tucked outside, not in anyone's line of sight where we might offend anyone. They want my friend to wear the house Aloha shirt which is probably a medium and he's XXL. No way can it fit. No way should he have to wear it. I belong to the Outrigger Canoe Club and what my friend is wearing, he could wear there. Then, the beer selection is limited and boring---think Bud Light, Coors Light. Then, their famous all alcohol Mai Tai is undrinkable. Over-priced, too. We asked for our check and went down the street to Kalapawai Market, bought a six-pack and sat outside having a delightful time. As another reviewer wrote, Buzz's is the worse place is Kailua. They're right. Stay away. I know I'll never be back.

    (1)

  • Gabrielle T.

    I was sad to see that this place didn't get better reviews. I'm a long time Kailua resident and Buzz's is one of our favorite places to get fresh fish and salad. When you arrive you can smell the wood burning in the kitchen, MMMM what a delicious smell. The wait staff are always busy, but there are lots of them. You have a waiter/waitress but there is additional staff that fills your water, clears your plates and brings you dessert. Cheryl is often our waitress and she is super fantastic and always remembers us when we come in. The salad bar is simple, but very very fresh, always has the same things and its our favorite part. My husband loves the salad bar more than anything. We always get the fresh fish grilled but we hear from our friends we bring that the steak and crab legs are equally wonderful. Ditto to everyone else on the calamari steak ... by far my favorite appetizer. though the artichoke surprise is also yummo. Dessert is a variety of ice cream pies that change daily. All wonderful. Lunch is simple and fresh as well, chicken wrap and soup is my favorite, hubby likes the fish sandwhich. Overall, this is nice place to take out of town guests who want a quaint, local restaurant on the beach with great fish and steaks, that's been around for years. For us Kailuans its a staple in our lives and we hope to be patrons for years to come.

    (4)

  • Gil G.

    Looked forward to a great lunch! Basically ok, nothing spectacular, crab sandwich and 3 fish and chip specials. Fish was 3 to 3 1/2, crab was a weak 3. The view was its usual 5. Bad news, none of the staff had control of the floor. Our adjacent table guests were seated soon after us. Having been split by the table, the female jumped up and moved to the bench seat next to her date. As he performed an oral exam on her tonsils while she sat on his lap, the staff was oblivious to this unacceptable behavior and nothing was said to them. Our food servers, at least 3, were present during this pornographic display. This was not a moment or two, rather, their entire lunch and the majority of ours. Every minute, we waited to see if John Quinones and his crew from, What Would You Do? would come around the corner... Sad!

    (1)

  • Vera D.

    After spending the day snorkeling at Hanauma, we didn't want to return to Waikiki for dinner. Our Fodor's rated Buzz's a "choice" to stop at on the windward side of Oahu. Buzz's is very close to Lanikai -- the island locals' fave beach. It's very old-timey and charming. We wanted seats on the porch and one of the tables has a placard proudly displaying the fact that the Clintons once sat and ate there (we declined on taking that table since it was at the very back of the porch). The salad bar was okay -- my husband was disturbed that the bleu cheese dressing didn't taste like anything at all. My ono fish was very dry -- I've never had it but his top sirloin steak was decent. We didn't intend on ordering dessert but we let the bus boy show us the choices out of courtesy. He didn't know what one of the flavors was and even took a small bite of it (we guessed Kona coffee ice cream pie). When he confirmed, we ordered that flavor. My husband thought it was funny that the kid was trying really hard but I was secretly disturbed that he didn't get us a fresh slice and gave us the one he had taken a taste from! The ice cream pie had freezer burn and had a faint taste of coffee. This wouldn't be our first choice for dining in the area, but we might come again for an appetizer or drink if we had no other choice.

    (2)

  • Erin M.

    We went as a decent sized group, and we all had something different. None of us were disappointed!!! The drinks are strong, the steak is flavorful, the fish is amazing! This is a must visit if you are in the area.

    (4)

  • Marci H.

    Had lunch here on vacation. It was FABULOUS! Not too expensive theFish burger was perfect and the Fish burrito was amazing. The staff could not have been better either. We did make reservations and we were glad. You can tell the locals eat here. Worth the drive.

    (5)

  • Amanda H.

    Buzz's has amazing seafood, really neat soup, and good steak. all of it is just a little too pricey. the view is epic, looking out on kailua beach, the weather is perfect with the breeze coming off the water. they close early, 9 pm, and it's not a place you want to take the kids. that said, i do enjoy getting over there once a month or so for the great fish selections. the prep and flavor is like nothint else. from mongchong to opa, to opakapa, to ono. you're going to love it. let's not forget their delicious style of preparing calamari. it's a sliced steak of it with capers and lemon butter dripping off it. despite the price i just can't turn it down!

    (3)

  • Jenny L.

    I'm all about supporting the longtime local eateries. It has been a while since I last been to Buzz's in Kailua. My friend and I dined with was just there a few weeks back, entertaining an out of town guest. It was fine then, but this time, uh, not so good. They do an ok job with their tray of Escargot and for the price, you really can't get it any better. GREAT DEAL. It does need help with warm bread to soak up the juices. The accompanied thin-sliced baguette toast, did nothing and the regular bread was cold. While enjoying this lovely app, we discovered a missing snail. Once advising our waitress, she had notified the kitchen and another plate came out. Kudos for this. The salad bar, well it is a salad bar, but a bit sub par. With so many great salad places in Kailua already, I thought it could be a bit better then this. Great selection of lettuce, big tomato wedges, sprouts, bean salad (which I know gotta be the one in the jar from Costco), 3 types of cheeses (unnecessary for 3 types), beets (from a can, ugh), and a few other random items. What saved the sparse salad options were the avocados! Good thing it's the end of the season and they had this. Ordered the rib-eye, thinking I'll have great left-overs....uh...didn't happen. I ordered it medium-rare and the thing came out still walking! RAW on the inside and charred on the outside. Uh hello, you had my steak cooking on a super hot fire! Even I know this. So after one bite, I sent it back. While I was given the option to order something else, I was a bit over the whole thing. Dessert...while comped...sub par too. DRINKS...nice and strong. The BEST thing about the experience: avocados, strong drinks, and good company. It's not a terrible place, just know what you are getting into. They do make a good fish (from what I heard....). And while they now accept credit cards, NO AMEX.

    (2)

  • Karen M.

    If you just want to eat delicious steak and seafood, then this is the place. Very good. However the salad bar was very limited and the romaine lettuce was mostly brown. None of the items were labeled and I didn't recognize them -- no cucumber, as an example, but what were the other things? The only good part was the great avocado on the salad bar. And the bar/wine prices were on the high side. We came here because we had been here on a special evening four years ago when we were on Oahu and loved it. Not sure on our next visit that we'd go there again. Oh, and I almost forgot . . . we had made reservations for a patio table . . . they put us in the very back, very small, very dark corner of the patio. And the worst thing is that it had a plaque on the wall, "President's Table" with the dates and names of the Clinton's and the Obama's who had eaten there before (in different years). NO THANK YOU. I almost barfed and I hadn't even eaten anything yet! We asked to be re-seated, and had a beautiful table inside. I think they should ask their patrons if they want to sit at this particular "president's table" before they assume everyone would!

    (3)

  • Karen T.

    Buzz's is is the grande damn of the Kailua restaurants. I have been going since I was a little girl and it is still my favorite dinner spot. It is lovely for lunch too with the beach just across the street. The salad bar is wonderful and the grilled fish and meats are always good. Service is friendly, it is a lovely step back in time for us old Kailua folks.

    (4)

  • Martin C.

    Visited Kailua Beach Park and decided to have lunch at Buzz's across the street. Actually, tried to have dinner there a couple of nights earlier but decided to pass on that because the restaurant was too busy and too noisy for my taste when I stopped by. This time, I got there when they opened for lunch at 11am -- well before the crowds. The lunch menu is pretty limited -- basically burgers and sandwiches w/some interesting items (like artichoke) here and there. Was having a hard time ordering, based on the available selections, until the waitress said that one of the specials of the day was a reuben sandwich. Didn't like the soup choices but chose gazpacho as the lesser of evils Topped it off w/a Longboard (local) beer. The reuben was very good, the beer was ok and the gazpacho was substandard -- too thick and too spicy -- for my taste. There is seating on a small patio facing the road as well as inside seating. Got a table outside, which seemed more pleasant than the cramped and noisy quarters inside. Service was fine, but should have been since there were few other customers when I arrived but the restaurant filled up quickly by the time I left only a 1/2 later. Expect a line to get in during busy times because the restaurant is quite small. The best featured of the restaurant is probably its location -- right across the street from Kailua Beach Park and the only other competition is the take-out deli/market up the road.The food was acceptable and reasonably priced. Not great and not awful -- just ok. So, if you're hungry and it's not busy, it's a very convenient spot to catch a meal w/o having to drive back into "downtown" Kailua about 3-4 miles away. Ciao!

    (3)

  • Alison Y.

    I took my husband and dad-in-law here for Father's Day . . . within the first two minutes of arriving there, I was sorely disappointed after they asked us to move tables AFTER being seated. Take into consideration we had our 18-month old daughter with us and already situated her in the high chair, etc. Also, keep in mind that we were coincidentally seated next to a table of friends that we haven't seen in a long time. When asked to move, we were NOT happy campers. Not a good first impression at all. I'm not even sure why they moved us because the previous table sat empty for a long time before another group came in. After we got re-situated in our new table (which was also hard to navigate into with the big tree branch in the way), the manager sent over a complimetary appetizer for troubling us. It was the best calamari I've ever had. That still didn't solve the fact that we had to move from our nice corner table and was separated from the table of friends, but it was a much-appreciated gesture. We had a nice view of the beach from our new table (kept my daughter entertained) and the drinks/food arrived within a reasonable amount of time. I was slightly disappointed by the salad bar though . . . I'm accustomed to the Buzz's in Aiea - there they have garlic bread on the salad bar. Buzz's Kailua does not serve garlic bread :( I ordered the prime rib, but it was OOOOK, nothing special (and didn't come with rice). I would go back, but definitely not order the prime rib again.

    (3)

  • HighStandard S.

    Came here for a quiet meal during a time when the place was empty. A movie star showed up, and the staff lost their minds. After that, it was impossible to get a water glass filled or any other service. Food is over priced and over rated.

    (1)

  • Jim W.

    I don't know how this place is so popular with tourists. What tour books are telling people that this is a good restaurant? Do yourself and your family a favor and stay away. There are many, many better options out there people!!! I have lived on Oahu for a couple of years, including a year or so in Lanikai, and have given Buzz's more than a few chances. Yesterday was the last straw that led me to write this review. The food is absolutely miserable, service is slow and at sometimes nonexistent, and the prices are ludicrous. It is really sad because the location of this place has excellent potential. The owners, however, seem to care more about maintaining the status quo of an overpriced, overrated restaurant and taking money from tourists who mistakenly believe that Buzz's is a good bet because it is across from Kailua Beach. My friends, if you are hungry in Kailua, please eat at Kalapawai Cafe. If you want excellent fresh local fish that isn't overpriced, head to Nico's at Pier 38 off of Nimitz Highway. And if you want a cool beach bar with good food and drinks, an awesome wait staff, and the perfect ocean view, hele on down to Duke's Waikiki. What about the famous Buzz's Mai Tai you ask? I guess they're decent if you like a drink made with straight rum and ice. Not even close to being the best mai tai on the island. For that, please visit The House Without a Key at the Halekulani.

    (1)

  • Greenballoon X.

    Food: We came in between their lunch and dinner hours, so didn't have a full meal, but snacked on a healthy portion of ahi sashimi (nicely thin cut) and the "artichoke surprise" - which was a butter drenched steamed artichoke with parmigean cheese - may or may not be your thing. Tropical drinks were great (of course) - I really liked the "Lava Flow" which was basically a pina colada with strawberries. Service: Lonely Planet warned us about bad service, but our waitress was super nice and another server even checked in on us a few times since there was a shift change going on. No problems here. Decor/environment: We sat outside on the porch, which was great and had views of the beach and water. As the only place in Kailua remotely close to the beach, that's a major selling point here. Bottom line: Solid all around and would definitely go back for drinks and snacks next time I'm in Kailua.

    (4)

  • Dami G.

    This is very strange, we paid with a credit card. We just got back from Oahu and ate at Buzz's twice during our stay. Yes that's right... Twice! They actually have a card swipe machine that gives you cash back so even if you have a credit card you can swipe it and get cash to pay for your food. :) This place was simply awesome! From the friendly people who come in to the not so stingy bartenders. The drinks were really good and strong. Some locals recommended that we try the calamari steak and it was sooooo good! Best I've tasted. Thankfully there is a beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, literally right across the street so you can take a nap because after 2 or 3 drinks you'll have a pretty good head change. I'd recommend this place to anyone thinking of going to Oahu. Very chill, nice people with good food and drinks...

    (4)

  • Tommy H.

    So, we went and tried Buzz's across from Kailua Beach for lunch; we ordered the Thai chicken salad and the teriyaki chicken burger. While the salad was immense and full of fresh vegetables: sprouts, etc.; the teriyaki chicken was not even cooked. However, the fresh baked bread was delicious. I would not recommend ordering the chicken unless you are willing to send it back for not being cooked. These days, you can't be too careful with salmonella poisoning and all.

    (1)

  • Jo M.

    There will always be a wait no matter what time you go, but as for the couple of times i have went I have always got great food! The steak is delicious and as so is the calamari! I would def suggest you try those and the artichoke with their house dip is pretty good as well. The drinks are always made right as well. Cant really complain too much. Its a chill spot to come and hang out with friends after hitting the beach :) I will be returning whenever iam in the area.

    (4)

  • Alec I.

    A recommendation from a local friend. After spending day at Lanikai Beach, ate at this humble joint. Best calimari steak ever. It was epic! Never tasted calimari so moist, tender and tasty. Best ever by far, far margin. Teriyaki steak salad was great. Key lime pie with lilikoi sauce...we devoured it like pirranhas. My four year old was licking the plate.

    (5)

  • Sara B.

    Ok this is one place I have to eat at when I'm in Hawaii. Not because of the decor. In fact, it looks kind of dirty/rustic by Mainland standards. The fresh fish, however, is to-die-for wonderful. You can get it prepared a variety of ways and they are all yummy. The artichoke is a must for garlic and butter lovers. The drinks are scarey wonderful (STRONG). They take cash and checks. No credit cards. I love this place.....Go! Wear your shorts and flip flops..and get a driver if you want to drink...

    (4)

  • Keesha G.

    So we were buck ass hungry and the wait was a little longer than I could stand and maybe liked it more than we would have otherwise. That's A-okay. I had a burger. It was a burger. My friend had smoked salmon salad. It was apparent from the salad that they were afraid to put salmon on it. There were bits of it here and there and it looked to be salmon from a can. Eeww! Now the artichoke surprise was really good just not if you care about your cholesterol levels. They pretty much drench the artichoke in butter galore and put garlic and parmesan cheese. Then again what doesn't taste good after a butter garlic bath? Sure Kailua Town has better spots but i wanted to try it for myself.

    (3)

  • Katherine F.

    I've been to Buzz's in Kailua twice now, and though the food and drinks are great, I feel like this place is trying too hard to be an upscale restaurant when it should just embrace the fact that its a steak house next to a beach. They have puffer fish lights for Christ's sake. If they dropped the stuck up attitude and lowered their prices I guarantee they'd have more returning customers. Definitely better/friendlier places out there to eat folks. Management of Buzz's...I hope you're paying attention...

    (2)

  • Kent H.

    We've been fans for 30 years, or more and always come back for at least one meal. Our main place for dinner when back home from the mainland. This time for lunch we noted that the service (busboy/runner) had become way too "informal" -- not only with our table, but also with guests around us. The teri burger was tough and not up to usual standards. For sure this was a substandard experience. We tried again for our final dinner in the islands on this trip -- just to see if Buzz's had really started to decline. Happily everything had reset to their usual standards of food quality, service and drinks. Expect the crowds to grow now that Lucy's has closed in Kailua.

    (4)

  • Glo C.

    Having been in the industry for more than 20 years...... No reservation, no problem; however, I was sat at the worst table in the entire establishment. Seated without the rest of my party, which was particularly nice, directly under a moldy, leaking ceiling vent, not so nice. Informed the server who was nonchalant about my observation and who then stuck her tray, with a napkin up, against the leak to fix it. I then informed the Manager who was also nonchalant and tried to make excuses.......really? I was moved and told there would be a wait, no problem, I work in the industry---oh yes, I noted that already. After my friends arrived we found a spot outside on the lanai and enjoyed our conversation, pupus, drinks, and service. Approximately 1 hour later the host came back to seat us in the dining room, as we were paying our tab. Will I return, probably, will I recommend this to visitors, probably not.

    (2)

  • Lisa L.

    Stopped for lunch because we were hungry and it was right off the road. We were seated right away but had to wait quite some time before our server came to take our order. My boyfriend got the whiskey burger and said it was good. I had the teriyaki chicken sandwich and it was just okay. Would have been much better if served with a pineapple slice and a side of teriyaki sauce instead of mayo. A bit pricey for what you get - I ran out of chicken way before I ran out of bun.

    (3)

  • Jason S.

    I've been going to Buzz's as often as I can since my first trip to Oahu back in the 1980s. Not much has changed, and that's a good thing. It helps if your cousin used to tend bar there (you get bigger drinks), but I enjoyed my teriyaki chicken so much I'm looking forward to next time in hopes Auntie Dolly lets me pick up the check.

    (4)

  • Christina H.

    Just love it here. After a nice morning at Lanikai or Kailua beach park, it's nice to come here to get a great lunch. Awesome ambiance, I always look forward to meals here. I like the steak sandwich (read, NOT a philly cheesesteak, ok -- don't even go there, cause being near Philly, you just can't get a good cheesesteak out of the city, period!). I love being able to "come as you are." Looking forward to being there again in October! Aloha

    (5)

  • Tuyet N.

    3.5 stars Parking: There is a private lot. No charge. Seating: Indoor and outdoor patio offered. Try to dine outside for a great view of Kailua Beach! Service: The service was okay. Our server couldn't answer all our questions and had to go back and ask. My bf and I shared an appetizer and an entree. It was nice of them to split our meal into two separate plates without us asking them to do so. Food: We had their ahi poke for an appetizer. It was my first meal on the island since my last visit and ahi poke was a must for me! The poke was fresh and delicious, but it could have used less soy sauce. It would have been one of the best pokes I've had if it wasn't for that extra drizzle of soy sauce. We ordered a teriyaki steak burger without the mayo dressing. It came with a side of seasoned fries.This was by far the best steak burger I've ever had. The steak was very tender and full of flavor. It was cooked to perfection at medium rare. The buns were also perfectly toasted. Although it was already split in half for us, the presentation was a little sloppy. I had to reposition the cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. Price: The steak burger was $10.95. A little pricey for a burger, but not too bad for a steak burger. Ahi poke market price for half a pound was $10.95. Very pricey for only half a pound. Would have been worth it if it was too salty. Overall, Buzz's Lunch and Dinner is a great lunch spot for those who are planning to hang out at Lanikai Beach or go kayaking at Kailua Beach.

    (3)

  • Kim l.

    We were seated at the Presidents table (Clintons) on the outside patio. It is dimly lit inside and outside. The inside portion of the restaurant smelled like an old person's home (not very appetizing). Good thing we sat outside. Service was a tad slow. They served complimentary bread and butter. Passionfruit mixed drink was good 4/5, salad bar 3/5 basic selection, not super fresh, rib eye was a lot more flavorful than the filet mignon but overall just mediocre meat 3/5. Mashed potatoes was mixed with some weird tasting cream, I barely touched it. Total bill $73.

    (3)

  • John O.

    Make sure you bring plenty of cash because this place that sells $30 steaks and $10 drinks does not take credit cards! WTF! Hello!!! So one day you decide to go to this place. You have some cash in your wallet and of course your debit card and Visa. You sit down, order some food, a drink and you get the bill. It cost $45. Not a problem, you place your card in the little black credit card folio. They tell you they don't take credit cards. They do take checks. Like who really walks around with checkbooks any longer? So you check your cash stash. Not enough to leave a tip. If their ATM is working you can use that I suppose. Of course they will charge a fee to use their personal ATM machine. Sound pretty shady to you? I think so.

    (1)

  • pamela h.

    We went to buzz's fora late lunch the other day. The service was excellent, the prices decent, the location fantastic. The food was not great. Fries seemed like frozen variety. The sashimi did not seem fresh and we did not eat it. My husband said the burger tasted like cafeteria food. The steak on my daughters plate was good, so we all split it. Unfortunately, I ordered the ahi tuna on my salad, it also tasted "off". The Caesar did not taste like Caesar, rather tasteless. The frozen drinks-well they were great! Step it up a notch or two and this place could be awesome!!!!

    (2)

  • Sean O.

    Simply horrific!! Take heed of the multiple reviews detailing the appalling customer service at this establishment. The perfectly average food was remarkably overshadowed by the spectacularly incompetent, unknowledgeable, inexperienced and obnoxious staff. The reception we received here is in stark contrast to every other bar, restaurant and store in the state of Hawaii. I wouldn't choose to spend my hard earned cash here.

    (1)

  • iona s.

    After going to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck for lunch my family and I came here. I really liked my entree. I had the shrimp scampi from the dinner menu. I know. More shrimp. It was like "Shrimp Day" for me. It was so flavorful that I didn't have to dip the shrimps into the butter. I'm not sure why butter is there to begin with. The shrimps were big and enough to make me full. O yea, we also had the salad bar to appetize on. Nothing really special but different from other restaurants where they actually give you a plate of salad as an appetizer. If you do decide to eat here for dinner I suggest you make a reservation.

    (4)

  • M L.

    Ok, so I'm a bit torn here. I'm a big fan of their salad bar, but everything else I order isn't all that great. They used to have a warmer where you could get your own bread, but apparently they took out that option. The last time my husband and I went here we got steaks ordered medium-rare. They both came back charred and so salty I had to drink a lot of water after every bite. I think the Buzz's in Pearl City is a lot better.

    (3)

  • Shanda B.

    Ate dinner here on Halloween. Went about 5:30 so not crowded. Had the special, Filet Mignon it was excellent and tender. Sat outside and enjoyed the breeze from the ocean across the street.

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    This is a good place to eat if you want to experience real hawaii. it's dark, has a thatched roof, fresh breezes blowing through. I love the teriyaki steak, baked potato and salad bar. I love that they use their breads to make croutons. Crab is good too. It isn't GREAT food that you'll rant and rave about, but it's definitely a taste of Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Katherine S.

    This was probably my favorite dinner of the whole trip. I ordered the pork loin over pineapple chutney from the Chef's specials. Divine! We had a reservation. I recommend you get one too, if you're going on a weekend.

    (5)

  • Tee S.

    Have been going to Hawaii for a few years now, and this is always a must stop for me! Their Mai tai's (pure alcohol) aren't fruity, yet ballsy! They are not for the lightweight as they seem to be 100% alcohol, a must! escargots great, ahi tuna great, and outdoor seating area fantastic! service is more than friendly (insert shaka here), all in all a great place! aloha my friends

    (5)

  • Victor J.

    Buzz's- -mediocre 25 yrs ago and still the same. At least the salad bar USED to be great. Now it SUX. A good place to get drunk. The food is crap. So if you aren't 'Buzzed' already when you get there and that isn't your plan once you do get there...well, your own fault then.

    (1)

  • Jennifer M.

    I can't believe this place doesn't have better reviews. Yes the salad bar is a little small, but I noticed this elsewhere on the island. Like, just lettuce, onions and then some pickled veggies and beets and other things I wouldn't normally put on my salad. Just wanted some fresh cucumbers and carrots! But like I said, the other salad bars I saw were similar so maybe I am just used to a wider variety being from the San Joaquin Valley. Okay that being said, the rest of our food was amazing! We tried to go for a late lunch (3:30) and were told they close for lunch at 3 and open for dinner at 4:30, but we were free to have drinks and apps on the front patio while we wait which was fine with us. Had the ahi poke and the artichoke surprise, the "surprise" was it was drenched in garlicky parmesan butter. Then for dinner my hubs had the stuffed salmon which he gave two thumbs up. I had the mahi mahi, grilled, but there were several other preparations you could get for an of the fish. It was cooked perfectly and so fresh! Our "late lunch" turned into an early dinner and we were so stuffed afterwards we couldn't do much of anything but nap on the beach. We so wanted to try the ice cream cake we saw being shown around but we just couldn't fit one more bite. No Buzz's is not cheap ($20-$28 entree) but it's right across from the beach and for us staying in Lanikai when we visit it's the closest restaurant. We wouldn't keep going back if it wasn't so good. Oh yeah, being pregnant I didn't get a chance to try the cocktails but I heard two different people compliment the staff on the mai tai. And they DO take credit cards now so no need to hit up the ATM, was there a few years back and they didn't. Except no AmEx.

    (5)

  • Frank S.

    Another of my favorites when visiting Kailua. Enjoy the prime rib, teriyaki steak and the salads. Nice view of world famous Lanikai beach.

    (4)

  • Nissa G.

    Yummy! Convenient location to the beach park, lots of parking over there. Nice outdoor seating on an intimate patio. Not a bug menu but some delicious food! Drinks are good, dessert also! Good service and atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Bernard A.

    We sat on the outdoor Lanai across from Kailua Beach Park for dinner! It's pretty small for a steak house, and the inside looks pretty dark and gloomy. The food was excellent. We ordered either steaks or fresh fish. The salad bar was included with entrees, and was kinda paltry. But good enough for me. Service was excellent with a friendly and attentive waitress. Will definitely eat here again whenever I'm in town. Kailua Town is a gem!

    (4)

  • Lydia L.

    We had a big family group eat here twice. The Walu is amazing, but the second time we came, they had run out. The fish is definitely absolutely fresh caught that morning or the day before. The steaks are delicious too.

    (4)

  • Tana R.

    so ONO. go for the artichoke surprise!

    (4)

  • RP P.

    This was one (actually, 2) of the most pleasant meals I had in Hawaii, which makes it sound better than it is, because frankly, my culinary experiences in Hawaii were disappointing on the whole. The atmosphere is lovely - low-key and airy, doesn't let you forget you're in Hawaii but not horribly tacky either. The food was not outstanding but certainly tasty. Recommend the fish burrito. Don't recommend the crab baguette thing - the crab was flavourless. I should have spied out what other people were eating that day - there was a curry that smelt delicious but it was sadly too late for that. They have a good selection of local beers. Watch out for ducklings when you drive into the parking area.

    (4)

  • Dan T.

    Not a bad place, but nothing to write home about. Food was decent and the Drinks were good. I would try it again next time I am here.

    (3)

  • Serene E.

    I love this place! Every time I come to Hawaii, I cant leave without going there and having an amazing meal. Great ambiance, and in the middle of Kailua. My favorite area in Oahu. The calamari steak and artichoke appetizers are amazing. The salad bar is so fresh and I get stuffed. Usually that end it for me, but if you do order entree's, they are delicious and it's a lot of food. Buzz's has a unique local setting, and the breeze that you feel makes the Hawaiian experience that much more special. First time I came to Buzz's was 15 years ago. I go every time I make it to Hawaii. On average once a year.

    (5)

  • Samantha V.

    a message I received from a rude individual who likely works or owns Buzz's: "check out the economy. its people who do not have cash that complain the most. Shut up already. If you cannot afford to pay with cash... eat McDonalds." - a.m.'s Seriously... someone was having a bad day... lol We are entitled to our own opinions, I stated mine. I have no problem paying for a good meal... I just don't want to carry around the amount of cash required to cover meals and drinks for 5... there's this great little plastic thing... you may have heard of it. You use it instead of cash or checks to pay for things = ATM card...

    (2)

  • Joan D.

    I heard rave reviews from locals about this place, so I had to try it. I went for an early dinner around 5:30 so it wouldn't be crowded, but the parking lot was packed, folks were leaving with doggie bags. The hostess said I could eat at the bar, but it didn't look like a good option since I was alone. I begged for a small obscure table, she asked the manager and they seated me near her station. Everyone who came after me was told there was an hour wait. I really lucked out, and thank you for that. My server was business like and efficient. My hostess at the B&B told me to try the "baseball cut" and it was excellent and fairly priced ($16). Tables near me were ordering $49 entrees. She also raved about the salad bar which was pretty average with the exception of some pickled veggies I don't always see. The dressings were excellent. I tried two of them. The bread was barely okay. All in all an okay, high volume restaurant which can be pricey.

    (3)

  • Nate C.

    It took a few visits to buzz's before I was able to decide whether or not it deserved a recommendation. Usually by the time I get my food there I'm already three quarters of a way to complete drunk. They got good cocktails so what can i say? ...or so I thought they did. One visit I decided to hold off on the drinking until I actually got my food; this is when I saw the true colors of the infamous BUZZ's. The food without the influence of the Top Shelf Long Island was just merely ok. It was no Ruth's Chris but it should have been better than Outback. It wasn't. Not only that, but now that I had a little bit of bite in me I wasn't getting drunk as fast and I saw that after the first drink the other ones come out weak! To be sure I had some other people taste the Long Island- "yea man, there's like, nothing in that" Seriously, why would people try to cheat you like this? You'd only expect a large corporate chain to treat us like ants, not a small island chain like Buzz's. I asked the waitress if the bartender could make me another one because there was almost no alcohol in it. It comes back and you could probably guess the result. It was nowhere near the amount of shots in the first drink I had, I tasted more soda than anything else. So that was when I made up my mind. It really wasn't the food that was horrendously awful. For a locale like that (no "ocean view" but it didn't lose the beach feel as you could still hear it and you still the get the breeze) you still pay the price. The salad bar, though small, tasted really really good. The bread was always hot too. Its just that being treated like a drone was what really tipped me off. You could've gotten three stars but now it's one.

    (1)

  • christoper l.

    i went there yesterday.. and they suck!!!!

    (1)

  • Amber W.

    We went to Buzz's a few years ago and never even got to eat - after waiting for an hour - because there was a mix-up at the hostess stand. We decided to try it again and based on our experience, I don't know why this place is so popular. First, the parking situation is tough. We had to wait for a few minutes for other patrons to leave so we could park. We had 3 servers and while 2 were friendly, the other was rude and acted like our requests (water, for instance) were putting him out. The salad bar is a joke. It's about 4 feet long, but with dirty salad plates, mushy lettuce, and frozen tomatoes. You serve yourself bread from a bread drawer that has no tongs, so people grab the bread, rip off a piece, and place the rest of the loaf back in the drawer. The food was less than stellar. The filet mignon was good, if overcooked, but the fish was nearly inedible. The mahi mahi was tough and flavorless. We ordered a side plate of vegetables that turned out to be nothing more than 5 broccoli florets. The mai tais are tasty and strong. You'll need them for when you get the $80 bill for food that is on par with Sizzler.

    (1)

  • Linda S.

    When we arrived there, my boyfriend had a white tank on and the hostess and a manager told us he'd have to have a shirt on to dine there. The hostess was nice and told us she would have a table outside ready for us when we returned, she even grab the high-chair for us. When we got back, the table wasn't wiped and the high-chair was gone. I didn't want to be rude so we just stood there and waited-- she was seating other customers inside and a few servers who were outside glanced at us and continued with their conversations. After about 5 minutes, the host realized we were just standing there, she apologized and came over, wiped down the table, and brought the high-chair back. One of the servers who was just standing around came over and laughed because she was wondering why the high-chair was there. Common sense: 3 people, including a baby- then a high-chair randomly at you table- maybe that means we were going to sit there. Well, I thought an apology to us for not asking if we need help would have been better. For our appetizers, we ordered the calamari steak, tempura french fries, and two orders of meat sticks. The portions were really small. Out of the three, I enjoyed the calamari the most. Overall the food was good. I can't really say much about the rest of the menu since we sat outside, and the outside area is only for drinks and appetizer orders. At the end of our meal, a couple saw that we were about to be done, and asked if they could have our table. We didn't care so we said sure. I guess if you sit outside, you don't have to be on a waiting list, or you can just ask people if you can have their table if they're done? I thought what we ordered was pretty good. The service could have been better though. The inside of the restaurant if dark. A good reason to go there is to have a few drinks outside with friends.

    (3)

  • Troy L.

    based on the reviews, my expectations were low: figured not that good of food with in a good location. well, that's what we got. server was busting her butt, but did mess up order a bit. food was not that good. hostess was not nice (getting mad that we had a stroller and telling me to fold it, as if that was not obvious but i just walked in about 5 seconds ago). they have some strange seating policy at around 3:30pm where we could not have lunch or dinner. overall, this place is pretty annoying. but we got to sit outside on a beautiful day and have a drink, so it was worth it. if we had to sit inside, it would been totally not worth it.

    (2)

  • Mako S.

    I love their fresh salads bar!! That's all you can eat style. We always gettimg ram:) it is goood

    (4)

  • Warrior P.

    Great steak, skip the artichoke special, lukewarm potatoes.

    (3)

  • Jeni F.

    Expensive for what we got. The food and cocktails were good but the salad bar was pretty pathetic. Don't go here if you are claustrophobic! Very tiny and very cramped. Be prepared to suck in to squeeze past the tables if you want to get to the bar! We sat at the bar and got great quick service.

    (3)

  • Christine W.

    Love spending time with friends here! If you love margaritas...try a FRESHY...with patron. The appetizers rock here, especially the calamari steak & the artichoke surprise.

    (4)

  • .Hon H.

    You know, Buzz's - you're not all that - but you act like you think you are. Case in point: we arrived on time for our reservation and had especially requested outside seating. Got there to find that the water view was of a polluted canal and quickly decided to sit inside. The first table offered to us was squeezed in near the doorway so anyone entering or leaving the restaurant would have to pass by. No thank you! So we waited a few minutes with our cocktails (martini for Hoh husband and the strongest mai tai I've ever had for me). Once seated, the server was prompt, friendly and efficient. She described how the menu was set up, showed where the salad bar was, and told us the specials. I had ahi and the husband had the moon fish. I went over to the salad bar, which was probably the lamest salad bar I have been to since the one at the Holiday Inn at the airport in El Paso, TX except this one didn't have jello molds. However, what this salad bar did have was a ARM and HAND that kept reaching between the curtain dividing the salad bar from the kitchen. The hand kept reaching in the bins for onion and mushroom slices, spinach leaves, sunflower seeds, etc. It was one of the grossest things I've ever seen. Don't all restaurants have a mis en place? So, I left my plate of salad behind since I was afraid the hand might have touched it. Fortunately, my ahi was delicious, as was the mango salsa served with it and the rice and potatoes. But I will never forget the HAND.

    (2)

  • wes l.

    Lucky we can walk to Buzz's because parking is almost impossible. Forget the steak and salad-have the local fish if you can afford it without draining the ATM (CASH ONLY). We've given up on eating dinner there but make it a destination for an evening stroll to have a cocktail and sashimi. Most of the staff seems to have an attitude but after a few cocktails you can ignore them and enjoy the gentle breezes. Reservations are a must.

    (3)

  • Sharon H.

    their calamari steak appetizer was the bomb! it was probably the BEST calamari I have ever had. crispy on the outside, juice in the inside. the breading and sauce did not overwhelm the fresh taste of squid. YUM!! BUT! their top sirloin, their crab legs, and their teriyaki steak were another stories. IF YOU LIKE SALTY FOOD - they would be AWESOME for you. Despite the overwhelming saltiness, my top sirloin tasted A-OK. the beef was fresh and juicy (i ordered medium rare). the crab leg tasted like... salty. i almost couldn't taste any "crabness" because of the overwhelming salty taste. the teriyaki steak was just dreadful... yuck. i felt like i was chewing on a big piece of teriyaki jerky from the gas station... For me, I did not enjoy it too much. all my food were VERY FLAVORFUL. Because it was SO SALTY! As if, they have dipped and soaked all those food in seawater overnight before cooking them. each bite i took, i was wishing they have not made it so salty. it almost felt like they have ruined some perfectly great recipes by simply adding toooooo much.. i mean WAYYYY TOOO MUCHHH salt. (expect the $~9 calamari - loved that one) but yea. yuck. i was very tempted to wash each bit of my food in my glass of water before putting them into my mouth/ OH! and they have a ~$11 minimum charge for each dinner.

    (3)

  • Mark G.

    The service is very friendly and quite helpful. It's a shame that the menu is so uninspired.

    (3)

  • Jess M.

    Honestly I've never understood all the hype surrounding Buzz's. Sure the location is nice right across from Lanikai beach park- but really if you're sitting out side your best view is of the parking lot of the beach park or the stinky canal- not that sweet. This place is not the high class establishment that it thinks it is, and is absolutely not worth the high prices on the menu. All of the food is just OK- nothing fabulous about it. The surf and turf is fine but not worth the price, the steak salad is mediocre and they overload on the dressing, and PLEASE avoid the salad bar at all costs or you will feel like you have warped back in time to a Sizzler! The fish dishes are not great (definitely better fresher fish to be found at Lucy's)- the only thing that might be worth the price is ordering a burger at lunch (but it's an overpriced burger at that). And to top it off- cash only- WTF?? So listen up Buzz's: the word is out and you are not all that you think you are. Step it up, change ownership, do whatever you have to do to bring another good eating establishment to this side of the island!

    (1)

  • Aim E.

    Could be a great place, however a few things didn't cut it out for me: I was really looking forward to my last night in Hawai'i having dinner looking out onto the water but unfortunately their 'water view' is a bullshit view of some canal you can barely see. Ugh. Totally LAME. Next time I'm opting out for another restaurant with a real view. Second thing that pissed me off: I only ate half my dinner and wanted to take home the leftovers, which I mentioned to my waiter. We paid the bill and still had not received our doggie bag so I asked the waiter how long it would take for him to wrap it up. And he said he didn't hear me and threw it away. He threw away my money. Really irritated me. AND you have to know that this is a CASH ONLY ESTABLISHMENT, which is ridiculous considering the price of the items on the menu. The drinks kept us abuzzin the whole night at Buzz's Original Steak House but sadly our waiter was a major Buzz Kill. :o(

    (3)

  • Sandy T.

    Our first night staying in Lanikai, we stopped by Buzz's for a drink and pupus only. Tried the Artichoke surprise, calamari and something else that obviously wasn't too impressive because I don't remember. The drinks were strong and the food was pretty good. A couple of nights later, we decide... hey let's get dinner there. Luckily we got there right before the dinner rush. It took awhile for our waitress to come to our table, took our drink orders and the order for the Artichoke Surprise... alright so I like it, what can I say. I had a drink splashed on me by a man sitting very close. Don't get me wrong, he felt bad but we were sitting so close there was no way to avoid it. I ordered the Opakapaka (snapper) Chinese Style, which was honestly really good. But the artichoke came out not as good as the first time we had gone there. Maybe it was all of the drinks the first time? The wine was ok and I was kind of annoyed at the cash only thing. Essentially they have an atm but you pay a fee to use it and they give you cash out of their till. So you are making me front the fee instead of taking a credit card? Lame. It isn't like this place is cheap. It was a novel idea the first night, we should have just left it at that. The overall experience the second time was Blah.

    (3)

  • Nori L.

    The food was really good. I would recommend the calamari steak, poke, ahi tuna salad. We went back the week after.

    (4)

  • Lina G.

    Last minute decision...we arrived around after 8pm it was busy so the 10minute wait was surprising...short especially since we wanted good seating the mgr on duty did a fantastic seating arrangement..which i would recommend for a party of 4 or less...very end table behind the real tree is a nice secluded area. Would be 5-stars but the waitress (local lady-maybe mid 20's) she was rude and seemed that we were taking up her valuable time. Since she didnt write down my order or repeat it she missed the 1st order: Artichoke Whatta JerkFace! Thank god after we ordered she went home suddenly a haole lady (i think katie?..sorry if wrong) she was the savior to our girls night out! Chipper not overly bothersome The food quick! Homemade bbq sauce CHUNKY, THICK, and SAVORY!!! Crab Legs were fresh loved it!!! and who doesnt love being treated like special guest to see dessert tray...omg ill post those too soon the haupia sorbet was AAMMMMAAZZIINNGG.....The mashmellow cake that looked like a keylime cake/pie doesnt melt holds beautifully!!! Not to mention the Manager was savvy and great since of humor Loved Her! We did sorta close the place down...Will be back for sure!

    (4)

  • Cherisse T.

    I enjoyed our dinner at Buzz's. The staff was very nice and friendly. The atmosphere was relaxing with a beautiful ocean breeze. The drinks were yummy and strong =) We ordered sashimi for our appetizer and the fish was very fresh. They served it local style; sliced very thinly over cabbage with dry hot mustard and shoyu dipping sauce. The salad bar was very impressive, here are a few things I remembered: fresh avocado, potato salad, sweet pickled carrots and cucumber salad, cottage cheese, eggs, asian seaweed salad, and your variety of greens. They have such a diverse selection anyone could find something they would enjoy. We ordered the furikake coconut crusted wahoo with teriyaki sauce. The fish was fresh and was cooked to perfection. The sweet and salty flavors of the fish, furikake and teriyaki sauce was a beautiful meld of flavors. The serving size was large and I could only finish half of my fish. I wouldn't have ordered the sashimi if I knew the salad came with the meal. Be sure to bring cash or be prepared to use the ATM at the restaurant because they only take cash.

    (4)

  • David P.

    Wife and I went here for our last "date nite" in Kailua before moving back to the mainland. We had the artichoke app and it was good, lots of butter but the leaves were a little thin on meat. I ordered the Moi, since I knew it was not available back home. I had it prepared Asian style, steamed with ginger and shoyu over cabbage. It was succulent and delicately flavored similar to the speckled trout I catch and eat on the Gulf Coast back home. My wife had the Opaka paka (pink snapper) grilled hibachi style over kiawe wood, it was a huge portion and cooked perfectly. We were both pleased with the food and I was glad we went here instead of Duke's in town. Our service was polite and patient with us even though we did not have a reservation on a Saturday night. We waited about 20 min. on the Lanai with time for a drink before we were seated, decent wine but at Hawaii prices of course. I think there are some very bad reviews of Buzz's on Yelp by a bunch of wanna be jet setter's that have no idea what island pace is. No they do not take credit cards SO WHAT! If you are looking to have your ass kissed by the staff, stay in NJ or LA or what ever strip mall hell you came from.

    (4)

  • Tony J.

    Since I was staying in Kailua, near Kailua beach and park I visited this restaurant 3 times for dinner, because I could easily walk to it. It is very difficult to get an outside table for dinner. You can have cocktails outside prior to dinner. Many locals eat here at the bar. The three of us started with three Best Friends (BFRDs) for $10 each. Most mixed cocktails on Oahu are $10 each. You get use to that. All dinners include an open salad bar, which is average. I really don't like salad bars. My most favorite dinner was my first dinner here, which was their Sushi grade Ahi tuna for $25.95, which was a big piece of tuna cook perfectly. At that point I would have rated this place 4 stars. My son ordered the Opa fish for $25.95 plus $2 for Hibachi style. We subsequently had two glasses of Obsidian wine for $9.25 each. Our total bill was $133 for the 3 of us. Our subsequent visits here were not as good, therefore, I would reduce my rating to 3-4 stars. Check out my pics.

    (3)

  • Beth L.

    Was told to go here by friends who are locals. Ashley was our server and she was awesome! It is your run of the mill casual steak house. So don't go in with high class expectations, it's casual. I wanted a burger and was disappointed to not see one on the dinner menu but didn't let that damper my experience. We both got fish and each dish was cooked perfectly. Get the artichoke and go for the surprise (surprise it's worth it). Salad bar is small but fresh and well stocked. Bus boys are all attentive. Worth a visit if you are in the area. Wish all these negative reviewers would lighten up a bit. 4 stars all the way!

    (4)

  • Philihp B.

    Very large portions from a decent menu. It's about as close to a tiki bar in Kailua that you're going to find. Go here if you want a steak. I ordered mine rare and it actually came out rare, which is rare.

    (4)

  • Keith B.

    Happened by the place while driving through the area to check out the beaches, and our hunger got the best of us and decided to pop in. Table of two - sat right away! The other patrons were rude and entitled - as I was talking to the hostess, a woman walks in and interrupts us saying they "needed to be sat, now, as there party has arrived." Screw you, patron. I get it, maybe you're local, but you should be championing the place, not acting like an entitled snob that deserves special treatment. I don't pull this crap at *any* location I'm a regular at. The hostess handled the rudeness smoothly, asked her to wait while she assisted me. Which is when she asked me if I had a shirt with sleeves-I'm in Hawaii on vacation, a sleeved shirt was not something I was carrying, but after this experience, I made a point to have one in my car. They lent a shirt to me-I didn't care, my date didn't care, but it was more amusing because I wear a large, and it fit like a XXL. I felt like I was six and trying to wear my dad's clothes. The service - fast, friendly, knowledgable. A couple local beers available, but the salad bar is kind of meek. Our food was good, overall, but we were both stuffed and couldn't finish it. Overall - I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. It was convenient, but not exactly the highlight of the trip. Recommend reservations - there was a line when we got there of large parties and we nabbed the second to last two top.

    (3)

  • Lo W.

    My husband and I came here years ago and were really underwhelmed, but this trip was very nice! I got the onion soup to start, which was very good. It had a lot of onions in it, wasn't all broth, and I appreciated that. They even asked if I'd like a second bowl, and I totally would have, but I was saving room for my meal. I got the teriyaki steak (flank) and my husband got the Mac crusted monchong (fish). Both were very good. The couple we were with got the monchong prepared in Buzz's "Asian" style, which is steamed with ginger - it was so good and that's coming from someone who doesn't like fish. The gentleman we were with got the pork chop and was very happy with it. Tip: get some blackened sauce on the side - it is very tasty and great for dipping your fish or steak into. Also, mai tai is extremely strong. I even tried the BFRD style (with pineapple juice) and I couldn't drink it. I will stick with the Kailua Passion, but my husband liked the mai tais.

    (4)

  • Ashley W.

    Horrible attitude by the hostesses!!! Menus thrown down when taken to the table and attitude when we asked about a booth. Super small and people just standing around! They definitely just rely on there location for guest coming to them, not there customer service.

    (1)

  • G J.

    From the moment we walked in with a large party of seven, we were warmly greeted by a friendly hostess Emily. She sat our group by the "Presidential" table! Our server Jim kept the drinks flowing and the old fashion salad bar was fresh and abundant. All of our dishes were perfectly brought out. My wife loved the steamed Opa and she is very selective of her fish. I ordered the Hawaiian ribeye and it was grilled to perfection. The rest of the party seemed very content. Oh, and the dessert tray was awesome. Particularly the key lime pie and hot brownie with ice cream! Buzz's is a local spot with great ambiance and a solid menu selection. It's a great destination in Kailua.

    (5)

  • Maureen G.

    Walking in I noticed most the crowd was 60+ or tourists. Both of our drink glasses were really dirty, I actually had a hair in mine. We then waited 15 minutes to place and order. I wanted to leave, the tables felt grimey, this just isn't a clean restaurant. The ahi wrap we ordered tasted off, seafood wasn't fresh. We asked for our check and left. Waiter didn't bother to ask why we hadn't touched our food, he knew. Other than proximity to the beach, there is no reason to dine here. I notice instead of addressing service, freshness, and cleanliness issues they make excuses. I'm typically supportive of our President, however I'm left wondering why he would choose to dine here in lieu of another of Kailua's great establishments. Definitely a tourist trap.

    (1)

  • John O.

    The ahi tuna special was unbelievable. Fresh catch of the day. Over garlic mashed potatoes with a side salad and a magical dressing that we are still trying to figure out the ingredients for. The ahi wrap I would skip, nothing special there. . Teriyaki steak special was just ok. The crab open face sandwich was delicious. If you have a choice ask for Ashley as your server. Super cute and gave us great local recommendations for poke

    (5)

  • Diana T.

    What I like about this restaurant is the location. Located in Kailua right at 2 good spots: the river & Kailua/Lanikai Beach. Therefore, if you're doing activity at the river & at the beach, & it's nearby lunch or dinner, you can simply just walk across the street to this steakhouse & enjoy your dish & a cold drink. Now for the food, their best dishes are: 1. The steaks 2. The fish, especially grilled "fish of the day" specials. 3. The burgers. your restaurant is definitely a tourist attraction because its environment really feels like you're in a tree house in a tropical forest, which is a suitable fit for Hawaii. Overall, I like your restaurant & I'll definitely come back in the future for more. Therefore Perfect 5/5 from me. Congratulations Buzz of Kailua.

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    Now I'm not going to lie, I wasn't expecting much from Buzz's. The hype around the "President's Table" and the proximity to a couple of touristy beach spots raised my scepticism. We went mid-week at around lunch time and there was a short wait for a table. We decided on drinks and appetizers so could sit outside without delay. The servers were attentive and service was fast and friendly. We ordered: 2 different lilikoi (passionfruit) cocktails. They were good. Very very good. Artichoke surprise. If you like artichokes garlic and butter then this is made for you. There is however NO real surprise as our server told us all about it. Where's the mystery people?! Aside from this disappointment ( I think I wanted a Happy Meal toy inside...) it tasted great and was certainly one quality artichoke. Calamari Steak: Big slab of calamari, fresh, cooked well, with more of the above mentioned garlic butter. Great. Fries. Ummm yeah, they were fries. They were fine, not much to see here. My 5 stars is for the restaurant, food, service, and drinks. If I had to rate the other clientele it would be a cloudy night indeed. No stars awarded for the mouth breathing riffraff who clamor round, hoping to catch a glimpse of where Clinton once parked himself.

    (5)

  • Dorothy S.

    I was pleasantly surprised with lunch here. This place is underrated. Drinks were awesome. Calamari steak appetizer was delicious. Fish burrito tasted great. The place is right across from Kailua Beach. Service was flawless. Overall a great experience. If you come here, I would definitely recommend the calamari steak!

    (5)

  • ashley h.

    I had the fish burger which was quite possibly the best thing I've ever encountered. It was the catch of the day and it was fresh and delicious. We also had the poke of the day and a few signature mai tais that were ah-mazing! Go for the one with pineapple - it packs a punch while still remaining refreshing! Service was great, lots of locals, a perfect meal!

    (5)

  • Amber Q.

    First off, O'ahu's traffic is worse than LA's. It's a trap! You think you're driving in the right direction, then you realize you're going in a circle, and it's a one-way, so you're really screwed; and it's taking you an hour longer because road construction is on every block. Ah writing that out felt good. After finally escaping the Waikiki maze, we ended up in Kailua. Enjoyed the calm turquoise ocean, the cool breeze. Sand was finer than a sexy lady. Almost. My co-worker was hungry and wanted to eat at Buzz's. He said he's been there before and enjoyed it. Wait wasn't too bad. The place was not "in your face screaming largely scaled tourist trap" restaurant. Ambiance was a mix of casual and slight intimate setting. Waitress was bubbly, friendly. Greeted with complimentary dinner bread. We started off with a couple mai tais. Damn that sh** was strong. I suppose it better be if it was $1O each. Co worker ordered teriyaki chicken. We ordered catch of the day entree and ribs. Entrees were decent. However, he said the chicken tasted like a rubber chicken or dildo. Either one. Our dinners came with unlimited salad bar servings. That was my favorite part. Not the worst restaurant. They need to work on their recipes, and it will be a fine place indeed.

    (3)

  • Marisela B.

    Food is mediocre. Service was excellent although management sucks since the place was being investigated. m.kitv.com/news/buzzs-st…

    (2)

  • Mona H.

    Celebrated my birthday tandem with one of my best friends this weekend here. We had a group of about 15. Drinks, appetizers, entrees and dessert. Needless to say were going to pay a pretty penny. Not sure if it was the manager or someone with a power trip but her name was Mahealani. By far the worst customer service I have experienced anywhere. I work in marketing and public relations, and will never recommend any of my clients to go there...Buzz's should do themselves a service and replace her. Our reservation was at 5 she told us we had to be out by 7, lol really? Our dinner came at 6:30! The she told us she couldn't separate the check, then she told us that we had no consideration for the other guests that were at the restaurant...I guess she felt we were too loud. We were having a great time yes, but we were sitting behind the bar. I have never in my life sat at a bar that was quiet. She took what would have been other wise such a fabulous, fun night into a total bummer. The salad bar was mediocre, but the appetizers, dinner, cocktails, and our waitress Ashley was great. Take your business elsewhere, the food is not that great to overlook the horrible experience. If I could I would rate a big fat ZERO.

    (1)

  • Rose C.

    Teriyaki steak, pickled sweet onions at salad bar, artichoke surprise, calamari! 'Nuff said. Worth the 6 year wait!! One of our fave restaurants on Oahu.

    (5)

  • Aaron G.

    We tested Buzz's the while on vacation despite mixed review because it was walking distance to our vacation rental. We had a reservation and were seated on arrival next to the front door with a view of the door and backsides of those waiting for a table. Service was prompt. After cocktails I attempted to order the prime rib, no go they were out so I settled for the NY Strip. My SO had the macadamia crusted hebe. We had the artichoke surprise for a starter, very good if you like garlic and butter. They were out of two wines I attempted to order and they did not attempt to make up for being 0/3 on my orders. The NY strip was very good and had a unique flavor. My SO enjoyed the hebe. Overall a positive experience and I would return if it was a walk and hope that with a reservation I was not crammed in a seat behind a door.

    (3)

  • Jonathan Q.

    I've eaten in upscale restaurants all over the world. I have never felt more disrespected eating at other places then I did here. The entire experience was outrageous from beginning to end. The Host makes Oscar the Grouch seem like Mother Teresa. She was shockingly rude. My friends all ordered drinks and I was the designated driver, I ordered a water. She rolled her eyes at me and taunted me by asking if their drinks were too strong for me. Later, we started by each ordering appetizers. The waitress then immediately replied by saying "You are going to have to eat outside if that's all you're going to order". Regardless of the fact that we DID plan on having a full dinner, we immediately canceled our order and left. This is a high class restaurant with no class. If eating mediocre food while being insulted by the staff is your thing, I would highly recommend this place. I honestly believe that each and every employee in this establishment would sell their own mother for a buck. Thee absolute only thing that this place has going for itself is its location. Please stay away for your own good.

    (1)

  • Felix P.

    I wouldn't recommend taking a large group. No more than 8. The food is very consistent and fresh fish means "Fresh" If all you want is a salad bar, $14 dollars is a little pricey.

    (3)

  • Colleen J.

    Buzz's is everything I remember it being. On the beach, great for happy hour mai tais, and perfect for noshing. I will go ahead and say I've never had dinner there, but it's not really much of a dinner place in my eyes. It's a post beach/hike hangout - nothing too fancy -- although they will make you put on an aloha shirt (men) if you come in one of your skimpy tank tops. The tapas menu has pretty good prices and the food is decent. Definitely order the sashimi and the meat sticks. Yes. I know what you're thinking. "Meat sticks? Like, sticks of meat?" YES. EXACTLY LIKE THAT. ORDER IT. I will say that the spring rolls were rather lackluster- actually we had a good sampling of the tapas menu and all I can recall are sashimi and meat sticks... so there you have it. Order those, get a mai tai, sit on the patio and enjoy the life. Success.

    (4)

  • Amy E.

    Underwhelmed to say the least. Super overpriced and very limited menu with a less than mediocre salad bar.

    (1)

  • Kimo C.

    LOVE Buzzs Steakhouse. My boyfriend and I go here at least once a month for a nice and relaxing evening, great customer service, and a wonderful dinner. Dinner is typically very busy, especially around the 7pm prime time dinner hours. My advice is to make a reservation as early as possible. Ask to either sit in a booth or on the outside patio. If at all possible, avoid the bar area- it gets too personal with other neighboring tables right up against you and could possibly ruin your time. Favorite appetizer is the sauté garlic mushrooms, which comes in a little bowl full of butter/garlic magic. Any meal you choose, you can't go wrong. Fish is always fresh and prepared the same as if my family were prepping it at home, the old fashion way. Steaks and meats are always perfect to order. I've never been disappointed. Between my boyfriend and I, we typically throw down about $120 tax included every time we go there for dinner, including a bottle of wine, dinner and tip. Not a bad deal for a great evening!

    (5)

  • Brooke G.

    Their BFRDs are out of this world!! We got the prime rib and a steak. The steak was by far the best steak I've ever had. The prime rib was so-so, which was a major bummer. Reservations are a must, they are always packed!! But trust me when I say it is worth going to!!

    (4)

  • Jerem B.

    Ok, probably the best place I went to in Kailua. After walking along the beach for some time, per recommendation we stopped in at Buzz's. Great plan. They opened at 11 and we got their very amazing Mai Thai's. The waitress warned us they would be strong. Which was exciting to hear. She was not lying. They were intense and just what we had hoped for. I had the best fish sandwich I've ever had in my life. It was a firm swordfish kind of thing. Special of the day, I wish I could remember the name of the fish. I think I asked her two times. All of the cocktails are amazing and I think between two of us we tried all but maybe one on the menu. We sat on the patio which was perfect. We had two really interesting trophy wife / rich skanks sit next to us which was really hilarious to hear. The blonde one had a real jacked up face but she was trying really hard to not look 40+. A for effort. Get out of the sun, you'll get skin cancer, instead try your luck at liver disease with some of Buzz's delicious cocktails OMG.

    (5)

  • Rhonda P.

    My friend and I left the beach and were starving so we stopped at Buzz's. They sat us in a dark hot corner to where I could barely breathe.. I asked to be moved. They moved us by the bar in a open area with fans thank God! We ordered the plantation iced tea which was excellent love the pineapple juice in the tea. Next we were told about the lunch special which was a sandwich that the locals come for and sell out quickly .. So we ordered it and yummmmy!!! Can't wait to go back!!!

    (5)

  • Marhia A.

    Not many people like Buzz's and I'm shocked. It happens to be a favorite of mine. I loved their drinks, desserts, steaks, etc. They're very friendly and I loved the environment. It's comfortable and laid back. I just enjoy being there and being able to sit back and relax. Recommend 100% :)

    (5)

  • Jose G.

    We must have been here on a good night....ish. We had to wait for our "entire" party to get there in order to be seated, so that's a minus one star. Maybe this set the mood for a disappointment that never happened. Our waitresses were on the ball that night. We had a total of maybe 4 BFRDs between three of us and holy hell are those things strong. Think of a Mai Tai without the Mai Tai.... if you like rum, this is your drink. Salad bar was perhaps the best salad bar I've ever had the pleasure of eating out of from any restaurant anywhere. I had a delicious burger that had something sweet on it, some guacamole and just a whole bunch of delicious. I would be able to remember this better had I not drank that rummy coladaness called the BFRD and the vodka lemonade thing... Parking is first come first serve... so I suggest parking at the nearby park (no pun intended) and of course not leaving anything of value in it.

    (4)

  • Jason J.

    Worst service I have ever had. On vacation with my family in Hawaii. We arrived with tank tops on at 430pm, we were not allowed to dine in that clothing. They provided us with a shirt, stinky and too big. I had to make a phone call so they took my menu before ordering. I asked for another menu, before I knew it they took it again. Still haven't ordered food. If my family wasn't starving I would've left immediately. It's Hawaii, come on I had a tank top on. Ended up not ordering anything, it was obviously way to difficult. Bought a stupid shirt to get this dish rag of a shirt off. Will never go here again this is ridiculous!

    (1)

  • Bethany W.

    Cool little place to grab a bite to eat. We got a seat pretty quickly, even with 4 adults and 3 kids at lunch time. Service was good. Our waitress was friendly. Food was okay, but nothing that I'd shout from the rooftops about. No kids menu, but still family friendly. If I was hungry and over that way, I'd probably eat there again.

    (3)

  • Nikki B.

    This place was excellent. Not sure why there were only 3 stars but because of that, we went in expecting to be disappointed. Glad that wasnt the case. The salad bar was like no other... It had lots of different toppings that you typically dont see at a salad bar. The steaks were cooked perfectly and the green beans were really fresh. Service was perfect! Definitely on my list to go back to.

    (5)

  • Ican R.

    I had the ahi wrap, others had the burgers and clam chowder. Everything was yummy and well worth the stop.

    (5)

  • Carley M.

    I ordered the teriyaki chicken, my friend did too. When it came out it tasted more like some random sauce chicken, which I was okay eating as they assured me it was gluten free and another version of Teriyaki sauce. My friend complained that it was it was not teriyaki chicken and she did not wan to eat or pay for it. The waiter got upset and walked away with it. He came back with the bill which he still charged her for her item because he said he took a bite and it tasted fine to him. After getting a manager involved her check was adjusted. The drinks were ok, the wait was extremely long but at least they have seating outside for you to wait in. We opted to cook for the remainder of the trip, except for when we went to Waikiki there were a lot of good options there.

    (2)

  • Megan B.

    What a great spot to grab a drink and some grub. Prices are average. They were accommodating to my food requests. I can tell that this place can get busy. Luckily, when we went we didn't have to wait too long. Cute ambiance. Love the local flavor. The server forgot our soup but we didn't fret. An artichoke and a salad was good enough for me. One note, I felt like my artichoke could have been cooked for a bit longer but I still devoured it. I also used the extra garlic butter to dip the free bread into.

    (5)

  • Michelle A.

    My BF and I stopped here for drinks and food after our hike up to the Lanikai Pillboxes. Stephanie, our server, was so cute and super friendly. We had the ahi poke, spring rolls, and the calamari steak. All were great! Ask for extra mint leaves with the spring rolls and wrap them in the lettuce they give you....SO delicious! The calamari steak is out of control. The buttery, lemony, caper sauce makes this app wonderful. Ask for bread and soak up the leftover sauce! I'd have given this place 5 stars if you could order entrees on the patio, but you can't. And they have a weird rule about people not having more than one drink in front of them. Otherwise it's a great lunch time place close to the beach in Kailua.

    (4)

  • Ron S.

    Steaks are choice - not prime. Salad bar not as great as before. Wait staff and hostess with an attitude. In all a disappointment. Not as great as I remembered from years past.

    (3)

  • Eddie A.

    Had a great lunch with my wife and friends from Japan. We were skeptical after seeing some of the comments on Yelp but the food was very good and service was also good. You won't find a better calamari steak and the Scampi Spinach salad had nice size shrimp. The seafood pasta on special had crab, fish, and Shrimp with great flavor. Portions not big but good for lunch prices. Overall great time.

    (5)

  • Ralph K.

    Honestly not worth the hype.. very pricey for what you get and what you get is a little worse than average. Been here twice. . not again..

    (1)

  • Katelyn W.

    Absolutely love it here! Mai tai's are awesome but the food is phenomenal! I always get the salmon and my husband always gets the calamari dinner. Severs are very professional and always friendly. Lunch and dinner have different menus but both are so good!

    (5)

  • Shayla M.

    Wow incredibly poor showing for lunch...oahu revealed gives this place an ONO rating....it was not even decent food. The service was very nice, friendly, and informative....but the food was downright awful. Orders came out completely wrong and cold....ordered the chinese fish as recommended by oahu revealed. First dish came out late and cold, they refired it and it was tough and still awful. Fries came out cold, chicken dish tough...there were four of us an nothing was good or served hot..... felt bad for server....nicest guy ever....now about that chef......

    (1)

  • Duraiboi' I.

    Kailua's biggest Tourist trap, if your not a regular from Lanikai they won't let you sit on the patio... I have lived in Kailua 6 years and every year I try to give Buzz's my business, so I go back for more abuse and it is the same old story every single time.... Rude & snooty management and service. Don't bring your children, they will treat you like you have a communicable disease! I am a single dad with a very well behaved daughter, but they don't like children at this restaurant so they will try not to give you a table if you bring young children. If they think you are a tourist, they will make an excuse why you can't sit on the patio... They are super friendly to their regular clientele, but treat all others with a condescending manner... Especially if you come in casually wearing board shorts & a T-shirt. Come on people, this is Hawaii, there is no need for anyone to have to wear docker pants & aloha shirt so that you will treat them with respect. I eat out approximately 4-5 times a week in Kailua and go to my favorite restaurants weekly. If they were just a little nicer, they could get so more regular business but I would rather give my money to considerate small business owners:) But they do have a great location and they know so they don't have to give good service or make good food because there are a plethora of tourists that will keep them in business indefinitely. Now to my food review, every single time I go there my steak is over cooked. I don't like to complain at restaurants because I don't like to waste food, but I have send my steak back every time because it comes out overcooked like leather... I even tried ordering it "rare" to try to get a "medium rare" cool red center, but of course it came out with a hard grey center. Plus they charge you like their steaks are a "Prime" grade beef, but I doubt if it is even "Choice" grade... Most likely it is "Select" grade and the meat is definitely not aged at all. This is supposed to be a Ruth's Chris/Morton's type Steakhouse, but Costco has better beef. Now don't even get me started on their "Sizzler" type salad bar... They do have good cocktails and a great calamari steak appetizer. But I am a foodie and need more than that to become a regular at a restaurant. If you are on the windward side and do crave steak, go to Haleiwa Joe's Kaneohe Haiku Gardens because they have a phenomenal Prime Rib and beautiful scenery:) but go early, because the Prime Rib will sell out by 6:00 pm! I just hope one day their owners will read their Yelp reviews and make some changes because that could be a great Kailua restaurant if they could treat people equally and serve better quality food.

    (1)

  • Grant A.

    I figured that I was going to just another bar by the beach for a beer and some bar good. But I could not have been more wrong. I ordered the first special I was offered and for a beer. The special came with a basic salad bar which was nothing special. But when my stuffed salmon came out, I realized that I wasn't mentally prepared to have one of the best meals of my life. It was great . The environment was a pleasant relaxed Hawaiian bar theme and the the staff was very nice. I can't wait to come back

    (5)

  • Eugene H.

    Food/Drinks were okay, not outstanding.

    (3)

  • Lisipa S.

    Today (technically yesterday) was one of my girls birthday so we decided to get a early dinner before we headed out. The atmosphere is very quiet and kind of somewhere you would take a date, very cute and cozy. We made reservations and quite frankly didn't like the section they held for us, so I asked for different seating. I was surprised at how quickly the manager was able to get us a new table in the banquet room. She was very nice and really helped to make our experience there great. FOOD: Let me start by saying they have the absolutely most amazing prime rib..... *Heavenly*.... A huge and succulent piece of heaven! However, it comes with steamed veggies and any starch is extra, so for all you rice and potato lovers keep in mind that it's of extra charge. Well anywho, everyone in our party really enjoyed their dishes. Menu is really limited but everything is perfected. Not to mention there is an all you can eat salad bar packed with salads, fruits, cold pastas and the most delicious sourdough bread rolls/slices. *tip* try not to get full before your entree comes out. Lol Since it was my friends birthday she got a free ice cream pie. They bring it out on a desert try and let you pick your favorite. They have all flavors ranging from rocky road, cookies n cream, strawberry cheesecake, mint grasshopper, Napolitano, mocha and etc. Yuuuuummmmm! That pretty much sums that up. Definitely recommend the cookies and cream, there were full oreo cookies in it! SERVICE: Service was great! Drinks were always full, servers were very attentive and there at our beckon call. They made conversation with us and really made us feel comfortable. They regularly came around checking on us to make sure everything was okay and if there was anything we needed. Being in the service industry, we can really appreciate that. CON: Only con is that it is a bit pricy but you get what you pay for and this place is golden..... if you want cheap stick to McDonald's. We will definitely be back to get our prime rib fix.

    (5)

  • Cindy U.

    The pork sandwich with mango chutney on nan is amazing! I had the chicken orzo soup on the side and that was very flavorful. I had the lychee martini and that was delicious as well. And we had the cheesecake for dessert which was very creamy and yummy. And the waitress filled my water bottle which was a plus! Good experience overall.

    (5)

  • Brandon M.

    This place was much smaller than originally thought from the pictures online. The tables are placed very close together, so any decent amount of customers will make it seem crowded. We ordered the Chicken Teriyaki Breasts & 8oz. Teriyaki Steak Meals which come with a salad bar and bread. The steak was ok and had no hint of a teriyaki flavor. The chicken seemed ok as well. Each meal was about $20.00, which seemed fair for the area. Total bill was $51.20. I didn't like how there were no other side items that came with the entrees besides the small salad bar. I decided to try and order the Key Lime Pie for dessert, which was $7.00...it wasn't much different than anything I have tasted from a typical store-bought or homemade kind. Overall, the waiter and staff were friendly and attentive, but not worth it for me to make a return here.

    (2)

  • Erin K.

    My fiancé and I went here to celebrate our engagement. We were seated at an indoor table and decided to order a bottle of wine, along with two appetizers and 2 desserts. We were wrongfully profiled as a young couple by the manager and told that we shouldn't be sitting in the dining room since we didn't order entrees. I am never a person to complain or post anything on Yelp but this horrible experience has caused me to write this review. Anyone in the field of business knows that the customer always comes first. The fact that we were being reprimanded for what we ordered (or the lack thereof) was extremely tacky and uncalled for. The waiting staff was extremely courteous and friendly but the management needs a wake up call. If Buzz's wants to retain any valued customers, they definitely need to change the way they treat their clientele. What does it matter what I order? I can say for certain I won't be returning to this restaurant and I will spend my money at a place where it is appreciated.

    (1)

  • Roger H.

    This is a very popular restaurant - the ambience is right on. It's about location and being outside. Food is average - nothing special. Service needs improvement. During our visit we arrived just as the restaurant was opening. Servers, hostess and management seemed annoyed or irritated. Not one employee gave eye contact, smiled or acknowledged any of the customers who were waiting. As I continued to watch staff I realized they all seemed miserable. Perhaps it's not a great place to work. Smiles, sincerity and acknowledgement can go a long way.

    (3)

  • malakial j.

    Last nights meal at Buzz's was a huge disappointment. I ordered the Baby Top medium well with a baked potato. When my meal arrived I was shocked with what I saw, a flat piece of meat. Seeing what the other steaks at the table looked like, I questioned the others at the table regarding their meals because theirs looked so much better than mine. Three of us ordered the exact same steak, yet theirs was thick and juicy and mine as flat as a pancake. When I brought this up to the server, thinking I must have been given the wrong item, I was told that mine looked that way since I asked for it "medium well." He then said, "It looks dehydrated" and walked away. Now I have been ordering my steak medium well my entire life, have eaten at the best steakhouses all over the world and NEVER been served a hockey puck or anything that wasn't thick and juicy.The meat was tough, flavorless, straight up awful. The side baked potato was also not fully cooked, there hard in various places. Goodbye Buzz's, I won't be back.

    (1)

  • Michele M.

    Personally, I think there are much better choices to take advantage of right down the road in Kailua. I had the soup and salad bar for dinner after meeting up with friends late thinking it would be a safe (hard to mess up a salad bar) quick option. Quick was accurate. Not such a good salad bar or soup. To be fair I would not write a review based solely on a salad bar... After trying many of my friend's meals I was equally unimpressed. Also, everything was way over priced. Bottom line? Spend the extra bucks on the gas tab to drive into Kailua Town for a better meal.

    (2)

  • Mary J.

    Never have I been so insulted and disrespected. I will never return to Buzz's! Very rude staff and extremely poor service. From the drink girl to the hostess to the waitress and especially the manager, the vibe was very stuffy and rude. Such a disappointment! We walked up to the place, were first rudely told by the drink girl that we had to put our names in for a table before she would serve us. After we did that we were asked by the manager if we were here for drinks or dinner. We said dinner. Waited outside for a table. Once we got inside we decided to order a bunch of pupus (appetizers) to share amongst the four of us. After placing our order of 2 alcoholic drinks, calamari, shrimp, and 2 ahi pokes we were so rudely told "oh you're JUST ordering appetizers!? You have to eat outside then and let me see if we can even move you outside!?" What!? I've never been kicked out of a restaurant (super casual on the beach) and told I wasn't allowed to sit inside!!!! We live on this island and work very hard and do not deserve to be treated with such disrespect. To top it all off they stated this policy was because they are "so busy" even though they had many open tables that night. After I voiced my concerns with the manager, it was clear she did not care about pleasing the customer or repeat business. She still made us pay for our watered down drinks after all of this. I told her we will never return and her face said it all. "I don't care get out of my restaurant". Do not EVER step foot into this place filled with racist rude conceited people on such a friendly island. I felt like I was in NYC not my home, Hawaii.

    (1)

  • Marshall W.

    Great ambiance, very "beachy". Prices a little high, but you are paying for the view and the atmosphere. Food is only OK, but they do deliver a tasty meal. It was one of our favorite places on Oahu (first choice was Roys). I think Buzz's is an institution as the locals speak very highly of it.

    (4)

  • Wendi H.

    Don't try this place if you're not a local. The hostess was so rude to me when she showed me to the table that I actually told my husband that I wanted to leave. (She gave total attitude when I said didn't have a reservation. Mind you the place was nearly empty. Then she shows me to the table and slammed the menus on the table and walked away. Wow!) And so we decided to leave before we even ordered. Who wants to pay $$$ to be treated poorly?

    (1)

  • Kayla J.

    We had a great experience all around. Our waitress was Taylor who was practically born to work in customer service. Her service was excellent! The employee DJ was nice as well. It was my husband's birthday and he made sure my husband got a brownie with ice cream and a candle! Thank you so much to Taylor and DJ! We will come again and I recommend this place to everyone.

    (5)

  • Jens J.

    I've not previously considered myself someone with the ability to predict the future, but I got a darkish premonition upon entering Buzz's late this afternoon. After being seated, an unsmiling waitress approached us and asked if we had placed our drink orders yet. We said no and she said "What do you want?" We placed our order with the sourpuss. Then a different (but at least nicer) waitress came by and also asked us if we had placed our drink orders yet. We said yes, but wanted to now place our dinner orders. We placed orders for an escargot appetizer, New York steak and stuffed ahi. As we were waiting for our orders, the haughty hostess came around the corner with an older couple and ordered me to "Move your chair" (apparently there was not a lot of room for customers to move around with the tables in their cockamamie configuration). No please, or thank you or anything. Just a few seconds after that, I saw three of the servers congregate nearby. They were talking about the confusion as to who was going to wait on which tables. Then the hostess came around the corner, glared at them, and they dispersed. Our 2nd server came back and nervously asked me "Should I delay your escargot so that it comes out just before your dinner?" Thinking, you work here, you tell me, I just said "Fine". So anyway, the escargot immediately came out. They should call this appetizer "garlic and a stick of butter with a couple little pieces of snail". In a ring around the garlic and butter bowl was, yep you guessed it, little slices of garlic bread. After the appetizer, the wait staff recongregated and again swapped complaints. And once again, the queen, er hostess, came around and shooed them away with her very presence. I didn't know entertainment was provided with dinner! Cool! Our dinner came out in good time actually. JP enjoyed his stuffed ahi and rice. I tried the ahi and thought it was fairly OK (but cold). Now my steak was another story. While it did have an original and pleasant wood smoke flavor it was extremely salty and overdone (no pink, even though I asked for medium rare). The green beans that came with the steak, you guessed right again, were steeped in garlic butter. I had also ordered the "steak fries". What I got were burnt and greasy wedges of potato. And like the steak, they were oversalted. Yet another miserable looking server came by with a dessert tray to see if we wanted any, but we declined. The topper was when we were informed by our server that Buzz's refuses to accept credit or debit cards (not a problem because we had cash), but I have to wonder why the owner/management of this chain restaurant feels that is such a great policy, other than for some purely arrogant and selfish reasons. MoFos. Why is this restaurant so popular? To be less than generous, but folks, some people just don't know any better.

    (2)

  • Kalie F.

    This place is in a nice location, most of the staff was nice, the hostess was a total bitch tho, but our servers were nice, we had about 3 different ones. I ordered a margarita, and a martini that tasted similar to a margarita came out, I didn't like it, i wanted a MARGARITA, NOT a martini, but whatever, and it was $9.00. My man drank it, and I opted to go for ice tea, how can you screw that up right? lol. My lunch was a chicken Cesar salad sandwich had mostly lettuce about 3 to 4 small pieces of chix in it, and i swear it was brown, and it tasted like fish, not chicken. weird and gross!!! The fries were ok. My man had the Buzz burger, and he enjoyed it. The only thing I would say is the reason this place is ok, is bc its really the ONLY restaurant in that area, and the patio is nice. definitely NOT the best lunch and it was pretty pricey too, 40.00$ total for lunch....

    (2)

  • Don G.

    Love this place! The location is great after a swim we love to kick back and enjoy the Calamari Steak appetizer before a great salad bar and main entree! A Bikini Blond beer or a Big F'n Rum drink also will set your sail!

    (5)

  • Daniel L.

    Blown away by the Mahi Mahi and the Hawaiian Rib Eye. They were cooked perfectly. The Muay Thai is ridiculously strong - a warning for lightweights such as myself.

    (5)

  • Brian I.

    Oahu guidebook said this place was "hit or miss". It was a definite miss when we went. Service was ok, menus painted on paddle boards were awkward. We tried their stuffed ahi special and it was terrible. Fish was over cooked, stuffing was odd and I've had better prepackaged hollandaise sauce from a powder...

    (1)

  • Tim C.

    Dress code for guys and girls is a bit ridiculous when you're across from the beach. Food is adequate at best and service is medioquor at best, of all the years I lived here in Kailua, this place is a thorn in Kailua side and buzzes has never been a "good" business for all the years I've lived here. Save yourself the time, effort, and money and cook your meal at home. This place is a failing business with a poor demeanor.

    (1)

  • Melissa V.

    Fish and chips and fish burrito's with a BFRD for lunch - WOW. They aren't kidding with the BFRD - and it's strong. The food was really good, better than we expected it to be - I'd go back if we were in the area.

    (4)

  • Katie S.

    This is the local dive. Kitschy to the max. Didn't have any food - but the bar was just right. It's all in the name, folks.

    (4)

  • Danny S.

    Attempted to eat lunch here but the waitress who sat us was so extremely rude that we walked out. When she was kindly asked if they had a kids menu she said rolled her eyes and said NOPE. Every questions afterwards was answered with disrespect and attitude. My wife was so upset we walked out. I asked two other servers at the same time to let the manager know we felt very disrespected and wouldn't be staying. They didn't seem to care. Location is great but unless you want to feel unwelcome I wouldn't eat here.

    (1)

  • Ryan B.

    I really only come here for the mai tais. Seriously the best on the island. So good that they have to cut you off after three. It's a good thing the beach is right across the street for you to jump in and sober up.

    (3)

  • Abby S.

    BFRD = Big F***ing Rum Drink If you can slurp your way through a couple of these killer Mai Tais and walk out of the restaurant, my hat is off to you. The BFRD is probably why Buzz's is full of bar flies. Old ones, new ones, tourists, and locals who make this their exclusive night on the town joint. Me? I prefer the lava flow. And a hearty meal to soak up the alcohol. Fresh seafood, steak, salad bar, it's super old school. The fact that the steak menu comes on a giant, 10 lb paddle or the waitresses forced to wear aloha shirts should have told you that already. Surf and turf isn't a bad idea at Buzz's. For about $40 you can get a pretty solid meal... And by San Francisco standards, that's a major deal pound for pound. The preparation isn't fancy or trying to be, it's the way steak and seafood restaurants used to be all over the U.S. and beyond. But back to the bar... It's the place to take friends and make new ones. There's always someone drinking solo who's more than willing to have a conversation. Consider Buzz's to be the Cheers of Oahu. Even if you're the only one singing "Everybody Knows Your Name" by the end of the night, you're probably feeling pretty good.

    (4)

  • Josh S.

    Got the strak and lobster combo meal with a chicken curry soup instead of the salad. The menu said all entrees come with bread, however we never recieved any bread with our meal. That was the only downside, everything else was perfect! The steak was cooed perfectly, lobster had a nice smoked flavor to it, the alaskan king crab was delicious as well! The veggies were zuchini and cooked perfectly. To top off the night the peanut butter cheesecake was delicious and just the right amount and mixture of flavors. The place has a great family vibe and really enjoyed the meal!

    (4)

  • danielle m.

    The food is so good! We have been in Hawaii for a while now and tried a bunch of places that had high Yelp ratings. This place had mixed reviews (some said the hostess was rude which I agree with) so we were hesitant. But the food is outstanding. I had the snapper hibachi style, my hubby had the stuffed ahi and my son had the ground sirloin. The fish was flakey and full of flavor. We also had the escargot as an app and my husband said it was the best he ever had. The dining room is lacking - dark and hot (could be no AC?). There is a small bar but it is tight. The waitress we had was wonderful, but like I said before, I do agree about the hostess (she could have been the owner?). Overall a great spot for the area. Best fish I had on the whole island (including some of the highest rated in Honolulu). Check it out!

    (4)

  • Mary H.

    We were lucks to get a parking spot, got seated immediately and placed our order. Very hot, humid day, and no a/c and no ceiling fan in our area of dining area. Had a great burger but the fries were the star of the meal! Great location,walk across the street and enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

    (5)

  • Paul C.

    Last night I went with some buddies to Lanikai to see a show only to get rained out. Being that we drove all the way to Kailua one of the guys suggested we come here for a bite as our plans were cancelled by Mother Nature. Upon arrival after 715pm, this place was PACKED. I mean, there were no parking stalls open so we parked across the street to Kailua Beach Park. It was pouring like crazy and our hostess guided us to a SEMI covered outdoor seating. I mention SEMI because although we were under a roof, there were leaks all over. We could see and feel the water drops! Our waitress was very friendly and asked if we had dined here before. It was our first time here for DINNER service. We were alarmed by their dinner menu, which is on a sizable and quite heavy wooden paddle. Was she gonna spank us for being naughty??? :P After listening to the waitress explain the daily specials, she gave us some time to review the menu and instructed us to flip over the menu board when we're ready to order. We weren't really that hungry so we decided to share an entree with several appetizers: 1) Escargot (3/5) I have had this many, many times and enjoy eating escargot. However, it was standard with texture and taste. Served with lemon wedges and several slices of baguette to dip the garlic butter sauce. Nothing special in my opinion. 2) Calamari (3/5) On the menu the appetizers didn't have any explanation on how they're prepared. Perhaps it was wrong for us to expect your typical deep-fried calamari rings with Marinara sauce and we were caught off-guard when served a PANKO breaded calamari steak that was cut up in bite-sized pieces topped with melted butter, some capers and lemon wedges. Flavor was okay but again, nothing special to me. 3) Hibachi Style Opah (moon fish) w/ Mashed Potatoes (2/5) This was one of the specials of the day. They offer several fish to choose from daily and then you select how it's prepared. It was all of our first time so we asked the waitress for her suggestion. It was prepared with an Asian flair of Japanese and Chinese. It had a subtle sweet Teriyaki sauce and was topped with deep-fried won ton chips and LOTS of Chinese parsley. This dish was very attractive but didn't have a "WOW" factor. Fish was slightly overcooked and the fusion didn't really work for me - - Asian-style fish with mashed potatoes just didn't work. Service was OUTSTANDING. When we first sat down our drink orders were taken and our beers came right away with glasses of ice water. The staff checked up with our food and drinks to make sure we were doing okay. Staff here are well-trained. Because it was raining hard, there were many leaks in our dining area and had water drops fall on me repeatedly. We were asked if it was okay to where we were seated and we didn't let it bother us. Overall, great service with so-so food. Perhaps this place is known for beef, which we didn't order. I definitely will try their steaks in my next visit here. NOTES: 1) When you sit down a complimentary basket of warm bread and butter is served. 2) When ordering specials, it is a complete menu where you have starch with your main dish and it comes with one trip to their salad bar OR a bowl of their soup of the day. I was delighted they had avocado in their buffet line and it was really good - - texture was perfect and it was NOT discolored. When fruit/starch discolors, the grayish/brown color is unappetizing.

    (3)

  • Molly B.

    Cute restaurant by the beach, perfect to grab drinks and grub after a day at the beach. I loved the steak salad with blue cheese and dried cranberries - very filling! My boyfriend loved the fish burger. We will be back to tackle the rest of the menu and try some drinks.

    (4)

  • Nyla K.

    This place is so cute! After hiking up lanakai we needed a drink and this was the only place around but didn't matter it was nice! Order the Mai tai and it is true... Anything over 4 of them will sit your on your butt! We ordered some starters and got the stake calamari which is really good! It looked like a piece of breaded steak that was sliced in pieces. Wasn't like any kind of calamari I've ever had, but they are known for this so you must try! It's nice to sit out in the front patio and just sit in the breeze and look out into the ocean. The staff were really friendly and even suggested another hike. We also had meat on sticks and the steak fries... Which was just a big potato sliced very large and then fried. But this is hawaii and the views are amazing!

    (4)

  • Janice C.

    What's the buzz all about? This homey old shack is very welcoming, so welcoming in fact, that it gets very crowded here. One of the few eating establishments within a stone's throw of Lanikai and Kailua beaches, be prepared to wait. Since we came at a dead hour of 3pm, we got seated right away, but the patio was full. I don't know what it is when I'm in Hawaii, I always want fish! Or any kind of seafood. I asked for the ahi tuna wrap (without the wrap!) because the ingredients look like it would make for a good salad and it did! Lightly seared ahi on top of field greens & bean sprouts, it was healthy and filled me up. (Or was it the side of seasoned fries that did?!) A little pricey because it's located in Kailua and service definitely needed improvement.

    (3)

  • Sebastian F.

    Stumbled into Buzz's after a beach afternoon at Kaliua. This restaurant is located in an old wooden house, very casual and laid back. Couple of tables, bar in the middle, tight space. Indoor and outdoor area, it'll get crowded around peak times so expect a little bit of wait. The food was decent - the wasabi added a very nice touch to the FISH BURGER ($12) and it came with a CHICKEN SOUP, plus FRIES as an additional side. Service was just okay - not too friendly but they got the job done. Okay food in the area with Hawaiian prices.

    (3)

  • Darrin D.

    Whoa, when I said "stiff",....I meant "STIFF"

    (4)

  • Kim S.

    Prefer to sit outside because kinda dark inside but bar menu only available outside, no dinner. There were no trade winds so there were a few flies which was a bit annoying but the price for al fresco dining in Hawaii. You may see the ocean in the distance across the street. Service was friendly & we didn't feel rushed. Prices on the high side for what you get. The pupu platter was basically a dinner with the meat pre-sliced & the veggies from the salad bar on 1 plate. Only downside is you cannot go to the salad bar on your own. The top sirloin was cooked as requested & seasoned well.

    (3)

  • Beth T.

    I love this place, then again I'm biased. I first went here in 1972 with my then-fiance. It was the place we saved up to go to. It hasn't changed a lot in all those years. I love the ambiance, I love the location, I love the tree growing through the middle of the floor on the lanai. If you go here - you need to order their Calamari steak. Pair it with the Rum-Passion Fruit drink. In fact, in the 9 days we were in Lanikai, we went here 4 times!! We actually went to other places to try their Calamari steak so we could compare. Nothing comes close to the lightly breaded calamari swimming in wine, capers, lemon and butter. Yum. I want some right now! I love the salad bar. For non-locals, there's something called "Nalo Greens." When you see that on the menu, get the salad! That's greens from nearby Waimanalo. Fresh, luscious, healthy, wonderful salad greens. They had that in abundance along with avocado by the bucket full. What else do you need? OK, they have other things as well. And since twice we sat at the bar we could see that the salad is constantly being changed out, so it is very fresh. My date's steak was perfect. He's a little hard to please, as he's a chef. He stopped my attack on the calamari to feed me a piece of steak and say, "You HAVE to try this." I confess I had the calamari and the salad bar each time we went, but my date had steak and fish as well as the salad bar. He had Opa and said it was spectacular. It was made with crushed macadamia nuts and a little butter. You DO need reservations or go early. If you get there and can't get seating, the bar is really fun. I have only one complaint - and again, I guess being in Hawaii I just wasn't up to saying anything. I was charged for three rum drinks and I'm positive I only had two. There was a mixup with our orders at the beginning and I think they just didn't take it off the bill and we missed it.

    (5)

  • Angel M.

    Completely underwhelmed by the food! It was very expensive and not very impressing- super bland on taste. The salad bar is small and NOT all you can eat. The ambiance and view of Lanikai are of course fabulous- but that's what you are paying for. I was actually told by a local to go there- however I never would again. Oh, and you will be charged a minimum of $13.95 per person. We were going to share a meal, but we we charged! Oh, and guys- after 4:30 you can't wear a tank top, so dress accordingly. If you go and forget a shirt with sleeves, no worries- one will be provided for you

    (1)

  • Nikki N.

    I love restaurants that have an old vintage feel but this place is definitely stuck in the 80's. We were seated right away, viewing an electrical tower, which is super romantic, and the service ok because our waiter left us too long. My filet minion and his rib eye were surprising cooked well. Cons, the service, the prices, and the drive to get here and pro all you can eat salad bar. Sizzler, where are you when I'm craving a basic steak?! Most of these establishments in Hawaii have the Yelp approval sticker. Don't believe the hype! Please take any of these reviews with a grain of salt. Just become a Guinea pig like me and chance it. YOLO.

    (3)

  • William H.

    It's a long wait you need reservations but well worth it! Great food sat outside with a view of the beach

    (5)

  • Laura C.

    The food is under rated and they don't care about the service. The discrimination against us. We went with a group and they would refuse to service us. They are a terrible. Read the other reviews of you don't believe me. There is a reason this place only gets 3 stars. This is days after I visited and I still feel the same. They were very mean and condescending. Even after we left were trying to figure out why all this happened. Thank you for your response but here is our side. Our group did come up to the restaurant and 1 of our group did have A beer and he did place the beer bottle on the side of the gate. The others in our group that was uncalled for and picked up the bottle and threw it in the trash. Yes that was wrong!! Nothing was thrown and we weren't yelling. We walked into the bar and you were willing to serve us and then told us about the dress code. We were ok with it and they went to get our friend a shirt. He even asked for two as we knew we had 2 people in our group. Then we noticed that there were women in the restaurant with tank tops and thought that was strange and asked why are women allowed to have tank tops. My friend implied it was sexist and that is when things changed. At that point we were told we threw beer bottle, we cursed people working there, that we had been drinking to much and asked to leave. We were going to leave and were just trying to clear things up and no one cared to have a conversation with us. No one in our group was that drunk or causing that big of a disturbance. Once outside of the restaurant one of my fiends was upset because no one would talk to us. She did think someone else had complained and she did verbalize that. I don't know if she was right or wrong and We quickly just told her to stop and that it was time to go. The same group not including myself was there the night before and spend over 300 dollars. This was not my first time here. This about my 3rd time and each time I was never happy. I usually go just because I have other friends that want to go. The drinks and food are over priced and the service is never nice. The first time I went with my husband family we also we treated rude as we were seated and almost forgotten as there was a bigger party that was more important. I have never felt welcomed at this restaurant and the food is over priced. Look at the other reviews and there is a reason this place only get 3 stars.

    (1)

  • Doina N.

    Though, my vacation lasted only 5 days, I was here twice for lunch because of Lanikai Beach. On our first visit, we were able to get seated pretty quickly. They even sat us in the table where Bill and Hilary Clinton and the Obamas had enjoyed a meal. Pretty special! On the first day, we got their fresh catch that was Mahi-Mahi - really delicious. It's not listed on the menu but the server will notify you about it. It came atop a bed of greens and was cooked nicely while it was still juicy. I like to eat fresh fish when on an island vacation. That's something I always look forward to. We went back the last day before heading home to East Coast to get the same thing, based on the good experience we previously had, and it wasn't the same. It was just, meh. This is a touristy spot and it'll remain as such unless quality is improved. I guess this is why it's so expensive too. Locals do not recommend it. Also, customer service wasn't the same either. We had way better service on our first visit. As far as location, there's nothing to "complain" about as it is located in a beautiful area near Lanikai Beach and Kailua Beach. If you sit outside, there's a far ocean view. Make sure that you ask for a seat outside though. If I would have written this review about my first visit there I would've given Four Yelpies.

    (3)

  • Bruno S.

    Walked out due to the poor service from the hostess. It was only 4p on a Friday and my wife and had spent the day on the north shore. On our way back, unwilling to deal with traffic we stumbled upon Buzz's. Didnt dig the three star review but said hey what the heck let's give it a shot. Walked in and asked for a table for two. Hostess asked if it was for appetizers and drinks or dinner. We really weren't sure at that point so I said we will start with appetizers and drunks, after all it was a date night and I was in no mood to be rushed. She pointed to the outdoor seating, that was FULL, and said just squeeze yourselves in there and the cocktail waitress will be right with you. The entire restaurant inside was EMPTY. I decided to not argue or make an issue out if it, I'm the consumer and I should spend my dollars somewhere they value customers. I'm glad I walked out we ended up driving to Kona Brewery and had a blast while enjoying their live music. Fyi....On the map it looks like a waterfront restaurant but it is not

    (1)

  • Nick H.

    Pros: - This is one of the most beautiful and laid back dining spots on the island. It's right across from Kailua beach and they have done a great job creating a relaxing atmosphere. - The salad bar is fantastic. It comes with the entree or you can order it separately. There is always fresh avocado, beets, sprouts, lettuce, pickled onions, and other great fixings. - Service is great and they take reservations. I prefer to sit out on the deck but it's usually hard to get without an advance reservation. - fish is fresh. Appetizers are great. The calamari steak is pretty amazing. - beef is from the big island and is delicious (so much so that I cheated on my usually fish only diet) - desserts are great. I usually get the coconut sorbet which is great. Cons: - not many, but the food is a little overpriced for what you get. - they prepare the fish in four ways, but none of them are very creative. Typical steak house preps. - space is crowded Overall, I would highly recommend if you are visiting the area and looking for a Hawaiian feel.

    (4)

  • Darren L.

    Disappointed. We ordered chicken teriyaki sandwich, Teriyaki Steak sandwich and the Buzz burger. Absolutely devoid of anything special. Our waitress was wonderful and that's why this review is getting 2 stars as opposed to 1. Just bland and average at best and pretty forgettable. Could've gotten this meal at a school cafeteria. No mas.

    (2)

  • Liseann G.

    I was loved the food and had excellent service. I came here with my dad for dinner. Easily found parking and had virtually no wait time although we didn't have reservations and the restaurant was quite busy. We ordered a couple cocktails. I had an amazing cocktail from their menu that the waitress recommended. Very sweet and girly like I like them. We got escargot and a baked artichoke for appetizers. They were both delicious, buttery and we ate them up. I got the soup which was a kind of bisque and it was amazing. I got a delicious calamari steak with lemon and capers. I was so stuffed I had to take half of it home but it was fantastic. Overall I definitely recommend this restaurant and will be returning for sure. The food is outstanding and the service was timed well and friendly.

    (5)

  • Darrell P.

    The last time I came here and it was a while ago, it was cash only. It's good to know now that they caught up with the times. We came here for lunch with a couple friends from out of town and we agreed to eat here since its a nice location with a beach setting. The food here was good in my opinion. The Jack Daniels burger didnt disappoint. I asked for med rare and and thats what I got. It was juicy as juicy can get. The sauce was perfect with the burger. It was just enough and not overwhelming. The fries were a perfect compliment. The wife had the Crab Louie Salad. Apparently this is a popular item on the menu because it does sell out fast. It was really huge and I really didn't think she would finish it but she eventually did. All washed down with a Cranberry Vodka and Margarita. We were seated on the outside seating on the bench along the railing on the Lanikai side. You gotta watch out for that tree that bends towards that seat. if your not paying attention it will get your attention. Kinda like getting up in the middle seat of an inter island flight and banging your head on the overhead bin. Yeah, kinda like that but its not smooth. Customer service was great. The waiter knew his spill and very well versed. Parking wasn't a problem but just a warning when parking along the river. There is pretty much no curb to stop you from going in the water if you misjudge the edge.

    (4)

  • Catherine V.

    If I could give zero stars I would. Service was beyond horrible. The menu was slim pickings and Sally our server looked pissed that we were there. Asked for extra ranch took two reminders and 15 minutes later to get it. Then we we complained and the server talked shit about us. Also, how is this a steakhouse with no variations of steak? Also we had children but no extra napkins or anything was offered...oh and absolutely no kid menu! Hate this place will never come again!!!

    (1)

  • Astrid B.

    What a cute little place! I love the chill & relaxed atmosphere of this restaurant. Our waitress was named Ashley. She is so friendly & very attentive. Always asking if we needed anything and always had a huge smile on her face. The food was delicious! I recommend the fresh fish burrito & the steak calamari.

    (5)

  • Catherine H.

    We took our son here to celebrate his 21st birthday this evening and unfortunately did not have a good dining experience. Our server was not very friendly or welcoming and seemed to have an attitude for some reason. I had informed them that it was my son's birthday when I made the dinner reservation but they never acknowledged him throughout the entire evening. The table behind us actually had two birthday celebrations and I think it is because they had a better server that was friendlier and more considerate. I spent $93.00 for dinner and left feeling neglected and ignored. The food was delicious but the service was very bad. (Our server never even offered us more water or lemonade during the time we sat at our table for over an hour.)

    (2)

  • Michael M.

    One of my favorite places in Hawaii. This restaurant is right across from the Kailua Beach Park, and the outdoor seating overlooks the park and ocean. Try a few Mai Tais with the artichoke surprise or the calamari steak for an appetizer. Guaranteed you will lick every last drop of the melted butter! Go outside and sit at the Bill and Hillary Clinton table (it only seats 2, sorry Monica). You will not get presidential service, but the food is Damn delicious. Oh, did I mention that it is a Steak House?

    (4)

  • Bruce J.

    we arrived at 1130am and wanted a drink before lunch; we were told the bar was open but no outsider service since the bar maid did not come on till noon. no problem we got our drinks at the bar and came out to a little seating area and asked to see a menu. we were told the area we were seated in did not offer full menu items only snacks. ok. no problem here. i then asked the hostess to see a beach towel they had for sale with other souvenirs. she brought it but was reemed out in front of us by her " supervisor " who barked " only managers came bring out the towels ".. i felt badly for the young lady and told the " supervisor " I had asked her to bring me one, mind you we are talking about a beach towel. we then asked for a table and since had not maid rerservations we knew it might be a wait so no problem - seated finally on the patio. not bad food, not great but we were at the beach across the street and had been here before, so why not? we laughed it off but I did mention to the hostess that they had too many rules for a casual restauranti

    (3)

  • John K.

    Yes, I am a fan of the Buzz. We arrived on time for our reservations. I expected "Hawaiian Standard Time" with a typical wait. Surprise! We were seated right away! We're off to a good start. The tropical drinks were very good. I opted for a local (Big Island) beer. The salad bar was from another era, but well stocked and very fresh. Our first course was a fried calamari steak cut into cubes. We were puzzled by the choice of a Bearnaise Sauce over the top. We devoured it. I ordered a rib eye steak... well, it is a steak house. The steak was cooked to perfection. Everyone else had fish and all raved. Read the menu, but listen to the daily specials. Please note: They do not take credit cards. Since the tab can rack up pretty quick, have cash in hand or use their ATM contraption. My suggestion to visitors, this is as close to a locals restaurant as you can get. So with that, expect feisty waitstaff, spotty service, and stuff arriving at the table without a destination. Years ago, I learned that patience goes a long way in Hawaii. Buzz will never compete with Roy's. So, don't drive over to the other side of the island expecting a polished franchise. If it rained that day, which is often, the parking lot is a muddy mess. You don't have to lower your expectations, just your attitude.

    (4)

  • Tony L.

    great food, right across the way from kailua beach park. this is one of those places that's hard to pass up while visiting oahu. my brother and i always hit it once while we're there. the fish is great, the steaks are too! the artichoke appetizer is nice. everything's tasty. and when you wear a buzz's t-shirt---everyone asks about it on the mainland. if they know about it, then you get to rub it in w/your coy smile... i've been there for lunch too, and it's relaxing, just relaxing. like there's nothing more important to be doing except sittting there.

    (4)

  • Kat P.

    We usually like Buzz's Kailua for dinner, but I think it went way DOWNHILL. As soon as we park, staff was smoking by the lot ( he had an apron and white shirt). The food was awful, the top sirloin was hard leathery, the stuffed ahi was dry without taste, waitress forgot my drink, twice. The drink was like watered down. Bread was stale, the butter they serve with it didn't help. The place looks busy but it's NOT. Not a great place for locals, too expensive for its food, even if food was better, service sucked. Ruined my Mother's Day dinner. Wished they gave us utensils to eat the dessert, we had to get up and get our own, they didn't seem to mind. Too bad for a local eatery, I was hoping to go there more but now it's definitely OFF my list. SORRY...can't recommend my friends, family, or enemies. Oh yeah, they forget to give a pen for you to write a check- they only take cash/check... 2 THUMBS WAY DOWN!!!

    (1)

  • Charlie D.

    Tantilizing, mouth watering food, pricey and only accepts cash (putting a serious damper on big spending). Right across the way is Kailua beachpark, sand welcome, beachwear is not allowed after 7?

    (3)

  • Mike C.

    A staple restaurant anytime we have guests visiting from the mainland. Located right across from Kailua Beach park, it's a perfect location for dinner or walking off the beach and getting a drink. The fish is always fresh and perfect. I've never eaten the steak, but many friends have and they loved it. Try the mai tais, BFRDs, and ice cream pie desserts.

    (5)

  • Matt H.

    Sad but this was probably a decent local joint but now just a tourist trap. Food - ehh... Salad bar is definitely hit or miss (brown lettuce). Good luck reserving a table 2-3 nights ahead. If you request outside seating you'll be told on the phone it's not guaranteed. Then you get there, get seated inside but see an outdoor table empty only to be told it's reserved for someone who called ahead (interesting). Mind you it sat empty for an hour?! Maybe I just didn't impress the elderly host when we entered. . . All in all, BE REAL WITH YOURSELF - 3 stars before my review. That means it's par for the course.

    (1)

  • Nikki H.

    2.5 stars actually. We made reservations for 8PM for 4. We had some friends visiting from out of town who wanted to see Lanikai and since Buzz's is pretty much on the beach we figured this would be a great spot to take them. We arrive a little early and find a spot on the patio and order drinks. Our cocktail waitress was wonderful. When 8PM rolled around someone came over and said "The party at the table we have reserved for you won't leave. So we're sorry for the extra wait" - What the hell, you can't find another table? Whatever. I'll have another glass of wine. We finally get seated and she hands us a cutting board, that's also their menu, and I should have used it to smack the shit out of whoever thinks it's okay to charge $15 for that bullshit excuse they call a salad bar. It had mixed greens, beets, carrots, onions, seaweed salad, 4 dressings. Really, that's what $15 will get me. You're an ass, Buzz's. We finally have our waitress come and tell us what the specials are, since the cutting board wasn't giving me any spectacular options. I opted for a spicy seafood pasta dish and my husband had a filet. Well, this is where Buzz's gets the .5 extra star, the food was good. Not worth what they charged, but still, good. All in all I wanna call Buzz's a tourist trap with outdated decor, slow service and really really overpriced food. You've been warned.

    (2)

  • Janet L.

    Got in just before the dinner crush. Salad bar was decent and had fresh avocado and fresh pineapple. Greens on the salad bar were clean and no brown pieces, a pet peeve of mine. Had the opah (moonfish) which was excellent. It came with the salad bar and delicious steamed squash. Also had a Bloody Mary that was excellent as well. It was very loud where we were seated. It's small and they pack people in when they're busy, understandably. Not cheap, but good food and it's right across the street from Kailua Beach Park.

    (4)

  • Taimi T.

    Good place! Be sure to take advantage of the BFRD drink!! There's a 3 drink limit on those because they're so potent! I got the lanikai cut prime rib, asked for it to be medium and it came out a little redder then I expected! Got the side of rice and garlic mash! Our server was awesome and fun

    (3)

  • Jenn F.

    Not sure why this place has 3 $$$. Prices were reasonable. Service was good. My corn chowder was delicious. Only complaint was my boring garden salad- it had a few small tomato bits and the rest was all lettuce. Hubby had the teriyaki steak burger, he thought was fantastic. Was surprised it was flank steak and not chuck. Fries had yummy batter on them.

    (4)

  • Meghan D.

    We love Buzz's! Just had lunch there today. Great service, great food. I had the ceaser salad with seared Ahi, sitting outside enjoying the fresh air. I highly recommend lunch over dinner, if you prefer lighter fare. Many great salad choices at lunch.

    (5)

  • Marieanne G.

    Great food!! Portions are a bit small, especially my hubbies salad.Ahi wrap with wasabi aoli was great!

    (4)

  • Nicole S.

    It's truly sad and disconcerting to have to write a review of this nature after patronizing this establishment since I was a child. In adulthood, I eat here about twice a month, whether it be for lunch or dinner. After our experience this past week, I can say the days of Buzz's being our restaurant of choice are over. I thought about contacting the manager, but given the reviews that other people have written, it appears as though my complaint would have fallen on deaf ears. And frankly, I was too upset to speak. NEVER in my entire life have I gone to a place in which service is to be provided and been insulted both to my face and then amongst staff members. My parents, husband and I decided to have a leisurely lunch in Kailua. Living in Hawaii Kai, it's just a short jaunt and naturally we chose Buzz's as we typically do. Well my husband called for last minute reservations and was told outside was already reserved so he mistakenly requested a booth near the entrance. We've been there many times to know that's not the most comfortable seat in the house and I decided to ask if we could move to a table as there were at least three tables in the back area that were unoccupied. I politely approached the hostess and asked if a table was open. She literally sneered at me and said "your table was what was requested." I was blown away. I explained that my husband had made a mistake in requesting that table--her overtures at that point were so nasty and her attitude so overtly rude that it was seen and heard by my family as well as other guests seated nearby who when I returned to the table, gave me a look of absolute shock. I was so horrified by the way that I was being treated, I had to walk away. Clearly, this person realized the gravity of her actions and approached the table. I was actually sickened, so I motioned for her to go away. She replied "okaaaaay" and proceeded to walk up to the bar and loudly talk about my family and I to which the woman behind the bar started snickering. At that point, we walked out. I can honestly say that I have never in my life been treated this way. Working in the high end retail service industry, specifically management, I am most certainly appalled. If I ever witnessed or received word that one of my employees treated a customer in this manner, they would have been immediately asked to leave. In search of lunch, we then proceeded to the California Pizza Kitchen. Not our first choice but we weren't about to let this person ruin our day. There were clearly issues on her end that she felt she needed to take out on guests, specifically me for some reason. I could only describe her behavior in one word--DISGUSTING. Her actions were absolutely be shameful! When we walked in the door at CPK, the hostess smiled at us and our server was phenomenal. I then asked to speak to a manager and thanked her for her gracious hospitality and told her that from start to finish the service had been impeccable. I then proceeded to share this story. Let's just say, while she certainly didn't comment as she was the unequivocal service professional, I could tell that she was pretty shocked. She simply said, we pay our employees to smile--that's what they're here for to provide excellent service. Period. Buzz's was a place that we consistently turned to for dinners and leisurely lunches. We've had celebrations with family and friends and had countless meals here without any complaints. Is this a restaurant that necessarily PRIDES themselves on stellar service, no. Are employees polite and are all requests met with good food, yes. I can say that I will never step foot in here again. I will also continue to share this story with everyone that I know who is a patron and anyone looking to eat here. To walk in as a paying guest to be insulted and humiliated is unforgivable.

    (1)

  • Stephen P.

    My girlfriend and I ate here two times while we stayed in Kailua, and although we had a great time, it did not blow us away from a food perspective. The first time, we actually had a table on the patio (we were there very early) that from reading the other reviews, is hard to get. The setting was wonderful, and the service was great. The second time we went, we sat inside, and our table top (not the base), was pretty wobbly, and we had to make sure we did not tip the table too much. We really liked the drinks. But unfortunately, the food was not up to our standards, especially for the price. Between the two times we went there, I had the Ribeye and the Prime Rib, and although good, not great. My girlfriend had the Ono the first time which was good, again not great, then the Ground Sirloin which was actually pretty good. This is a fun place to go, the service was great, and was within walking distance to where we were staying which was convenient, but we thought the quality of the food did not match the price.

    (3)

  • V P.

    Great service, great drinks and lovely views. What more do you want?

    (5)

  • Jennifer T.

    I love the artichoke and the Calamari steak. In fact I don't think you can go wrong with the pupu menu. Its the lunch and dinner menu that is hit or miss especially the steaks. No beer on tap all in bottles.... One bathroom stall for the ladies so that can be an issue too. Parking is great, location great, prices reasonable.

    (3)

  • Henrik V.

    I like to describe Buzz's as an "unintentional tiki bar". It has all the elements that Trader Vic's and Don The Beachcomber's did their best to replicate on the mainland: beachside location, wood hut/shack vibe, and nautical nautical/South Seas decoration. The only difference? It is all real at Buzz's. The restaurant is in a converted redwood home that dates waaaaaay back (it was a private home then an italian restaurant, I believe, before Buzzy bought it). It has a wondrous wrap-around shaded deck out front that is illuminated by a trio of giant pufferfish lamps. The rum drinks are strong and tasty, and the poke is ono (yummy). With that said, why only 4 stars? Well - there are 3 levels of dining at Buzz's: 1 - Pupus (appetizers) & drinks on the patio. 5 stars. This is where you will find me just about every friday afternoon. A great way to celebrate the end of the work week and watch the sun set behind the mountains. Fantastic service and great ambiance - lots of local regulars and lots of happy visitors. You can't order off the dinner menu on the patio - but the cold soups, meat sticks and poke make a tasty and satisfying meal. 2 - Dinner on the outside patio. 5 stars. Everything I said above - but on a second outside area reserved for dining. You can order from the full dinner menu, and hit the SUPER salad bar. The catch? Seating is limited - and if you are not lucky you may end up... 3 - Dining inside. 3 stars (behind the bar - 2 stars). The inside of Buzz's is architecturally interesting (check out the tongue and groove redwood ceiling) - but it can get a bit crowded and loud. I always feel a bit rushed when eating indoors, and if you are behind the bar it gets extra crowded and loud. So you can see how your Buzz's experience can vary widely depending on where you set up camp. You will find me sipping a BFRD friday afternoons on the lanai :)

    (4)

  • Mark W.

    Buzz's moves at a slower pace; especially outside. So, go with no schedule and enjoy yourself. We sat both inside and outside. Liked it out front under the bushy canopy for a more intimate feel. Best bet is catch of the day served Hibachi style. Yummy with mashed potatoes and salad. Ahi sashimi appetizer is awesome! Best to make a reservation.

    (4)

  • Wade G.

    Well I can see by most of the recent reviews (bad) maybe something has changed at this place. I love Kailua for many reasons, but mostly because I have fond memories visiting my grandfather there as a child. I Live on the mainland but visit islands at least once a year. The place we normally go for shaved ice recommended buzz's. He did say was a little pricey but thought hey.....I'm in Hawaii! Normally I like to watch my money a little but, I have no problem spending cash if the value is there. In this case I was taken!!! Let me start by saying I am not that hard to please. This is honestly the first review I have given on anything!!! That's how bad this place rubbed me! There is nothing special about this place at all. Especially not to warrant there pricing. My wife was not hungry and only wanted soup. I said "you might as well order a meal....look at the bottom of the menu"! It says there is a min. Charge of $14.00 per person at table....WTF?!! Have never seen this in my life. Salad bar was very mediocre. The so called best maitai was seriously one of the worst i ever had! And I've had many!! The only good thing was the waitress was o.k. .....but just o.k.. As a previous poster had experienced, she seemed a little irritated when I asked if they had a kids menu! As far as food goes.......nobody at my table enjoyed there meal.......seriously. I've had other mediocre meals before, but I expected a little more here considering what you have to pay for it. We eat at Dukes a couple times per stay, and pricing is same or even less if you order a light entree, but the food and experience is ten times better!! I obviously will never go there again. Mainly because the value was not there. In a pinch I might go there again but only if the price was cut in half!

    (1)

  • Luke R.

    Great steak and fresh fish! Outstanding service and fun drinks. A true Hawaiian steakhouse experience.

    (5)

  • Karen M.

    Went there for lunch. I ordered the burger. It tasted bland, the patty was gross and burnt in parts. It tasted really cheap and frozen and definitely not home made. A sad looking piece of lettuce rounded it out. The bread was also sweet fast food quality rather than what I would expect from a restaurant. The chips were delicious however, and my boyfriend had grilled fish and he said it was very good, as was the Caesar salad. Another point - we sat inside and it smelled bad like a wet dog smell. Suggest management should look into fixing that....

    (2)

  • Ellen K.

    This place had great fish but the salad bar was disappointing. The restaurant ran out of bread and did not offer anything in compensation to replace bread. I feel like it was way overpriced for what you get. I know the restaurant has been here for a long time but the atmosphere is way outdated and slightly dingy feeling. I probably would not go back because

    (3)

  • Guy H.

    You might think location location location, but this has a little bit more than just a beautiful location right across the beach, good food and friendly service. The only downside is for lunch there is no children's menu but we made do with a delicious teriyaki chicken.

    (3)

  • kona y.

    After hearing pretty good things about this place I decided to try it out. The salad bar was great but the teriyaki steak entree left something to be desired... Better off with a bag of gas station beef jerky. The restaurant has a beach theme and I came in in a tank top with board shorts (as they have self described their "patrons" to normally be in such attire-on a poster in the back bragging about a presidential visit) and was forced to wear a oversized shirt because of the salad bar... After I visited the salad bar I asked if I could remove the shirt and the staff told me I needed to keep it on until I left, by the way- I am a very neat and clean person and had just come from home-not the beach. Not recommended. Go to Hailewa joes in Kaneohe instead!

    (2)

  • Lynne N.

    Make sure to call in a reservation or else the manager/host will make you look stupid in front of everyone and give you a hard time about it. My fiancé and I were about to leave because of how rude she was but it took us about 20 min to get there. So we decided to stay and hope for the best. Our waitress was very polite and knowledgable. The food was not what I expected. It was delicious! We started of with the Calamari steak. Calamari was thick and nicely breaded. For dinner, I got the hibachi plate. One thing I do not recommend is the salad bar. Fruit fly maddness.

    (3)

  • Victoria G.

    Pretty good food! I would recommend the salad bar, catch of the day, and the drinks! Their french fries are also pretty good. Going for dinner is better than going for lunch!

    (4)

  • Darek B.

    Our party of seven went there last night for a dinner. The food was excellent and the service was great and attentive. I would give it 5 stars, however we were very disappointed upon receiving the check with a handwritten 20% gratuity added to the bill, in spite of a note in the menu stating that the gratuity of 20% will be added automatically to the group of EIGHT or more. There was SEVEN of us only and while we would be happy to leave a nice tip, this did not sit well with us. In the end we did not argue and paid the bill as it was written, but this left a blemish on our otherwise great experience. This is why I deducted one star.

    (4)

  • Elle S.

    A little pricey, but worth it. Had the fish of day and prime rib, and we loved both. Pay extra for the hibachi fish, super yummy. The service was a little spotty, but kind of understand since the place was jammed. Had a 30 min wait at dinner time, but we didn't mind since we had planned to check out the sunset on the beach across the street before eating anyhow. The table was ready for us when we got back, so all worked perfectly.

    (4)

  • Brent K.

    We came here for lunch. This is my third time here. I had the top sirloin and a salad. It was good, But the appetizers were great. Teri BBQ sticks. Calamari steak, and poki all good. It's kinda old but cute place.

    (3)

  • Patrick S.

    Came here to celebrate my best friend's birthday last month which he came from out of town with his wife to celebrate. There were 9 of us in our party. Service: Was good. Our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu and daily specials. Atmosphere: It's has a nice, low lit, classy, old hawaiian kind of feeling. It looks like a big house or mansion, converted into a restaurant. We went on January 21st (Martin Luther King Day). The place was packed so the one small negative I have is that it felt a little cramped when walking to get salad or going to the bathroom. Food: Main Entree - Oh My!!!! I know it's a steakhouse and I didn't get steak...but I had their Opakapaka. Now they have many ways to get it cooked, so I got it grilled and WOW. Don't ask what the options are...just get it grilled...the sauce they use makes it taste HEAVENLY. It was fresh and cooked just right. Nice portion too and was totally worth it. Reasonably priced for what you get. Their salad bar is compact but still offers quite a selection and was fresh. It's also really nice that it's included with all their entrees. Their drinks are INTENSE....had a mai tai and they make them STRONG....my second and only other drink was their BFOD (forgot the actual acronym but it does reference a swear word)....it's basically their mai-tai lightened with pineapple juice. Yeah you read right...a mai tai WITH pineapple juice. Their straight mai tai is basically all alcohol. I heard they limit folks to like 2 or 3 of those drinks cause they make them so potent. We ended the note having their famous homemade key lime pie. Our waitress was nice enough to save some slices for us when we were seated because they only had a few left. It was light and delicious. The cookie crumb crust added a nice crunch.

    (5)

  • Matt K.

    Returned after a few years for dinner. While the restaurant still isn't really comfortable and the service still mediocre, the dinner salad bar was exquisite and the surf and turf was delicious. Some if the food is delicious, but I would still choose a location with better atmosphere and service.

    (3)

  • Scott G.

    So, I have been coming here for years. Love this place. Great atmosphere. The food is very good, not great, but very good. The salad bar is always fresh and the staff is friendly and fast. Always pay attention to the specials as they usually offer some very fresh fish. Good drink selection. Call ahead to make reservations. Overall, just a fun place with great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Todd P.

    Live 2 houses down from this place and just wanted to order takeout quickly while it wasn't busy. I was then redirected to the bar where I sat down and the lady asked me if I would like a drink. It was 11:15 am and I said no I want to order something to go. She then asked me to move to the seat at the end of the bar to order from another lady. So I left. Been here in lanikai for 2.5 years and still haven't eaten there. Clowns

    (1)

  • Dan N.

    Buzz's is a small Steakhouse, so make reservations or be prepared to wait for a table up to an hour. Parking is a pain in the @#E%$#, so walk if you can or be prepared to drive around as parking at the restaurant is limited. They also have REAALLLY strong drinks, but if you are paying $10 for a mai tai you know you are getting your money's worth. The calamari was very fresh and my wife's steak was grass fed beef from the Big Island. It was very tasty. I had the stuffed Opa which was pretty good, but the stuffing was average. For dessert we a couple of items. The bread pudding was delish and my daughter had the flourless chocolate cake which was a bit dry. My wife's coconut cheesecake was the bomb.

    (4)

  • Brandy M.

    I have lived here for almost 3 years and I have never heard anything good about Buzz's...I wish I had not listened! We went at a little after 11 so we missed the crowd (maybe that's the secret lol). Our server(s) were all great, the strawberry lemonade was the FRESHEST I think I've ever had, the Calamari Steak was incredible and the Open-faced Crab Sandwich was hands down the best thing I've eaten for as long as I can remember! My hubby had the Reuben and he loved that as well :-)

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Had a great experience. The food was excellent. Salad bar was fresh and tasty and included fresh avocado. Had the hibachi style fish and it was incredible. Service was great. Its a touch pricey but its understandable considering the great food, atmosphere, location and demand.

    (4)

  • Greg B.

    I would like to state that the chocolate cheesecake was really rich. It was great. It was wonderful. What was surprising is that the cheesecake was the real thing on the desert platter. I thought it would be a plastic representation of it. The Jack Daniels burger was nice. The fries tasted like sliced in small long rectangles toasted on an oven. The ketchup helped. The burger was delicious and the added sauces just added to the 'volume' of the taste. It is expensive and small. I gathered that the place is the original one, as the name implies, and resembles a house with a view of the road. The road is next to Kailua Beach Park. You couldn't miss the place if you tried. It is expensive and busy. It is obvious that the many people at the beach and walking to the beach tend to go this place. There are other items on the menu - open crab sandwich, the Thursday's special for a Rueben, an ahi wrap, and so on. I went there for lunch. There are salads. There is a bar.

    (4)

  • Dana P.

    As a kid who lived in Lanikai in 1963, I remember Buzz's as a locals bar & grill. The men's room was wallpapered with Playboy foldouts. Now, it's a pretentious dive with awful seafood and a really good steak. If you stick to the turf, steer clear of the surf and drink heavily, you'll really like this place until the bill comes. Having said all of that, it's the only 'nice place' for dinner in this part of Oahu's windward side.

    (2)

  • K C.

    0 stars if possible The manager was rude, the servers were nasty! Drinks were the only good things about this place. It's the only place near Lanikai so we stopped. If you don't like working near a tourist attracting, don't work there!

    (1)

  • Lois B.

    i've lived in Kailua for nearly 9 years now, and have never gone here until last night, to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. i can't believe i've wasted 9 years NOT going here. we made quickie reservations late in the afternoon, and they took us nonetheless. we got there on time...the entire lanai area was packed, as was the interior of the restaurant as we stepped inside. a little dim but bustling with energy...servers serving, patrons laughing and having a great time. we were seated at the rear of the bar in a cozy corner (yes, "cozy", despite it being bench seating). our server, John, greeted us promptly and informed us of the menu specials. we decided to get the escargot as an appetizer, my husband got the teriyaki steak, and i got filet mignon. the escargot was delicious and tender, the drinks were delicious (Mokulua something and the Lava Flow), his steak was cooked perfectly and mine was a little red (i asked for medium but it was a super thick slab--nothing that can't be fixed by cooking it a little before i eat my leftovers!). the salad bar looked small but there were actually quite a wide range of items to make your salad hearty and interesting. fresh fresh food! we declined on the offer of desserts since we were too full, but i spied the selection being offered to the neighboring table before dinner, and...i would eat the entire plate of desserts on a future visit. the service is TOPS! John was very attentive and friendly, and checked in on us often. we will DEFINITELY be going back.

    (5)

  • J H.

    Was going to have dinner here but it didn't quite work out for us. Was greeted by the hostess who asked "do you have a reservation?" in a very condescending tone. We didn't, so we opted to have a drink at the bar while we waited for a table. The young bartender was beyond rude to us and made us feel very unwelcome. We ordered one round of drinks and split. Won't be returning.

    (1)

  • Robert C.

    Before dining out last night with my daughter I read a slew of yelp reviews. I prepared for the worst. Since we are only a short 5 minute walk from the restaurant we made our way for a pleasant night's walk to this steakhouse. The restaurant is situated on the edge of a body of water ( reminds me a bit of when the Blue's Brothers performed at that bar in the movie ). Anyway had a Mai Tai that proved disappointing even though the server said it was a popular drink there. The corn chowder was just very good. I thought that it may of been from the bottom of the pot as it had lots of tidbits that tend to collect there. I ordered the bluefin marlin that although it was a generous portion was lacking in texture and taste. I complained to my server who offered to replace it but I said never mind. My daughter had the top sirloin that was cooked to perfection ! Who would of known. I had the key lime pie for dessert which was okay. I had a good time here but for different reasons. The staff from hostess to servers were all pleasant and gracious. Nice to see smiling faces. My server " took care of me " for the unfortunate experience with the fish. I have to realize that we are a bit spoiled and have high expectations where I am from. So when things fall short I should just be thankful I had a good time spent talking with my daughter.

    (3)

  • Christina Z.

    Saturday service sucks, the poke was not fresh at all, the salad tasted old. I got the fresh fish and it was ok not that great, sma portion. We wont be coming here again.

    (1)

  • Samantha M.

    We have been here since summer 2013 and have come to Buzz's several times. The location is convenient, offers ocean views if you sit outside, and is the only restaurant near that part of Kailua/Lanikai. Go for those reasons and you're ok. The calamari steak has always been my favorite....sauce on the side. Not everyone wants their food drowned in buerre blanc. But it is tasty! The mai tai's are good too. I don't, haven't and didn't appreciate my latest experience there. Two salads. Identical prices. One features steak...the other chicken. I asked if I could have the salad featuring chicken and get steak instead. I was informed, by a manager who never appeared, that I could do that but I would get charged extra for steak even though I wouldn't get chicken. This was confusing. Offer steak or chicken with your salads. No one appreciates the rules. I turned down the generous offer and got the salad with steak. They screwed it up, and I had to send it back. I'm surprised I wasn't charged extra for keeping the table longer. In the end I can't say I won't return... Because of the reasons stated above but it's pretty pathetic to have Location be your only saving grace. I told her to tell her manager that he/she is a moron. I meant it. The clientele goes beyond the tourists and they should remember that.

    (3)

  • Andrea B.

    EVEN IF THEY PAID ME, I'D NEVER, EVER GO BACK TO BUZZ'S. After spending the morning at the beach, we walked across the street to Buzz's, wanting to sit outside on the porch. We saw a lady with her therapy dog (in vest) turned away! The manager kicked them out just as they were arriving. That's illegal I think. We sat down and I walked inside to use the restroom (which should be cleaner). I saw the manager behaving with such an arrogant, unfriendly attitude toward staff and patrons. This woman, who's name is Leslie, I think, treated customers as if they were putting her out by showing up and patronizing Buzz's. Her total attitude was that this establishment is there for her enjoyment and customers just need to get in, hand their money over, and get out immediately. I saw two guys come in off the beach and order beers. After they were served and drank a couple, they asked for the bill. At that point, the waitress was sent over (by the manager I described) to demand the one guy to put on a shirt..(it was noon and he was on the porch, paying his bill and leaving anyway).. I couldn't believe it, they were treating him with such rudeness. If they didn't like his dress, they should not have seated him...instead the manager harasses him as he is paying his bill. I then saw another group of women (who had just lunched out on the patio) unloading the trunk of their car to take their things across the street to the beach. There was one woman in the car, obviously getting ready to drive the car away. The manager had another one of her waitresses come out, as the car is being started, and has her threaten them that if they don't leave, they will be towed. I couldn't believe it. Three times in my one visit there, I saw well behaved customers who paid and tipped, get bad treatment in return. Also, when we asked for food that was being served on the inside, the manager refused to negotiate. She wouldn't even allow us to have meat served pupu style. There was no amount of consideration on her part for the customers to be happy. Whoever owns that place is crazy to employ that woman. She's going to run that place into the ground. I'll never, EVER go back. NEVER!

    (1)

  • Robin B.

    We were so looking forward to dinner at Buzz's on our yearly trip to Kailua. We went early-5:30pm so as to not be caught in the dinner rush. We were asked if we had reservations- which we didn't because we didn't know they accepted them. To which we were informed that they take them a year in advance. Ok, we get your point. The manager was short with us and not very friendly. We were seated at a table right next to the bar. We asked to sit outside but were told all tables were reserved. We then asked to be seated in a booth so as to not be in the way of the people at the bar or also in the way of the people in line for the salad bar. We were again told that all tables were reserved even though they stayed empty the whole time we were eating. Shortly after this a table of locals were seated by us. They were asked if they wanted to sit on the patio and told it was no problem they didn't have a reservation-and were promptly moved outdoors! Our waitress on the other hand was very professional and friendly. We asked for a beer on tap or any dark beer- no to both. Dinner was fine. At the end of the meal we went to pay with Amex and were told they don't accept it even though the sign stated they take major credit cards. And then there was an up-charge for our fish preparation on the bill, although that was not on the menu or mentioned when we ordered. Just very disappointed with the double standard treatment for tourists vs. locals. And the rudeness of the manager. Too many other places that want our business for us to ever go back- she was a real Buzz kill!

    (2)

  • Stefanie M.

    After a lovely morning on the Kailua beach, we wanted some lunch and went to Buzz's. The front porch is lovely for outdoor dining and the breezes. Our server was very nice and prompt and great helping my very indecisive family make their choices. I had the open faced crabcake sandwich. It was good, didn't love all the cheese melted on top, but the cheese was in the description of the sandwich. Crab was very good, bread was good, salad was good. A little pricey, but that seemed to be all of Hawaii, not just Buzz's.

    (3)

  • Cristina C.

    **Newsflash! Buzz's Kailua accepts credit cards now, just so you know...** Just ate here last month with my two favorite uncles. I had the terriyaki chicken salad (a special that day), and it was really, really good. The steak itself was so tender, I kept pushing little bites to the others because I felt like I was tempting karma by not sharing. My favorite table under the tree on the corner of the deck, my uncles, cold beers and a view of Kailua Beach...priceless. The view, casual ambiance and unpretentious service is awesome. I give it five stars because of the location.

    (5)

  • Geoff G.

    I've been here twice, on two different trips to the Island...from Waikiki it seemed like a haul, but the drive was nice. Neat location, always jam-packed with people and the parking lot is pretty small. Buzz's was much better the second time around. I had the grilled 'Monchong' and it was outstanding. hawaii-seafood.org/monch… if you are wondering what the hell a monchong is. Highlights -Strong drinks (Mai Tai was pretty decent) -Simple menu -Go with the grilled option on the fish Lowlights -Yep, the bathroom is tiny -Service is pretty slow, but we've always rolled in during peak dinner hour

    (3)

  • Simona M.

    I LOVE BUZZ'S!!! First off this is a 'Dinner House' Yelpers, not the snack bar at the beach! Just because their location is across from the beach doesn't mean the customer should come in beach wear, shirtless or coated in sand. I have sat down before on a wet seat and think it is very rude of the wet pants patron that doesn't consider the next person who sits on that seat. The employees have a right to get upset. It must be a total drag for them to have to continuously police the inconsiderate. Their parking area is small and beach going diners should also respect that and unload at the beach. NOW Let me tell you the truth about this great place........ I visit often and am ALWAYS happy with the drinks, food and service! The Mai Tais are too good! and the bartenders are always friendly. I always enjoy the Calamari Steak, in fact it is the BEST Calamari I have ever eaten! It is never, ever over cooked or undercooked.. It is perfection! I think I order it almost every time I dine there, mostly as pupus, cut pupu style to share. It always comes super crispy on the outside and is very tender, never chewy. Served with a nice lemon butter sauce too, but sometimes I have it with just lemon..depending on my mood. The salad bar is definitely the greatest with a nice selection of unusual offering, unlike the common choices at the chain restaurants. Some of my favorite salad bar choices are baby Spring greens, baby spinach, crispy romaine, fresh avocado, pickled beets, peppers, marinated tomatoes, yummy marinated watermelon, (sometimes) seaweed salad, real 'in-house cooked' chopped bacon, delicious dressings and there is someone continuously tending & refilling the bowls! They also offer sprouts, tofu, green beans, marinated kidney beans, Hawaiian style pickled onions, and more than I can remember...a really huge selection of toppings to say the least. Their 'giant size' Shrimp Scampi, served as a salad meal or as a dinner is fantastic, as is their steaks. I love my meat cooked rare and they are one of the few places where I can order my meat 'Charred Blue' (cooked over the hottest part of the broiler so it is charred on the outside and very, very rare on the inside) and they do it perfectly every time! Another great meal is the Chopped Sirloin Steak smothered w/ grilled onions and mushrooms, served with real home style fries and veggies and like the other dinners comes with the fantastic salad bar. I recently visited for my birthday dinner and was blown away with the beautiful retro-style poster/calander I was gifted by the management! It was totally unexpected and deeply appreciated by me. Also the Hostess Debbie went out of her way to look for my cell phone I thought I had missed placed yesterday. I called back to see if I had left my phone there and she took time to search for it, even going out side to the parking area to look! She is extremely sweet and caring!

    (5)

  • Paul P.

    Escargots & artichoke surprise were great as well as salad bar . Wait staff was very good. Booth type table was very cramped and uncomfortable. Yes we would go again and again.

    (3)

  • colleen b.

    Honestly I am kind of surprised at all the negative reviews of Buzz's. Are we going to the same restaurant? My husband was born and raised on Oahu and he has been coming here for special events since he was just a keiki. Every time we come "home" for a visit we hit up Buzz's. Been there for lunch, happy hour and a few special occasion dinners with both large and small groups. If I have a choice I prefer to sit outside on the lanai. They have mai tais that will knock you on your butt :-) I rarely get anything else. I have always been happy with my food and don't expect it to be plate lunch prices. I guess I come here knowing that it isn't a cheap bite to eat but it is good. Actually I had one of the best steaks of my life here a few months ago; it was a nightly special local, grass fed rib-eye that was medium rare and perfectly grilled/flavored. Very enjoyable. My brothers agreed when we took them there; we were all raised in California cattle country and are used to getting top notch beef. On top of that they have absolutely the best best best key lime pie. Nice and tart just the way I like it and served with a side of lilikoi sauce. Yum! I also really enjoy the salad bar. Unlimited avocado??? Are you kidding me??? As my brother said "they must not know we are from cali" as we loaded up on a bunch of the creamy goodness. The only reasons that it didn't get the full 5 stars from me was because 1) they do have some kinda dumb rules about what you can order from where/when and 2) we did get one sorta snotty server once during an afternoon cocktail hour. Once in all the years we have been going so I am willing to let it slide but she didn't get the usual generous tip just a regular one.

    (4)

  • Niria T.

    Came in for lunch. Not too many options on the menu. At the time that we where there the place was not very busy. Drinks took a while (sodas). My husband was very pleased with his teriyaki steak plate, however...my fish burrito was horrible. Had absolutely no flavor! I would go back, but not to eat that fish burrito, would like to try other items on menu that look interesting (burgers) . The atmosphere is very nice & tropical. The staff is friendly and the prices are ok.

    (3)

  • Amy M.

    We love Buzz's and come every time we visit Oahu. I can't understand why just 3 stars on Yelp. The service is ALWAYS outstanding. Very pleasant folks. Wonderful to sit outside if u can and good kitschy Hawaiian decor on the inside. I like the teriyaki steak salad. Love the Freshy and Kailua Passion drinks - very tasty!

    (5)

  • Jodie B.

    5 stars all day long for Jim and Mahina @ The Bar. 5 stars. the food was maybe 3 stars. The drinks were 3-4. The service was 10 stars. All day.

    (5)

  • Jonathan S.

    Ate here for lunch on Sunday and the food is fair. The famous calamari is greasy and flavorless, the fish sandwich tasted like McDonald's and the salad wasn't fresh. The service was great and the atmosphere was nice.

    (2)

  • Leah R.

    Tourist trap. Food & service does not equal the price you pay here. I wouldn't go back at any cost though. If you walk a little down the road into Kailua town you'll find better places to eat. Want a sit down place? Maybe try Formaggio. Their steaks are juicier and they have a bigger selection of food and drinks. Pros: Nice hostess. Nice location next to the beach Cons: Contrary to the big sign above the front door, they do NOT take all major credit cards. Unless Amex is not a major credit card anymore... The salad bar could be a lot better. Small selection and mealy tomatoes. The salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays is waaaaay bigger and better. Steak House? I think not. Even Outback or Cattle Company have this place beat. The only decent thing was their fish in the butter sauce. Not even the bread was good. Bread usually keeps my kid content til the food, but he didn't want any of it either. Sides were not good. Someone ordered a baked potato. But it was twice baked, not in the real sense. It was hard as a rock, as if it was cooked the day before (or a few days at that), and then reheated. No beers on tap. Bottles and cans only. And they don't have all of their wines in stock. You'd also think that if there was only one Grenache on the static looking drinks list, you could just ask for it, but instead you need to refer to it by name. weird. Service was spotty. Some waitresses were really nice, unfortunately our main one was not. Too bad. Not a good showing of aloha spirit for this touristy destination.

    (1)

  • Samantha b.

    The calamari appetizer here was really good and the sauce was to die for. I got the sirloin which was pretty good also but I have had better. Everyone liked their meal, the three men I was with all got the calamari sandwich special and really liked it. My mom enjoyed her salad as well. We went for lunch so prices weren't too bad, I think it is pricier for dinner. Very convenient location with Kailua beach right across the street.

    (4)

  • Rob S.

    This place is a tourist trap. The food is marginal and the service sucks. I would avoid this place at all cost.

    (1)

  • Al K.

    I ate there a few years ago when they didn't take credit cards. Food was not bad then. I've been there twice now within the last 2 mos. I had a steak then..and it was dry and tasteless. Salad bar and drinks were good. Took some of my family there a week ago thinking maybe I had a bad meal on the last visit. I had the ahi. I had it grilled. I could not finish it..it tasted like it was fresh frozen. Not worth it. AL K

    (2)

  • Toby C.

    When I taste my first sip of a BFRD, I know I'm on vacation. I can't say enough great things about the service here- they treat you like kings and queens, even when you walk in with sandy, wet hair in a sundress. I highly recommend the calamari steak...I dream about it on the mainland. I'm sure I could get it...but it wouldn't be the same. Ask for the garlic sauce on the side of your artichoke surprise and you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Adam D.

    We went here twice. First time we had dinner and were underwhelmed with the food, service, and seating. The special that evening was a strip steak w blue cheese/pesto sauce and demi-glace. I thought the combination was a little odd but ordered it anyway... I shouldn't have. I ended up scraping most of the blue cheese/pesto off and eating the steak w the demi-glace. Also, the original meal I was brought was incorrect, so my wife and I got food at separate times. In addition we were seated behind an open door, we were walled in and it was claustrophobic. Our second visit to Buzz's was for drinks and appetizers. If you do this, you can pick any seats on the front deck. This visit was much better. We enjoyed the front deck and the apps were pretty good. We stuck with simple things like the sauteed shrooms and beef skewers. Given our experience, I would recommend Buzz's as a place to get drinks and apps, but if you are looking for a meal, there may be better options around.

    (3)

  • Michele K.

    It's been awhile since I've eaten at Buzz's, too long to be honest. My Aunt and I stumbled upon this gem while cruising the island a few years back. I wasn't sure what to expect as we walked in, but it turned out to be really good. The service was good, and the food was great. I'll definitely be back, next time I'm in Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Duane P.

    Great location...OK food...Poor Service...Tourist Prices. We went to Buzz's around dinner time after spending the day on the beach. It's an attractive location, and has a great atmosphere. I would definitely call ahead for reservations, so you can sit outside on the patio and enjoy the beach. I ate grilled Mahi Mahi with garlic potatoes and the "endless" salad bar. The meal was definitely just OK, but way overpriced. We had 3 adults and the meals ranged between 33 and 45 bucks a plate. Service was a little weird....our waitress seemed like she might have been finishing off the leftover Mai tai's. Overall, its Ok for what it is, but I would go elsewhere next time.

    (2)

  • Julia W.

    Here for lunch and ordered Buzz's burger and Lanikai salad to share between the two of us. The salad and fries are the only thing that gives this 3 stars. The salad was fresh and delicious with tons of fruit including mango, grapes and strawberries. Fries were crispy. Unfortunately the burger tasted like something out of a school cafeteria. The meat in the burger was low quality and grisly. The patty looked like it was from one of the Costco frozen multipacks. Completely unacceptable for $8. Maybe it was because we were here for lunch instead of dinner? Or their order for ground beef didn't come in this week? Their mud pie is famous here but they didn't have it today unfortunately. Generally the food is pretty decent here. The salad bar and steaks are good. Just don't get the burger! Visited January 2012.

    (3)

  • Malia E.

    Now, lets begin with: Buzz's aint Ruth Chris's & it aint Mortons. If you want fancy, go to those places. Buzz's is a unique long-standing Kailua establishment that serves a better than average steak and simply excellent everything-else. Its funky, its cozy, its altogether fun. The pupus are different than anything you can find anywhere else. Calamari steak is delicious. My favorite is the artichoke surprise, with a side dish of the sauce so I can slurp my bread in. They take out the small, poky leaves, leaving a clean and perfectly steam artichoke, with a decadent butterycheesygarlicy sauce. My hubby ALWAYS gets the ribs. They are HUGE meat ribs, with a bbq sauce. He also always wishes they would offer a sauce free option - just do a pulehu option - maybe thats something they could consider. My kid and I share a dish, usually either the prime rib or sirloin. As she gets older, frankly, Im lucky if I get two bites out of it. The two bites are always delicious. I particularly like the sirloin and steal more bites from my kid than shes happy with. But thats ok - Im really there for the salad bar. Lets stop here. Sit up. Pay attention. Buzz's is ALL about its totally awesome, totally different salad bar. Beyond the lettuce you'll find things like pickled cucumber, mint pineapple, watermelon poke, beans, cottage cheese, beets, and...AVOCADO. All you scoop onto your plate - and its endless. I have no idea how they do it - but Buzz's ALWAYS has avo on its salad bar. Top it with bacon bits (I think its real bacon) and fresh made croutons -- and you have an amazing, all you can eat salad! I think this bar is the best thing about Buzz's. Second to the salad bar are the BFRD's. These are like MaiTais on steroids. On this evening, sitting with my kid, I didnt have one. They are so strong that Buzz's limits customers to three. I once snuck in four by having my friend order one for me, and suffice to say, I completely understand why the limit is three. Finally, check out Debbie the Manager. Shes the sweetest and the greatest restaurant manager in all of Kailua. She checked on us twice, something I always appreciate in restaurant managers.

    (5)

  • Janine L.

    I am leaving my original review up- for now- but one of my great friends really loves Buzz's and thinks we should give it one more try. We have since visited the Pearl location twice and found the service much better, but the food no where near as good. Too bad we can't get this swapped around!

    (3)

  • Manako E.

    So I've been to Buzz's maybe 3~4 times. I'm gonna have to agree with everyone else- the service sucks. We walked in and the hostess was at her desk? chart? thing, directly in front of us, texting. Didn't even acknowledge us until another lady said hello to us. Rude, didn't smile, didn't seem happy at all. Actually, she seemed like she was in high school and had no experience with customer service before. Our waitress was nice enough, and the food was ok. I always get the same thing because nobody ever tells me their food is good. I think it's overpriced for what it is.

    (1)

  • Rhonda P.

    My friend and I left the beach and were starving so we stopped at Buzz's. They sat us in a dark hot corner to where I could barely breathe.. I asked to be moved. They moved us by the bar in a open area with fans thank God! We ordered the plantation iced tea which was excellent love the pineapple juice in the tea. Next we were told about the lunch special which was a sandwich that the locals come for and sell out quickly .. So we ordered it and yummmmy!!! Can't wait to go back!!!

    (5)

  • Marhia A.

    Not many people like Buzz's and I'm shocked. It happens to be a favorite of mine. I loved their drinks, desserts, steaks, etc. They're very friendly and I loved the environment. It's comfortable and laid back. I just enjoy being there and being able to sit back and relax. Recommend 100% :)

    (5)

  • John O.

    The ahi tuna special was unbelievable. Fresh catch of the day. Over garlic mashed potatoes with a side salad and a magical dressing that we are still trying to figure out the ingredients for. The ahi wrap I would skip, nothing special there. . Teriyaki steak special was just ok. The crab open face sandwich was delicious. If you have a choice ask for Ashley as your server. Super cute and gave us great local recommendations for poke

    (5)

  • Abby S.

    BFRD = Big F***ing Rum Drink If you can slurp your way through a couple of these killer Mai Tais and walk out of the restaurant, my hat is off to you. The BFRD is probably why Buzz's is full of bar flies. Old ones, new ones, tourists, and locals who make this their exclusive night on the town joint. Me? I prefer the lava flow. And a hearty meal to soak up the alcohol. Fresh seafood, steak, salad bar, it's super old school. The fact that the steak menu comes on a giant, 10 lb paddle or the waitresses forced to wear aloha shirts should have told you that already. Surf and turf isn't a bad idea at Buzz's. For about $40 you can get a pretty solid meal... And by San Francisco standards, that's a major deal pound for pound. The preparation isn't fancy or trying to be, it's the way steak and seafood restaurants used to be all over the U.S. and beyond. But back to the bar... It's the place to take friends and make new ones. There's always someone drinking solo who's more than willing to have a conversation. Consider Buzz's to be the Cheers of Oahu. Even if you're the only one singing "Everybody Knows Your Name" by the end of the night, you're probably feeling pretty good.

    (4)

  • Josh S.

    Got the strak and lobster combo meal with a chicken curry soup instead of the salad. The menu said all entrees come with bread, however we never recieved any bread with our meal. That was the only downside, everything else was perfect! The steak was cooed perfectly, lobster had a nice smoked flavor to it, the alaskan king crab was delicious as well! The veggies were zuchini and cooked perfectly. To top off the night the peanut butter cheesecake was delicious and just the right amount and mixture of flavors. The place has a great family vibe and really enjoyed the meal!

    (4)

  • Sebastian F.

    Stumbled into Buzz's after a beach afternoon at Kaliua. This restaurant is located in an old wooden house, very casual and laid back. Couple of tables, bar in the middle, tight space. Indoor and outdoor area, it'll get crowded around peak times so expect a little bit of wait. The food was decent - the wasabi added a very nice touch to the FISH BURGER ($12) and it came with a CHICKEN SOUP, plus FRIES as an additional side. Service was just okay - not too friendly but they got the job done. Okay food in the area with Hawaiian prices.

    (3)

  • Darrin D.

    Whoa, when I said "stiff",....I meant "STIFF"

    (4)

  • danielle m.

    The food is so good! We have been in Hawaii for a while now and tried a bunch of places that had high Yelp ratings. This place had mixed reviews (some said the hostess was rude which I agree with) so we were hesitant. But the food is outstanding. I had the snapper hibachi style, my hubby had the stuffed ahi and my son had the ground sirloin. The fish was flakey and full of flavor. We also had the escargot as an app and my husband said it was the best he ever had. The dining room is lacking - dark and hot (could be no AC?). There is a small bar but it is tight. The waitress we had was wonderful, but like I said before, I do agree about the hostess (she could have been the owner?). Overall a great spot for the area. Best fish I had on the whole island (including some of the highest rated in Honolulu). Check it out!

    (4)

  • Mary H.

    We were lucks to get a parking spot, got seated immediately and placed our order. Very hot, humid day, and no a/c and no ceiling fan in our area of dining area. Had a great burger but the fries were the star of the meal! Great location,walk across the street and enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

    (5)

  • Tim C.

    Dress code for guys and girls is a bit ridiculous when you're across from the beach. Food is adequate at best and service is medioquor at best, of all the years I lived here in Kailua, this place is a thorn in Kailua side and buzzes has never been a "good" business for all the years I've lived here. Save yourself the time, effort, and money and cook your meal at home. This place is a failing business with a poor demeanor.

    (1)

  • Nyla K.

    This place is so cute! After hiking up lanakai we needed a drink and this was the only place around but didn't matter it was nice! Order the Mai tai and it is true... Anything over 4 of them will sit your on your butt! We ordered some starters and got the stake calamari which is really good! It looked like a piece of breaded steak that was sliced in pieces. Wasn't like any kind of calamari I've ever had, but they are known for this so you must try! It's nice to sit out in the front patio and just sit in the breeze and look out into the ocean. The staff were really friendly and even suggested another hike. We also had meat on sticks and the steak fries... Which was just a big potato sliced very large and then fried. But this is hawaii and the views are amazing!

    (4)

  • Janice C.

    What's the buzz all about? This homey old shack is very welcoming, so welcoming in fact, that it gets very crowded here. One of the few eating establishments within a stone's throw of Lanikai and Kailua beaches, be prepared to wait. Since we came at a dead hour of 3pm, we got seated right away, but the patio was full. I don't know what it is when I'm in Hawaii, I always want fish! Or any kind of seafood. I asked for the ahi tuna wrap (without the wrap!) because the ingredients look like it would make for a good salad and it did! Lightly seared ahi on top of field greens & bean sprouts, it was healthy and filled me up. (Or was it the side of seasoned fries that did?!) A little pricey because it's located in Kailua and service definitely needed improvement.

    (3)

  • Paul C.

    Last night I went with some buddies to Lanikai to see a show only to get rained out. Being that we drove all the way to Kailua one of the guys suggested we come here for a bite as our plans were cancelled by Mother Nature. Upon arrival after 715pm, this place was PACKED. I mean, there were no parking stalls open so we parked across the street to Kailua Beach Park. It was pouring like crazy and our hostess guided us to a SEMI covered outdoor seating. I mention SEMI because although we were under a roof, there were leaks all over. We could see and feel the water drops! Our waitress was very friendly and asked if we had dined here before. It was our first time here for DINNER service. We were alarmed by their dinner menu, which is on a sizable and quite heavy wooden paddle. Was she gonna spank us for being naughty??? :P After listening to the waitress explain the daily specials, she gave us some time to review the menu and instructed us to flip over the menu board when we're ready to order. We weren't really that hungry so we decided to share an entree with several appetizers: 1) Escargot (3/5) I have had this many, many times and enjoy eating escargot. However, it was standard with texture and taste. Served with lemon wedges and several slices of baguette to dip the garlic butter sauce. Nothing special in my opinion. 2) Calamari (3/5) On the menu the appetizers didn't have any explanation on how they're prepared. Perhaps it was wrong for us to expect your typical deep-fried calamari rings with Marinara sauce and we were caught off-guard when served a PANKO breaded calamari steak that was cut up in bite-sized pieces topped with melted butter, some capers and lemon wedges. Flavor was okay but again, nothing special to me. 3) Hibachi Style Opah (moon fish) w/ Mashed Potatoes (2/5) This was one of the specials of the day. They offer several fish to choose from daily and then you select how it's prepared. It was all of our first time so we asked the waitress for her suggestion. It was prepared with an Asian flair of Japanese and Chinese. It had a subtle sweet Teriyaki sauce and was topped with deep-fried won ton chips and LOTS of Chinese parsley. This dish was very attractive but didn't have a "WOW" factor. Fish was slightly overcooked and the fusion didn't really work for me - - Asian-style fish with mashed potatoes just didn't work. Service was OUTSTANDING. When we first sat down our drink orders were taken and our beers came right away with glasses of ice water. The staff checked up with our food and drinks to make sure we were doing okay. Staff here are well-trained. Because it was raining hard, there were many leaks in our dining area and had water drops fall on me repeatedly. We were asked if it was okay to where we were seated and we didn't let it bother us. Overall, great service with so-so food. Perhaps this place is known for beef, which we didn't order. I definitely will try their steaks in my next visit here. NOTES: 1) When you sit down a complimentary basket of warm bread and butter is served. 2) When ordering specials, it is a complete menu where you have starch with your main dish and it comes with one trip to their salad bar OR a bowl of their soup of the day. I was delighted they had avocado in their buffet line and it was really good - - texture was perfect and it was NOT discolored. When fruit/starch discolors, the grayish/brown color is unappetizing.

    (3)

  • Molly B.

    Cute restaurant by the beach, perfect to grab drinks and grub after a day at the beach. I loved the steak salad with blue cheese and dried cranberries - very filling! My boyfriend loved the fish burger. We will be back to tackle the rest of the menu and try some drinks.

    (4)

  • Beth T.

    I love this place, then again I'm biased. I first went here in 1972 with my then-fiance. It was the place we saved up to go to. It hasn't changed a lot in all those years. I love the ambiance, I love the location, I love the tree growing through the middle of the floor on the lanai. If you go here - you need to order their Calamari steak. Pair it with the Rum-Passion Fruit drink. In fact, in the 9 days we were in Lanikai, we went here 4 times!! We actually went to other places to try their Calamari steak so we could compare. Nothing comes close to the lightly breaded calamari swimming in wine, capers, lemon and butter. Yum. I want some right now! I love the salad bar. For non-locals, there's something called "Nalo Greens." When you see that on the menu, get the salad! That's greens from nearby Waimanalo. Fresh, luscious, healthy, wonderful salad greens. They had that in abundance along with avocado by the bucket full. What else do you need? OK, they have other things as well. And since twice we sat at the bar we could see that the salad is constantly being changed out, so it is very fresh. My date's steak was perfect. He's a little hard to please, as he's a chef. He stopped my attack on the calamari to feed me a piece of steak and say, "You HAVE to try this." I confess I had the calamari and the salad bar each time we went, but my date had steak and fish as well as the salad bar. He had Opa and said it was spectacular. It was made with crushed macadamia nuts and a little butter. You DO need reservations or go early. If you get there and can't get seating, the bar is really fun. I have only one complaint - and again, I guess being in Hawaii I just wasn't up to saying anything. I was charged for three rum drinks and I'm positive I only had two. There was a mixup with our orders at the beginning and I think they just didn't take it off the bill and we missed it.

    (5)

  • Angel M.

    Completely underwhelmed by the food! It was very expensive and not very impressing- super bland on taste. The salad bar is small and NOT all you can eat. The ambiance and view of Lanikai are of course fabulous- but that's what you are paying for. I was actually told by a local to go there- however I never would again. Oh, and you will be charged a minimum of $13.95 per person. We were going to share a meal, but we we charged! Oh, and guys- after 4:30 you can't wear a tank top, so dress accordingly. If you go and forget a shirt with sleeves, no worries- one will be provided for you

    (1)

  • Don G.

    Love this place! The location is great after a swim we love to kick back and enjoy the Calamari Steak appetizer before a great salad bar and main entree! A Bikini Blond beer or a Big F'n Rum drink also will set your sail!

    (5)

  • Daniel L.

    Blown away by the Mahi Mahi and the Hawaiian Rib Eye. They were cooked perfectly. The Muay Thai is ridiculously strong - a warning for lightweights such as myself.

    (5)

  • Brian I.

    Oahu guidebook said this place was "hit or miss". It was a definite miss when we went. Service was ok, menus painted on paddle boards were awkward. We tried their stuffed ahi special and it was terrible. Fish was over cooked, stuffing was odd and I've had better prepackaged hollandaise sauce from a powder...

    (1)

  • Laura C.

    The food is under rated and they don't care about the service. The discrimination against us. We went with a group and they would refuse to service us. They are a terrible. Read the other reviews of you don't believe me. There is a reason this place only gets 3 stars. This is days after I visited and I still feel the same. They were very mean and condescending. Even after we left were trying to figure out why all this happened. Thank you for your response but here is our side. Our group did come up to the restaurant and 1 of our group did have A beer and he did place the beer bottle on the side of the gate. The others in our group that was uncalled for and picked up the bottle and threw it in the trash. Yes that was wrong!! Nothing was thrown and we weren't yelling. We walked into the bar and you were willing to serve us and then told us about the dress code. We were ok with it and they went to get our friend a shirt. He even asked for two as we knew we had 2 people in our group. Then we noticed that there were women in the restaurant with tank tops and thought that was strange and asked why are women allowed to have tank tops. My friend implied it was sexist and that is when things changed. At that point we were told we threw beer bottle, we cursed people working there, that we had been drinking to much and asked to leave. We were going to leave and were just trying to clear things up and no one cared to have a conversation with us. No one in our group was that drunk or causing that big of a disturbance. Once outside of the restaurant one of my fiends was upset because no one would talk to us. She did think someone else had complained and she did verbalize that. I don't know if she was right or wrong and We quickly just told her to stop and that it was time to go. The same group not including myself was there the night before and spend over 300 dollars. This was not my first time here. This about my 3rd time and each time I was never happy. I usually go just because I have other friends that want to go. The drinks and food are over priced and the service is never nice. The first time I went with my husband family we also we treated rude as we were seated and almost forgotten as there was a bigger party that was more important. I have never felt welcomed at this restaurant and the food is over priced. Look at the other reviews and there is a reason this place only get 3 stars.

    (1)

  • Doina N.

    Though, my vacation lasted only 5 days, I was here twice for lunch because of Lanikai Beach. On our first visit, we were able to get seated pretty quickly. They even sat us in the table where Bill and Hilary Clinton and the Obamas had enjoyed a meal. Pretty special! On the first day, we got their fresh catch that was Mahi-Mahi - really delicious. It's not listed on the menu but the server will notify you about it. It came atop a bed of greens and was cooked nicely while it was still juicy. I like to eat fresh fish when on an island vacation. That's something I always look forward to. We went back the last day before heading home to East Coast to get the same thing, based on the good experience we previously had, and it wasn't the same. It was just, meh. This is a touristy spot and it'll remain as such unless quality is improved. I guess this is why it's so expensive too. Locals do not recommend it. Also, customer service wasn't the same either. We had way better service on our first visit. As far as location, there's nothing to "complain" about as it is located in a beautiful area near Lanikai Beach and Kailua Beach. If you sit outside, there's a far ocean view. Make sure that you ask for a seat outside though. If I would have written this review about my first visit there I would've given Four Yelpies.

    (3)

  • Bruno S.

    Walked out due to the poor service from the hostess. It was only 4p on a Friday and my wife and had spent the day on the north shore. On our way back, unwilling to deal with traffic we stumbled upon Buzz's. Didnt dig the three star review but said hey what the heck let's give it a shot. Walked in and asked for a table for two. Hostess asked if it was for appetizers and drinks or dinner. We really weren't sure at that point so I said we will start with appetizers and drunks, after all it was a date night and I was in no mood to be rushed. She pointed to the outdoor seating, that was FULL, and said just squeeze yourselves in there and the cocktail waitress will be right with you. The entire restaurant inside was EMPTY. I decided to not argue or make an issue out if it, I'm the consumer and I should spend my dollars somewhere they value customers. I'm glad I walked out we ended up driving to Kona Brewery and had a blast while enjoying their live music. Fyi....On the map it looks like a waterfront restaurant but it is not

    (1)

  • Nick H.

    Pros: - This is one of the most beautiful and laid back dining spots on the island. It's right across from Kailua beach and they have done a great job creating a relaxing atmosphere. - The salad bar is fantastic. It comes with the entree or you can order it separately. There is always fresh avocado, beets, sprouts, lettuce, pickled onions, and other great fixings. - Service is great and they take reservations. I prefer to sit out on the deck but it's usually hard to get without an advance reservation. - fish is fresh. Appetizers are great. The calamari steak is pretty amazing. - beef is from the big island and is delicious (so much so that I cheated on my usually fish only diet) - desserts are great. I usually get the coconut sorbet which is great. Cons: - not many, but the food is a little overpriced for what you get. - they prepare the fish in four ways, but none of them are very creative. Typical steak house preps. - space is crowded Overall, I would highly recommend if you are visiting the area and looking for a Hawaiian feel.

    (4)

  • Darren L.

    Disappointed. We ordered chicken teriyaki sandwich, Teriyaki Steak sandwich and the Buzz burger. Absolutely devoid of anything special. Our waitress was wonderful and that's why this review is getting 2 stars as opposed to 1. Just bland and average at best and pretty forgettable. Could've gotten this meal at a school cafeteria. No mas.

    (2)

  • Liseann G.

    I was loved the food and had excellent service. I came here with my dad for dinner. Easily found parking and had virtually no wait time although we didn't have reservations and the restaurant was quite busy. We ordered a couple cocktails. I had an amazing cocktail from their menu that the waitress recommended. Very sweet and girly like I like them. We got escargot and a baked artichoke for appetizers. They were both delicious, buttery and we ate them up. I got the soup which was a kind of bisque and it was amazing. I got a delicious calamari steak with lemon and capers. I was so stuffed I had to take half of it home but it was fantastic. Overall I definitely recommend this restaurant and will be returning for sure. The food is outstanding and the service was timed well and friendly.

    (5)

  • Darrell P.

    The last time I came here and it was a while ago, it was cash only. It's good to know now that they caught up with the times. We came here for lunch with a couple friends from out of town and we agreed to eat here since its a nice location with a beach setting. The food here was good in my opinion. The Jack Daniels burger didnt disappoint. I asked for med rare and and thats what I got. It was juicy as juicy can get. The sauce was perfect with the burger. It was just enough and not overwhelming. The fries were a perfect compliment. The wife had the Crab Louie Salad. Apparently this is a popular item on the menu because it does sell out fast. It was really huge and I really didn't think she would finish it but she eventually did. All washed down with a Cranberry Vodka and Margarita. We were seated on the outside seating on the bench along the railing on the Lanikai side. You gotta watch out for that tree that bends towards that seat. if your not paying attention it will get your attention. Kinda like getting up in the middle seat of an inter island flight and banging your head on the overhead bin. Yeah, kinda like that but its not smooth. Customer service was great. The waiter knew his spill and very well versed. Parking wasn't a problem but just a warning when parking along the river. There is pretty much no curb to stop you from going in the water if you misjudge the edge.

    (4)

  • Catherine V.

    If I could give zero stars I would. Service was beyond horrible. The menu was slim pickings and Sally our server looked pissed that we were there. Asked for extra ranch took two reminders and 15 minutes later to get it. Then we we complained and the server talked shit about us. Also, how is this a steakhouse with no variations of steak? Also we had children but no extra napkins or anything was offered...oh and absolutely no kid menu! Hate this place will never come again!!!

    (1)

  • Astrid B.

    What a cute little place! I love the chill & relaxed atmosphere of this restaurant. Our waitress was named Ashley. She is so friendly & very attentive. Always asking if we needed anything and always had a huge smile on her face. The food was delicious! I recommend the fresh fish burrito & the steak calamari.

    (5)

  • Catherine H.

    We took our son here to celebrate his 21st birthday this evening and unfortunately did not have a good dining experience. Our server was not very friendly or welcoming and seemed to have an attitude for some reason. I had informed them that it was my son's birthday when I made the dinner reservation but they never acknowledged him throughout the entire evening. The table behind us actually had two birthday celebrations and I think it is because they had a better server that was friendlier and more considerate. I spent $93.00 for dinner and left feeling neglected and ignored. The food was delicious but the service was very bad. (Our server never even offered us more water or lemonade during the time we sat at our table for over an hour.)

    (2)

  • Tony J.

    Since I was staying in Kailua, near Kailua beach and park I visited this restaurant 3 times for dinner, because I could easily walk to it. It is very difficult to get an outside table for dinner. You can have cocktails outside prior to dinner. Many locals eat here at the bar. The three of us started with three Best Friends (BFRDs) for $10 each. Most mixed cocktails on Oahu are $10 each. You get use to that. All dinners include an open salad bar, which is average. I really don't like salad bars. My most favorite dinner was my first dinner here, which was their Sushi grade Ahi tuna for $25.95, which was a big piece of tuna cook perfectly. At that point I would have rated this place 4 stars. My son ordered the Opa fish for $25.95 plus $2 for Hibachi style. We subsequently had two glasses of Obsidian wine for $9.25 each. Our total bill was $133 for the 3 of us. Our subsequent visits here were not as good, therefore, I would reduce my rating to 3-4 stars. Check out my pics.

    (3)

  • Beth L.

    Was told to go here by friends who are locals. Ashley was our server and she was awesome! It is your run of the mill casual steak house. So don't go in with high class expectations, it's casual. I wanted a burger and was disappointed to not see one on the dinner menu but didn't let that damper my experience. We both got fish and each dish was cooked perfectly. Get the artichoke and go for the surprise (surprise it's worth it). Salad bar is small but fresh and well stocked. Bus boys are all attentive. Worth a visit if you are in the area. Wish all these negative reviewers would lighten up a bit. 4 stars all the way!

    (4)

  • Philihp B.

    Very large portions from a decent menu. It's about as close to a tiki bar in Kailua that you're going to find. Go here if you want a steak. I ordered mine rare and it actually came out rare, which is rare.

    (4)

  • Keith B.

    Happened by the place while driving through the area to check out the beaches, and our hunger got the best of us and decided to pop in. Table of two - sat right away! The other patrons were rude and entitled - as I was talking to the hostess, a woman walks in and interrupts us saying they "needed to be sat, now, as there party has arrived." Screw you, patron. I get it, maybe you're local, but you should be championing the place, not acting like an entitled snob that deserves special treatment. I don't pull this crap at *any* location I'm a regular at. The hostess handled the rudeness smoothly, asked her to wait while she assisted me. Which is when she asked me if I had a shirt with sleeves-I'm in Hawaii on vacation, a sleeved shirt was not something I was carrying, but after this experience, I made a point to have one in my car. They lent a shirt to me-I didn't care, my date didn't care, but it was more amusing because I wear a large, and it fit like a XXL. I felt like I was six and trying to wear my dad's clothes. The service - fast, friendly, knowledgable. A couple local beers available, but the salad bar is kind of meek. Our food was good, overall, but we were both stuffed and couldn't finish it. Overall - I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. It was convenient, but not exactly the highlight of the trip. Recommend reservations - there was a line when we got there of large parties and we nabbed the second to last two top.

    (3)

  • Lo W.

    My husband and I came here years ago and were really underwhelmed, but this trip was very nice! I got the onion soup to start, which was very good. It had a lot of onions in it, wasn't all broth, and I appreciated that. They even asked if I'd like a second bowl, and I totally would have, but I was saving room for my meal. I got the teriyaki steak (flank) and my husband got the Mac crusted monchong (fish). Both were very good. The couple we were with got the monchong prepared in Buzz's "Asian" style, which is steamed with ginger - it was so good and that's coming from someone who doesn't like fish. The gentleman we were with got the pork chop and was very happy with it. Tip: get some blackened sauce on the side - it is very tasty and great for dipping your fish or steak into. Also, mai tai is extremely strong. I even tried the BFRD style (with pineapple juice) and I couldn't drink it. I will stick with the Kailua Passion, but my husband liked the mai tais.

    (4)

  • Ashley W.

    Horrible attitude by the hostesses!!! Menus thrown down when taken to the table and attitude when we asked about a booth. Super small and people just standing around! They definitely just rely on there location for guest coming to them, not there customer service.

    (1)

  • G J.

    From the moment we walked in with a large party of seven, we were warmly greeted by a friendly hostess Emily. She sat our group by the "Presidential" table! Our server Jim kept the drinks flowing and the old fashion salad bar was fresh and abundant. All of our dishes were perfectly brought out. My wife loved the steamed Opa and she is very selective of her fish. I ordered the Hawaiian ribeye and it was grilled to perfection. The rest of the party seemed very content. Oh, and the dessert tray was awesome. Particularly the key lime pie and hot brownie with ice cream! Buzz's is a local spot with great ambiance and a solid menu selection. It's a great destination in Kailua.

    (5)

  • Maureen G.

    Walking in I noticed most the crowd was 60+ or tourists. Both of our drink glasses were really dirty, I actually had a hair in mine. We then waited 15 minutes to place and order. I wanted to leave, the tables felt grimey, this just isn't a clean restaurant. The ahi wrap we ordered tasted off, seafood wasn't fresh. We asked for our check and left. Waiter didn't bother to ask why we hadn't touched our food, he knew. Other than proximity to the beach, there is no reason to dine here. I notice instead of addressing service, freshness, and cleanliness issues they make excuses. I'm typically supportive of our President, however I'm left wondering why he would choose to dine here in lieu of another of Kailua's great establishments. Definitely a tourist trap.

    (1)

  • Felix P.

    I wouldn't recommend taking a large group. No more than 8. The food is very consistent and fresh fish means "Fresh" If all you want is a salad bar, $14 dollars is a little pricey.

    (3)

  • Racy M.

    Staff was not very friendly or welcoming. I got burgers to go - they were just so-so, and when I asked for extra ketchup she said "There's already plenty in the bag." Wow, talk about rude.

    (1)

  • Kepa D.

    This is a restaurant that knows who and what it is and makes no attempts to deviate from a very simple and effective plan. Good steaks and good seafood prepared without a lot of complicated preparations. As a result, the natural strength and freshness of the food is allowed to stand out positively. While the restaurant is busy and cramped, it all adds to the charm of the location. By keeping to a simple and effective plan, Buzz's delivers consistently good food and service.

    (4)

  • Kaity B.

    I had always heard great things about Buzz's, but it didn't seem to live up to the hype. I went for lunch and had a Caesar wrap and my friend had a crab sandwich. Neither were that great. Our server was good, but maybe a little age-ist during a busy lunch hour. Maybe I'll try again for dinner sometime given the location and proximity to my place, but I'm not jumping for it!

    (2)

  • Heather H.

    The last time I was at Buzz's, I overheard the table next to me order their steaks medium-well. I was halfway turned towards them with my mouth opening to utter the admonition, "But you're an adult!" before I realized that that wouldn't really be appropriate. Even though it is a steakhouse, I've never actually eaten the steak. I go only with the fish. The Ahi Sashimi (when available) is available because it just got hauled in that afternoon. I order the opakapaka when they've got it, but have never gone wrong with any fish. Cooked "Chinese-style" is delicious. I can't believe people are hating on the salad station, especially when you could just make your salad with a plate full of avocado and some cheese...not that I'd do that...and the dressing is homemade. I will deduct a star for cash only, but it's a quirk I can live with.

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    ::CASH ONLY:: You are gonna charge this much for food and not take credit cards? Get off it already. ::FOOD:: Good local ingredients. That said, the salad and veggies are the best part. Not impressed by the meat action. ::OVERALL:: Fine. Nice atmo. Not really worth the bother unless you are close by and want the atmo.

    (3)

  • Justin H.

    When I walk into a place that doesn't accept credit cards and forces me to use their ATM it's an automatic two rating in my book. The fate of their rating then is left on the food and experience. With both factors on the line, the service was the only factor that was acceptable. I'm not a fan of restaurants with salad bars as it reminds me of a Golden Corral buffet. Any good, well-respecting restaurant would not have a salad bar. When the main course arrived, I was not impressed with the swordfish. I've had better on the mainland in Seattle and I was expecting better considering this was an island known for great seafood. Granted this place may have great steaks (since that's their namesake) but I didn't leave the mainland for a steak! Overall, probably the worst restaurant I've dined at while on the island.

    (1)

  • Dave K.

    This is your prototypical spot with a great location in a place that never needs repeat customers to survive - so they crap on everyone who walks in. We came ONCE (never to return) and ordered drinks. The woman ID'd us but denied someone in our party for having an expired drivers license. She was 29. OK, you take your job seriously, but said person just flew in - and airport security didn't seem to notice or mind. Do you really need to outshine TSA at Buzz's? So the DD ordered a drink so that said 29 year old could take sips when no one was looking. The woman, having the sharp eye of a middle aged professional cocktail server, spied this and felt obligated to inform the group, "There are plenty of other places that will serve minors." We're not minors. We haven't been minors since Clinton was President. Don't take your job so seriously that you jeopardize the reputation of the establishment. You did your due diligence. We left after that round and are glad we didn't stay because I've heard the food is overpriced not very good anyway. Auf.

    (2)

  • Miss M.

    bring your appetite cause you are going to need it here! Everything is delicious and the ambiance is so amazing. I had the lanakai cut prime rib and it was not only tasted great....it was HUGE! Along with the soup and potato and salad bar and bread....everything was fresh and delicious. After gorging on dinner we couldn't help but have a piece of the peanut butter/chocolate pie....overboard!!!! But oh so good! :) I thought buzz's had a lot of charm and the food was great. It's not a casual place that you would go for a quick meal. It's a full on dinner experience in a beautiful setting. It's making me hungry just thinking about it! :)

    (5)

  • Vince T.

    Would not let my service dog and I inside. Instead of causing a ruckus I just left and went to the classy deli, Kalapawai, down the street. You are an overpriced beach pub not a steakhouse.

    (1)

  • Rob G.

    This place smelled like mildew. The food was fine, but it was the kind of thing you can make at home. Four of us went for lunch, none of the food stood out. It was a dark dining room on a sunny day (disappointing). The decor was a little cheesy. The only really positive thing about it was the polite service.

    (2)

  • Bethany N.

    An old standby in Lanikai. Many dinners were shared here with a girlfriend, also some food on lazy Sunday mornings and a stroll to the beach afterwards or the man & I to get some late night dinner.. The last time I went the man and I had the clam chowder, NY steak, stuffed ahi & the peanut butter cheesecake with oreo crust concoction. I also had a tasty adult beverage, and like always, they don't play when they are pouring. Very strong. The chowder was very good like always, such a comfort food and Buzz's definitely does it right. My ahi was delicious with a béarnaise over it and a crab stuffing. I ate a couple bites of his cooked to order (read as: undercooked) steak which was tasty as always. The pie... well, I felt like I was going into a diabetic coma afterwards but it was so worth it. It was like a Reeses peanut butter cup to the 10th power. I don't really know; I guess you either love or hate Buzz's. I'm with the former for some delicious, simple, honest food and great memories.. I've never had bad service here. Oh, and about not taking credit cards, as long as you have a debit card or a pin number for your credit card you're able to get cash to pay your bill in house. And Dave K.. Cry me a river. TSA should have caught it, shame on them, and Buzz's is just trying to maintain their liquor license and they're cracking down on them here in Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Lyndsay V.

    Really amazing food! Dim lighting. Setting is a gorgeous old house, palm trees, candles and very good staff. Garlic mash potatoes are amazing and salad bar has so many choices i overflowed my plate! Deserts come fresh and ready on a tray ready to choose from after your meal and they are big and plenty ! Loved this place. I'm not much of a seafood fan but I went with another two and they said best seafood ever ! Definitely great all around!

    (4)

  • Angie T.

    I went to Buzz's on recommendation of a few locals in Oahu, so I had high expectations... we made reservations to sit outside, which was a good thing, because even on a Thursday night, it was well... buzzing. The salad bar was unimpressive... We ordered the fish, and it was meh. I've had better food/steak elsewhere. But the hostess was very accomodating and always around.

    (2)

  • Daisy S.

    The steak is... hmm... the same with steak house anywhere. But, I must admit that the location they have... is nice! I also love the cheese escargot appetizer they have... awesome!

    (3)

  • Anh V.

    look, if you are expecting fine dining at a place called buzz, you might be setting yourself up for some disappointment like when you found out about the tooth fairy not being real. buzz's is casual and laid back with hit or miss service. cliff notes: - menu printed on a heavy wood chopping board a la fred flintstones. - glass of wine came with a very wet glass. drying cloth anyone? - salad bar highlight was pineapple with mint. - filet and prime were good but the pork chop was the clear winner. forgo the grilled veggies since the mashed taters were creamy and delicious! we opted for the coconut icecream dessert. overall 2.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Andrew S.

    Great steak house with good fish options as well. Located in my favorite city on Oahu, Buzz's is a neat little place with really unique decor (it basically looks like a tree-house) Yeah its Cash-Only, but they clearly advertise that they are. Not like you've ordered everything your bill comes and you'll be surprised they won't take your Visa. Anyways, if you want to have a special night in Hawaii, Buzz's is the place to go.

    (4)

  • Gerg P.

    Wow!! You should have ate here back in 1970! The food!! the Service! Buzz and Bobby Lou working together. The floors were 2x6's, and you could see the sand bottom below. Palm frond roof, a real Hawaiian adventure. I followed Buzz from the Iron Mask , The Red Vest and then his own place. Maybe I should come back and train his crew on Celebrity Service? It's what he taught me. Raymond Valentine Schneider RIP

    (5)

  • Doug M.

    See Duane P.'s review. He hits it on the nose.

    (2)

  • Vanessa O.

    The best part of this place was definitely the atmosphere. It is steps from the beach, and has a great deck where you can sit outside. there are a bit too many friendly birds there that are around looking for food to eat. I had the fish burrito and after going to an amazing place in jersey, i expected my second fish burrito ever to be just as delicious. there was a lot of fish in it but it was very dry. I only give this place three stars cuz of the atmosphere and service. i think i probably just ordered the wrong thing.

    (3)

  • Keoki H.

    I just don't understand why everyone talks so high of this place. But reviewing the reviews they did not fare well more low scores (3stars and below) than high (4 stars/5 stars). Sorry just not impressed with Buz Kailua. I have been twice. I ordered Filet Mignon and it got it butter flied both times and I did not ask for that. I did not return do to stories I have heard about how the kitchen staff get upset and sabotage your food before returning it to you. The folks I know that have done this are not sorry about doing it either they take it as your to picky and just eat what you got. We argue about it all the time. NOTE: The people I know DO NOT work at Buz. We had friends visit and wanted to go there since they heard about it. I could not make it and warned them about the Filet Mignon he wanted. He mention my problem to the waiter and the waiter said they never butter fly unless requested by a customer yet both times I did not ask sooooooo what happened??? I believe they do it for speed both times I have been have been packed and any time I drive by there is a line waiting for a seat. Note our friends found it okay. Not great but not as bad as I complain about it. They both ate steak. Be prepared they always have a line and also a rather small place to sit and wait and you can order drinks and enjoy the drinks while waiting for a table. They right off the beach so you got nice view while waiting to go in. Pres. Clinton ate here. Salad Bar is good but so is Western Sizzler. My wife loves the fish and I agree that was great. But I go to a steak house for steak. Note, last time I went it was cash only no credit card. Parking is difficult the little side parking area is generally full and parking across ain't any good either. Not good for groups it's a rather small place. I would rate this not good for kids because long waits and the cramped waiting area most are drinking alcohol while they wait. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Andrew R.

    Love this place. Been coming here for years. Best Mai Tai on the island. The calamari steak is awesome. Friendly atmosphere, friendly staff

    (5)

  • HY L.

    After a long day at the beach, I love going to Buzz's for dinner. Although they are a steak house, they always have a great fish selection. And I love the salad bar. Make a reservation, and request the outside by the tree.

    (4)

  • Food Mongol M.

    Worst steakhouse ever. Sizzler is better than this place.

    (1)

  • Phil J.

    I seriously feel that friends and family are giving really bad restaurants really good ratings. Nothing in my experience here, except the location, is worth a visit. Went around 3:30 for pupus and drinks. Sat on the front porch next to 3 young tourists. I specifically asked for 'the exact same drink' that those three were having. Did not get it, but of course later on was charged for it. I asked about the 3 ahi preparations prominently listed at the top of the pupu menu, nope, no ahi available at all. Ordered the salmon carpaccio special and the shrimp crab and avocado cocktail, (not listed on menu, nor told about to anyone unless they asked about ahi). The crab avocado cocktail was old school good and really delicious. The salmon ended up being ok, except that it was previously frozen and smoked (never told that). It tasted a bit old. Had to ask for bread. The service was slow and the place was only semi busy. The thing that really blew me away was when a lady in a silly pink dress came and basically told the tourists they had to move to an inside table because someone else wanted to sit there! What the heck? Here you have three people eating and drinking, ($140 tab, I asked) and you have the nerve to tell them to move to accommodate two people only having a drink ?? Wow! Being the kind local I am, I invited them to move over and join us. We then proceeded to quickly finish our expensive ($10) mai tais and leave. Management should be ashamed of themselves for ever allowing this behavior from staff. That makes 5 of us who will not only never go back, but tell everyone we know as well. Aloha Buzz's!

    (1)

  • Dara H.

    I only go to Buzz's when they are between lunch and dinner and only serve appetizers and drinks. Its the best time to go. No wait, and a perfect place to get some food after going to Lanikai and have some cocktails. Food&Drinks 10/10. I LOVE the calamari and its somethings I have to get every time I go there. Hands down the best I've ever had. It literally melts in your mouth. Its not chewy and tough like normal fried calamari. And to finish off my mid day meal... a bloody mary. Warning to those who do not like spicy... they put a generous amount of horseradish in the mix and it can be pretty intense. Service 9/10. I went to high school with a couple girls that work there so I usually don't have any complaints. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I know how expensive it can get and the long waits during dinner hours. And up until a few months ago they only accepted cash or check which was kind of a pain.

    (4)

  • Sean O.

    Simply horrific!! Take heed of the multiple reviews detailing the appalling customer service at this establishment. The perfectly average food was remarkably overshadowed by the spectacularly incompetent, unknowledgeable, inexperienced and obnoxious staff. The reception we received here is in stark contrast to every other bar, restaurant and store in the state of Hawaii. I wouldn't choose to spend my hard earned cash here.

    (1)

  • Dami G.

    This is very strange, we paid with a credit card. We just got back from Oahu and ate at Buzz's twice during our stay. Yes that's right... Twice! They actually have a card swipe machine that gives you cash back so even if you have a credit card you can swipe it and get cash to pay for your food. :) This place was simply awesome! From the friendly people who come in to the not so stingy bartenders. The drinks were really good and strong. Some locals recommended that we try the calamari steak and it was sooooo good! Best I've tasted. Thankfully there is a beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, literally right across the street so you can take a nap because after 2 or 3 drinks you'll have a pretty good head change. I'd recommend this place to anyone thinking of going to Oahu. Very chill, nice people with good food and drinks...

    (4)

  • Tommy H.

    So, we went and tried Buzz's across from Kailua Beach for lunch; we ordered the Thai chicken salad and the teriyaki chicken burger. While the salad was immense and full of fresh vegetables: sprouts, etc.; the teriyaki chicken was not even cooked. However, the fresh baked bread was delicious. I would not recommend ordering the chicken unless you are willing to send it back for not being cooked. These days, you can't be too careful with salmonella poisoning and all.

    (1)

  • Jo M.

    There will always be a wait no matter what time you go, but as for the couple of times i have went I have always got great food! The steak is delicious and as so is the calamari! I would def suggest you try those and the artichoke with their house dip is pretty good as well. The drinks are always made right as well. Cant really complain too much. Its a chill spot to come and hang out with friends after hitting the beach :) I will be returning whenever iam in the area.

    (4)

  • Alec I.

    A recommendation from a local friend. After spending day at Lanikai Beach, ate at this humble joint. Best calimari steak ever. It was epic! Never tasted calimari so moist, tender and tasty. Best ever by far, far margin. Teriyaki steak salad was great. Key lime pie with lilikoi sauce...we devoured it like pirranhas. My four year old was licking the plate.

    (5)

  • Sara B.

    Ok this is one place I have to eat at when I'm in Hawaii. Not because of the decor. In fact, it looks kind of dirty/rustic by Mainland standards. The fresh fish, however, is to-die-for wonderful. You can get it prepared a variety of ways and they are all yummy. The artichoke is a must for garlic and butter lovers. The drinks are scarey wonderful (STRONG). They take cash and checks. No credit cards. I love this place.....Go! Wear your shorts and flip flops..and get a driver if you want to drink...

    (4)

  • Keesha G.

    So we were buck ass hungry and the wait was a little longer than I could stand and maybe liked it more than we would have otherwise. That's A-okay. I had a burger. It was a burger. My friend had smoked salmon salad. It was apparent from the salad that they were afraid to put salmon on it. There were bits of it here and there and it looked to be salmon from a can. Eeww! Now the artichoke surprise was really good just not if you care about your cholesterol levels. They pretty much drench the artichoke in butter galore and put garlic and parmesan cheese. Then again what doesn't taste good after a butter garlic bath? Sure Kailua Town has better spots but i wanted to try it for myself.

    (3)

  • Katherine F.

    I've been to Buzz's in Kailua twice now, and though the food and drinks are great, I feel like this place is trying too hard to be an upscale restaurant when it should just embrace the fact that its a steak house next to a beach. They have puffer fish lights for Christ's sake. If they dropped the stuck up attitude and lowered their prices I guarantee they'd have more returning customers. Definitely better/friendlier places out there to eat folks. Management of Buzz's...I hope you're paying attention...

    (2)

  • Kent H.

    We've been fans for 30 years, or more and always come back for at least one meal. Our main place for dinner when back home from the mainland. This time for lunch we noted that the service (busboy/runner) had become way too "informal" -- not only with our table, but also with guests around us. The teri burger was tough and not up to usual standards. For sure this was a substandard experience. We tried again for our final dinner in the islands on this trip -- just to see if Buzz's had really started to decline. Happily everything had reset to their usual standards of food quality, service and drinks. Expect the crowds to grow now that Lucy's has closed in Kailua.

    (4)

  • Glo C.

    Having been in the industry for more than 20 years...... No reservation, no problem; however, I was sat at the worst table in the entire establishment. Seated without the rest of my party, which was particularly nice, directly under a moldy, leaking ceiling vent, not so nice. Informed the server who was nonchalant about my observation and who then stuck her tray, with a napkin up, against the leak to fix it. I then informed the Manager who was also nonchalant and tried to make excuses.......really? I was moved and told there would be a wait, no problem, I work in the industry---oh yes, I noted that already. After my friends arrived we found a spot outside on the lanai and enjoyed our conversation, pupus, drinks, and service. Approximately 1 hour later the host came back to seat us in the dining room, as we were paying our tab. Will I return, probably, will I recommend this to visitors, probably not.

    (2)

  • Lisa L.

    Stopped for lunch because we were hungry and it was right off the road. We were seated right away but had to wait quite some time before our server came to take our order. My boyfriend got the whiskey burger and said it was good. I had the teriyaki chicken sandwich and it was just okay. Would have been much better if served with a pineapple slice and a side of teriyaki sauce instead of mayo. A bit pricey for what you get - I ran out of chicken way before I ran out of bun.

    (3)

  • RP P.

    This was one (actually, 2) of the most pleasant meals I had in Hawaii, which makes it sound better than it is, because frankly, my culinary experiences in Hawaii were disappointing on the whole. The atmosphere is lovely - low-key and airy, doesn't let you forget you're in Hawaii but not horribly tacky either. The food was not outstanding but certainly tasty. Recommend the fish burrito. Don't recommend the crab baguette thing - the crab was flavourless. I should have spied out what other people were eating that day - there was a curry that smelt delicious but it was sadly too late for that. They have a good selection of local beers. Watch out for ducklings when you drive into the parking area.

    (4)

  • Dan T.

    Not a bad place, but nothing to write home about. Food was decent and the Drinks were good. I would try it again next time I am here.

    (3)

  • Serene E.

    I love this place! Every time I come to Hawaii, I cant leave without going there and having an amazing meal. Great ambiance, and in the middle of Kailua. My favorite area in Oahu. The calamari steak and artichoke appetizers are amazing. The salad bar is so fresh and I get stuffed. Usually that end it for me, but if you do order entree's, they are delicious and it's a lot of food. Buzz's has a unique local setting, and the breeze that you feel makes the Hawaiian experience that much more special. First time I came to Buzz's was 15 years ago. I go every time I make it to Hawaii. On average once a year.

    (5)

  • Samantha V.

    a message I received from a rude individual who likely works or owns Buzz's: "check out the economy. its people who do not have cash that complain the most. Shut up already. If you cannot afford to pay with cash... eat McDonalds." - a.m.'s Seriously... someone was having a bad day... lol We are entitled to our own opinions, I stated mine. I have no problem paying for a good meal... I just don't want to carry around the amount of cash required to cover meals and drinks for 5... there's this great little plastic thing... you may have heard of it. You use it instead of cash or checks to pay for things = ATM card...

    (2)

  • Joan D.

    I heard rave reviews from locals about this place, so I had to try it. I went for an early dinner around 5:30 so it wouldn't be crowded, but the parking lot was packed, folks were leaving with doggie bags. The hostess said I could eat at the bar, but it didn't look like a good option since I was alone. I begged for a small obscure table, she asked the manager and they seated me near her station. Everyone who came after me was told there was an hour wait. I really lucked out, and thank you for that. My server was business like and efficient. My hostess at the B&B told me to try the "baseball cut" and it was excellent and fairly priced ($16). Tables near me were ordering $49 entrees. She also raved about the salad bar which was pretty average with the exception of some pickled veggies I don't always see. The dressings were excellent. I tried two of them. The bread was barely okay. All in all an okay, high volume restaurant which can be pricey.

    (3)

  • Nate C.

    It took a few visits to buzz's before I was able to decide whether or not it deserved a recommendation. Usually by the time I get my food there I'm already three quarters of a way to complete drunk. They got good cocktails so what can i say? ...or so I thought they did. One visit I decided to hold off on the drinking until I actually got my food; this is when I saw the true colors of the infamous BUZZ's. The food without the influence of the Top Shelf Long Island was just merely ok. It was no Ruth's Chris but it should have been better than Outback. It wasn't. Not only that, but now that I had a little bit of bite in me I wasn't getting drunk as fast and I saw that after the first drink the other ones come out weak! To be sure I had some other people taste the Long Island- "yea man, there's like, nothing in that" Seriously, why would people try to cheat you like this? You'd only expect a large corporate chain to treat us like ants, not a small island chain like Buzz's. I asked the waitress if the bartender could make me another one because there was almost no alcohol in it. It comes back and you could probably guess the result. It was nowhere near the amount of shots in the first drink I had, I tasted more soda than anything else. So that was when I made up my mind. It really wasn't the food that was horrendously awful. For a locale like that (no "ocean view" but it didn't lose the beach feel as you could still hear it and you still the get the breeze) you still pay the price. The salad bar, though small, tasted really really good. The bread was always hot too. Its just that being treated like a drone was what really tipped me off. You could've gotten three stars but now it's one.

    (1)

  • christoper l.

    i went there yesterday.. and they suck!!!!

    (1)

  • Amber W.

    We went to Buzz's a few years ago and never even got to eat - after waiting for an hour - because there was a mix-up at the hostess stand. We decided to try it again and based on our experience, I don't know why this place is so popular. First, the parking situation is tough. We had to wait for a few minutes for other patrons to leave so we could park. We had 3 servers and while 2 were friendly, the other was rude and acted like our requests (water, for instance) were putting him out. The salad bar is a joke. It's about 4 feet long, but with dirty salad plates, mushy lettuce, and frozen tomatoes. You serve yourself bread from a bread drawer that has no tongs, so people grab the bread, rip off a piece, and place the rest of the loaf back in the drawer. The food was less than stellar. The filet mignon was good, if overcooked, but the fish was nearly inedible. The mahi mahi was tough and flavorless. We ordered a side plate of vegetables that turned out to be nothing more than 5 broccoli florets. The mai tais are tasty and strong. You'll need them for when you get the $80 bill for food that is on par with Sizzler.

    (1)

  • Linda S.

    When we arrived there, my boyfriend had a white tank on and the hostess and a manager told us he'd have to have a shirt on to dine there. The hostess was nice and told us she would have a table outside ready for us when we returned, she even grab the high-chair for us. When we got back, the table wasn't wiped and the high-chair was gone. I didn't want to be rude so we just stood there and waited-- she was seating other customers inside and a few servers who were outside glanced at us and continued with their conversations. After about 5 minutes, the host realized we were just standing there, she apologized and came over, wiped down the table, and brought the high-chair back. One of the servers who was just standing around came over and laughed because she was wondering why the high-chair was there. Common sense: 3 people, including a baby- then a high-chair randomly at you table- maybe that means we were going to sit there. Well, I thought an apology to us for not asking if we need help would have been better. For our appetizers, we ordered the calamari steak, tempura french fries, and two orders of meat sticks. The portions were really small. Out of the three, I enjoyed the calamari the most. Overall the food was good. I can't really say much about the rest of the menu since we sat outside, and the outside area is only for drinks and appetizer orders. At the end of our meal, a couple saw that we were about to be done, and asked if they could have our table. We didn't care so we said sure. I guess if you sit outside, you don't have to be on a waiting list, or you can just ask people if you can have their table if they're done? I thought what we ordered was pretty good. The service could have been better though. The inside of the restaurant if dark. A good reason to go there is to have a few drinks outside with friends.

    (3)

  • Troy L.

    based on the reviews, my expectations were low: figured not that good of food with in a good location. well, that's what we got. server was busting her butt, but did mess up order a bit. food was not that good. hostess was not nice (getting mad that we had a stroller and telling me to fold it, as if that was not obvious but i just walked in about 5 seconds ago). they have some strange seating policy at around 3:30pm where we could not have lunch or dinner. overall, this place is pretty annoying. but we got to sit outside on a beautiful day and have a drink, so it was worth it. if we had to sit inside, it would been totally not worth it.

    (2)

  • Mako S.

    I love their fresh salads bar!! That's all you can eat style. We always gettimg ram:) it is goood

    (4)

  • Warrior P.

    Great steak, skip the artichoke special, lukewarm potatoes.

    (3)

  • Jeni F.

    Expensive for what we got. The food and cocktails were good but the salad bar was pretty pathetic. Don't go here if you are claustrophobic! Very tiny and very cramped. Be prepared to suck in to squeeze past the tables if you want to get to the bar! We sat at the bar and got great quick service.

    (3)

  • Christine W.

    Love spending time with friends here! If you love margaritas...try a FRESHY...with patron. The appetizers rock here, especially the calamari steak & the artichoke surprise.

    (4)

  • .Hon H.

    You know, Buzz's - you're not all that - but you act like you think you are. Case in point: we arrived on time for our reservation and had especially requested outside seating. Got there to find that the water view was of a polluted canal and quickly decided to sit inside. The first table offered to us was squeezed in near the doorway so anyone entering or leaving the restaurant would have to pass by. No thank you! So we waited a few minutes with our cocktails (martini for Hoh husband and the strongest mai tai I've ever had for me). Once seated, the server was prompt, friendly and efficient. She described how the menu was set up, showed where the salad bar was, and told us the specials. I had ahi and the husband had the moon fish. I went over to the salad bar, which was probably the lamest salad bar I have been to since the one at the Holiday Inn at the airport in El Paso, TX except this one didn't have jello molds. However, what this salad bar did have was a ARM and HAND that kept reaching between the curtain dividing the salad bar from the kitchen. The hand kept reaching in the bins for onion and mushroom slices, spinach leaves, sunflower seeds, etc. It was one of the grossest things I've ever seen. Don't all restaurants have a mis en place? So, I left my plate of salad behind since I was afraid the hand might have touched it. Fortunately, my ahi was delicious, as was the mango salsa served with it and the rice and potatoes. But I will never forget the HAND.

    (2)

  • wes l.

    Lucky we can walk to Buzz's because parking is almost impossible. Forget the steak and salad-have the local fish if you can afford it without draining the ATM (CASH ONLY). We've given up on eating dinner there but make it a destination for an evening stroll to have a cocktail and sashimi. Most of the staff seems to have an attitude but after a few cocktails you can ignore them and enjoy the gentle breezes. Reservations are a must.

    (3)

  • Sharon H.

    their calamari steak appetizer was the bomb! it was probably the BEST calamari I have ever had. crispy on the outside, juice in the inside. the breading and sauce did not overwhelm the fresh taste of squid. YUM!! BUT! their top sirloin, their crab legs, and their teriyaki steak were another stories. IF YOU LIKE SALTY FOOD - they would be AWESOME for you. Despite the overwhelming saltiness, my top sirloin tasted A-OK. the beef was fresh and juicy (i ordered medium rare). the crab leg tasted like... salty. i almost couldn't taste any "crabness" because of the overwhelming salty taste. the teriyaki steak was just dreadful... yuck. i felt like i was chewing on a big piece of teriyaki jerky from the gas station... For me, I did not enjoy it too much. all my food were VERY FLAVORFUL. Because it was SO SALTY! As if, they have dipped and soaked all those food in seawater overnight before cooking them. each bite i took, i was wishing they have not made it so salty. it almost felt like they have ruined some perfectly great recipes by simply adding toooooo much.. i mean WAYYYY TOOO MUCHHH salt. (expect the $~9 calamari - loved that one) but yea. yuck. i was very tempted to wash each bit of my food in my glass of water before putting them into my mouth/ OH! and they have a ~$11 minimum charge for each dinner.

    (3)

  • Mark G.

    The service is very friendly and quite helpful. It's a shame that the menu is so uninspired.

    (3)

  • Jess M.

    Honestly I've never understood all the hype surrounding Buzz's. Sure the location is nice right across from Lanikai beach park- but really if you're sitting out side your best view is of the parking lot of the beach park or the stinky canal- not that sweet. This place is not the high class establishment that it thinks it is, and is absolutely not worth the high prices on the menu. All of the food is just OK- nothing fabulous about it. The surf and turf is fine but not worth the price, the steak salad is mediocre and they overload on the dressing, and PLEASE avoid the salad bar at all costs or you will feel like you have warped back in time to a Sizzler! The fish dishes are not great (definitely better fresher fish to be found at Lucy's)- the only thing that might be worth the price is ordering a burger at lunch (but it's an overpriced burger at that). And to top it off- cash only- WTF?? So listen up Buzz's: the word is out and you are not all that you think you are. Step it up, change ownership, do whatever you have to do to bring another good eating establishment to this side of the island!

    (1)

  • Aim E.

    Could be a great place, however a few things didn't cut it out for me: I was really looking forward to my last night in Hawai'i having dinner looking out onto the water but unfortunately their 'water view' is a bullshit view of some canal you can barely see. Ugh. Totally LAME. Next time I'm opting out for another restaurant with a real view. Second thing that pissed me off: I only ate half my dinner and wanted to take home the leftovers, which I mentioned to my waiter. We paid the bill and still had not received our doggie bag so I asked the waiter how long it would take for him to wrap it up. And he said he didn't hear me and threw it away. He threw away my money. Really irritated me. AND you have to know that this is a CASH ONLY ESTABLISHMENT, which is ridiculous considering the price of the items on the menu. The drinks kept us abuzzin the whole night at Buzz's Original Steak House but sadly our waiter was a major Buzz Kill. :o(

    (3)

  • Sandy T.

    Our first night staying in Lanikai, we stopped by Buzz's for a drink and pupus only. Tried the Artichoke surprise, calamari and something else that obviously wasn't too impressive because I don't remember. The drinks were strong and the food was pretty good. A couple of nights later, we decide... hey let's get dinner there. Luckily we got there right before the dinner rush. It took awhile for our waitress to come to our table, took our drink orders and the order for the Artichoke Surprise... alright so I like it, what can I say. I had a drink splashed on me by a man sitting very close. Don't get me wrong, he felt bad but we were sitting so close there was no way to avoid it. I ordered the Opakapaka (snapper) Chinese Style, which was honestly really good. But the artichoke came out not as good as the first time we had gone there. Maybe it was all of the drinks the first time? The wine was ok and I was kind of annoyed at the cash only thing. Essentially they have an atm but you pay a fee to use it and they give you cash out of their till. So you are making me front the fee instead of taking a credit card? Lame. It isn't like this place is cheap. It was a novel idea the first night, we should have just left it at that. The overall experience the second time was Blah.

    (3)

  • Nori L.

    The food was really good. I would recommend the calamari steak, poke, ahi tuna salad. We went back the week after.

    (4)

  • Lisa G.

    This is a good place to eat if you want to experience real hawaii. it's dark, has a thatched roof, fresh breezes blowing through. I love the teriyaki steak, baked potato and salad bar. I love that they use their breads to make croutons. Crab is good too. It isn't GREAT food that you'll rant and rave about, but it's definitely a taste of Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Katherine S.

    This was probably my favorite dinner of the whole trip. I ordered the pork loin over pineapple chutney from the Chef's specials. Divine! We had a reservation. I recommend you get one too, if you're going on a weekend.

    (5)

  • Lina G.

    Last minute decision...we arrived around after 8pm it was busy so the 10minute wait was surprising...short especially since we wanted good seating the mgr on duty did a fantastic seating arrangement..which i would recommend for a party of 4 or less...very end table behind the real tree is a nice secluded area. Would be 5-stars but the waitress (local lady-maybe mid 20's) she was rude and seemed that we were taking up her valuable time. Since she didnt write down my order or repeat it she missed the 1st order: Artichoke Whatta JerkFace! Thank god after we ordered she went home suddenly a haole lady (i think katie?..sorry if wrong) she was the savior to our girls night out! Chipper not overly bothersome The food quick! Homemade bbq sauce CHUNKY, THICK, and SAVORY!!! Crab Legs were fresh loved it!!! and who doesnt love being treated like special guest to see dessert tray...omg ill post those too soon the haupia sorbet was AAMMMMAAZZIINNGG.....The mashmellow cake that looked like a keylime cake/pie doesnt melt holds beautifully!!! Not to mention the Manager was savvy and great since of humor Loved Her! We did sorta close the place down...Will be back for sure!

    (4)

  • Cherisse T.

    I enjoyed our dinner at Buzz's. The staff was very nice and friendly. The atmosphere was relaxing with a beautiful ocean breeze. The drinks were yummy and strong =) We ordered sashimi for our appetizer and the fish was very fresh. They served it local style; sliced very thinly over cabbage with dry hot mustard and shoyu dipping sauce. The salad bar was very impressive, here are a few things I remembered: fresh avocado, potato salad, sweet pickled carrots and cucumber salad, cottage cheese, eggs, asian seaweed salad, and your variety of greens. They have such a diverse selection anyone could find something they would enjoy. We ordered the furikake coconut crusted wahoo with teriyaki sauce. The fish was fresh and was cooked to perfection. The sweet and salty flavors of the fish, furikake and teriyaki sauce was a beautiful meld of flavors. The serving size was large and I could only finish half of my fish. I wouldn't have ordered the sashimi if I knew the salad came with the meal. Be sure to bring cash or be prepared to use the ATM at the restaurant because they only take cash.

    (4)

  • holland h.

    get a freshie and it will all be worthwhile

    (4)

  • Mace S.

    Not impressed. Burger was way small to start. Definitely a tourist joint. Not a place to go more than once.

    (1)

  • David P.

    Wife and I went here for our last "date nite" in Kailua before moving back to the mainland. We had the artichoke app and it was good, lots of butter but the leaves were a little thin on meat. I ordered the Moi, since I knew it was not available back home. I had it prepared Asian style, steamed with ginger and shoyu over cabbage. It was succulent and delicately flavored similar to the speckled trout I catch and eat on the Gulf Coast back home. My wife had the Opaka paka (pink snapper) grilled hibachi style over kiawe wood, it was a huge portion and cooked perfectly. We were both pleased with the food and I was glad we went here instead of Duke's in town. Our service was polite and patient with us even though we did not have a reservation on a Saturday night. We waited about 20 min. on the Lanai with time for a drink before we were seated, decent wine but at Hawaii prices of course. I think there are some very bad reviews of Buzz's on Yelp by a bunch of wanna be jet setter's that have no idea what island pace is. No they do not take credit cards SO WHAT! If you are looking to have your ass kissed by the staff, stay in NJ or LA or what ever strip mall hell you came from.

    (4)

  • Wade H.

    My wife and I decided that we would take my cousin and his family to this restaurant. Why? Because it was in Kailua (Windward Side), my cousin likes steak, and we've never tried it before. There aren't too many steakhouses on the windward side. Actually there aren't too many restaurants on the windward side. The food was so so. The artichoke appetizer was full of oil/butter. The salad bar reminded me of something that came out of the 70's or 80's. It was so so. The main dishes were also okay. Everyone ordered steak. Steaks were cooked to our liking. My cousin and I ordered a baked potato. I had to ask the waitress for the sides (butter, chives, and bacon). She didn't offer to put on the sides for us. Her comment to us was that she could only leave it on our table for 2 minutes. We don't know if she was joking or not. See my comments about the waitress. We decided not to get dessert. We were too full from dinner. The waitress was disappointed. Then it started to rain. We started to get wet. We were in the middle area and of course the staff decided to put down our shelter. We only got a little wet... Our waitress had a bad attitude. Her attitude only changed when she realized that her tip wasn't going to be very decent because of the way she was treating us. She didn't smile. She told us to put down our menus on the table and she would come back to take our orders. We didn't order any "drinks" because we don't drink. She made a sourpuss face when we asked for water. If you do decide to go the restaurant, make sure you don't get this waitress. The seating was tight as we had 5 people and we were seated around a table meant to fit 4 comfortably. They don't take credit cards which I knew ahead of time. It is a pain though. I wouldn't go back. There are lots of other restaurants in Honolulu that provide much better service and decent fare.

    (1)

  • Autumn B.

    Buzz's is worth it for the Freshies alone!!!

    (5)

  • Wolfgang S.

    Food is really good, service and location too. We have come back over the years because Buzz's is reliably good. Great fish and steaks.

    (4)

  • Sara H.

    My fiancee & I decided to stop in and have dinner here on our last trip to Kailua. The nite we were there the special was a pepper encrusted steak. The fiancee decided that he wanted to give it a try. I got a small filet & we both got the salad bar. My filet was great, and the salad bar was good; Not big, but fresh. The pepper encrusted steak was another story. It was if they took peppercorns & just cut them in half......the pieces on this steak were HUGE! To the point that they were so hard it was if the meat was coated with rocks. The fiancee had to scrap all of the pepper off of the meat before it was even partially edible. But it was too late, as there were little bits everywhere, they were in the sauce, all over the plate & were flinging themselves all over the table! : ) It was so strong the meat was almost inedible. The meat was cooked perfectly but it was hard to enjoy. It the pepper had actually been ground up, I think this would have been much better. We will probably give them another try.....but we will shy away from any specials!

    (4)

  • Lauren C.

    I really like the atmosphere and the BFRD's (Big F****** Rum Drink). I like to go when my parents visit so they can pay for it :) The salad bar is awesome and has lots of avocados. The steak is yummy!

    (4)

  • a. b.

    Okay, so I've actually never done this before, I NEVER complain about any place I go...I'm pretty easy going and if my food sucks, bummer. I'm over it 5 minutes after leaving. But Buzz's has driven me to actually want to complain. I've been there a countless number of times...and pretty much, I've decided, its the worst place in Kailua. My friend and I went there the other night because we wanted drinks and pupus....and Formaggios (always our first choice) was wayyy too busy. So we show up at 9:15....the already giving us attitude as we walk up to the door hostess pulls out her cell phone to inform us that the kitchen closed at 9:30. Um, it was 9:15 idiot. She tells us we won't be able to order any food, just appetizers, and only if we hurry. So around 10, we finished our appetizers, still had half full glasses of wine and some random waiter starts clearing our entire table, obviously waiting for us to leave. He gave us the check, and basically turned around after 30 seconds and came back to see if we paid yet. We still hadn't even finished our wine. He rudely informed us that we "are the last ones in the restaurant, no hurry, you can finish your drink but we are waiting on you"....Um, okay, so you close at 10, we get it. He came back to grab our napkins... and then our wine glasses.... okay, we were there an hour....and the infamous waitress bitch i usually get stuck with everytime I'm there (our 3rd server of the hour) came up to our table and very rudely said, "we're closed" and grabbed our candle from the table. It was 10:15 when we left.... I am so over Buzz's...the food sucks, overpriced, but overall, the service is ALWAYS the worst I've ever had in my life. They all have childish snobby attitudes and just are flat out bitches. I don't care who you are, I don't care if I'm a freakin haoule and you hate me for it....you're in the service industry, grow up. Oh, and the best part of all of this was that I woke up at 3am and threw up my entire meal....apparently something was wrong with it. I wouldn't be surprised.

    (1)

  • Maged R.

    very good food,i enjoy going there

    (5)

  • Gabriel B.

    Order carefully and you will be OK. The salad bar is limited and expensive (12.95 or was it 13.95). The fish (there are many choices) prepared with a teriyaki glaze and buerre blanc sauce is great. It comes with mashed potatoes that rock. That's what my wife had. If, like me, you are watching your cholesterol, the blackened fish is decent, just decent. The atmosphere is casual and fun. Don't go out of your way for it, but if it is local to you it is fine.

    (3)

  • Peter T.

    We stopped here along our annual drive around the island for our first and last time. Mai Thais taste like animal urine and the service is slower than democratic progression in the middle east. And bathrooms are as accommodating as a 20th century outhouse. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

    (1)

  • iona s.

    After going to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck for lunch my family and I came here. I really liked my entree. I had the shrimp scampi from the dinner menu. I know. More shrimp. It was like "Shrimp Day" for me. It was so flavorful that I didn't have to dip the shrimps into the butter. I'm not sure why butter is there to begin with. The shrimps were big and enough to make me full. O yea, we also had the salad bar to appetize on. Nothing really special but different from other restaurants where they actually give you a plate of salad as an appetizer. If you do decide to eat here for dinner I suggest you make a reservation.

    (4)

  • M L.

    Ok, so I'm a bit torn here. I'm a big fan of their salad bar, but everything else I order isn't all that great. They used to have a warmer where you could get your own bread, but apparently they took out that option. The last time my husband and I went here we got steaks ordered medium-rare. They both came back charred and so salty I had to drink a lot of water after every bite. I think the Buzz's in Pearl City is a lot better.

    (3)

  • Shanda B.

    Ate dinner here on Halloween. Went about 5:30 so not crowded. Had the special, Filet Mignon it was excellent and tender. Sat outside and enjoyed the breeze from the ocean across the street.

    (5)

  • Tee S.

    Have been going to Hawaii for a few years now, and this is always a must stop for me! Their Mai tai's (pure alcohol) aren't fruity, yet ballsy! They are not for the lightweight as they seem to be 100% alcohol, a must! escargots great, ahi tuna great, and outdoor seating area fantastic! service is more than friendly (insert shaka here), all in all a great place! aloha my friends

    (5)

  • Victor J.

    Buzz's- -mediocre 25 yrs ago and still the same. At least the salad bar USED to be great. Now it SUX. A good place to get drunk. The food is crap. So if you aren't 'Buzzed' already when you get there and that isn't your plan once you do get there...well, your own fault then.

    (1)

  • Jennifer M.

    I can't believe this place doesn't have better reviews. Yes the salad bar is a little small, but I noticed this elsewhere on the island. Like, just lettuce, onions and then some pickled veggies and beets and other things I wouldn't normally put on my salad. Just wanted some fresh cucumbers and carrots! But like I said, the other salad bars I saw were similar so maybe I am just used to a wider variety being from the San Joaquin Valley. Okay that being said, the rest of our food was amazing! We tried to go for a late lunch (3:30) and were told they close for lunch at 3 and open for dinner at 4:30, but we were free to have drinks and apps on the front patio while we wait which was fine with us. Had the ahi poke and the artichoke surprise, the "surprise" was it was drenched in garlicky parmesan butter. Then for dinner my hubs had the stuffed salmon which he gave two thumbs up. I had the mahi mahi, grilled, but there were several other preparations you could get for an of the fish. It was cooked perfectly and so fresh! Our "late lunch" turned into an early dinner and we were so stuffed afterwards we couldn't do much of anything but nap on the beach. We so wanted to try the ice cream cake we saw being shown around but we just couldn't fit one more bite. No Buzz's is not cheap ($20-$28 entree) but it's right across from the beach and for us staying in Lanikai when we visit it's the closest restaurant. We wouldn't keep going back if it wasn't so good. Oh yeah, being pregnant I didn't get a chance to try the cocktails but I heard two different people compliment the staff on the mai tai. And they DO take credit cards now so no need to hit up the ATM, was there a few years back and they didn't. Except no AmEx.

    (5)

  • Frank S.

    Another of my favorites when visiting Kailua. Enjoy the prime rib, teriyaki steak and the salads. Nice view of world famous Lanikai beach.

    (4)

  • Nissa G.

    Yummy! Convenient location to the beach park, lots of parking over there. Nice outdoor seating on an intimate patio. Not a bug menu but some delicious food! Drinks are good, dessert also! Good service and atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Bernard A.

    We sat on the outdoor Lanai across from Kailua Beach Park for dinner! It's pretty small for a steak house, and the inside looks pretty dark and gloomy. The food was excellent. We ordered either steaks or fresh fish. The salad bar was included with entrees, and was kinda paltry. But good enough for me. Service was excellent with a friendly and attentive waitress. Will definitely eat here again whenever I'm in town. Kailua Town is a gem!

    (4)

  • Lydia L.

    We had a big family group eat here twice. The Walu is amazing, but the second time we came, they had run out. The fish is definitely absolutely fresh caught that morning or the day before. The steaks are delicious too.

    (4)

  • Annie W.

    First time I passed by Buzz's a local woman from Kailua told me Bill Clinton ate there! So finally I came back to hawaii and tried it out for myself. I have eaten there twice and both times I was very impressed. It does get quite busy so don't neglect to make a reservation and parking can be an issue too. If lot is full just park across the street in the beach park lot. They have a nice little salad bar but getting up to get my salad felt a little Sizzlerish. For what they charge, you should not be serving yourself. The menus on the wooden paddles are a nice touch. If you are in the area and want a nice dinner it is definitely a solid choice. I wouldn't drive out from Honolulu just to go there though.

    (4)

  • Julie R.

    I came here on vacation with my friend who's from the area. I thought it was weird to have fish at a steakhouse, but I'm so glad that I did! I had one of the specials of the day which was walu. It was probably one of the best fish dishes I had during my entire stay in HI. So. . . if you go here, definitely try one of the local fish!

    (5)

  • B W.

    I ate there last night. My waitress was good. Prime Rib and mashed potatoes were great. Pepper corn crusted New York strip was awesome. Prices were very high but a really nice place and location overall. I would come back again on a special occasion.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    been going here for years love the food esp. the fish chinese style, artichoke surprise and calamari.

    (4)

  • PK A.

    I've been here nearly a dozen times and Buzz's has never disappointed. It has its quirks (no credit cards!) but it's a great lunch or dinner spot after spending the day at the beach.

    (4)

  • brewgirl b.

    Good salad bar with real bacon bits! Fish is very fresh. Not airconditioned, so the room toward the back is a little stuffy. Bathroom left a lot to be desired. Ginger ale isnt real--just a combo sprite and coke. Very good key lime pie.

    (3)

  • Sita L.

    Wow, people have had some really bad experiences here. Well, after 20 some years, you either hate it or love it. Today was a good night. Yes they don't take credit cards, I still don't know why and it makes no sense. But the servers where friendly, the artichoke was not the best, but the meal made up for it. Steak was cooked just perfect, I had the lobster tail too and yes, it was a little tough, but so it always is no matter where I eat it. I wonder sometimes why I even bother!! lol My favorite is the key lime pie. I guess the whole experience was made better by my daughter and son in-law being with us.

    (3)

  • Kathy M.

    The food is fine...the drinks fun! But the best is dessert when those slices of ice cream pie come toward you, I dare you to say no. This place is famous and a throwback...old school salad bar...try the pickled onions. Staff was friendly.

    (3)

  • Peter H.

    Worst steak on the island. Crowded. Loud. Save your money. Go to Mortons Or Ruth's Chris

    (1)

  • Ron A.

    MickyD's $1 burger just as good as Buzz $10 one and McD takes credit cards. Like I always take loads of cash in my swimsuit. WTF How rude to customers and their servers by not accepting ccards. We would have spent twice as much on a ccard but only had $20 cash to work with. Staff seemed more interested in turnover than providing a welcoming, inviting experience.

    (1)

  • ElleDee R.

    This place is great. We went here for lunch and they were cool for two big reasons: 1. My friends and I ordered the sashimi and chicken thai salad to split. They were totally fine w/ us just ordering these two items and sharing. The food was very very good. I'm taking away only one star because my friend noticed that the chicken was not "fresh" and believes that it was processed or prepackaged. But let me stress that it still very good (so maybe the one star is a bit harsh but we only ordered two items.) 2. Our waitress was AWESOME. Our thrifty (ok, KINDA GHETTO) butts carry with us a "tropical" drink when we drive around which consists of delicious tropical juice, sprite and, rum. We had taken a few sips from our big water bottle when our waitress comes by and asked, "Would you like me to provide you with three glasses of ice?" She was so cool! I'm sure she knew what it was but she had no problem w/ us providing our own beverages and she sure as heck didn't have to offer us glasses of ice. So a big ol' four stars for this restaurant. Not only did they provide yummy food but (and let me be ghetto for a quick sec) their staff are hella cool.

    (4)

  • a m.

    Lunch menu is great! Good local place to chill for a bit. Highly recommend. It is one of our favs.

    (5)

  • Jesse W.

    7/28/07: Chilled out for dinner with the extended family. We arrived alittle late for our 7pm reservation, the staff was very accommodating and didn't give us too many problems for straggling in. The atmosphere is was what one would expect for a steak house. It seems that reservations are important, there weren't many free tables and the place was packed. We ordered the (fried) calamari steak and (butter) sauted artichoke appetizers. Most of the family ordered beef dishes, I had the New York steak - so did my father in law. My steak was undercooked from what was ordered, it was supposed to be medium rare, but it came out more rare. The steak was cooked over a fire using kiawe charcoals (local wood) - it had a very distinct and unusual taste (alittle game-y or maybe cooked on the same grill with lamb dishes). I can't say that it wasn't spoiled, but it wasn't what the juicy steak that I was expecting (a bit disappointing after a long day in the sun). Neither of us finished the steak, we both probably left one third of it (we are normally carnivores). All the main course meals come with the salad bar - nothing extraordinary, smaller selection of toppings. The desserts were presented on a serving plate, pretty impressive variety of cakes, including a huge slice of mint chocolate cake. Service was excellent. I'm rating it lower than I originally intended because of the disappointment factor in my main meal. Parking can be tough if you come for an early dinner (will compete for parking with beach goers). No credit cards accepted, CASH ONLY.

    (2)

  • Cobra K.

    Not bad. Good atmosphere. Yummy burgers...maybe it was the unlimited salad bar with avacado.

    (4)

  • Abby S.

    In a word, dreadful. Here's a helpful suggestion: get a sandwich at the nearby grocery store and JUST DON"T GO IN THERE. Kailua town has a lot of interesting non-chain spots that are way more respectful of you as a person than this (pause while I read review guidelines...) spot. Vacationing on Hawaii, I was tres amazed at how much better the dining is now that I can use Yelp. This restaurant was our one and only disappointment. YELP -- You failed us! Now I know you're wondering, "Does she care about the same things I do? Maybe the positive reviews over there are more in my line." Okay, you judge. Walk from beautiful day into dank cave. TGIFriday quality Hawaiiana covers the walls (okay some was interesting, I'm being cranky about the decor). Our waitress was plastic fantastic and failed to put in our drink orders. The MaiTais (hey, it's Hawaii) were watery and full of that canned essence of bottled mixer -- I blurted out, "Hey, you make a better MaiTai" to my husband. Of course, since the drinks arrived well into our lunch, we were already disillusioned. The Portuguese bean soup? More water is featured. There's a real theme here of "stretching" My husband's Buzz-burger was aptly named: about the size of a regular McDonalds hamburger but not as good. No ketchup or other taste drowning devices were provided. We were beyond asking at that point. Here's where we started laughing. I ordered the artichoke. (In Hawaii? well, I like artichokes, but it's a bad sign that that was the most tempting non-meat object on the menu). The waitress encouraged me to forswear my honest artichoke and go for the "artichoke surprise." "That's the most popular," she said. Well, having tried to eat it, I can only guess that it's popular with crackheads who are not hungry or drunkards who are beyond tasting. But it was a surprise! First, the artichoke was not cooked -- oh, it looked cooked, but it wasn't. I pulled a leaf off and scraped it through my teeth -- nothing. Pristine leaf. Too raw to eat. All of it. In light of that, it seems petty to mention that the choke had not been removed before the "surprise" was glopped on. It was trying to be a garlic Parmesan sauce. The "Parmesan" was just sawdust. Not even as good as the shiny green can cheese in your mom's refrigerator. The garlic was raw and lavish, and the cream, well, I hesitate to say. The "generator was down" which excused the impossible to get check. The check was completely wrong in its items and -- well I guess we can blame to generator again -- the addition of the incorrect items would have got my daughter grounded. We threw money down and ran back out into the sunshine. My only bad meal in Hawaii in 2010. At least we were laughing.

    (1)

  • jake d.

    Total ripoff, low quality meat and crazy high prices. Don't waste your time or money this place, is not worth either.

    (1)

  • Robert E.

    We love this place. I always have one of the fish specials. Great location, cool staff, great drinks. Make reservations.

    (4)

  • Nunnya B.

    Some of these reviews are astonishingly unfair to this restaurant. So instead of blathering out my own sappy review I will address the "faults" one by one (yeah I am gonna bash someone here, if you don't like it then don't friggin' read it!) Kristina - Michelle Pfeiffer does indeed own a home on the beach in Lanikai (asking price - $12.9 million), it's the one with the turquoise roofs. And I would love to know where you eat out, because it sure as heck ain't on Oahu. There is no fresher meat or fish on the island, IMHO. Insanely fresh, simply prepared meat and fish is Buzz's specialty. If you are looking for better, I suggest, well, Buzz's in Pearl City! I can't suggest anything in Waikiki, that's for sure! Those complaining about waiting for/not getting a table: make a friggin' reservation, this is Hawaii, it ain't your local neighborhood hangout. Everyone eats out, and everyone likes Buzz's. There is a reason they have a "Bill & Hilary Clinton table". Deal with it or go someplace else. I have to agree that their failure to implement VISA/MC card processing because, presumably, Lulu doesn't want to give the "man" 5% of her till (yeah, credit card processing fees are a ripoff) is annoying, but it doesn't detract in the least from the food. Again, deal with it, it won't kill you to use the ATM, ya friggin' sissies. Salad bar: if ya don't wanna eat off a salad bar, then don't! I didn't, and didn't miss it. You don't need it anyway with the huge portions here. I do agree that it seems out of place here, like a Sizzler throwback. Jess J: The fish is identical to Lucy's. If it is fresh at one, it is fresh at the other, since the owner and her son (who owns Lucy's) use the same suppliers for ALL their food (I asked her; she lives in Bluestone which is where my sister lives). The ahi sashimi is truly outstanding, I swear it was moving :D I have had better quality sashimi exactly once in my life (Yamabuki in the Disneyland Pacific Hotel, believe it or not). The mahi mahi was the freshest I have ever had, and I eat a lot of mahi mahi. The other fish looked equally impressive. In short, I don't know what you were smoking that night, but I bet it wasn't legal. My "steak expert" brother in law was impressed by his steak (I forget the cut, I don't eat the stuff anymore), and he is a hard one to impress. Gamey? I think not. Grilled over local firewood? Absolutely, and it smelled delicious. Jesse W: I am willing to bet that you have never had a firewood-grilled steak in your life. And to the spoiled little brats who rate this place two stars: read your own reviews, then change the rating. What you say is not what you rate, IMHO.

    (4)

  • Vickie N.

    I'm going to be more critical with this review because I expect a lot from restaurants that charge $$$. I was generally disappointed with Buzz's, especially after reading positive reviews in our tour book "Oahu Revealed" which gave it an "ONO" rating. (I have since decided that a lot of the reviews in this book are sadly off the mark.) Anyway, my husband and I agree that this restaurant lacks in the following ways: While the location is in scenic Kailua, the ambiance falls short at Buzz's. Not much of any particular view. We sat inside near the salad bar. Speaking of salad, this was possibly the best part of my meal... which shouldn't have been the case since my main entree was the opakapaka fixed with the Asian teriyaki sauce. My husband got the black bass with the cajun marinate. We were underwhelmed. I've had better fish at hole in the wall restaurants in Chinatown at 1/3 of the cost. My glass of pinot was sour and bitter, like it was from an open bottle that had gone stale, so I asked the server if it would be okay to switch it to the other pinot from Cambria. She gave me attitude before saying okay. She had me try a sample. I did and she gave me a full glass.... and tried to charge me for two glasses of wine at the end of the meal, which I thought was so classy. And yes... after all that, we had to hand over a pile of cash because they don't accept credit card. VERY inconvenient when you consider that most patrons have spent the day at the beach and don't have wads of cash at their disposal. Overall, a forgettable experience. Not going back. Sorry!

    (2)

  • Michael M.

    One of my favorite places in Hawaii. This restaurant is right across from the Kailua Beach Park, and the outdoor seating overlooks the park and ocean. Try a few Mai Tais with the artichoke surprise or the calamari steak for an appetizer. Guaranteed you will lick every last drop of the melted butter! Go outside and sit at the Bill and Hillary Clinton table (it only seats 2, sorry Monica). You will not get presidential service, but the food is Damn delicious. Oh, did I mention that it is a Steak House?

    (4)

  • Riley F.

    The food was really good especially their grilled fish burger!!

    (4)

  • Bruce J.

    we arrived at 1130am and wanted a drink before lunch; we were told the bar was open but no outsider service since the bar maid did not come on till noon. no problem we got our drinks at the bar and came out to a little seating area and asked to see a menu. we were told the area we were seated in did not offer full menu items only snacks. ok. no problem here. i then asked the hostess to see a beach towel they had for sale with other souvenirs. she brought it but was reemed out in front of us by her " supervisor " who barked " only managers came bring out the towels ".. i felt badly for the young lady and told the " supervisor " I had asked her to bring me one, mind you we are talking about a beach towel. we then asked for a table and since had not maid rerservations we knew it might be a wait so no problem - seated finally on the patio. not bad food, not great but we were at the beach across the street and had been here before, so why not? we laughed it off but I did mention to the hostess that they had too many rules for a casual restauranti

    (3)

  • John K.

    Yes, I am a fan of the Buzz. We arrived on time for our reservations. I expected "Hawaiian Standard Time" with a typical wait. Surprise! We were seated right away! We're off to a good start. The tropical drinks were very good. I opted for a local (Big Island) beer. The salad bar was from another era, but well stocked and very fresh. Our first course was a fried calamari steak cut into cubes. We were puzzled by the choice of a Bearnaise Sauce over the top. We devoured it. I ordered a rib eye steak... well, it is a steak house. The steak was cooked to perfection. Everyone else had fish and all raved. Read the menu, but listen to the daily specials. Please note: They do not take credit cards. Since the tab can rack up pretty quick, have cash in hand or use their ATM contraption. My suggestion to visitors, this is as close to a locals restaurant as you can get. So with that, expect feisty waitstaff, spotty service, and stuff arriving at the table without a destination. Years ago, I learned that patience goes a long way in Hawaii. Buzz will never compete with Roy's. So, don't drive over to the other side of the island expecting a polished franchise. If it rained that day, which is often, the parking lot is a muddy mess. You don't have to lower your expectations, just your attitude.

    (4)

  • Tony L.

    great food, right across the way from kailua beach park. this is one of those places that's hard to pass up while visiting oahu. my brother and i always hit it once while we're there. the fish is great, the steaks are too! the artichoke appetizer is nice. everything's tasty. and when you wear a buzz's t-shirt---everyone asks about it on the mainland. if they know about it, then you get to rub it in w/your coy smile... i've been there for lunch too, and it's relaxing, just relaxing. like there's nothing more important to be doing except sittting there.

    (4)

  • Kat P.

    We usually like Buzz's Kailua for dinner, but I think it went way DOWNHILL. As soon as we park, staff was smoking by the lot ( he had an apron and white shirt). The food was awful, the top sirloin was hard leathery, the stuffed ahi was dry without taste, waitress forgot my drink, twice. The drink was like watered down. Bread was stale, the butter they serve with it didn't help. The place looks busy but it's NOT. Not a great place for locals, too expensive for its food, even if food was better, service sucked. Ruined my Mother's Day dinner. Wished they gave us utensils to eat the dessert, we had to get up and get our own, they didn't seem to mind. Too bad for a local eatery, I was hoping to go there more but now it's definitely OFF my list. SORRY...can't recommend my friends, family, or enemies. Oh yeah, they forget to give a pen for you to write a check- they only take cash/check... 2 THUMBS WAY DOWN!!!

    (1)

  • Charlie D.

    Tantilizing, mouth watering food, pricey and only accepts cash (putting a serious damper on big spending). Right across the way is Kailua beachpark, sand welcome, beachwear is not allowed after 7?

    (3)

  • Mike C.

    A staple restaurant anytime we have guests visiting from the mainland. Located right across from Kailua Beach park, it's a perfect location for dinner or walking off the beach and getting a drink. The fish is always fresh and perfect. I've never eaten the steak, but many friends have and they loved it. Try the mai tais, BFRDs, and ice cream pie desserts.

    (5)

  • Mona H.

    Celebrated my birthday tandem with one of my best friends this weekend here. We had a group of about 15. Drinks, appetizers, entrees and dessert. Needless to say were going to pay a pretty penny. Not sure if it was the manager or someone with a power trip but her name was Mahealani. By far the worst customer service I have experienced anywhere. I work in marketing and public relations, and will never recommend any of my clients to go there...Buzz's should do themselves a service and replace her. Our reservation was at 5 she told us we had to be out by 7, lol really? Our dinner came at 6:30! The she told us she couldn't separate the check, then she told us that we had no consideration for the other guests that were at the restaurant...I guess she felt we were too loud. We were having a great time yes, but we were sitting behind the bar. I have never in my life sat at a bar that was quiet. She took what would have been other wise such a fabulous, fun night into a total bummer. The salad bar was mediocre, but the appetizers, dinner, cocktails, and our waitress Ashley was great. Take your business elsewhere, the food is not that great to overlook the horrible experience. If I could I would rate a big fat ZERO.

    (1)

  • Rose C.

    Teriyaki steak, pickled sweet onions at salad bar, artichoke surprise, calamari! 'Nuff said. Worth the 6 year wait!! One of our fave restaurants on Oahu.

    (5)

  • Venesa S.

    This was my second visit to buzz's. First time was for lunch. This time was for dinner. It was okay. It wouldn't be my first choice . But the group I was with really love the calamari steak.

    (3)

  • Kyle M.

    After a full morning of fun at the beach and you want a quick bite to eat, this place is located right across the street from the Lanakai Beach Park. Get here before their lunch service starts so that you can sit outside. The dinning inside was a little to dark for me. The service here was ok. I have been here a few times and have noticed that the service outside is much better. While I dined inside, my order came out in a fairly good amount of time; however it always took forever to get a refill for my drink. The outside service personnel were more attentive and we're always there to ask if I needed another drink once my glass was empty. The Food: If you like mushrooms, you must try the sautéed mushrooms, they are excellent. The mahi mahi was cooked to my surprise pretty darn good. They have a great Top Sirloin Steak and Calamari. My next trip here I will be getting the lobster. Yum. I can taste it already.

    (4)

  • Caitlin A.

    I went to buzz's with some girlfriends of mine for drinks. We had a blast- our server kept the lava flows flowing as we chatted and munched on pupus. The calamari steak is sinfully good- I'm drooling just thinking about it. We also had the spring rolls and the meat sticks. To end a girl's night of cocktail drinking and fried food, we topped it off with none other than their chocolate cake... That was devoured in about 2 seconds flat. It's a nice atmosphere with good service. I give it my seal of approval.

    (4)

  • Angela S.

    Not what I was expecting but pleasantly surprised.......nice atmosphere with a VERY friendly and attentive staff. Wish they had a little more seating but it does add to the atmosphere......the food was perfectly proportioned and prepared. The Salad bar was the freshest I have seen in awhile and had a great selection.

    (4)

  • Christine L.

    This is based on two visits here in the last month. Normally I'm not on the Kailua side, but the family has been in town and they love this place, hence the two check-ins just weeks apart. I really want to like this place, but the service is just SO AWFUL that I can't even give them 3 stars for their food and drinks. First impressions are important, so maybe they should hire better FOH staff. Just sayin. So the first time I cam here was a few weeks back. My mom and I just wanted a drink and an appetizer. It was 5, right when they opened and there were maybe two customers already at the bar, and a few people outside in their "drinks" area. They're entire "dinner" area outside was empty, let alone most of the restaurant. We asked the hostess if we could be seated outside and were told that the outside area was for dinner guests only. So we made a snap decision and asked if we could be seated for dinner, whats another $80 meal when you're dead? I do love me some steak. The hostess told us that the dinner reservations were full and we would have to wait an hour for a seat. Um...there is no one here? My mom not wanting a confrontation headed over to sit at their dark and dingy bar, but I had to ask "Well when are you expecting guests?" Hostess says nothing and WALKS AWAY. Are you kidding me? This is how you treat people who want to eat in your restaurant?? So we sit at the bar, and luckily had a pretty nice bartender who took our drink orders and recommended some yummy appetizers. He gave a great tip to order the artichoke surprise with the "surprise" on the side. That being a huge bowl of foamy garlicky melted butter. YUM. It was a great tip as I imagine it gets pretty messy when just poured on top. Due to great conversation with our bartender and other patrons, we ended up staying much longer than intended and didn't leave until about 6:30. By this point the bar area was packed. I'm guessing because the hostess is STILL not seating anyone outside. The balcony area had two tables filled, out of 10. Customers were openly grumbling at the bar on why they couldn't be seated for dinner when there were so many open tables. I don't know if this is a strategy of theirs, but making people pissed off generally doesn't help your business. Being well known and in a desirable location won't float your business forever. Second time I came was with a group of family that just wanted a quick cocktail for happy hour, we were grilling steaks at home that night. Once again every single table in the restaurant is empty with a huge amount of people squished together in the bar and outside drinks area. I understand that you would prefer making more money on dinner reservations. But people aren't going to eat there ever if they cant even get a table. Lucky for us two tables outside were willing to squish a little to accommodate my party of 5 so we could have a quick mai tai. The waitress was super unhelpful, and made us move our own seats and generally ignored us the whole time. Family has gone home, no reason to ever come back. EVER.

    (2)

  • Steve T.

    Great food and fair prices during lunch time. Call ahead for reservation!! Dinner is awesome, but a bit pricier... Still a great value though for a terrific steak.

    (5)

  • Mak L.

    went on a lunch date with my friend and we both ordered an ahi dish. she had an ahi wrap and i had the burger. everything was fresh and yummy. The place gets pretty packed. Its a nice lunch date spot!

    (3)

  • Arielle B.

    We love Buzz's and return every year on our annual family trip to Hawaii. The service is great (Cheryl is our favorite waitress) and there is a casual and friendly vibe here. The steak teriyaki, fresh fish and the calamari appetizer are among our top choices. One thing we have noticed is they stopped making some of our favorite desserts like the Oreo ice cream cookie pie-We're anxiously waiting for them to come back on the menu! Overall Buzz's is one of our favorite spots in Kailua.

    (5)

  • Tyler J.

    It was just ok, not coming back. Server was kinda rude when I asked questions about fish, what is that, where does it come from, how is it cooked... I should be able to ask those questions. I might want to know where my Ahi comes from, how its caught.... overall service was just ok. Fish was well cooked, sides were ok, potatoes were average, special sauce for fish was ok but not super special. The salad bar earned .9 of the 1 star rating... the lettuce was fresh, there was a huge bowl of local avocados, I piled my plate full! A little pricey for what I thought was average food. It appeals to someone who might not want different flavors but still wants to experience a little Island flavor, but honestly there are so many other places with better food for this price.

    (1)

  • Lisa T.

    We've eaten here every time we are on Oahu. We had a 10 minute wait, which isn't too bad considering we've had longer in the past and well, it was October, not exactly high season. We were seated in the back, so not much people watching. The food & service was decent. I loved the scallops and my husband liked his fish. The salad bar was just so-so. Bonus, there was a keiki menu, which appealed to my child and we could save a little money on his dinner.

    (3)

  • Darby C.

    After 15 years of driving past this place, I finally decided to stop and eat here after playing at the beach in lanikai. My date and I arrived shortly after sun down and it was fairly packed. We waited on the lanai and had drinks and the artichoke appetizer which was awesome. We understood it would be a long wait and after 30 min we were sat. This place reminded me a little of chucks, where you order your food and help yourself to the salad bar. I thought the salad bar was great, but the steak was just ok. I will definitely be back to try other dishes.

    (4)

  • Paul N.

    They seem to have a dress code for men in the evening, after 5 pm, men cannot wear a tank top kind of shirt. Only women can. This seems strange to me. If you don't have a shirt that has sleeves, then they give you this uncomfortable shirt to wear. Absolutely ridiculous. This is one case where its best to be a women. The coffee isn't very good, very weak. The food is less then average. The atmosphere is nice.

    (2)

  • PJ P.

    stop by for dinner on our vacation... read the menu at front door before going in. customer service wasn't as friendly as we would expect from a $$$ place. had a quick burger and left.

    (3)

  • Jenni D.

    People have written some pretty harsh reviews... Sure, it can get loud, and busy. You want some romantic dinner by candlelight?! Go to Waikiki for Hula Grill or another quiet staple with zen ambiance. There are so many great restaurants to try on Oahu, but it's not like Kailua/Lanikai have a billion to choose from. When visiting family in Kailua, we always make at least one or two trips to Buzz's. This trip was no different. I always enjoy a chilled Kailua Passion and/or Lava Flow. The Hibachi-style Ono was "Ono-licious"! The portions are large, so be prepared to indulge. You also get the salad bar, and I always order the Artichoke starter. For lunch, I would recommend the Fresh Fish Sandwich. The tempura fries are super tasty, and the lunch pricing is very reasonable.

    (4)

  • Chandler P.

    Really STRONG drinks and yummy pupus. We only had appetizers and drinks (no dinner) but you can pretty much get the entire dinner menu in the cocktail outdoor seating - just not the salad bar. We enjoyed: -Calamari Steak -Artichoke Surprise (surprise! your breath will smell like garlic for a week!) -Gazpacho -Key Lime Pie -and we drank the Mai Thai or better called the BFRD (see the menu for translation) Everything was good. The outdoor seating was beautiful, right next to where the river meets the ocean. The waitstaff was really friendly. Parking was a little difficult.

    (4)

  • Nicholas D.

    Absolutely atrocious experience! Was barked at by one of the chefs behind the salad bar, coincidentally being a hawaiian islander (Im white) for picking up a plastic jar of pickled onions that were randomly placed with everything else. I told him there was no need to be rude and that there was no way for the customer to know that they weren't supposed to be touched, to which he aggressively informed me that he'd "tell me". Ruined my experience and ruined any possible potential for having a nice night. I will never return and will never suggest this place to anyone as a result. Your hard earned money is worth much more elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Mark W.

    Buzz's moves at a slower pace; especially outside. So, go with no schedule and enjoy yourself. We sat both inside and outside. Liked it out front under the bushy canopy for a more intimate feel. Best bet is catch of the day served Hibachi style. Yummy with mashed potatoes and salad. Ahi sashimi appetizer is awesome! Best to make a reservation.

    (4)

  • Deanna P.

    Brilliant! One of my favorite places to go sit back, relax, enjoy a mai tai and some great food in Kailua. Be sure to try the BFRD - the Big Freaking Rum Drink. It's just a really awesome big mai tai, with a little pineapple juice. Yum! If you want to have the most delicious escargot - here is the place.

    (5)

  • Tracy H.

    okay, so the food is not amazing. but that should not stop you from coming here. it is a great place to hang out and is a regular hangout for the locals. you will get lots of stories about the various famous people who frequent it. obama apparently has his own table. the sashimi platter is very large amd yummy; i definitely recommend it. don't be detered by my three stars. you need to go anyway. really. you don't want to miss it.

    (3)

  • Noreen L.

    The reviews for Buzz's in Kailua are all over the place but we decided to give it a try anyway. Made reservations for 7:15 on a Monday evening for 3 people. Restaurant was very busy when we got there. Checked in with the hostess when we arrived and we were asked to wait outside while she checked that our table was ready. That was fine as the inside of this establishment is pretty confining. The hostess came out to get us in less than 2 minutes and we were shown to our table at the back of the restaurant, behind the bar. My first impression was that they have way too many tables crowded into the available space. We could hear the conversations on either side of us as well as from the bar behind us. It was quite loud and boisterous at the beginning of our meal but quieted down after 8 pm. Go after 8 pm on a week night if you don't like noise. John, our server, was great. Our drinks came quickly, he described all the specials to us and after ordering he made sure to let us know that he would not be putting our order in until after we came back from the salad bar. (Soup or salad bar comes with every dinner). While the salad bar was small, it was still good. Not the best salad bar I've been to but not the worst either. I liked the berry vinaigrette dressing and seaweed salad! All 3 of us enjoyed our dinners. My son's prime rib was nicely medium-rare with good marbling so very tender. He was impressed with the baked potato condiment tray (sour cream, bacon & green onion) that came out with his dinner - this way he could pile on whatever he wanted and as much as he wanted! My fish special, stuffed ahi, was incredibly yummy! It was stuffed with crab, goat cheese, spinach and a couple of other things that I can't remember at the moment. My husband opted for the surf and turf - teriyaki steak with shrimp scampi. He said both tasted good and the shrimp were very large. I can't comment on dessert because we were too full to have any. Overall we had good food and good service. My main complaints would be that I did not like the tables so close together and the noise at the beginning of our meal. And, yes, we would go back.

    (4)

  • Daniel S.

    For a family with a young one under 2 our lunch could not have been easier! The service was exceptional with 'Angie' regularly checking in to see that our little one was okay! Food was fresh and tasty with the calamari steak for appetiser being a wonderful surprise. Simply can't fault it.

    (5)

  • Christian V.

    Really confusing and inhospitable service and attitude. At no point did we feel welcome and we left after having been at our table for about five minutes. Y'all might have a good location but that's about it! Booooo!!!

    (1)

  • V P.

    Great service, great drinks and lovely views. What more do you want?

    (5)

  • Jennifer T.

    I love the artichoke and the Calamari steak. In fact I don't think you can go wrong with the pupu menu. Its the lunch and dinner menu that is hit or miss especially the steaks. No beer on tap all in bottles.... One bathroom stall for the ladies so that can be an issue too. Parking is great, location great, prices reasonable.

    (3)

  • Henrik V.

    I like to describe Buzz's as an "unintentional tiki bar". It has all the elements that Trader Vic's and Don The Beachcomber's did their best to replicate on the mainland: beachside location, wood hut/shack vibe, and nautical nautical/South Seas decoration. The only difference? It is all real at Buzz's. The restaurant is in a converted redwood home that dates waaaaaay back (it was a private home then an italian restaurant, I believe, before Buzzy bought it). It has a wondrous wrap-around shaded deck out front that is illuminated by a trio of giant pufferfish lamps. The rum drinks are strong and tasty, and the poke is ono (yummy). With that said, why only 4 stars? Well - there are 3 levels of dining at Buzz's: 1 - Pupus (appetizers) & drinks on the patio. 5 stars. This is where you will find me just about every friday afternoon. A great way to celebrate the end of the work week and watch the sun set behind the mountains. Fantastic service and great ambiance - lots of local regulars and lots of happy visitors. You can't order off the dinner menu on the patio - but the cold soups, meat sticks and poke make a tasty and satisfying meal. 2 - Dinner on the outside patio. 5 stars. Everything I said above - but on a second outside area reserved for dining. You can order from the full dinner menu, and hit the SUPER salad bar. The catch? Seating is limited - and if you are not lucky you may end up... 3 - Dining inside. 3 stars (behind the bar - 2 stars). The inside of Buzz's is architecturally interesting (check out the tongue and groove redwood ceiling) - but it can get a bit crowded and loud. I always feel a bit rushed when eating indoors, and if you are behind the bar it gets extra crowded and loud. So you can see how your Buzz's experience can vary widely depending on where you set up camp. You will find me sipping a BFRD friday afternoons on the lanai :)

    (4)

  • Taimi T.

    Good place! Be sure to take advantage of the BFRD drink!! There's a 3 drink limit on those because they're so potent! I got the lanikai cut prime rib, asked for it to be medium and it came out a little redder then I expected! Got the side of rice and garlic mash! Our server was awesome and fun

    (3)

  • Jenn F.

    Not sure why this place has 3 $$$. Prices were reasonable. Service was good. My corn chowder was delicious. Only complaint was my boring garden salad- it had a few small tomato bits and the rest was all lettuce. Hubby had the teriyaki steak burger, he thought was fantastic. Was surprised it was flank steak and not chuck. Fries had yummy batter on them.

    (4)

  • Meghan D.

    We love Buzz's! Just had lunch there today. Great service, great food. I had the ceaser salad with seared Ahi, sitting outside enjoying the fresh air. I highly recommend lunch over dinner, if you prefer lighter fare. Many great salad choices at lunch.

    (5)

  • Marieanne G.

    Great food!! Portions are a bit small, especially my hubbies salad.Ahi wrap with wasabi aoli was great!

    (4)

  • Wade G.

    Well I can see by most of the recent reviews (bad) maybe something has changed at this place. I love Kailua for many reasons, but mostly because I have fond memories visiting my grandfather there as a child. I Live on the mainland but visit islands at least once a year. The place we normally go for shaved ice recommended buzz's. He did say was a little pricey but thought hey.....I'm in Hawaii! Normally I like to watch my money a little but, I have no problem spending cash if the value is there. In this case I was taken!!! Let me start by saying I am not that hard to please. This is honestly the first review I have given on anything!!! That's how bad this place rubbed me! There is nothing special about this place at all. Especially not to warrant there pricing. My wife was not hungry and only wanted soup. I said "you might as well order a meal....look at the bottom of the menu"! It says there is a min. Charge of $14.00 per person at table....WTF?!! Have never seen this in my life. Salad bar was very mediocre. The so called best maitai was seriously one of the worst i ever had! And I've had many!! The only good thing was the waitress was o.k. .....but just o.k.. As a previous poster had experienced, she seemed a little irritated when I asked if they had a kids menu! As far as food goes.......nobody at my table enjoyed there meal.......seriously. I've had other mediocre meals before, but I expected a little more here considering what you have to pay for it. We eat at Dukes a couple times per stay, and pricing is same or even less if you order a light entree, but the food and experience is ten times better!! I obviously will never go there again. Mainly because the value was not there. In a pinch I might go there again but only if the price was cut in half!

    (1)

  • Luke R.

    Great steak and fresh fish! Outstanding service and fun drinks. A true Hawaiian steakhouse experience.

    (5)

  • Jenny C.

    We went to Buzz for dinner because an old friend suggested the location for our meeting place. I was quite amazingly underwhelmed by the quality of the food. This is the kind of place that old people think is fancy, but in actuality rests on decaying laurels. Our mahi mahi fish was undercooked and flavorless. The green beans were overcooked, oily and again, flavorless. I don't even remember a starch, which is telling. The bread basket was forgettable Wonderbread. Our older friend raved about the salad bar, but it was pretty basic with a few special items. The price for this astounding platter of mediocrity was "market price" for a common fish, which was absurd. When your Hawaiian grandma asks to come here, show her you love her, and say no.

    (2)

  • Casey R.

    I was hosting some visitors from the mainland who were staying in Lanikai so I figured they'd enjoy a touristy place like this for some drinks before hitting up the Thursday night Farmer's Market in Kailua. The view here is great from the lanai but is on a pretty busy street with lots of car and foot traffic. This is expected though as Lanikai Beach gets pretty busy. The drinks are good but small. They are also of course very pricey as this place caters to tourists mostly. The service was good but they do have some pretty particular rules as to where you can sit in the bar and lanai area. This usually occurs before they start dinner service. Not a big deal but can be inconvenient with large groups. I most likely wouldn't come here again unless I was with some tourists.

    (3)

  • Rachel S.

    Great things about Buzz's: right across from Kailua Beach Park (I like it better than Lanikai), the absolutely delicious calamari steak, and the salad bar with amazing ingredients (I always get lots of avocado and seaweed salad). Downsides: I have noticed that when they think I'm a tourist they treat me WAY different than when they realize I'm a local. I recommend ordering off the menu so they take you more seriously: they have the calamari steak listed as "a la carte," but tell them you want it as an entreé and watch the service change from crappy to wonderful! Another downside is the limited sunday brunch menu and the so-so eggs benedict. I've had better for less at IHOP. Also, I recommend making a reservation and specifically requesting one of the outside seats by the tree, which is alive with screen built around it into a little porch area. The inside area has a good atmosphere too, but I like it out there even better. Also, the teriyaki steak is great.

    (4)

  • Phil K.

    Three of us had dinner last night. The food was excellent. As good as anticipated. HOWEVER, the service sucked. Shaun, our waiter was not on it. He brought the wrong artichoke appetizer, the more expensive one the price of which was not taken off my bill. I had to chase him down for that. We had to remind him of our drinks. I had to go get new eating utensils because he failed to notice the ones taken away earlier. Our waters weren't refreshed. They must be low on water or something. All-in-all, while the quality of the food held up to the somewhat pricey cost, the service was kindergarten; sadly lacking. The most words I heard from Shaun was "I'm sorry." For a tab of $175 before tip, I was disappointed. I don't what to have to police my waiter. I expect them to notice things on their own. Why I left him a 15% tip, was only because i enjoyed the the people I was with. (Go figure) I always leave 20% for decent service. Shaun deserved 10% at most.

    (2)

  • Christine C.

    We arrived here in-between lunch and dinner, so only cocktails and pupus were available. We had the calamari steak and the spring rolls. Both were delicious!

    (4)

  • Wickerlady V.

    delicious food, great drinks and great value for money! We stumbled into this place after a tiring swim at Kailua beach. Yelp helped us decide on the place, and it was right across the beach so it worked! We had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated for dining, during which time we ordered some drinks and sat outside on the patio. Cocktails were good and strong. We went with one local seafood dinner, which included a salad bar, bread and opa fish cooked hibachi style. The salad bar had great variety and was more than filling and satisfied my vegetarian tastebuds. Husband loved the hibachi style opa, and the mashed potatoes and veggies were done to perfection. The chicken soup, however, was too strongly chicken-flavored. Definitely recommend this place! PS- Be careful parking your car at the beach park across. The car a few rows from us got broken into, and the policeman was telling them its a common occurrence there.

    (5)

  • Angela R.

    What is all the whining about! I have been coming here for 20 years. I LOVE the Mai Thai- It is an authentic experience in Hawaii. Our family loves this place. Many babies were conceived after a night at Buzz's (or an afternoon:)

    (5)

  • Cara S.

    Such a neat place tucked away in a beachside neighborhood. The steak is good, the salad bar high quality. The service is top notch. I recommend reservations for busier times.

    (4)

  • Jenny L.

    One of our favorite dinner spots...but show up early....it's small and fills up fast but so very worth it!!!

    (5)

  • Vanessa K.

    Tasty cocktails horrible food... But just saw waitress sneeze all over the olives/cherries/lemon at the bar and throw cherries into drinks with her bare hands, so gonna pass on anymore cocktails too

    (1)

  • Richard M.

    Stick with lunch, not dinner. Nice location, outside seating is great, a nice salad bar, good sandwiches at lunch. However, dinner was not very good. Other than the escargot, most all other dishes were mediocre. We had the scampi, which consisted of four shrimp over a bed of pasta saturated with garlic butter. The Mahi Mahi was overcooked, tough, and not tasty. All the other dishes were about the same. My wife was smart, just getting the escorgot and the salid bar. The desserts were better than the main course.

    (3)

  • Grace N.

    3.5 stars... Food & service was good! Slightly pricey but I remember the portions being big and feeling satisfied after.

    (3)

  • Claudia Z.

    I remember back in high school, Buzz's was a chill place to grab a burger or salad after a day at the beach. Servers were warm and friendly, food was good, atmosphere was relaxing. No more. They have changed to be this uptight, stiffy, Mortons-wannabee that lost all the charms of a local establishment. I've since moved off the island, but came back to visit one summer. After hanging out at the beach, we walked across to Buzz's thinking we'd be welcomed with Aloha. "No ma'am, you cannot enter our restaurant with a bathing suite top, you must be fully dressed." You are across the street from Kailua Beach, literally in the sand still, you are not sitting on top of Hawaii Loa ridge, take a chill pill! Service was so slow, took 20 minutes to even bring us water! The waitress "forgot" to put our order in after we asked twice! I got a stuffed blue cheese burger with creamy tomato soup, it was only ok, not nearly as good as I remembered it. There's a table that apparently the Clintons have sat at, Buzz's actually put up a plaque to show it. So what, now you think you're all that and can be rude to regular customers? Every time I come to the islands to visit my parents, I so look forward to eating at all the yummy familiar places of my childhood. Buzz's ruined it for me.

    (1)

  • Paul S.

    Nice location, inside is to dark and crammed.. We had a table out on the deck area, I had ordered the soup of the day which was ok. Wasn't very impressed with the menu, The chicken was pretty good though. I don't think I would go back unless I knew I was going to sit out on the deck area.

    (3)

  • Omar R.

    I only had drinks and appetizers but had a positive experience.

    (4)

  • K R.

    HORRIBLE SERVICE when we checked in - asked nicely if we could sit down even though 2 of our 6 parties is not here and Mani (the front host) rolls her eyes as we were escorted. Is that how you treat your guests - is it worth a bad review??!! BUZZ'S need to get rid of her - you will lose business because of Mani!!!

    (1)

  • Crystal W.

    I'd suggest not trying to park in the lot in front of the restaurant unless there's obvious room. Otherwise, just go across the street by the beach. The lot is small and you can't properly turn around in a vehicle. I had a delicious rum cocktail called Kailua Passion (apparently not found anywhere else) and my spouse's drink, the Lava Flow, was even better. We tried the Calamari Steak, which was amazing. I've never had such tender calamari. I ate the Artichoke Surprise for a small main and it was a surprise, all right. What an insanely high calorie mess. The presentation is beautiful and it was tasty, but I felt kind of gross afterward because of the crazy amount of fat I had consumed (including the garlic butter and melted parmesan cheese). Unless you REALLY love artichoke, I wouldn't recommend it. The atmosphere is very casual and every table was full on a Thursday afternoon. I was shocked. Food and drinks aren't cheap but I can justify going once as a tourist.

    (3)

  • Joseph F.

    Buzz's is an island staple over in Kailua. Right behind the main beach park and next to the channel. The view from the patio is great and the atmosphere is fun and relaxing island style. They definitely offer a great family atmosphere and some wonderful food and drink options as well. We came here with a party of 13 and definitely took up the largest area they could spare. They aren't designed for large large groups but can comfortably accommodate small groups of 4-6. On my last visit, several years ago, they still didn't accept credit cards. These days they do so it takes the hassle of carrying enough cash for your meal. I had the Crab Louie which was truly delicious. Fresh lettuce and greens with fresh king crab meat and a delicate dressing on top. It was a very large serving and could probably feed two easily. One of the other people in the group had the chicken curry salad. It was another seriously solid dish. The curry was very flavorful and not subdued at all. The chicken was tender and infused with the flavor and not just coated in it.

    (4)

  • Dea S.

    I live less than 1 mile from this place and try it out once every few years. Unfortunately in my case they have never gotten it right, for 20 years! The joke within my family is that they have a picture of me in the kitchen and when I walk in the conspiracy begins. Terrible service, lousy portions of mediocre over priced food. If it wasn't for the beach side location they would have out of biz along ago. Avoid. Before i forget , salad bar is disgusting. Kalapawai Cafe , Cactus, Primo.

    (1)

  • David M.

    Buzz's is the kind of place you really want to like. You want to think, "Hey, yeah, Buzz's! RIght around the corner, great food, always friendly." But unfortunately, it's not... at least, not in the two times I've been. The first time, I went with friends to check it out. The food wasn't bad... but it wasn't great, either. Meh. I remember thinking that the check adding up pretty fast, and the service was pretty surly. A full year later, I went back, alone, and asked about a table. It was a 15-20 minute wait, unless I wanted to sit at the crowded bar. (I didn't.) I pointed to the four empty tables on the patio (where it's nicer anyway), and said, "How about...?" Well, if you've read the other reviews here, you'll know how that went. Maybe it's really awesome for lunch. I want to give it a chance. But the no eating outside rule is really stupid-- especially when the evening happy hour cocktails are over and there's no one left. And the service seems to say, "We're quite busy here with all the tourists fighting each other for a seat, please don't bother us with your quibbles about service and value." P.S. I went to Mexico Lindo instead and ordered a grilled rib-eye. It was awesome!

    (2)

  • Victoria B.

    I went here for the second time this Sunday. It was exactly as awesome as the first time, four years ago. The lychee martini is one of my favorite drinks in the world. The calamari stake was perfection and the service was friendly and fast. Try to sit outside if you can, then walk across the street to the beach afterwards. The place is in paradise!

    (5)

  • Easton H.

    Food was decent but it's not worth the price. Paid $30 for a salad, 6 shrimp, and a handful of half-cooked vegetables. Also the first time I've been given a time limit At the table (told we could only sit at the table and enjoy the entrees for an hour).

    (1)

  • Karen L.

    4 of us stopped for lunch & drinks before going to Lanikai Beach. Everything was ONO. We had burgers, fish burritos, specialty drinks. We were all very satisfied!

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    This place is a joke. Menus are on wooden boards, they gave my table ONE menu for four of us and they sat us right next to the hostess stand. Awesome to watch the lack of professionalism at a place thats minimum $20 a plate. We started with drinks and fries. Our plate of fries literally had 5 steak fries on it. Let me break this down, bag of potatoes = $5-7, our five french fries =$3. We didn't stay for dinner for 2 reasons. #1 two of us don't eat meat and after telling the waiter he made zero effort to accomidate us #2 way too expensive for the kind of establishment it is. Never coming back.

    (1)

  • Liana S.

    Ambiance - 4 Teriyaki steak - 0. I ordered medium well and it came out bloody in the middle. The waitress passed by 10 times but never asked how my steak was. Potato - 0 (it's better at jack in the box). Salad bar - 4 No military discount. Needless to say, we won't be back. There are better ways to spend $134.00 for the family.

    (2)

  • Kevin W.

    Food: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Wait Staff: 5 Hostess: 2 (If you don't like greeting and interacting with people, maybe you shouldn't be a hostess.)

    (4)

  • Biglolagirl N.

    My husband and I have been coming to Buzz's for years. Every trip to Oahu would include a trip to Buzz's. Our last trip here two years ago we split the fish burrito. It was good, but we both got food poisoning. We called the owner to let her know and she so busy that she cut us short and we didn't even get apologies. Today we decided to give Buzz's another chance. Again, we both got ill after leaving the restaurant. Unfortunately that will be our last trip there.

    (1)

  • Andrew T.

    Had a nice lunch here with a friend and her disabled daughter who is in a wheelchair. They were very accommodating to our needs. The lunch menu seemed reasonably enough priced (a lot of options for $9- $12) and we had a great teri steak lunch that included a huge and delicious caesar salad, a huge curried chicken salad, and the fish burrito, which also came with a nice salad. Of our three items, my least favorite was the fish burrito which was more "cooked" than I expected and was only 'OK." I wouldn't order it again. My only complaint was the somewhat cold waitress who definitely did not give us any Aloha at first... my first impression was that she was peeved we were not ordering cocktails.... but she seemed just "too busy" to actually connect with her customers... not just us, but other tables around us too. I watched her literally turn her back and walk away from another customer that was still talking to her. The warmest she got was when she found out my friend was leaving her over 20% tip. Then she actually cracked a genuine smile and said thank you. Sadly it was as we were walking out the door. Overall, though, the rest of the staff was very friendly, we had a nice lunch, and I am looking forward to going back for another lunch and trying a mai tai.

    (4)

  • Derek S.

    Stopped here on our way to Lanakai. I had the fresh fish burger which was really mediocre. I was kinda expecting better based on the reviews of this place so my expectations were understandably high and unfortunately not met. Megan had a ceasar salad which tasted bland. Can't win them all... This place is better for a few beers on a beach day to get out of the sun for a bit.

    (2)

  • E A.

    I went in expecting rude service based on the reviews I've read here, but the staff was pleasant and attentive. I did go in for lunch, but was seated immediately outside once I managed to find parking, which was limited and irritating. It did look like the party before me was turned away for wearing tank tops and bathing suits, so this clearly isn't the place to go straight from the nearby beach. The drinks were strong, and the food was good (I ordered the ahi wrap, seared). I think the seared wrap was really just raw, but it was tasty. The wasabi aioli was a bit strong given that it was not very well distributed. Overall, it was a pleasant if not stellar experience.

    (4)

  • Alexander A.

    Too crowdy, food is plain, service is extremely simple. Will look for another stakehouse....

    (2)

  • Kayla N.

    The food was delicious! I got a steak special and it was really good! The staff was friendly enough and very efficient. You get a salad with most meals but you go to a salad bar which doesn't have very many options. The atmosphere is pretty nice as well but I'm only giving it 3 stars because for all the hype my overall experience wasn't what I had thought it would be.

    (3)

  • Leah R.

    My bf and I came to have a drink at the bar. We both ordered a Mai tai. When the bartender served us our drinks he told us that their policy was 3 mai tai's and we would be cut off. After our first sip, I knew why. It seemed like it was a glass of rum with a splash of juice. It was too strong to enjoy. They also close a little early. At 9pm they were putting chairs around us as they were cleaning up for the night. I doubt I would go back. The location is nice but it's small and has a beach vibe. There are also no tank tops 5pm.

    (3)

  • Suzy C.

    The drinks were good but the staff makes the entire experience miserable and it's really not worth it. They are rude, and won't let you in if you're wearing a short dress even though it's a beach restaurant. It's really the most terrible experience I've had with the wait staff at a restaurant.

    (1)

  • Margit C.

    Love it....great salad bars and perfectly prepare delicious meals. The environment is superior !!!

    (5)

  • Wolf L.

    Buzz's was recommended by everyone I know. My wife, her uncle and auntie, cousins, friends on the mainland--all said Buzz's is a must. Who am I to argue with such rave reviews? At first look, this would appear to be a pretty standard steakhouse, but it's right on the beach in Kailua, wihch is worth one star all alone. We were staying in the grandmaster of all beach rentals in Lanikai with a family of vegans. I'm not very picky about what I eat, but after a few days, I needed some animal protein in MY BELLY. I was craving a steak and I was pretty sure I'd find what I was looking for at Buzz's. When I called for reservations, I was told in no uncertain terms that tank tops are not allowed at dinner. Ha. Like I'd ever be caught dead in a tank top, but I'm glad the place has some standards. I wondered what would happen if I showed up in a tuxedo with flip flops. Hmmmm... The menu is painted on a plank, so it probably doesn't change too often. One of the specials was an 18 oz. Porterhouse served atop garlic mashies. That's what I got, and I was not disappointed. The steak was prepared perfectly. Medium rare. I ate the whole thing. The service was appropriately attentive and everyone in our party was satisfied with their entrees. All meals apparently come with a trip to the little salad bar. It's certainly not the most awesome salad bar I've ever seen, but I came for meat, not veggies. The next time we're in Lanikai, we'll go back to Buzz's for sure.

    (4)

  • Shelley V.

    I was recommended to go here by a friend who grew up on the island. I happily made a reservation and then started reading all the negative reviews on Yelp. I started to get anxious- would the service be as bad as all the reviews kept saying, would the food be not so great, etc. I am happy to report that my experience was top notch from start to finish. The hostess was very friendly from the get go. While we waited outside for a brief time, a server took our drink orders and before we knew it, our table was ready! Btw-drinks were good and my Mai Tai was hella strong!! We had a nice booth inside and a very friendly server named Rose took our orders. Upon the recommendation of some other Yelp reviews, we started with the Calamari Steak. This was very good! A breaded filet that was tender and not rubbery. A nice butter sauce with capers was the accompaniment. I did have the salad bar with my dinner and yes, it is small. Luckily for me, there were two of my favorite items-chopped eggs and avocado. M had the navy bean soup. The soup was tasty although more salty than we are normally used to. For my main course I had the steak/scampi combo with a baked potato. It came with 3 large shrimp and melted butter to dip into. The petite filet was cooked well, although a little more salted than I am used to. Next time I'll ask them to go easy on the salt. Baked potato came with real bacon-whoohoo! M had the special fish-Opakapaka served sauteed in butter with capers. It was really good! Both meals also came with a side of green beans. We were so full there was no dessert be had!! Buzz's rulez!!! We passed on dessert as we were stuffed!! I will definitely go back to Buzz's next time I'm in town.

    (4)

  • Bryson L.

    Came here for a family dinner, I've eaten at this location once before, and have eaten at the Pearl City location too many times to count, but only because my parents enjoy the early bird specials (Only at Pearl City). I reviewed the Pearl City a two star and this one a one star mainly because this place lacks everything! The food here is mediocre and not quite worth the price in my opinion (I'd spend it at another venue). But if you're looking for atmosphere, then I guess eating here would be an experience. For starters, I ordered lemonade, which was fountain brand lemonade, not fresh at all like I had hoped for. Another person in the party ordered a fruit punch which was more like a smoothie, it looked good. Ordered the sashimi here, granted it was good, but a little tiny and cut paper thin. Had the Teriyaki Steak for a main course, this was average. But the salad bar at this location is lacking by far! Unlike the Pearl City location, this salad bar seems to be lacking in dressings, and they're delicious garlic bread! We were served regular bread which was very disappointing. Also the pineapples in the salad bar were mixed with mint leaves, which tasted no where near refreshing and appeared as if it had been sitting there for some time. The watermelon salsa like thing in their salad bar was also disgusting, a combination of watermelon and onions mixed with some other things, I tried it, boy was I sorry. At least dessert managed to cheer me up a little, I had the key lime pie, although my favorite is the mint chocolate chip pie. But anyways the key lime pie was average and the lilikoi sauce made it slightly above par. Granted I was let down so badly at this point, nothing could really save this review. But overall this place isn't very good, if you're looking for some nice eating near the beach, well you'll have the beach part at least. I would much rather settle for the Pearl City location for the slightly better food, although Buzz's is a place I'd rather pass on. I would recommend elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Rosa O.

    Calamari steak. Definitely a concept I hadn't given a lot of thought to, but I'm glad I took our servers recommendation for it because I was blown away. Lightly breaded, served with capers and a lemon beurre blanc = heaven. I paired this with the Kailua passion, a really tasty rum and passion fruit concoction that was exactly the tropical refreshment I was craving. For dinner, I had the Ono fish, grilled simply with cabbage salad and mashed potatoes. Delicious, huuuuge portion. While I didn't really have room for dessert, I couldn't pass up a key lime pie with lilikoi butter on top...and wow, If I didn't just finish all of it. My belly was ways too full, but I enjoyed every bite.

    (4)

  • Will F.

    Worth coming to if you are in Kailua. The Food was great and the service was fast and very friendly.

    (4)

  • Ihz O.

    Simple Pie Song for Simple Love Song youtube.com/watch?v=O5XG… See the way the workers walk into the room and then they speak. So caring every word from their lips is like money. I know Buzz's loves me. Here the way customers laugh around me like well-played instruments. The way workers jam and the way they treat their family. Customers are family. I know Buzzs's loves me. Although your search for pies are super complicated. Just play this pie song when you need a lift. Cause baby, I'm finally.....I'm writing you this simple pie song. After searching long, baby. I'm finally.....I'm writing you this simple pie song. Ohhhohhh! Ohhh. I still can't get enough even though price of pie is rough. And boy Kailuas a trip a bit because you're not around. But it's okay, babe. You got me pied, baby. I'm going to drive to Kailua for you. I'm going to sing this song for you, focus on your pies for you. You know I would drive for you, baby. I know it's crazy. Although your search for pies are super complicated. Just play this pie song when you need a lift. Cause baby, I'm finally....I'm writing you this simple pie song. After searching long, baby. I'm finally....I'm writing you this simple pie song. Ohhhohhhhh! It's funny how traveling for ice cream pies can tell the truth in so many ways. Been feeling it all the while, and will always have the time. You know I'm here to stay. I'm finally....I'm writing you this simple pie song. I'm finally...I'm writing you...I say I'm finally...writing you...Baby, I'm finally writing you a simple pie song...baby.

    (4)

  • Nicole P.

    Waitress was very friendly and knew the menu VERY extensively. The menu on the wooden cutting board was a nice touch. The streaks were perfectly cooked and the sides were well seasoned and presented. The salad bar was very hawaiian traditional but didn't have a whole lot of choices I was expecting; to refill the items, they reach from the back of house and a hand will just dart out unexpectedly. It is a a very cozy and tropical atmosphere but didn't feel cramped in the smaller space. Prices are about average for a steakhouse but the fish and lobster I felt were a bit over priced at $45. I had the prime rib, it was great!

    (4)

  • M F.

    Two words: tourist trap. I want to like Buzz's, I really do seeing as it is so close to where I live (Lanikai), I would go more often if it was enjoyable but every single time I have been there it hasn't been the least bit of fun and leaving I feel like I didn't get my money's worth or the enjoyment I was looking for overall. Here is my opinion: -The salad bar is nothing spectacular - I have had about the same, if not better at Sizzler's. The bread that they give you is delicious though, I must say that. -The crew that they have here is clearly inexperienced, and needs some more training. -That whole "wait for twenty minutes before you have to chase down your waiter/waitress to get a refill" is true. - The steaks are overpriced and almost never cooked the way you requested them to be so good luck with that one. - The ambiance is nice but it just depends on what time you decide to go. Lately, it has mostly just been tourists who have been trapped into thinking this is a great place. \ - Last but not least, Buzz's needs to stop advertising that they are in Lanikai! I am from Lanikai, and I consider it to be anything in loop or past Lanikai point. Buzz's is directly across from KAILUA beach. Geeez...

    (2)

  • Cathi B.

    Loved Buzz's! My husband brought me here for dinner and we really enjoyed our meal. The whole experience was a great one from the time we got there until the time we left. Everyone was so nice and accommodating! We had two people waiting on us and we never had to ask for anything! They anticipated what we needed. I loved the Artichoke Surprise and the Coconut Shrimp. The waitress suggested a really great wine, which went well with my Teri-Steak and Opah fish. The Key Lime pie with Lilikoi sauce was sooooo delish! I can't wait to come back here again.

    (5)

  • Peter S.

    We were so pleased on the first visit we came back a couple of days later! Came here by chance, while driving the leeward side of Oahu, and arrived at the peak lunch time, meaning a forty-five minute wait. No problem we sat at the bar and were on island time, enjoying a cocktail and a beer! Our inside table didn't have a view but we were here for the food and service, both were very good. Teriyaki Thai peanut chicken, and a fish burger were both delish! On our second visit we arrived early (11:00) and were seated right away. Staff is very friendly and attentive, several waitpersons not in our assigned area stopped at the table to clear dishes or refill water glasses. Dessert selection is from a tray, when items are sold they are not necessarily replaced, so get there early!! Popular spot doing a great job with the tourist trade. Available parking nearby.

    (5)

  • Missie W.

    Buzzs is our favorite place to take visitors on their last nights visit to the islands. The fish is always outstanding and the salad bar, while it's not the biggest, has the freshest ingredients such Maui onion, mixed greens, bean and alfalfa sprouts, fresh avocado, shredded carrot and fresh made dressings. It's also a great place to go after a great day at the beach as they allow beach wear until 5:00pm. Sit outside and enjoy some fresh sashimi and a refreshing drink from the bar.

    (4)

  • Melissa H.

    Great location for a celebration excellent service very accommodating with special request!!! John was the best server we had in a long while love to find great place in paradise

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    I read the Yelp reviews, I warned the fam, but they insisted on going somewhere for dinner near where we were staying on Lanikai beach so I reluctantly came along hoping we'd catch Buzz's on a good night. Ambiance: We were a party of 7 with a reservation, and were seated at a make-shift table at the center of their main room right next to the bar...it was a really weird spot, like we were seated in everyone's way. The place is outfitted with your typical islandy tiki-meets marina hangout decor. Food: The salad bar...move along...this isn't the salad you're looking for. I ordered a Top Sirloin (medium rare) and Shrimp Scampi combo with mashed potatoes. The sirloin came medium well and the scampi were a bit cold. Overpriced, overpriced, overpriced. Someone else at the table got the ribeye and that was tough and completely devoid of flavor. My girlfriend (wisely) got the "hardest thing you could screw up" on the menu in the Teriyaki chicken and that actually wasn't too bad. My sister got the Ahi Poke and the tuna was a really deep dark red (almost burgundy) and was borderline tough. Beer selection was poor, but they seem to have a decent menu of mixed drinks. Service: Meh. They came around once in a while, but to be honest the ambiance and the food combined made me not notice the service one way or another. If anything it was unmemorable. Overall: When you see all of the one and two star reviews for this place, please please PLEASE just listen to them. This is the real deal. It's expensive, the food is marginal, and the service is whatever. They have no business charging what they're charging for the food and experience they provide. I plead to you, fellow Yelpers, please heed this warning and move along.

    (1)

  • Susan N.

    Just had dinner at Buzzs. The teriyaki steak was stringy and just awful. The salad bar was ok. I think you should choose another place for a steak dinner

    (1)

  • karen r.

    Took my Uncle and Aunty (who live in Cincinnati) for lunch. Although they have visited Kailua often, they had not been to the Original Buzz's....so off we went. Great old style setting. Very disappointing food. I had the 'teri steak' sandwich. The meat was so tough I couldn't bite into the sandwich without dragging the entire piece of meat out of the bun. It was even difficult to cut into pieces because there was so much gristle. They had salads. So.... if you go for lunch, skip the teri meat sandwich.

    (2)

  • Melissa B.

    Their ribs are exactly what I remember 10 years ago! Salad bar was great (seaweed salad was the best!) had their Poke too it was a little salty but eatable. Now the beef ribs are HUGE really this dish can be shared with two adults. They are fall off the bone tender. I can't wait for another visit to Hawaii!

    (4)

  • Gin N Juic E.

    good food, good service, and nothing out of the ordinary. I would say though that its relativity to kailua beach is a big bonus but has them confused with their focus group. when youre across the street from the beach why make your restaurant fancy? sure its nice you give me a glass to pour my beer in but.. *whispers* -nobody cares- so just give is the bottle :) then I noticed there was some odd dress code dependent upon the time of day. Your patrons came to the beach not to some downtown joint. so overall it was an enjoyable experience but I feel they might be trying to appeal more to the tourist then to their surroundings and the people therein.

    (4)

  • Vanessa F.

    Meh. This place is OK, nothing super special about it in my opinion. My friends and I ate here one Monday afternoon before we went kayaking. The setup of the restaurant itself is nice and clean which I appreciate especially when I'm near a beach. The photos are reminiscent of the older days of Kailua with a Beach Boys kind of flair. The service could have been better. The staff was nice but lacked knowledge of prices and the kind of substitutions we could make to our order. And at one point the waiter dropped a knife on my plate which hit my sunglasses and could have totally poked my eye out. With that said, I wasn't feeling too great about this place. I ordered the garden burger which is originally a veggie burger with sprouts, avocado, & aioli. I substituted the veggie patty with a regular medium beef patty. The final product was okay. The meat wasn't spectacular and lacked that juiciness factor. I probably won't come back to this place because I feel that there are other restaurants in Kailu that are worth my time & money.

    (2)

  • Natalie A.

    We called as soon as Buzz's opened on a Monday to make reservations for that evening since we had family visiting from the mainland. When we arrived for our reservation that night the hostess showed us to our table RIGHT in the middle of the restaurant with foot traffic all around it. The table was also attached to another table where strangers were eating. There were three open booths and we asked if we could sit at one of them and the hostess told us that those tables were "reserved WAY in advance." Really? At Buzz's on a Monday in March? Yeah right. The hostess was rude, unfriendly and annoyed at our one request. We decided to wait the estimated 45mins for another table but then decided to take our business elsewhere. It will be a while before we try Buzz's again. I could have handled that table if we had been treated nicely. There are way better places to eat in Kailua with friendlier staff.

    (1)

  • C J.

    Ono (wahoo), AMAZING fish. Service, great! Calamari steak, AMAZING. SHARE.. there's a salad bar that's awesome. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is b/c it looks like a crab-shack.

    (4)

  • Darek B.

    Our party of seven went there last night for a dinner. The food was excellent and the service was great and attentive. I would give it 5 stars, however we were very disappointed upon receiving the check with a handwritten 20% gratuity added to the bill, in spite of a note in the menu stating that the gratuity of 20% will be added automatically to the group of EIGHT or more. There was SEVEN of us only and while we would be happy to leave a nice tip, this did not sit well with us. In the end we did not argue and paid the bill as it was written, but this left a blemish on our otherwise great experience. This is why I deducted one star.

    (4)

  • Shellaine C.

    two words for buzz's steakhouse: buzz kill. or is that technically one word? anyhoo, after receiving word of mouth accolades from a co-worker, the hubs was literally chomping at the bit to try buzz's steakhouse when we hit the ground in kailua. we popped in after a quick jaunt to the beach across the street, with all 3 kiddos in tow. we wanted to inquire on kid meals, reservations, dress code etc. because when you will be descending upon a restaurant with 5 kids and 4 adults, you want to have all these details worked out. beforehand, waaaaay beforehand. the hostess on duty that day was so friendly and welcoming - we were totally smitten to come back. she assured us there was a kids menu - small but available. patio seating was available - great because we would be in possession of so many kids - 2 7 year olds, a 4 year old, a 2.5 year old and last but not least a giant 15 mos old. totes casual - diners walked in from the beach across the street (like us!) , so they were accustomed to all types of dress. and the ahi was delivered fresh every AM and transformed into yummy for your tummy ceviche. our return trip for lunch the very next day was so very disappointing. we had hoped for an outside lunch but the porch was reserved for a private lunch.. we were seated inside fairly quickly but as the hostess led us to our table, a time ravaged blonde who was prolly considered lovely in the 1960's, stepped in front of my stroller and apparently left her aloha spirit home that day, went on to inform me that strollers were not allowed in buzz's. although the hostess had not made mention of this. usually, we get to the table, get giant baby into high chair, fold up stroller and ask staff to kind stash it out of the way. which most establishments are happy to do. or the staff offers up this stroller storage to free up floor space and avoid accidents. minus 1 buzz's. seated and now ready to get our buzz's steakhouse experience on, we are informed that there is no kids menu. just teriyaki chicken. no keike sized versions of the adult entrees. uh. oh. minus 2 buzz's. and there is no ahi ceviche today. plus i think our waitress forgot about us. for almost 20 minutes. we were able to cobble together kid type meals from the appetizer menu (chicken soup - yum, yum, yum and tempura french fries which weren't really tempura battered but really more just twice fried but still delish) and a burger for the young mister. i ordere up the fish burg for myself and it was big and fresh and yummy and served with the aforementioned tempura but not tempura fries, but strangely, our waitress was not familiar with the fish being used that day (it is typically the ahi but they decided to switch it up that day and she was unable to describe it. hmmmm). we also ordered the ahi sashimi which was a big, generous platter of fresh ahi tuna - very good, super fresh but not ceviche. the mai tai was good but unfortunately does not come with a babysitter, so i was limited to imbibing only one. buzz's is a small joint, vintage-y hawaiian theme, lotsa bamboo, cozy but probably betts for a couple or a group without young children. which at this time, is not us.

    (2)

  • Sean B.

    I have been going to Buzz's for years, and it never gets old! The food is 5+ stars; I could eat the Calamari, Sashimi, Teriyaki Steak and Salad Bar every day and never get sick of it! Only reason for a 4 star rating is the price (a lot of bar drinks are over $10 and dinner for two with a couple of drinks is guaranteed to come out over $100) and the service (most staff is great, but some definitely need some additional training!) Buzz's is a MUST for anyone who hasn't been before but just be prepared to spend $$ and receive good not great service....

    (4)

  • Roy M.

    The entrees would have earned one star; I added a second for the good salad bar and knowledgeable, professional staff. The best parts of the meal were the salad and an appetizer. The salad gets such high marks because of the freshness and the items offered. The appetizer was the artichoke surprise, which is apparently a favorite with people who know the restaurant. But the part of the meal that ultimately costs the most was pretty disappointing. The steak was over-seasoned and the seasoning itself didn't have good flavor. The chili con carne was not what I expected from the description, including the fact that it was described as having sour cream but there was none. (Our server apologized after she realized it was missing and offered to take it back to have the sour cream added.) I also had to ask about a mystery ingredient - I thought it was either fried onion or calamari, turns out it was crispy wonton strips. It should also be noted that during dinner time some of the items that other yelpers recommended are not available, and there is a minimum order amount per person. I won't say that this place should be avoided altogether, since some of the items that I read about and hoped to order are only on the lunch menu. It may be a great place for lunch...but for dinner it's disappointing. You'll pay enough to expect an exceptional entree, and find that the highlight of the meal is either an appetizer or the salad bar.

    (2)

  • Samantha M.

    We have been here since summer 2013 and have come to Buzz's several times. The location is convenient, offers ocean views if you sit outside, and is the only restaurant near that part of Kailua/Lanikai. Go for those reasons and you're ok. The calamari steak has always been my favorite....sauce on the side. Not everyone wants their food drowned in buerre blanc. But it is tasty! The mai tai's are good too. I don't, haven't and didn't appreciate my latest experience there. Two salads. Identical prices. One features steak...the other chicken. I asked if I could have the salad featuring chicken and get steak instead. I was informed, by a manager who never appeared, that I could do that but I would get charged extra for steak even though I wouldn't get chicken. This was confusing. Offer steak or chicken with your salads. No one appreciates the rules. I turned down the generous offer and got the salad with steak. They screwed it up, and I had to send it back. I'm surprised I wasn't charged extra for keeping the table longer. In the end I can't say I won't return... Because of the reasons stated above but it's pretty pathetic to have Location be your only saving grace. I told her to tell her manager that he/she is a moron. I meant it. The clientele goes beyond the tourists and they should remember that.

    (3)

  • Stefanie M.

    After a lovely morning on the Kailua beach, we wanted some lunch and went to Buzz's. The front porch is lovely for outdoor dining and the breezes. Our server was very nice and prompt and great helping my very indecisive family make their choices. I had the open faced crabcake sandwich. It was good, didn't love all the cheese melted on top, but the cheese was in the description of the sandwich. Crab was very good, bread was good, salad was good. A little pricey, but that seemed to be all of Hawaii, not just Buzz's.

    (3)

  • Andrea B.

    EVEN IF THEY PAID ME, I'D NEVER, EVER GO BACK TO BUZZ'S. After spending the morning at the beach, we walked across the street to Buzz's, wanting to sit outside on the porch. We saw a lady with her therapy dog (in vest) turned away! The manager kicked them out just as they were arriving. That's illegal I think. We sat down and I walked inside to use the restroom (which should be cleaner). I saw the manager behaving with such an arrogant, unfriendly attitude toward staff and patrons. This woman, who's name is Leslie, I think, treated customers as if they were putting her out by showing up and patronizing Buzz's. Her total attitude was that this establishment is there for her enjoyment and customers just need to get in, hand their money over, and get out immediately. I saw two guys come in off the beach and order beers. After they were served and drank a couple, they asked for the bill. At that point, the waitress was sent over (by the manager I described) to demand the one guy to put on a shirt..(it was noon and he was on the porch, paying his bill and leaving anyway).. I couldn't believe it, they were treating him with such rudeness. If they didn't like his dress, they should not have seated him...instead the manager harasses him as he is paying his bill. I then saw another group of women (who had just lunched out on the patio) unloading the trunk of their car to take their things across the street to the beach. There was one woman in the car, obviously getting ready to drive the car away. The manager had another one of her waitresses come out, as the car is being started, and has her threaten them that if they don't leave, they will be towed. I couldn't believe it. Three times in my one visit there, I saw well behaved customers who paid and tipped, get bad treatment in return. Also, when we asked for food that was being served on the inside, the manager refused to negotiate. She wouldn't even allow us to have meat served pupu style. There was no amount of consideration on her part for the customers to be happy. Whoever owns that place is crazy to employ that woman. She's going to run that place into the ground. I'll never, EVER go back. NEVER!

    (1)

  • Robin B.

    We were so looking forward to dinner at Buzz's on our yearly trip to Kailua. We went early-5:30pm so as to not be caught in the dinner rush. We were asked if we had reservations- which we didn't because we didn't know they accepted them. To which we were informed that they take them a year in advance. Ok, we get your point. The manager was short with us and not very friendly. We were seated at a table right next to the bar. We asked to sit outside but were told all tables were reserved. We then asked to be seated in a booth so as to not be in the way of the people at the bar or also in the way of the people in line for the salad bar. We were again told that all tables were reserved even though they stayed empty the whole time we were eating. Shortly after this a table of locals were seated by us. They were asked if they wanted to sit on the patio and told it was no problem they didn't have a reservation-and were promptly moved outdoors! Our waitress on the other hand was very professional and friendly. We asked for a beer on tap or any dark beer- no to both. Dinner was fine. At the end of the meal we went to pay with Amex and were told they don't accept it even though the sign stated they take major credit cards. And then there was an up-charge for our fish preparation on the bill, although that was not on the menu or mentioned when we ordered. Just very disappointed with the double standard treatment for tourists vs. locals. And the rudeness of the manager. Too many other places that want our business for us to ever go back- she was a real Buzz kill!

    (2)

  • Simona M.

    I LOVE BUZZ'S!!! First off this is a 'Dinner House' Yelpers, not the snack bar at the beach! Just because their location is across from the beach doesn't mean the customer should come in beach wear, shirtless or coated in sand. I have sat down before on a wet seat and think it is very rude of the wet pants patron that doesn't consider the next person who sits on that seat. The employees have a right to get upset. It must be a total drag for them to have to continuously police the inconsiderate. Their parking area is small and beach going diners should also respect that and unload at the beach. NOW Let me tell you the truth about this great place........ I visit often and am ALWAYS happy with the drinks, food and service! The Mai Tais are too good! and the bartenders are always friendly. I always enjoy the Calamari Steak, in fact it is the BEST Calamari I have ever eaten! It is never, ever over cooked or undercooked.. It is perfection! I think I order it almost every time I dine there, mostly as pupus, cut pupu style to share. It always comes super crispy on the outside and is very tender, never chewy. Served with a nice lemon butter sauce too, but sometimes I have it with just lemon..depending on my mood. The salad bar is definitely the greatest with a nice selection of unusual offering, unlike the common choices at the chain restaurants. Some of my favorite salad bar choices are baby Spring greens, baby spinach, crispy romaine, fresh avocado, pickled beets, peppers, marinated tomatoes, yummy marinated watermelon, (sometimes) seaweed salad, real 'in-house cooked' chopped bacon, delicious dressings and there is someone continuously tending & refilling the bowls! They also offer sprouts, tofu, green beans, marinated kidney beans, Hawaiian style pickled onions, and more than I can remember...a really huge selection of toppings to say the least. Their 'giant size' Shrimp Scampi, served as a salad meal or as a dinner is fantastic, as is their steaks. I love my meat cooked rare and they are one of the few places where I can order my meat 'Charred Blue' (cooked over the hottest part of the broiler so it is charred on the outside and very, very rare on the inside) and they do it perfectly every time! Another great meal is the Chopped Sirloin Steak smothered w/ grilled onions and mushrooms, served with real home style fries and veggies and like the other dinners comes with the fantastic salad bar. I recently visited for my birthday dinner and was blown away with the beautiful retro-style poster/calander I was gifted by the management! It was totally unexpected and deeply appreciated by me. Also the Hostess Debbie went out of her way to look for my cell phone I thought I had missed placed yesterday. I called back to see if I had left my phone there and she took time to search for it, even going out side to the parking area to look! She is extremely sweet and caring!

    (5)

  • Paul P.

    Escargots & artichoke surprise were great as well as salad bar . Wait staff was very good. Booth type table was very cramped and uncomfortable. Yes we would go again and again.

    (3)

  • colleen b.

    Honestly I am kind of surprised at all the negative reviews of Buzz's. Are we going to the same restaurant? My husband was born and raised on Oahu and he has been coming here for special events since he was just a keiki. Every time we come "home" for a visit we hit up Buzz's. Been there for lunch, happy hour and a few special occasion dinners with both large and small groups. If I have a choice I prefer to sit outside on the lanai. They have mai tais that will knock you on your butt :-) I rarely get anything else. I have always been happy with my food and don't expect it to be plate lunch prices. I guess I come here knowing that it isn't a cheap bite to eat but it is good. Actually I had one of the best steaks of my life here a few months ago; it was a nightly special local, grass fed rib-eye that was medium rare and perfectly grilled/flavored. Very enjoyable. My brothers agreed when we took them there; we were all raised in California cattle country and are used to getting top notch beef. On top of that they have absolutely the best best best key lime pie. Nice and tart just the way I like it and served with a side of lilikoi sauce. Yum! I also really enjoy the salad bar. Unlimited avocado??? Are you kidding me??? As my brother said "they must not know we are from cali" as we loaded up on a bunch of the creamy goodness. The only reasons that it didn't get the full 5 stars from me was because 1) they do have some kinda dumb rules about what you can order from where/when and 2) we did get one sorta snotty server once during an afternoon cocktail hour. Once in all the years we have been going so I am willing to let it slide but she didn't get the usual generous tip just a regular one.

    (4)

  • Niria T.

    Came in for lunch. Not too many options on the menu. At the time that we where there the place was not very busy. Drinks took a while (sodas). My husband was very pleased with his teriyaki steak plate, however...my fish burrito was horrible. Had absolutely no flavor! I would go back, but not to eat that fish burrito, would like to try other items on menu that look interesting (burgers) . The atmosphere is very nice & tropical. The staff is friendly and the prices are ok.

    (3)

  • Amy M.

    We love Buzz's and come every time we visit Oahu. I can't understand why just 3 stars on Yelp. The service is ALWAYS outstanding. Very pleasant folks. Wonderful to sit outside if u can and good kitschy Hawaiian decor on the inside. I like the teriyaki steak salad. Love the Freshy and Kailua Passion drinks - very tasty!

    (5)

  • Jodie B.

    5 stars all day long for Jim and Mahina @ The Bar. 5 stars. the food was maybe 3 stars. The drinks were 3-4. The service was 10 stars. All day.

    (5)

  • Jonathan S.

    Ate here for lunch on Sunday and the food is fair. The famous calamari is greasy and flavorless, the fish sandwich tasted like McDonald's and the salad wasn't fresh. The service was great and the atmosphere was nice.

    (2)

  • Leah R.

    Tourist trap. Food & service does not equal the price you pay here. I wouldn't go back at any cost though. If you walk a little down the road into Kailua town you'll find better places to eat. Want a sit down place? Maybe try Formaggio. Their steaks are juicier and they have a bigger selection of food and drinks. Pros: Nice hostess. Nice location next to the beach Cons: Contrary to the big sign above the front door, they do NOT take all major credit cards. Unless Amex is not a major credit card anymore... The salad bar could be a lot better. Small selection and mealy tomatoes. The salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays is waaaaay bigger and better. Steak House? I think not. Even Outback or Cattle Company have this place beat. The only decent thing was their fish in the butter sauce. Not even the bread was good. Bread usually keeps my kid content til the food, but he didn't want any of it either. Sides were not good. Someone ordered a baked potato. But it was twice baked, not in the real sense. It was hard as a rock, as if it was cooked the day before (or a few days at that), and then reheated. No beers on tap. Bottles and cans only. And they don't have all of their wines in stock. You'd also think that if there was only one Grenache on the static looking drinks list, you could just ask for it, but instead you need to refer to it by name. weird. Service was spotty. Some waitresses were really nice, unfortunately our main one was not. Too bad. Not a good showing of aloha spirit for this touristy destination.

    (1)

  • Samantha b.

    The calamari appetizer here was really good and the sauce was to die for. I got the sirloin which was pretty good also but I have had better. Everyone liked their meal, the three men I was with all got the calamari sandwich special and really liked it. My mom enjoyed her salad as well. We went for lunch so prices weren't too bad, I think it is pricier for dinner. Very convenient location with Kailua beach right across the street.

    (4)

  • Rob S.

    This place is a tourist trap. The food is marginal and the service sucks. I would avoid this place at all cost.

    (1)

  • Al K.

    I ate there a few years ago when they didn't take credit cards. Food was not bad then. I've been there twice now within the last 2 mos. I had a steak then..and it was dry and tasteless. Salad bar and drinks were good. Took some of my family there a week ago thinking maybe I had a bad meal on the last visit. I had the ahi. I had it grilled. I could not finish it..it tasted like it was fresh frozen. Not worth it. AL K

    (2)

  • Charles B.

    Awesome location, awesome feel to it, great service this place has everything going for it. Their mixed drinks were great (try the pear-tini and makalua sunrise). The open face soft shell crab sandwich was amazing. And I couldn't believe how good their desserts were!!!! Not to big a dent in the wallet either. Would definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Adam D.

    We went here twice. First time we had dinner and were underwhelmed with the food, service, and seating. The special that evening was a strip steak w blue cheese/pesto sauce and demi-glace. I thought the combination was a little odd but ordered it anyway... I shouldn't have. I ended up scraping most of the blue cheese/pesto off and eating the steak w the demi-glace. Also, the original meal I was brought was incorrect, so my wife and I got food at separate times. In addition we were seated behind an open door, we were walled in and it was claustrophobic. Our second visit to Buzz's was for drinks and appetizers. If you do this, you can pick any seats on the front deck. This visit was much better. We enjoyed the front deck and the apps were pretty good. We stuck with simple things like the sauteed shrooms and beef skewers. Given our experience, I would recommend Buzz's as a place to get drinks and apps, but if you are looking for a meal, there may be better options around.

    (3)

  • Michele K.

    It's been awhile since I've eaten at Buzz's, too long to be honest. My Aunt and I stumbled upon this gem while cruising the island a few years back. I wasn't sure what to expect as we walked in, but it turned out to be really good. The service was good, and the food was great. I'll definitely be back, next time I'm in Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Duane P.

    Great location...OK food...Poor Service...Tourist Prices. We went to Buzz's around dinner time after spending the day on the beach. It's an attractive location, and has a great atmosphere. I would definitely call ahead for reservations, so you can sit outside on the patio and enjoy the beach. I ate grilled Mahi Mahi with garlic potatoes and the "endless" salad bar. The meal was definitely just OK, but way overpriced. We had 3 adults and the meals ranged between 33 and 45 bucks a plate. Service was a little weird....our waitress seemed like she might have been finishing off the leftover Mai tai's. Overall, its Ok for what it is, but I would go elsewhere next time.

    (2)

  • Julia W.

    Here for lunch and ordered Buzz's burger and Lanikai salad to share between the two of us. The salad and fries are the only thing that gives this 3 stars. The salad was fresh and delicious with tons of fruit including mango, grapes and strawberries. Fries were crispy. Unfortunately the burger tasted like something out of a school cafeteria. The meat in the burger was low quality and grisly. The patty looked like it was from one of the Costco frozen multipacks. Completely unacceptable for $8. Maybe it was because we were here for lunch instead of dinner? Or their order for ground beef didn't come in this week? Their mud pie is famous here but they didn't have it today unfortunately. Generally the food is pretty decent here. The salad bar and steaks are good. Just don't get the burger! Visited January 2012.

    (3)

  • Malia E.

    Now, lets begin with: Buzz's aint Ruth Chris's & it aint Mortons. If you want fancy, go to those places. Buzz's is a unique long-standing Kailua establishment that serves a better than average steak and simply excellent everything-else. Its funky, its cozy, its altogether fun. The pupus are different than anything you can find anywhere else. Calamari steak is delicious. My favorite is the artichoke surprise, with a side dish of the sauce so I can slurp my bread in. They take out the small, poky leaves, leaving a clean and perfectly steam artichoke, with a decadent butterycheesygarlicy sauce. My hubby ALWAYS gets the ribs. They are HUGE meat ribs, with a bbq sauce. He also always wishes they would offer a sauce free option - just do a pulehu option - maybe thats something they could consider. My kid and I share a dish, usually either the prime rib or sirloin. As she gets older, frankly, Im lucky if I get two bites out of it. The two bites are always delicious. I particularly like the sirloin and steal more bites from my kid than shes happy with. But thats ok - Im really there for the salad bar. Lets stop here. Sit up. Pay attention. Buzz's is ALL about its totally awesome, totally different salad bar. Beyond the lettuce you'll find things like pickled cucumber, mint pineapple, watermelon poke, beans, cottage cheese, beets, and...AVOCADO. All you scoop onto your plate - and its endless. I have no idea how they do it - but Buzz's ALWAYS has avo on its salad bar. Top it with bacon bits (I think its real bacon) and fresh made croutons -- and you have an amazing, all you can eat salad! I think this bar is the best thing about Buzz's. Second to the salad bar are the BFRD's. These are like MaiTais on steroids. On this evening, sitting with my kid, I didnt have one. They are so strong that Buzz's limits customers to three. I once snuck in four by having my friend order one for me, and suffice to say, I completely understand why the limit is three. Finally, check out Debbie the Manager. Shes the sweetest and the greatest restaurant manager in all of Kailua. She checked on us twice, something I always appreciate in restaurant managers.

    (5)

  • Janine L.

    I am leaving my original review up- for now- but one of my great friends really loves Buzz's and thinks we should give it one more try. We have since visited the Pearl location twice and found the service much better, but the food no where near as good. Too bad we can't get this swapped around!

    (3)

  • Toby C.

    When I taste my first sip of a BFRD, I know I'm on vacation. I can't say enough great things about the service here- they treat you like kings and queens, even when you walk in with sandy, wet hair in a sundress. I highly recommend the calamari steak...I dream about it on the mainland. I'm sure I could get it...but it wouldn't be the same. Ask for the garlic sauce on the side of your artichoke surprise and you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Elle S.

    A little pricey, but worth it. Had the fish of day and prime rib, and we loved both. Pay extra for the hibachi fish, super yummy. The service was a little spotty, but kind of understand since the place was jammed. Had a 30 min wait at dinner time, but we didn't mind since we had planned to check out the sunset on the beach across the street before eating anyhow. The table was ready for us when we got back, so all worked perfectly.

    (4)

  • Jens J.

    I've not previously considered myself someone with the ability to predict the future, but I got a darkish premonition upon entering Buzz's late this afternoon. After being seated, an unsmiling waitress approached us and asked if we had placed our drink orders yet. We said no and she said "What do you want?" We placed our order with the sourpuss. Then a different (but at least nicer) waitress came by and also asked us if we had placed our drink orders yet. We said yes, but wanted to now place our dinner orders. We placed orders for an escargot appetizer, New York steak and stuffed ahi. As we were waiting for our orders, the haughty hostess came around the corner with an older couple and ordered me to "Move your chair" (apparently there was not a lot of room for customers to move around with the tables in their cockamamie configuration). No please, or thank you or anything. Just a few seconds after that, I saw three of the servers congregate nearby. They were talking about the confusion as to who was going to wait on which tables. Then the hostess came around the corner, glared at them, and they dispersed. Our 2nd server came back and nervously asked me "Should I delay your escargot so that it comes out just before your dinner?" Thinking, you work here, you tell me, I just said "Fine". So anyway, the escargot immediately came out. They should call this appetizer "garlic and a stick of butter with a couple little pieces of snail". In a ring around the garlic and butter bowl was, yep you guessed it, little slices of garlic bread. After the appetizer, the wait staff recongregated and again swapped complaints. And once again, the queen, er hostess, came around and shooed them away with her very presence. I didn't know entertainment was provided with dinner! Cool! Our dinner came out in good time actually. JP enjoyed his stuffed ahi and rice. I tried the ahi and thought it was fairly OK (but cold). Now my steak was another story. While it did have an original and pleasant wood smoke flavor it was extremely salty and overdone (no pink, even though I asked for medium rare). The green beans that came with the steak, you guessed right again, were steeped in garlic butter. I had also ordered the "steak fries". What I got were burnt and greasy wedges of potato. And like the steak, they were oversalted. Yet another miserable looking server came by with a dessert tray to see if we wanted any, but we declined. The topper was when we were informed by our server that Buzz's refuses to accept credit or debit cards (not a problem because we had cash), but I have to wonder why the owner/management of this chain restaurant feels that is such a great policy, other than for some purely arrogant and selfish reasons. MoFos. Why is this restaurant so popular? To be less than generous, but folks, some people just don't know any better.

    (2)

  • Kalie F.

    This place is in a nice location, most of the staff was nice, the hostess was a total bitch tho, but our servers were nice, we had about 3 different ones. I ordered a margarita, and a martini that tasted similar to a margarita came out, I didn't like it, i wanted a MARGARITA, NOT a martini, but whatever, and it was $9.00. My man drank it, and I opted to go for ice tea, how can you screw that up right? lol. My lunch was a chicken Cesar salad sandwich had mostly lettuce about 3 to 4 small pieces of chix in it, and i swear it was brown, and it tasted like fish, not chicken. weird and gross!!! The fries were ok. My man had the Buzz burger, and he enjoyed it. The only thing I would say is the reason this place is ok, is bc its really the ONLY restaurant in that area, and the patio is nice. definitely NOT the best lunch and it was pretty pricey too, 40.00$ total for lunch....

    (2)

  • Judy R.

    This AWFUL restaurant sits across Kailua Beach. We saw that there were a lot of people in the restaurant so we didn't think it would be that bad. Boy, were we soooooo wrong. #1 cash only. They used a DEBIT CARD MACHINE as an ATM. I had to swipe my card and specify it being a debit card charge! Then I had to sign the receipt and they paid me the cash from their register. And on top of that, i get charged $1.75. SHADY! #2 OVER PRICED food. Who pays $13 for salad bar? And it was not even that good! #3 Overpriced steak was so salty, I was only able to eat have of my Baby Top (6oz top sirloin $16. My bf ordered medium rare. Not only was his regular top sirloin ($23) steak saltier than mine, half if it was RARE (practically seared). #4 Ambiance was the worst of all! Lighting was dark. Only to hide the dirty furniture. The booth bench had little dust bunnies along the back. Gross! In addition to that, we had one soda and a cup of soup. Our total bill before tip was $47. All in all over priced food, mediocre food, and terrible ambiance. PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COST.

    (1)

  • Lisa K.

    I'm partial to Buzz's because of the log history with dining here as a teenager and now adult. We go hang at the bar every few months as locals in Kailua and usually order the salad bar and an entree plus an appetizer. Our favorite bartendresses are Rose and also Mahina (she is my older daughter's cousin). Go and have a good time people watching and also order any fresh fish grilled. Ono, you know!

    (4)

  • pracheta t.

    We had fun here and I know why they call is Buzz's. I was pretty buzzed after half a drink...which is probably why they only let you have one drink at a time. Terrible vegetarian options but luckily all I really wanted that afternoon was a strong drink and something light (salad). Good location too.

    (4)

  • Evan F.

    I've been going to Buzz's for well over a decade. If you're looking for some down right good steak and BBQ, etc, then it's not the place to go. I've actually never been impressed with the place in that sense. To me, it's always been about the environment and, of course, salad bar. I love avocado, and Buzz's let's me get my fix of it through their salad bar.

    (3)

  • Cleaner T.

    Here is the trick with Buzz's. You have to KNOW what you are doing. It IS possible to order the wrong thing. It is also very possible to order many of the right things and have a great experience. Below are my 8 rules to ensure a great Buzz's experience. These work for me. I hope they come in handy for you. Also, this mostly applies to the dinner experience, not so much lunch. RULE #1: Make Reservations Unless you really don't mind hanging out for hours and likely standing most of the time, you really want to make a reservation. The good news is you can usually get away with calling at 2pm or 3pm that same day and get the dinner time slot of your choice. (Those of you who show up as a surprise, get frustrated with seeing empty tables and not being seated.... please don't show up at all. You don't understand the restaurant business and you are killing the 'Mana' of the place.) RULE #2: Veteran Server When checking with the hostess, ask if you could be seated with a veteran/experienced server. Sometimes they are able to do this and you can avoid the once-in-a-while newbie. Actually one young girl we had serve us a lunch was exceptional! It can happen. --let's talk about drinks-- RULE#3: Get A Signature Drink In Your Hand 1. The "Freshy" My all-time favorite. This is a scratch, fresh lime margarita shaken and poured straight -up martini style, in a martini glass with salted rim. Sometimes they offer variations like, Li Hing Mui rim or Patron Silver. DO NOT DO ANY OF THIS GARBAGE. Tell them you want the 'Old School' original one with salt. 2. The "Buzz's Mai Tai" Best bang for the buck. Classic and potent. I think they will actually refuse to serve you more than three of these. The secret is that it tastes like tropical liquid candy yet there is not a single drop of juice. Pure gasoline. If you want a little pineapple juice do the B.F.R.D drink. --ok food stuff now--- RULE #4: Don't Poo-Poo The Pupu's (Appetizers) 1. Calamari Steak This is breaded, deep fried yet amazingly tender. Then drowned in lemon-butter frothy heaven. Not chewy at all. 2. Sashimi They will only make this available when it is good. This comes on a bed of shredded cabbage that is shingled in pieces of stained glass fish. Amazing how thin they cut this stuff. These will melt in your mouth. No chewing should be required. it will evaporate into your glands. 3. Meat Sticks These have amazing and powerful flavor. They cut try-tip on the bias and slow cook for hours on the Kiawe wood grill. You won't see these on the menu. You have to ask for them. They are reserved for the outside cocktail seating, but I think you can get them to cheat and bring them to you anyway. RULE#5: Seek The Salad Bar of the Knowledge of Good & Evil I hear and read that people are disappointed with this Salad Bar and I can only think that this is a function of their expectations. I think you really have to UNDERSTAND this Salad Bar to truly enjoy it. If you approach it with the idea that you are nearing a Salad Bar, I think that may be the first sign of trouble. This is not RUBY TUESDAYS. You have to think of this as an Antipasto Pickled-Veggie bar with a few traditional salad trimmings and outstanding home-made dressings. Having the knowledge that you are entering a mostly pickled zone will help you come away with what you like. Grab some hunks of avocado, bean salad, and my favorite and the most feared item there: the baby maui onions. Don't be afraid, they are like sweet like candy. With all that pickled stuff going on I suggest you cut the acid with the house Sour Cream dressing. Just when you think you are done. Continue down the signature uneven floor along the salad bar and don't forget to reach across the aisle to the toasted sunflower seeds, croutons and fresh pepper grinder. RULE#6: Just Say 'No' To Steak I love steak. Good steak. But you need to avoid all the regular steak offerings. I know, I know, the title reads "Steak House" but once you realize it's just not their thing, you'll be much happier. However there are two exceptions: 1. If they offer a special Hawaiian Rib Eye (and you like rib eye) then you'll love it. 2. The Filet Mignon is also a 'Special' that is very good. Unfortunately, it hardly ever comes around. RULE#7: Just Say 'Yes' To Fish The daily fresh fish is where they shine. They always have a nice selection. I caution against cooked Ahi. Ahi is good raw but gets fishy when cooked. It is pretty easy to over-cook fish. They don't. Buzz's has this process dialed in! Of the four preparations they offer I highly recommend the Hibachi Style prep. RULE#8: Look And Listen You are in a historic Kailua spot. Soak it in. You are right next to the beach. They don't make old wooden-walled places like this anymore. That natural wood is what absorbs the noisy people. Appreciate that you can still comfortably hear each other across the table and yet feel the energy of the feast around you.

    (4)

  • Reagan G.

    We went here for Fathers Day & they had a special brunch menu. The seafood omelette was delicious, and I think it had more than $12.95 worth of seafood in it. The Mexican eggs benedict (made with fish) was amazing! Very big portions & delicious!

    (5)

  • Justin L.

    Sign at the front says "we take all major credit cards" except there is a line through american express, which you can miss at first glance. It wasn't till we finished my dinner did I find out that they wouldn't take my card. Good steak, good service, should take amex like the other upscale steakhouses

    (3)

  • Mike P.

    Started out OK, then turned into the Worst dining experience just about ever. Arrived here in afternoon while they were still very slow & almost empty. There's a kind of a "rule board" as you go in to this beach restaurant, warning you of what kind of styles they don't "cotton to," such as nothing sleeveless for the ladies &tc. Seemed a little stuffy an approach for a "casual" dining experience, but OK fine, we pass, we're in. We were seated in the nice area inside with a great view of the ocean. The waitress was OK and took our order. Ordered 2 glasses of good red wine, 2 appetizers for starters. The escargot was great (once we got to eat it, see below) and the calamari was so-so. We'd come to relax, and wanted to have a slow meal, but this expectation evidently set off a red flag when I said that, after the waitress returned with our drinks, and prodded us again to order our entrees, that we were snacking for the moment and would decide later. So off she went and we enjoyed our drinks for about 5 minutes. All very pleasant, low key, & friendly so far. We were enjoying the breeze, our wine, our solitude (we were the only ones sitting in that area) when suddenly appeared "the manager" and everything went immediately south. She told us that she would be re-seating us in the less comfortable benches of to the side, as this area was reserved for people ordering "full dinners." I am embarrassed to say that I didn't just pay for the drinks, cancel the rest of the order and leave. Instead I tried out a couple of reasons on this business amateur why that was a bad idea: 1- I was already seated, & 2- even if I didn't order another bite or drink, we were the only ones there! The place was empty, except for a few folks drinking fairly loudly out in the "cheap seats" where she evidently believed we should be more comfortable. Well if I wanted to sit in a crowded, relatively noisy environment with no view and uncomfortable seating, there's the Harbor Pub for that, but we weren't in Waikiki, and don't like the place anyway. Well the good manager stuck by her guns and so we "enjoyed" the rest of our drink, the so-so calamari, and the snails while seated in the far back corner of the benches outside. NEVER AGAIN.

    (1)

  • Audrey S.

    I have only been once and I got the fish sandwich...horrible! I Couldn't even finish the sandwich and would have told the server had she ever returned to my table. Filled up on greasy fries and left unsatisfied...maybe I should have ordered something else? But after that i won't be going back.

    (1)

  • Tom S.

    We are tourists and based on a mixed bag of reviews and proximity to the beach we tried Buzz's. We had 4 in our party and waited about 15 minutes (as advertised). The service was fine. My glass was rarely empty. The food was tasty and came out quick. The setting is nice. All in all, it was a good experience and I would go back.

    (4)

  • Meredith R.

    Buzz's is located on the much less touristy side of Oahu, so that automatically says something. It's one of the more famous spots and located just minutes away from two of the most beautiful beaches in the state (Lanikai and Kailua Bay). We came here after a *perfect* day of the sun, and while it wasn't the best food in the world, it wasn't poor. Artichoke was ok - served with hot butter and mayo. The salad bar is intense - $10.95 gets you much more than bad quality cucumbers and tomatoes (like other spots) but rather, think: beets, seaweed salad, asparagus and exotic fruits. Shwing. The ahi sashimi was fantastic; fresh as it comes. But it was served with mustard, not how I'm used to eating it, ok, that's cool. My friends had tataki and seared ahi - both enjoyed their dishes. What else did we see? Massive stuffed potatoes and mud pie and lots of alcoholic drinks to sample. We were just too hungry and tired to partake. Bring cash, don't be bitter, it's all good....it's Hawaii, people, you're on vacation. Don't be grumpy about "no credit cards."

    (3)

  • C K.

    My husband and I were here for dinner today. The service was good. Before you start your main meal, you can take salad as much as you want at the salad bar... We ordered medium rare steak and Chinese style cooked snapper (fish). The medium rare steak was like a rare steak instead. It was chewy and hard to cut! However, the snapper was great. In conclusion, I would say that it is an over-priced restaurant mainly set up there to capture tourist! As both of us have only ordered cocktail which cost USD9 each, steak and snapper and guess how much was the bill? the total bill amount was USD80+ before adding the tips....

    (3)

  • Billy C.

    Went there on Jan 4th, 2012 since I was staying at Lanikai. Really wanted to give 2.5 instead of 3 star. I ordered the Ribeye and Sirloin rare for my girlfriend and I.... how do you manage to make rare steak nasty? Well, Buzz did. I went to a steakhouse and enjoyed their mash potato more than their steak... the customer service is good, salad bar buffet came with meal and price was reasonable as I expected to pay higher for another overrated restaurant.

    (3)

  • Mikayla H.

    ONLY BEACHFRONT RESTAURANT IN KAILUA ! I LOVE coming here for appetizers with my family ! You can come and sit at adorable little tables out front and choose from many delicious appetizers, including ahi poke, sashimi, and ceviche occasionally, and much more ! They have lots of tropical drinks ! One of my favorites ! Right on Kailua Beach !!!

    (5)

  • Trish S.

    Honestly, this place is a gem, and it's celebrating it's 50th year in business for a reason...great food, great drinks, great service! Lunch or dinner...it doesn't matter how you get here... Just GET here! Love u guys!

    (5)

  • Binnie N.

    My husband and I tend to go to a lot of steak houses. This place is definitely over priced due to the fact that it is across the street from a tourist attraction. The steak is not priced well for a dry tasteless piece of meat. The salad bar does not have good options either

    (2)

  • Deborah M.

    2 stars for the food and pricing, 4 for atmosphere/location: makes 3. Fun to take visitors once in a while.

    (3)

  • Art B.

    Overall a nice experience and certainly no problems with our prompt, cordial and attentive service which seems to be the main and recurring complaint. For sure make a reservation or be prepared to wait or go elsewhere. I liked the atmosphere which was like Frank Sinatra meets Duke Kahanamoku and reminded me a bit of a Mafia hangout in Providence, Rhode Island or some similar venerable dive. The menu is a bit limited but I created my own surf and turf by adding a mini top sirloin to a Opakapaka grilled fish. The fish was very tasty as was the bed of mashed potatoes, the oriental slaw and a sauteed chard or other green it came with. While not a fan of salad bars generally this one was nice, clean and fresh with some interesting items and an array of lettuces and other greens.The steak was a nice piece of meat and perfectly done but ultimately I fund the rub a little sweet and cloying; ymmv. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass/bottle, though I did not see anything exalted, and a full bar of course. I availed myself of the mai tai to warm up and yes it is very strong. So it's not cheap but neither is it grossly expensive: after all this is Hawaii and this is Kailua and it's at the Beach Park. Ours was $120 for two with tip, two drinks each and no dessert. PS, forgot to mention we liked it enough to make a rez for Easter Brunch.

    (4)

  • Tara G.

    I lived in Lanikai when I first moved to Oahu and this place was obviously a staple (I still went frequently even after I moved to Kaneohe and Hawaii Kai). I prefer their lunch menu 10x more than their dinner (in my opinion the dinner menu is higher priced, more restrictions, and the food is mediocre for the price). While at lunch you can get an awesome burger, tempura fries for a decent price and a great view (at the atmosphere is more laid back then as well). It's right off Kailua Beach, and while it has it's own parking...if it's busy (IE Friday or weekend at lunch time) be prepared to sit and wait for a spot. The entire time I lived on the island they were cash only (had an ATM machine, with a lovely high service charge)...I went back to visit family last month and WHAT?! I see a sign out front that says they "sadly" turned to accepting major credit cards! REJOICE! I never thought I'd see the day, Buzz's. Had some rude waiters, had some friendly and pleasant ones as well...service is hit or miss (as far as attitudes go - but Lanikai and Kailua are generally local and not tourist-y...so if you act like a tourist, you might get the 'tude). Service time is hit or miss as well, but you're on island time anyway - if you're in a rush go down into town in Kailua for the CPK or another mainland chain- they'll be faster. Burgers are exceptional, fries are my favorite on the island, and they do great drinks at the bar (even if they do skimp you on the size and they price it a little high...they're quick about the drinks and they aren't watered down!). Overall, lovely place, great atmosphere and view, great lunch menu! Few drawbacks, but so what *shrug*.

    (4)

  • Megan C.

    Delicious. We came in at 7pm on a Saturday without a reservation & were seated right away. Parking was kinda tough, but we found a spot. We were seated inside, it's a little dark, but I guess that's supposed to make it romantic? I don't know, but it didn't really bother me. My husband & I both noticed though, and commented on it. We were immidiately served ice water, and our server was really quick to get our drink order. My husband got the BFRD, which was very strong, and I got a girly Lava Flow, which was not. The drinks are a bit pricey, but not the most expensive i've ever seen. I decided to order a combo of the baby top (a 6 oz. Top Sirloin, rare) with Scampi, and my husband got the 10 oz. Top Sirloin with rice. They both came with a trip to the salad bar, which was very fresh, and yummy. The Berry Balsamic dressing was really good. Anyways, our food was out pretty quickly, the steaks were both cooked perfectly, and the serving size was just right. We had somewhere to be, so we skipped dessert, but i'm sure it would have been awesome too! For 2 drinks, and 2 meals our total bill was about 70 bucks (before tip), so I won't be here every weekend cuz that's a bit more than I like to spend on an average evening, but I didn't mind paying it because the quality was really top notch. Overall, a very positive experience, we will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Caitlin L.

    Much like a bad first date, we decided Buzz's deserved another chance...we had planned on heading out to North Shore for dinner, but it was a blustery day in the neighborhood, we didn't feel like driving...so Buzz's it was. Our last visit left a bad taste in our mouth (figuratively, thankfully!), but we wanted some seafood close to home. I am elated to upgrade them from my last review and both my hubs and I decided that we would definitely be coming back more regularly! It was never really the food that was not our taste at our last visit, more the service. I don't know if we caught them on an off night before, or if they upped their game, but tonight was phenomenal! For starters, I called at 5pm on a Saturday night trying to get a reso at 630p. The hostess told me they didn't have anything til 745, but when I asked if they had anything earlier cause we just lived down the street, she said to just get there as soon as we could and they'd squeeze us in...sweet!!! We showed up at 545 and were seated right away! Not only that, we had an awesome patio table with a sick view. I'm sure it was a beautiful sunset...not that we would know since anyone on the island this week knows mother nature is on her rag and is b***chin it out all over the windward side. Our server, Lei, was right with us, got our drink orders right away, and our glasses were never left empty. At one point I said I felt like we had our own personal busboy! We both went for fish habachi style, which is grilled with a lemon and teriyaki glaze. I had the opa and hubs had the mahi mahi, both were fabulous! I am definitely gonna miss all the whitefish they have here when I am no longer living aloha! (Thankfully, I have a few years!). We were in and out in less than an hour. Pleasantly full, and pleasantly surprised a the wonderful experience! I had to minus one star because they don't take American Express...I need my reward points!! :)

    (4)

  • D S.

    I know that many consider Buzz's to be a premier establishment, but to me it was barely acceptable. Too many tables crammed into service area. Servers were barely acceptable, food mediocre at best. The blue cheese dressing was the most tasteless and thinnest - in fact watery - and there was no blue cheese that I could ascertain. Very unpleasant to my palate, making my salad a waste. The menu listed a "baby sirloin" at a reasonable price, first few bites were delightful, cooked to perfection, but quickly went down hill from there. A serious strip of gristle ran through the remainder of the steak of both my wife's meat and mine. We did not complain because we felt it would do no good, we were never asked how our meal was, nor how it tasted. Our server should have recognized my dissatisfaction with the salad when I said I wished the salad plate to be removed because of the state of the dressing. I could never recommend this place to anyone without feeling I was cheating that individual out of a nice dining experience.

    (2)

  • John B.

    Food is ok, not great. Drinks are good, especially the lava flow and BFRD. If you're a hard core meat and potatoes and old school salad bar type, you'll be happy. If your tastes lean to something more complicated or nuanced, grab a cocktail and skip dinner.

    (3)

  • Tom I.

    We went to Kailua and Lanikai beaches for our first full day on Oahu and easily worked up an appetite by noon. Buzz's was the first option we saw while walking and we took a chance on it and ended up loving it. The service was incredible, our waitress Angie (I think) was super nice and very attentive, and the food was very good. It's obviously going to be slightly expensive (it's Hawaii, it's across from a public beach, it's accessible), but they do a great job and all of our food was very good. Drinks came in what seemed like 30 seconds or less, food was also fast and good (the crab sandwich was great), and the pineapple sherbet for dessert was perfect and simple. Would easily come back for lunch.

    (5)

  • Manako E.

    So I've been to Buzz's maybe 3~4 times. I'm gonna have to agree with everyone else- the service sucks. We walked in and the hostess was at her desk? chart? thing, directly in front of us, texting. Didn't even acknowledge us until another lady said hello to us. Rude, didn't smile, didn't seem happy at all. Actually, she seemed like she was in high school and had no experience with customer service before. Our waitress was nice enough, and the food was ok. I always get the same thing because nobody ever tells me their food is good. I think it's overpriced for what it is.

    (1)

  • Antonia G.

    We decided to stop for lunch and drinks before our day excursion at Lanikai Beach. This restaurant is in such a great location, right across from the beach! The restaurant itself is a little run down and the bathroom was dingy, but the service was great and the food really good too. I had a glass of chardonnay and the BLT salad and Brian had the teriyaki chicken sandwich which came with french fries. The BLT salad had romaine lettuce, spiral pasta, bacon, broccoli, and a creamy dressing. It was really good, I got the half too and I still didn't finish it. Brian's sandwich was really good and the french fries were really crispy. Great lunch spot!

    (4)

  • Brittani T.

    1 star- worst service EVER!! Our party of 6 arrived to Buzz's this afternoon and we were completely ignored for the first few minutes. We were then seated by a very sweet young lady named Alia, but then asked us to close our tab because they were switching shifts. This was the worst shift change. Our new waitress named shay or Tay- blonde and fake- was our new server. Many rude things happened: 1) fake server 2) I was asked to change my clothes (even though was in a bathing suit cover up 100 feet from the beach) 3) when standing in line for the bathroom, all of the servers were gossiping about multiple customers, including talking about another man that was sitting on the patio near us, in which they gave him "loner clothes" to be able to sit at their restaurant because his shorts were too short (to a mans mid-thigh). Another young customer lady was sitting at the bar (near the bathroom line) and talked to my friends and I about how disgusted she was listening to the waitresses talking about the customers - including us. 4) after we paid, waitress rudely reached over our whole party to grab her black book where her tip was. In my opinion, you never grab your tip until your customers leave. And we should have left $1. 5) all waitresses were caught rolling their eyes at customers and even ourselves when one of them tried to take away a plate that we weren't finished with. Food was good- can't complain, but I will NEVER come back here, feeling as uncomfortable and disgusted as we were. It's sad this restaurant probably doesn't care how they treat their customers because they know they are the only restaurant near the beach and people will dine there no matter what.

    (1)

  • Kelli B.

    It was good and my 1 year old even enjoyed being there. But I got a mad case of food poisoning just a few hours later. It makes me not want to try again even though I think it was just because of the salad bar.

    (3)

  • Nicki K.

    Both visits to Buzz's have brought mediocre experiences..the waitstaff seems grumpy and inconvenienced by having to serve you. They will only take 2 forms of payment (go with a group of 10, and you have to remember to remind everyone to bring their cash as they won't do a "divide the bill into 10 equal shares" as most places will). The inside of the place seems pretty dingy especially for their high prices. The menu is basic and unimpressive. The parking can be tough. I got the "Chinese Style Fish," which was pretty good, but a bit too salty for my taste. The upside to this restaurant is that it is the only restaurant convenient to Lanikai.

    (2)

  • Katie S.

    Ambiance: laid-back, casual and fun Service: friendly and attentive Food: very, very good. Their steak and seafood is really good. We also ordered burgers for lunch while hanging out on Kailua Beach one day and those were delicious! Full bar with good drink selection. Their dessert ice cream cakes are really good, too! Fore-warning: Parking can be kind of tough if the beach is busy.

    (4)

  • Tommy B.

    Two entrees tested today, Thai chicken salad and teriyaki steak salad. Desert was vanilla bean coconut ice cream pie. I've gotta day that both salads were accented with mint in the mix, and the desert was amazing. Well worth the price!!! Gotta add that the service was actually amazing. My drink was never empty. I tried.

    (5)

  • don m.

    Buzz's has been there forever---i.e. 35-40 years. it's your perfect beach side location restaurant situated across from Kailua Beach, one of Oahu's best. You want it to be good. It's the perfect setting for out of town visitors. The menu is simply prepared fish, steaks, chicken with basic side dishes. Also, they've always been known for their salad bar with its extensive assortment of choices. Now I might add, they mastered the heights of mediocre. The last time i was there my fish was over-cooked. that's easy to do, but unforgivable. The salad bar was pathetic. Sizzler's is better. Not to be left out, the wine list is poor, too. When i was there 2 days ago at Happy Hour (4:30) with a local friend who just got off a construction site wearing a tank top, the hostess and waitress gave us an over-sized plate of attitude. the place was virtually empty, we wanted a cool place out of the sun. "Sorry, that's for dinner only." Hey, no one's here and no one's going to be here for at least an hour. So, we find a tiny table tucked outside, not in anyone's line of sight where we might offend anyone. They want my friend to wear the house Aloha shirt which is probably a medium and he's XXL. No way can it fit. No way should he have to wear it. I belong to the Outrigger Canoe Club and what my friend is wearing, he could wear there. Then, the beer selection is limited and boring---think Bud Light, Coors Light. Then, their famous all alcohol Mai Tai is undrinkable. Over-priced, too. We asked for our check and went down the street to Kalapawai Market, bought a six-pack and sat outside having a delightful time. As another reviewer wrote, Buzz's is the worse place is Kailua. They're right. Stay away. I know I'll never be back.

    (1)

  • Gabrielle T.

    I was sad to see that this place didn't get better reviews. I'm a long time Kailua resident and Buzz's is one of our favorite places to get fresh fish and salad. When you arrive you can smell the wood burning in the kitchen, MMMM what a delicious smell. The wait staff are always busy, but there are lots of them. You have a waiter/waitress but there is additional staff that fills your water, clears your plates and brings you dessert. Cheryl is often our waitress and she is super fantastic and always remembers us when we come in. The salad bar is simple, but very very fresh, always has the same things and its our favorite part. My husband loves the salad bar more than anything. We always get the fresh fish grilled but we hear from our friends we bring that the steak and crab legs are equally wonderful. Ditto to everyone else on the calamari steak ... by far my favorite appetizer. though the artichoke surprise is also yummo. Dessert is a variety of ice cream pies that change daily. All wonderful. Lunch is simple and fresh as well, chicken wrap and soup is my favorite, hubby likes the fish sandwhich. Overall, this is nice place to take out of town guests who want a quaint, local restaurant on the beach with great fish and steaks, that's been around for years. For us Kailuans its a staple in our lives and we hope to be patrons for years to come.

    (4)

  • Gil G.

    Looked forward to a great lunch! Basically ok, nothing spectacular, crab sandwich and 3 fish and chip specials. Fish was 3 to 3 1/2, crab was a weak 3. The view was its usual 5. Bad news, none of the staff had control of the floor. Our adjacent table guests were seated soon after us. Having been split by the table, the female jumped up and moved to the bench seat next to her date. As he performed an oral exam on her tonsils while she sat on his lap, the staff was oblivious to this unacceptable behavior and nothing was said to them. Our food servers, at least 3, were present during this pornographic display. This was not a moment or two, rather, their entire lunch and the majority of ours. Every minute, we waited to see if John Quinones and his crew from, What Would You Do? would come around the corner... Sad!

    (1)

  • Vera D.

    After spending the day snorkeling at Hanauma, we didn't want to return to Waikiki for dinner. Our Fodor's rated Buzz's a "choice" to stop at on the windward side of Oahu. Buzz's is very close to Lanikai -- the island locals' fave beach. It's very old-timey and charming. We wanted seats on the porch and one of the tables has a placard proudly displaying the fact that the Clintons once sat and ate there (we declined on taking that table since it was at the very back of the porch). The salad bar was okay -- my husband was disturbed that the bleu cheese dressing didn't taste like anything at all. My ono fish was very dry -- I've never had it but his top sirloin steak was decent. We didn't intend on ordering dessert but we let the bus boy show us the choices out of courtesy. He didn't know what one of the flavors was and even took a small bite of it (we guessed Kona coffee ice cream pie). When he confirmed, we ordered that flavor. My husband thought it was funny that the kid was trying really hard but I was secretly disturbed that he didn't get us a fresh slice and gave us the one he had taken a taste from! The ice cream pie had freezer burn and had a faint taste of coffee. This wouldn't be our first choice for dining in the area, but we might come again for an appetizer or drink if we had no other choice.

    (2)

  • Erin M.

    We went as a decent sized group, and we all had something different. None of us were disappointed!!! The drinks are strong, the steak is flavorful, the fish is amazing! This is a must visit if you are in the area.

    (4)

  • Marci H.

    Had lunch here on vacation. It was FABULOUS! Not too expensive theFish burger was perfect and the Fish burrito was amazing. The staff could not have been better either. We did make reservations and we were glad. You can tell the locals eat here. Worth the drive.

    (5)

  • Amanda H.

    Buzz's has amazing seafood, really neat soup, and good steak. all of it is just a little too pricey. the view is epic, looking out on kailua beach, the weather is perfect with the breeze coming off the water. they close early, 9 pm, and it's not a place you want to take the kids. that said, i do enjoy getting over there once a month or so for the great fish selections. the prep and flavor is like nothint else. from mongchong to opa, to opakapa, to ono. you're going to love it. let's not forget their delicious style of preparing calamari. it's a sliced steak of it with capers and lemon butter dripping off it. despite the price i just can't turn it down!

    (3)

  • Jenny L.

    I'm all about supporting the longtime local eateries. It has been a while since I last been to Buzz's in Kailua. My friend and I dined with was just there a few weeks back, entertaining an out of town guest. It was fine then, but this time, uh, not so good. They do an ok job with their tray of Escargot and for the price, you really can't get it any better. GREAT DEAL. It does need help with warm bread to soak up the juices. The accompanied thin-sliced baguette toast, did nothing and the regular bread was cold. While enjoying this lovely app, we discovered a missing snail. Once advising our waitress, she had notified the kitchen and another plate came out. Kudos for this. The salad bar, well it is a salad bar, but a bit sub par. With so many great salad places in Kailua already, I thought it could be a bit better then this. Great selection of lettuce, big tomato wedges, sprouts, bean salad (which I know gotta be the one in the jar from Costco), 3 types of cheeses (unnecessary for 3 types), beets (from a can, ugh), and a few other random items. What saved the sparse salad options were the avocados! Good thing it's the end of the season and they had this. Ordered the rib-eye, thinking I'll have great left-overs....uh...didn't happen. I ordered it medium-rare and the thing came out still walking! RAW on the inside and charred on the outside. Uh hello, you had my steak cooking on a super hot fire! Even I know this. So after one bite, I sent it back. While I was given the option to order something else, I was a bit over the whole thing. Dessert...while comped...sub par too. DRINKS...nice and strong. The BEST thing about the experience: avocados, strong drinks, and good company. It's not a terrible place, just know what you are getting into. They do make a good fish (from what I heard....). And while they now accept credit cards, NO AMEX.

    (2)

  • Karen M.

    If you just want to eat delicious steak and seafood, then this is the place. Very good. However the salad bar was very limited and the romaine lettuce was mostly brown. None of the items were labeled and I didn't recognize them -- no cucumber, as an example, but what were the other things? The only good part was the great avocado on the salad bar. And the bar/wine prices were on the high side. We came here because we had been here on a special evening four years ago when we were on Oahu and loved it. Not sure on our next visit that we'd go there again. Oh, and I almost forgot . . . we had made reservations for a patio table . . . they put us in the very back, very small, very dark corner of the patio. And the worst thing is that it had a plaque on the wall, "President's Table" with the dates and names of the Clinton's and the Obama's who had eaten there before (in different years). NO THANK YOU. I almost barfed and I hadn't even eaten anything yet! We asked to be re-seated, and had a beautiful table inside. I think they should ask their patrons if they want to sit at this particular "president's table" before they assume everyone would!

    (3)

  • Karen T.

    Buzz's is is the grande damn of the Kailua restaurants. I have been going since I was a little girl and it is still my favorite dinner spot. It is lovely for lunch too with the beach just across the street. The salad bar is wonderful and the grilled fish and meats are always good. Service is friendly, it is a lovely step back in time for us old Kailua folks.

    (4)

  • Brent K.

    We came here for lunch. This is my third time here. I had the top sirloin and a salad. It was good, But the appetizers were great. Teri BBQ sticks. Calamari steak, and poki all good. It's kinda old but cute place.

    (3)

  • Martin C.

    Visited Kailua Beach Park and decided to have lunch at Buzz's across the street. Actually, tried to have dinner there a couple of nights earlier but decided to pass on that because the restaurant was too busy and too noisy for my taste when I stopped by. This time, I got there when they opened for lunch at 11am -- well before the crowds. The lunch menu is pretty limited -- basically burgers and sandwiches w/some interesting items (like artichoke) here and there. Was having a hard time ordering, based on the available selections, until the waitress said that one of the specials of the day was a reuben sandwich. Didn't like the soup choices but chose gazpacho as the lesser of evils Topped it off w/a Longboard (local) beer. The reuben was very good, the beer was ok and the gazpacho was substandard -- too thick and too spicy -- for my taste. There is seating on a small patio facing the road as well as inside seating. Got a table outside, which seemed more pleasant than the cramped and noisy quarters inside. Service was fine, but should have been since there were few other customers when I arrived but the restaurant filled up quickly by the time I left only a 1/2 later. Expect a line to get in during busy times because the restaurant is quite small. The best featured of the restaurant is probably its location -- right across the street from Kailua Beach Park and the only other competition is the take-out deli/market up the road.The food was acceptable and reasonably priced. Not great and not awful -- just ok. So, if you're hungry and it's not busy, it's a very convenient spot to catch a meal w/o having to drive back into "downtown" Kailua about 3-4 miles away. Ciao!

    (3)

  • Alison Y.

    I took my husband and dad-in-law here for Father's Day . . . within the first two minutes of arriving there, I was sorely disappointed after they asked us to move tables AFTER being seated. Take into consideration we had our 18-month old daughter with us and already situated her in the high chair, etc. Also, keep in mind that we were coincidentally seated next to a table of friends that we haven't seen in a long time. When asked to move, we were NOT happy campers. Not a good first impression at all. I'm not even sure why they moved us because the previous table sat empty for a long time before another group came in. After we got re-situated in our new table (which was also hard to navigate into with the big tree branch in the way), the manager sent over a complimetary appetizer for troubling us. It was the best calamari I've ever had. That still didn't solve the fact that we had to move from our nice corner table and was separated from the table of friends, but it was a much-appreciated gesture. We had a nice view of the beach from our new table (kept my daughter entertained) and the drinks/food arrived within a reasonable amount of time. I was slightly disappointed by the salad bar though . . . I'm accustomed to the Buzz's in Aiea - there they have garlic bread on the salad bar. Buzz's Kailua does not serve garlic bread :( I ordered the prime rib, but it was OOOOK, nothing special (and didn't come with rice). I would go back, but definitely not order the prime rib again.

    (3)

  • HighStandard S.

    Came here for a quiet meal during a time when the place was empty. A movie star showed up, and the staff lost their minds. After that, it was impossible to get a water glass filled or any other service. Food is over priced and over rated.

    (1)

  • Dana P.

    As a kid who lived in Lanikai in 1963, I remember Buzz's as a locals bar & grill. The men's room was wallpapered with Playboy foldouts. Now, it's a pretentious dive with awful seafood and a really good steak. If you stick to the turf, steer clear of the surf and drink heavily, you'll really like this place until the bill comes. Having said all of that, it's the only 'nice place' for dinner in this part of Oahu's windward side.

    (2)

  • K C.

    0 stars if possible The manager was rude, the servers were nasty! Drinks were the only good things about this place. It's the only place near Lanikai so we stopped. If you don't like working near a tourist attracting, don't work there!

    (1)

  • Cristina C.

    **Newsflash! Buzz's Kailua accepts credit cards now, just so you know...** Just ate here last month with my two favorite uncles. I had the terriyaki chicken salad (a special that day), and it was really, really good. The steak itself was so tender, I kept pushing little bites to the others because I felt like I was tempting karma by not sharing. My favorite table under the tree on the corner of the deck, my uncles, cold beers and a view of Kailua Beach...priceless. The view, casual ambiance and unpretentious service is awesome. I give it five stars because of the location.

    (5)

  • Geoff G.

    I've been here twice, on two different trips to the Island...from Waikiki it seemed like a haul, but the drive was nice. Neat location, always jam-packed with people and the parking lot is pretty small. Buzz's was much better the second time around. I had the grilled 'Monchong' and it was outstanding. hawaii-seafood.org/monch… if you are wondering what the hell a monchong is. Highlights -Strong drinks (Mai Tai was pretty decent) -Simple menu -Go with the grilled option on the fish Lowlights -Yep, the bathroom is tiny -Service is pretty slow, but we've always rolled in during peak dinner hour

    (3)

  • Christina H.

    Just love it here. After a nice morning at Lanikai or Kailua beach park, it's nice to come here to get a great lunch. Awesome ambiance, I always look forward to meals here. I like the steak sandwich (read, NOT a philly cheesesteak, ok -- don't even go there, cause being near Philly, you just can't get a good cheesesteak out of the city, period!). I love being able to "come as you are." Looking forward to being there again in October! Aloha

    (5)

  • Jim W.

    I don't know how this place is so popular with tourists. What tour books are telling people that this is a good restaurant? Do yourself and your family a favor and stay away. There are many, many better options out there people!!! I have lived on Oahu for a couple of years, including a year or so in Lanikai, and have given Buzz's more than a few chances. Yesterday was the last straw that led me to write this review. The food is absolutely miserable, service is slow and at sometimes nonexistent, and the prices are ludicrous. It is really sad because the location of this place has excellent potential. The owners, however, seem to care more about maintaining the status quo of an overpriced, overrated restaurant and taking money from tourists who mistakenly believe that Buzz's is a good bet because it is across from Kailua Beach. My friends, if you are hungry in Kailua, please eat at Kalapawai Cafe. If you want excellent fresh local fish that isn't overpriced, head to Nico's at Pier 38 off of Nimitz Highway. And if you want a cool beach bar with good food and drinks, an awesome wait staff, and the perfect ocean view, hele on down to Duke's Waikiki. What about the famous Buzz's Mai Tai you ask? I guess they're decent if you like a drink made with straight rum and ice. Not even close to being the best mai tai on the island. For that, please visit The House Without a Key at the Halekulani.

    (1)

  • Greenballoon X.

    Food: We came in between their lunch and dinner hours, so didn't have a full meal, but snacked on a healthy portion of ahi sashimi (nicely thin cut) and the "artichoke surprise" - which was a butter drenched steamed artichoke with parmigean cheese - may or may not be your thing. Tropical drinks were great (of course) - I really liked the "Lava Flow" which was basically a pina colada with strawberries. Service: Lonely Planet warned us about bad service, but our waitress was super nice and another server even checked in on us a few times since there was a shift change going on. No problems here. Decor/environment: We sat outside on the porch, which was great and had views of the beach and water. As the only place in Kailua remotely close to the beach, that's a major selling point here. Bottom line: Solid all around and would definitely go back for drinks and snacks next time I'm in Kailua.

    (4)

  • Scott K.

    Great for lunch or just a quick drink right next to Kailua beach. The food and service is great. After 4 pm it becomes more formal and the menu is higher prices but very up scale too.

    (5)

  • Paige F.

    This place was great to stop in for some cold drinks and moderate food. The ambiance was pretty good inside. Outside would have been nicer though. It is quite dark inside. We had the B.F.R.D which was pretty good. We definitely left with a buzz, so at least they lived up to their name.

    (3)

  • Jason S.

    I've been going to Buzz's as often as I can since my first trip to Oahu back in the 1980s. Not much has changed, and that's a good thing. It helps if your cousin used to tend bar there (you get bigger drinks), but I enjoyed my teriyaki chicken so much I'm looking forward to next time in hopes Auntie Dolly lets me pick up the check.

    (4)

  • Tuyet N.

    3.5 stars Parking: There is a private lot. No charge. Seating: Indoor and outdoor patio offered. Try to dine outside for a great view of Kailua Beach! Service: The service was okay. Our server couldn't answer all our questions and had to go back and ask. My bf and I shared an appetizer and an entree. It was nice of them to split our meal into two separate plates without us asking them to do so. Food: We had their ahi poke for an appetizer. It was my first meal on the island since my last visit and ahi poke was a must for me! The poke was fresh and delicious, but it could have used less soy sauce. It would have been one of the best pokes I've had if it wasn't for that extra drizzle of soy sauce. We ordered a teriyaki steak burger without the mayo dressing. It came with a side of seasoned fries.This was by far the best steak burger I've ever had. The steak was very tender and full of flavor. It was cooked to perfection at medium rare. The buns were also perfectly toasted. Although it was already split in half for us, the presentation was a little sloppy. I had to reposition the cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. Price: The steak burger was $10.95. A little pricey for a burger, but not too bad for a steak burger. Ahi poke market price for half a pound was $10.95. Very pricey for only half a pound. Would have been worth it if it was too salty. Overall, Buzz's Lunch and Dinner is a great lunch spot for those who are planning to hang out at Lanikai Beach or go kayaking at Kailua Beach.

    (3)

  • Kim l.

    We were seated at the Presidents table (Clintons) on the outside patio. It is dimly lit inside and outside. The inside portion of the restaurant smelled like an old person's home (not very appetizing). Good thing we sat outside. Service was a tad slow. They served complimentary bread and butter. Passionfruit mixed drink was good 4/5, salad bar 3/5 basic selection, not super fresh, rib eye was a lot more flavorful than the filet mignon but overall just mediocre meat 3/5. Mashed potatoes was mixed with some weird tasting cream, I barely touched it. Total bill $73.

    (3)

  • John O.

    Make sure you bring plenty of cash because this place that sells $30 steaks and $10 drinks does not take credit cards! WTF! Hello!!! So one day you decide to go to this place. You have some cash in your wallet and of course your debit card and Visa. You sit down, order some food, a drink and you get the bill. It cost $45. Not a problem, you place your card in the little black credit card folio. They tell you they don't take credit cards. They do take checks. Like who really walks around with checkbooks any longer? So you check your cash stash. Not enough to leave a tip. If their ATM is working you can use that I suppose. Of course they will charge a fee to use their personal ATM machine. Sound pretty shady to you? I think so.

    (1)

  • pamela h.

    We went to buzz's fora late lunch the other day. The service was excellent, the prices decent, the location fantastic. The food was not great. Fries seemed like frozen variety. The sashimi did not seem fresh and we did not eat it. My husband said the burger tasted like cafeteria food. The steak on my daughters plate was good, so we all split it. Unfortunately, I ordered the ahi tuna on my salad, it also tasted "off". The Caesar did not taste like Caesar, rather tasteless. The frozen drinks-well they were great! Step it up a notch or two and this place could be awesome!!!!

    (2)

  • Tara C.

    Well...I got suckered again. With friends in town who desperately wanted to go (OBVIOUSLY they didn't read my YELP reviews...what is WRONG with them?). We made the mistake of showing up at 4:30PM, while they are "setting up for dinner" The patio tables are empty, but we aren't allowed to sit at any of them for "drinks and appetizers". I guess that you have to spend a minimum amount to sit at the patio tables. Instead, we are invited to stand in the entry way (since the "drinks and appetizer" tables are all taken.) They shove appetizer menus at us, but I wonder how or WHY we would eat them standing up. Once again, is not the vibe I am looking for after a day at Lanikai. I see an older couple checking in for a dinner reservation, but they too, are asked to stand and wait until the rest of the party gets there, at least the hostess smiles at them. It's a passive aggressive smile..but a smile none the less. Once they find out we live here, they try and appease with free posters. A nice try, but...you know, too little too late. Good hospitality means feeling at home..I explain to my guests that WE do not go here because of this treatment, and they concur. We have one standing drink and bolt.

    (1)

  • Amanda T.

    Buzz's has been a favorite for a long time now. Let's start from the beginning... Parking...private lot but you can usually get a spot. If not, the beach park parking lot is right across the street! Seating...usually pretty quick. Depends on the time of day. We almost always make a dinner reservation and get seated as soon as we walk in. Lanai seating is our favorite! Make sure you request it when you call for a reservation. Service...EXCELLENT. Never had a bad experience here. Bartenders are friendly and the drinks are great. Lanikai Lemonade is a favorite. And they make a pretty good lemon drop martini too :) Food.. The usual is top sirloin and lobster combo. Hubs orders that and we share. Salad bar and bread is included with every entree. And the salad bar has so many choices! Love avocado and they have pineapple with cilantro. So delicious! Other entrees we've tried: Teriyaki chicken with garlic mashed potatoes - The garlic mashed are super yummy. And the portion of chicken is definitely big enough to have left overs. Fresh Fish - Fish varies day to day and there are 4 preparations (the waitress/waiter will tell you all about it). I think it's steamed, hibachi style, grilled, or the signature chef preparation. Strongly recommend the chef preparation! The sauce is to die for and the fish is always cooked just perfect. We've had the mahi mahi and the opa. And Dessert...oh dessert where shall I start!? First, they come out on a tray ready to be picked out and eaten right there. Not like other restaurants you go to and the ones on the tray are plastic "display only" desserts. How lame is that?!? Not Buzz's. The chocolate cheesecake is to die for...and both the mint chocolate ice cream pie and the mint chocolate ice cream pie are good too. Just depends on what you're in the mood for. The best part is the ambience. It's a small little beach shack...but a nice one. Cozy but classy. Dim lighting, cozy booths. Right across the street from the beach, lanai seating available. They have cool lamps outside lighting up the lanai...and a tree growing through it! Love it. And the menus are wood! Just turn them over when you're ready to order. I love Buzz's. The hubs and I will be loyal customers for a long time!

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    Maybe 2 1/2 stars. Great location and atmosphere. A good spot to link up with friends for drinks and pupus after the beach (the only reason we come here on a regular basis). You can sit outside and miss the lunch crowd, however, only pupus are available after 2pm until the dinner hour. Also, beware, staff think they are doing you a favor when you sit outside after 2. Last time I checked it is the customer who pays so just bring me my drink and pupus and hold the attitude. Could use some improvement in this area. Lunch is good but dinner is way overpriced. Really good burgers and Scampi salad. Won tons and calamari steak are also a big hit. Mai Tais and BFRDs will not fail you, but what is up with the limit of 3? Used to be cash only but now they take credit cards (welcome to the 21st century) All in all you should have a good experience here.

    (3)

  • Stevie L.

    Simple and excellent.

    (5)

  • Anthony A.

    Meat: 2.5 Stars... We ordered our NY Strip medium rare and half of it was mooing, the other half was fine. The strip had a flavor more consistent with being old then aged, but it was edible. We also ordered the ribs which were very fatty, but the bbq sauce was decent. The selection of chops that you can choose from is very laking (NO FILET). Salad Bar: 1 Star... One of the most awkward and un-salad salad bars I have ever experianced. How they get away with charging 13 dollars for this is beyond me. Steak Fries: 5 Stars... The most enjoyable thing on our plate was our fries, I would recommend coming to this restaurant and just eating these. ;) Bread: 1 Star... Cold. Atmosphere: 3.5 Stars... We ate outside where you could hear the ocean just fine. There are nice paper lights everywhere which sets a very romantic mood. Really wish the food lived up to the atmosphere. Restaurant is a bit dirty. Service: 3 Stars... A-ok, nothing great. Payment: 1 Star... Cash only or check... but who carries checks anymore.

    (2)

  • Teresa P.

    I'm really upset I had to give one star. After a day at the beach (across the street), my boyfriend and I thought we should grab a beer or two at happy hour at "that shack looking place across the street." Well, we walk up on the porch and the hostess looks me up and down ( i was fully clothed) and looks around all nervous and another hostess comes out and tells us we have to leave because my boyfriend is wearing a tank top. We drew curious states from people eating (in tank tops) and it was one of the most embarrassing moments ever. I felt like Julia Roberts in pretty woman when they won't let her shop. NEVER AGAIN will I attempt to go here. I'm a hairstylist, I have tons of clients, and I tell them all about this instance and they won't go either. What a snobby establishment. So disappointing.

    (1)

  • Mike C.

    After a day on the beach Buzz's was recommended by some local residents. Our family orders ranged from steaks to ribs to the catch of the day. All were very good. Ribs piled high, grilled fish was excellent and the steaks were very good. Service was friendly and accommodating. Salad bar was very good but the options for the younger children in the group were limited. Overall a fine meal. Great location in Kailua and would return if the opportunity presents itself.

    (4)

  • Myia R.

    Went to dinner twice and lunch several times. Located right across from Kailua beach. Good service, good food. Expensive though. Lani seating which I prefer! I'd recommend for appetizers and drinks!

    (4)

  • Nicole S.

    I threw up all night, everything I ate at Buzz's. Prior to the dinner I had at Buzz's I had eaten nothing all day (and eating on an empty stomach isn't an issue for me). After Buzz's all I ate were a few pieces of coconut from Whole Food's market. I doubt it was the coconut as my stomach was not satisfied to have just expelled that portion of the dinner. I ordered the lamb, two Mai Tai's and this came with a starter salad bar. The bill for one person was over $70.00. (A price which should signify quality.) I called the restaurant the next day and spoke to the manager and she listened to me with an unconcerned tone and said she had had no other complaints about the food so it must be me not the food. She then took down my address after I pressed and said that maybe the owners might want to do something for me but the sense I got was that probably nothing would be done. (And indeed nothing was done.)If one eats at Roy's restaurant and the food is improperly cooked it's served again or a credit is given! I know this only because my folks felt the meal was too salty once and Roy's sent a credit to their home when they wrote to complain...If Buzz's wants to charge Roy's prices... (and even a dinner at Roy's would doubtfully have cost that much) then they need to stand by their creations and offer better care for their customers. And aside from my illness afterward I think that this establishment tries to be cute and cool "old Hawaii" but old Hawaii would not have prices that high (to exclude many people) and would respect Kama'aina like Ohana (family) and honor it when a family member says they were made sick. There is nothing about the look of the establishment that merits these prices and the salad bar is overhyped and not special. Their website has a quote from someone in Alaska saying they think about that salad bar when they are at home from their vacation- clearly that person has never eaten a decent salad. On a positive note if the prices were more fair and the food safe it would be a cute, fun place. Perhaps at one time, before my time, it may have been.... I should add that later I looked at other reviews and saw that other people had gotten sick as well!

    (1)

  • Cindy B.

    So we went to this place on a friends referral of the steak. We get there and are seated, amd wait 10 minutes before someone brings us a paddle with the menu. This place has no cheese for anything. No burgers. Stuff that most steak houses have. We order and the waitress asked us if if we wanted to add fries or baked potato. My husband added fries & I added baked potato. She failed to tell us each of them would be an additional 3 dollars that we found out when we got the check. This place doesn't accept credit either! With the prices they charge how do they not take credit???!?? And the "ATM" machine is a credit card machine. This is a place I'd never go again. 17 bucks for a tiny chicken breast come on!

    (1)

  • Tana R.

    so ONO. go for the artichoke surprise!

    (4)

  • Glenn G.

    The fish there is great. The salad bar is kinda lame.

    (4)

  • LuLu M.

    WAY too expensive for what it is and honestly, the servers act like they are too good for you. We sat at the bar to eat and the bartenders talked to each other about personal stuff for about 10 minutes before even addressing we were there. Our drinks were about $11/each - way too expensive when you can get it cheaper somewhere else. Ultimately, not a very special place, there are better places in Kailua.

    (2)

  • Glenn G.

    I like to stop here when I'm in Kailua -- mostly for the ambiance and location. Food quality and price is average. I always get the fish burrito and have never been disappointed. A couple of negatives- they don't take American Express and parking is limited.

    (3)

  • Lana S.

    I had "fresh fish burrito" for lunch , then I had bright red rash all over my body. 4 hours later I started to vomit , I had to go to emergency room and I missed my flight because of that. Doctor said I had food poison from the fish I had for lunch.

    (1)

  • Jason G.

    The burger i thought would be a steakburger like we have back home (chopped steak) was actually a tender piece of tasty steak goodness. It was one of the best steak sandwiches I have eaten. Boo on the service though. they were not that busy and we sat around for quite a long time waiting for the check. What the heck, Buzz, don't you realize we got beach to sit on!?

    (3)

  • Carrie D.

    My first time here and it was great! My steak was fantastic! Everyone in our party had awesome dishes-of course I sampled lol! Service was prompt, knowledgeable, and friendly! Parking is limited but its right across from Lanikai Beach, where there is a large parking lot. It was empty when we went for dinner, all we did was walk across the street. The place is a little small and cramped but my overall experience was very pleasant!

    (5)

  • Nick M.

    I honestly can't believe people are so down on this place, I love eating here. Do you want to love it here too? Here is how: Make a reservation to sit outside. Wait for your outside table while enjoying a cocktail, they make some good ones. Order a calamari steak! It is fantastic. Get some food and pay in cash. OH MY GOD, I have to pay in cash? Really, since when is this such a big deal? Use their ATM... And get over the 1.75 ATM fee, I rarely see fees lower than that, even at banks. Bottom line, slow down. Get to know the place and you will love it. There is a tree growing through the deck and into the roof for Pete's sake... It's gotta be cool.

    (4)

  • E N.

    I neither hate or like Buzz's. Its kitschy, poor quality service with a schizophrenic menu. Food seems to be okay... I had a boring Avocado soup & a good steak salad with some kind of Southeast Asian flavor combinations. Not great, not terrible.. sort of what Kailua dining is all about.

    (3)

  • Shali X.

    Husband & I came here three times on our recent 10 day trip to Hawaii, and really enjoyed it. On our first day, we happened across Buzz's & came in for lunch. I wasn't too enthused because we were seated right next to the kitchen and there was that dirty-rag smell in the air (barf), but once the food arrived, I actually forgot about it because the food was so tasty. The ceviche was unbelievable, full of ahi & avocado & so much tasty stuff. The fish burrito was pretty good, but nothing to rave about. When it was highly recommended to us by locals, we also came back for dinner. The fish specials were crazy good. The ahi served hibachi style was my choice both nights we had dinner there. My husband ordered ribs on our first night, and on our second visit we split the fish special, because the salad bar left us very stuffed. Great salad bar, excellent fish dishes, I'm a fan!

    (4)

  • Diana T.

    What I like about this restaurant is the location. Located in Kailua right at 2 good spots: the river & Kailua/Lanikai Beach. Therefore, if you're doing activity at the river & at the beach, & it's nearby lunch or dinner, you can simply just walk across the street to this steakhouse & enjoy your dish & a cold drink. Now for the food, their best dishes are: 1. The steaks 2. The fish, especially grilled "fish of the day" specials. 3. The burgers. your restaurant is definitely a tourist attraction because its environment really feels like you're in a tree house in a tropical forest, which is a suitable fit for Hawaii. Overall, I like your restaurant & I'll definitely come back in the future for more. Therefore Perfect 5/5 from me. Congratulations Buzz of Kailua.

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    Now I'm not going to lie, I wasn't expecting much from Buzz's. The hype around the "President's Table" and the proximity to a couple of touristy beach spots raised my scepticism. We went mid-week at around lunch time and there was a short wait for a table. We decided on drinks and appetizers so could sit outside without delay. The servers were attentive and service was fast and friendly. We ordered: 2 different lilikoi (passionfruit) cocktails. They were good. Very very good. Artichoke surprise. If you like artichokes garlic and butter then this is made for you. There is however NO real surprise as our server told us all about it. Where's the mystery people?! Aside from this disappointment ( I think I wanted a Happy Meal toy inside...) it tasted great and was certainly one quality artichoke. Calamari Steak: Big slab of calamari, fresh, cooked well, with more of the above mentioned garlic butter. Great. Fries. Ummm yeah, they were fries. They were fine, not much to see here. My 5 stars is for the restaurant, food, service, and drinks. If I had to rate the other clientele it would be a cloudy night indeed. No stars awarded for the mouth breathing riffraff who clamor round, hoping to catch a glimpse of where Clinton once parked himself.

    (5)

  • Dorothy S.

    I was pleasantly surprised with lunch here. This place is underrated. Drinks were awesome. Calamari steak appetizer was delicious. Fish burrito tasted great. The place is right across from Kailua Beach. Service was flawless. Overall a great experience. If you come here, I would definitely recommend the calamari steak!

    (5)

  • ashley h.

    I had the fish burger which was quite possibly the best thing I've ever encountered. It was the catch of the day and it was fresh and delicious. We also had the poke of the day and a few signature mai tais that were ah-mazing! Go for the one with pineapple - it packs a punch while still remaining refreshing! Service was great, lots of locals, a perfect meal!

    (5)

  • Amber Q.

    First off, O'ahu's traffic is worse than LA's. It's a trap! You think you're driving in the right direction, then you realize you're going in a circle, and it's a one-way, so you're really screwed; and it's taking you an hour longer because road construction is on every block. Ah writing that out felt good. After finally escaping the Waikiki maze, we ended up in Kailua. Enjoyed the calm turquoise ocean, the cool breeze. Sand was finer than a sexy lady. Almost. My co-worker was hungry and wanted to eat at Buzz's. He said he's been there before and enjoyed it. Wait wasn't too bad. The place was not "in your face screaming largely scaled tourist trap" restaurant. Ambiance was a mix of casual and slight intimate setting. Waitress was bubbly, friendly. Greeted with complimentary dinner bread. We started off with a couple mai tais. Damn that sh** was strong. I suppose it better be if it was $1O each. Co worker ordered teriyaki chicken. We ordered catch of the day entree and ribs. Entrees were decent. However, he said the chicken tasted like a rubber chicken or dildo. Either one. Our dinners came with unlimited salad bar servings. That was my favorite part. Not the worst restaurant. They need to work on their recipes, and it will be a fine place indeed.

    (3)

  • Marisela B.

    Food is mediocre. Service was excellent although management sucks since the place was being investigated. m.kitv.com/news/buzzs-st…

    (2)

  • Aaron G.

    We tested Buzz's the while on vacation despite mixed review because it was walking distance to our vacation rental. We had a reservation and were seated on arrival next to the front door with a view of the door and backsides of those waiting for a table. Service was prompt. After cocktails I attempted to order the prime rib, no go they were out so I settled for the NY Strip. My SO had the macadamia crusted hebe. We had the artichoke surprise for a starter, very good if you like garlic and butter. They were out of two wines I attempted to order and they did not attempt to make up for being 0/3 on my orders. The NY strip was very good and had a unique flavor. My SO enjoyed the hebe. Overall a positive experience and I would return if it was a walk and hope that with a reservation I was not crammed in a seat behind a door.

    (3)

  • Jonathan Q.

    I've eaten in upscale restaurants all over the world. I have never felt more disrespected eating at other places then I did here. The entire experience was outrageous from beginning to end. The Host makes Oscar the Grouch seem like Mother Teresa. She was shockingly rude. My friends all ordered drinks and I was the designated driver, I ordered a water. She rolled her eyes at me and taunted me by asking if their drinks were too strong for me. Later, we started by each ordering appetizers. The waitress then immediately replied by saying "You are going to have to eat outside if that's all you're going to order". Regardless of the fact that we DID plan on having a full dinner, we immediately canceled our order and left. This is a high class restaurant with no class. If eating mediocre food while being insulted by the staff is your thing, I would highly recommend this place. I honestly believe that each and every employee in this establishment would sell their own mother for a buck. Thee absolute only thing that this place has going for itself is its location. Please stay away for your own good.

    (1)

  • Colleen J.

    Buzz's is everything I remember it being. On the beach, great for happy hour mai tais, and perfect for noshing. I will go ahead and say I've never had dinner there, but it's not really much of a dinner place in my eyes. It's a post beach/hike hangout - nothing too fancy -- although they will make you put on an aloha shirt (men) if you come in one of your skimpy tank tops. The tapas menu has pretty good prices and the food is decent. Definitely order the sashimi and the meat sticks. Yes. I know what you're thinking. "Meat sticks? Like, sticks of meat?" YES. EXACTLY LIKE THAT. ORDER IT. I will say that the spring rolls were rather lackluster- actually we had a good sampling of the tapas menu and all I can recall are sashimi and meat sticks... so there you have it. Order those, get a mai tai, sit on the patio and enjoy the life. Success.

    (4)

  • Amy E.

    Underwhelmed to say the least. Super overpriced and very limited menu with a less than mediocre salad bar.

    (1)

  • Kimo C.

    LOVE Buzzs Steakhouse. My boyfriend and I go here at least once a month for a nice and relaxing evening, great customer service, and a wonderful dinner. Dinner is typically very busy, especially around the 7pm prime time dinner hours. My advice is to make a reservation as early as possible. Ask to either sit in a booth or on the outside patio. If at all possible, avoid the bar area- it gets too personal with other neighboring tables right up against you and could possibly ruin your time. Favorite appetizer is the sauté garlic mushrooms, which comes in a little bowl full of butter/garlic magic. Any meal you choose, you can't go wrong. Fish is always fresh and prepared the same as if my family were prepping it at home, the old fashion way. Steaks and meats are always perfect to order. I've never been disappointed. Between my boyfriend and I, we typically throw down about $120 tax included every time we go there for dinner, including a bottle of wine, dinner and tip. Not a bad deal for a great evening!

    (5)

  • Brooke G.

    Their BFRDs are out of this world!! We got the prime rib and a steak. The steak was by far the best steak I've ever had. The prime rib was so-so, which was a major bummer. Reservations are a must, they are always packed!! But trust me when I say it is worth going to!!

    (4)

  • Jerem B.

    Ok, probably the best place I went to in Kailua. After walking along the beach for some time, per recommendation we stopped in at Buzz's. Great plan. They opened at 11 and we got their very amazing Mai Thai's. The waitress warned us they would be strong. Which was exciting to hear. She was not lying. They were intense and just what we had hoped for. I had the best fish sandwich I've ever had in my life. It was a firm swordfish kind of thing. Special of the day, I wish I could remember the name of the fish. I think I asked her two times. All of the cocktails are amazing and I think between two of us we tried all but maybe one on the menu. We sat on the patio which was perfect. We had two really interesting trophy wife / rich skanks sit next to us which was really hilarious to hear. The blonde one had a real jacked up face but she was trying really hard to not look 40+. A for effort. Get out of the sun, you'll get skin cancer, instead try your luck at liver disease with some of Buzz's delicious cocktails OMG.

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    Prefer to sit outside because kinda dark inside but bar menu only available outside, no dinner. There were no trade winds so there were a few flies which was a bit annoying but the price for al fresco dining in Hawaii. You may see the ocean in the distance across the street. Service was friendly & we didn't feel rushed. Prices on the high side for what you get. The pupu platter was basically a dinner with the meat pre-sliced & the veggies from the salad bar on 1 plate. Only downside is you cannot go to the salad bar on your own. The top sirloin was cooked as requested & seasoned well.

    (3)

  • Jose G.

    We must have been here on a good night....ish. We had to wait for our "entire" party to get there in order to be seated, so that's a minus one star. Maybe this set the mood for a disappointment that never happened. Our waitresses were on the ball that night. We had a total of maybe 4 BFRDs between three of us and holy hell are those things strong. Think of a Mai Tai without the Mai Tai.... if you like rum, this is your drink. Salad bar was perhaps the best salad bar I've ever had the pleasure of eating out of from any restaurant anywhere. I had a delicious burger that had something sweet on it, some guacamole and just a whole bunch of delicious. I would be able to remember this better had I not drank that rummy coladaness called the BFRD and the vodka lemonade thing... Parking is first come first serve... so I suggest parking at the nearby park (no pun intended) and of course not leaving anything of value in it.

    (4)

  • Jason J.

    Worst service I have ever had. On vacation with my family in Hawaii. We arrived with tank tops on at 430pm, we were not allowed to dine in that clothing. They provided us with a shirt, stinky and too big. I had to make a phone call so they took my menu before ordering. I asked for another menu, before I knew it they took it again. Still haven't ordered food. If my family wasn't starving I would've left immediately. It's Hawaii, come on I had a tank top on. Ended up not ordering anything, it was obviously way to difficult. Bought a stupid shirt to get this dish rag of a shirt off. Will never go here again this is ridiculous!

    (1)

  • Bethany W.

    Cool little place to grab a bite to eat. We got a seat pretty quickly, even with 4 adults and 3 kids at lunch time. Service was good. Our waitress was friendly. Food was okay, but nothing that I'd shout from the rooftops about. No kids menu, but still family friendly. If I was hungry and over that way, I'd probably eat there again.

    (3)

  • Nikki B.

    This place was excellent. Not sure why there were only 3 stars but because of that, we went in expecting to be disappointed. Glad that wasnt the case. The salad bar was like no other... It had lots of different toppings that you typically dont see at a salad bar. The steaks were cooked perfectly and the green beans were really fresh. Service was perfect! Definitely on my list to go back to.

    (5)

  • Ican R.

    I had the ahi wrap, others had the burgers and clam chowder. Everything was yummy and well worth the stop.

    (5)

  • Carley M.

    I ordered the teriyaki chicken, my friend did too. When it came out it tasted more like some random sauce chicken, which I was okay eating as they assured me it was gluten free and another version of Teriyaki sauce. My friend complained that it was it was not teriyaki chicken and she did not wan to eat or pay for it. The waiter got upset and walked away with it. He came back with the bill which he still charged her for her item because he said he took a bite and it tasted fine to him. After getting a manager involved her check was adjusted. The drinks were ok, the wait was extremely long but at least they have seating outside for you to wait in. We opted to cook for the remainder of the trip, except for when we went to Waikiki there were a lot of good options there.

    (2)

  • Melissa V.

    Fish and chips and fish burrito's with a BFRD for lunch - WOW. They aren't kidding with the BFRD - and it's strong. The food was really good, better than we expected it to be - I'd go back if we were in the area.

    (4)

  • Katie S.

    This is the local dive. Kitschy to the max. Didn't have any food - but the bar was just right. It's all in the name, folks.

    (4)

  • Danny S.

    Attempted to eat lunch here but the waitress who sat us was so extremely rude that we walked out. When she was kindly asked if they had a kids menu she said rolled her eyes and said NOPE. Every questions afterwards was answered with disrespect and attitude. My wife was so upset we walked out. I asked two other servers at the same time to let the manager know we felt very disrespected and wouldn't be staying. They didn't seem to care. Location is great but unless you want to feel unwelcome I wouldn't eat here.

    (1)

  • Ryan B.

    I really only come here for the mai tais. Seriously the best on the island. So good that they have to cut you off after three. It's a good thing the beach is right across the street for you to jump in and sober up.

    (3)

  • Nikki N.

    I love restaurants that have an old vintage feel but this place is definitely stuck in the 80's. We were seated right away, viewing an electrical tower, which is super romantic, and the service ok because our waiter left us too long. My filet minion and his rib eye were surprising cooked well. Cons, the service, the prices, and the drive to get here and pro all you can eat salad bar. Sizzler, where are you when I'm craving a basic steak?! Most of these establishments in Hawaii have the Yelp approval sticker. Don't believe the hype! Please take any of these reviews with a grain of salt. Just become a Guinea pig like me and chance it. YOLO.

    (3)

  • William H.

    It's a long wait you need reservations but well worth it! Great food sat outside with a view of the beach

    (5)

  • Megan B.

    What a great spot to grab a drink and some grub. Prices are average. They were accommodating to my food requests. I can tell that this place can get busy. Luckily, when we went we didn't have to wait too long. Cute ambiance. Love the local flavor. The server forgot our soup but we didn't fret. An artichoke and a salad was good enough for me. One note, I felt like my artichoke could have been cooked for a bit longer but I still devoured it. I also used the extra garlic butter to dip the free bread into.

    (5)

  • Michelle A.

    My BF and I stopped here for drinks and food after our hike up to the Lanikai Pillboxes. Stephanie, our server, was so cute and super friendly. We had the ahi poke, spring rolls, and the calamari steak. All were great! Ask for extra mint leaves with the spring rolls and wrap them in the lettuce they give you....SO delicious! The calamari steak is out of control. The buttery, lemony, caper sauce makes this app wonderful. Ask for bread and soak up the leftover sauce! I'd have given this place 5 stars if you could order entrees on the patio, but you can't. And they have a weird rule about people not having more than one drink in front of them. Otherwise it's a great lunch time place close to the beach in Kailua.

    (4)

  • Ron S.

    Steaks are choice - not prime. Salad bar not as great as before. Wait staff and hostess with an attitude. In all a disappointment. Not as great as I remembered from years past.

    (3)

  • Eddie A.

    Had a great lunch with my wife and friends from Japan. We were skeptical after seeing some of the comments on Yelp but the food was very good and service was also good. You won't find a better calamari steak and the Scampi Spinach salad had nice size shrimp. The seafood pasta on special had crab, fish, and Shrimp with great flavor. Portions not big but good for lunch prices. Overall great time.

    (5)

  • Ralph K.

    Honestly not worth the hype.. very pricey for what you get and what you get is a little worse than average. Been here twice. . not again..

    (1)

  • Katelyn W.

    Absolutely love it here! Mai tai's are awesome but the food is phenomenal! I always get the salmon and my husband always gets the calamari dinner. Severs are very professional and always friendly. Lunch and dinner have different menus but both are so good!

    (5)

  • Shayla M.

    Wow incredibly poor showing for lunch...oahu revealed gives this place an ONO rating....it was not even decent food. The service was very nice, friendly, and informative....but the food was downright awful. Orders came out completely wrong and cold....ordered the chinese fish as recommended by oahu revealed. First dish came out late and cold, they refired it and it was tough and still awful. Fries came out cold, chicken dish tough...there were four of us an nothing was good or served hot..... felt bad for server....nicest guy ever....now about that chef......

    (1)

  • Duraiboi' I.

    Kailua's biggest Tourist trap, if your not a regular from Lanikai they won't let you sit on the patio... I have lived in Kailua 6 years and every year I try to give Buzz's my business, so I go back for more abuse and it is the same old story every single time.... Rude & snooty management and service. Don't bring your children, they will treat you like you have a communicable disease! I am a single dad with a very well behaved daughter, but they don't like children at this restaurant so they will try not to give you a table if you bring young children. If they think you are a tourist, they will make an excuse why you can't sit on the patio... They are super friendly to their regular clientele, but treat all others with a condescending manner... Especially if you come in casually wearing board shorts & a T-shirt. Come on people, this is Hawaii, there is no need for anyone to have to wear docker pants & aloha shirt so that you will treat them with respect. I eat out approximately 4-5 times a week in Kailua and go to my favorite restaurants weekly. If they were just a little nicer, they could get so more regular business but I would rather give my money to considerate small business owners:) But they do have a great location and they know so they don't have to give good service or make good food because there are a plethora of tourists that will keep them in business indefinitely. Now to my food review, every single time I go there my steak is over cooked. I don't like to complain at restaurants because I don't like to waste food, but I have send my steak back every time because it comes out overcooked like leather... I even tried ordering it "rare" to try to get a "medium rare" cool red center, but of course it came out with a hard grey center. Plus they charge you like their steaks are a "Prime" grade beef, but I doubt if it is even "Choice" grade... Most likely it is "Select" grade and the meat is definitely not aged at all. This is supposed to be a Ruth's Chris/Morton's type Steakhouse, but Costco has better beef. Now don't even get me started on their "Sizzler" type salad bar... They do have good cocktails and a great calamari steak appetizer. But I am a foodie and need more than that to become a regular at a restaurant. If you are on the windward side and do crave steak, go to Haleiwa Joe's Kaneohe Haiku Gardens because they have a phenomenal Prime Rib and beautiful scenery:) but go early, because the Prime Rib will sell out by 6:00 pm! I just hope one day their owners will read their Yelp reviews and make some changes because that could be a great Kailua restaurant if they could treat people equally and serve better quality food.

    (1)

  • Grant A.

    I figured that I was going to just another bar by the beach for a beer and some bar good. But I could not have been more wrong. I ordered the first special I was offered and for a beer. The special came with a basic salad bar which was nothing special. But when my stuffed salmon came out, I realized that I wasn't mentally prepared to have one of the best meals of my life. It was great . The environment was a pleasant relaxed Hawaiian bar theme and the the staff was very nice. I can't wait to come back

    (5)

  • Eugene H.

    Food/Drinks were okay, not outstanding.

    (3)

  • Lisipa S.

    Today (technically yesterday) was one of my girls birthday so we decided to get a early dinner before we headed out. The atmosphere is very quiet and kind of somewhere you would take a date, very cute and cozy. We made reservations and quite frankly didn't like the section they held for us, so I asked for different seating. I was surprised at how quickly the manager was able to get us a new table in the banquet room. She was very nice and really helped to make our experience there great. FOOD: Let me start by saying they have the absolutely most amazing prime rib..... *Heavenly*.... A huge and succulent piece of heaven! However, it comes with steamed veggies and any starch is extra, so for all you rice and potato lovers keep in mind that it's of extra charge. Well anywho, everyone in our party really enjoyed their dishes. Menu is really limited but everything is perfected. Not to mention there is an all you can eat salad bar packed with salads, fruits, cold pastas and the most delicious sourdough bread rolls/slices. *tip* try not to get full before your entree comes out. Lol Since it was my friends birthday she got a free ice cream pie. They bring it out on a desert try and let you pick your favorite. They have all flavors ranging from rocky road, cookies n cream, strawberry cheesecake, mint grasshopper, Napolitano, mocha and etc. Yuuuuummmmm! That pretty much sums that up. Definitely recommend the cookies and cream, there were full oreo cookies in it! SERVICE: Service was great! Drinks were always full, servers were very attentive and there at our beckon call. They made conversation with us and really made us feel comfortable. They regularly came around checking on us to make sure everything was okay and if there was anything we needed. Being in the service industry, we can really appreciate that. CON: Only con is that it is a bit pricy but you get what you pay for and this place is golden..... if you want cheap stick to McDonald's. We will definitely be back to get our prime rib fix.

    (5)

  • Cindy U.

    The pork sandwich with mango chutney on nan is amazing! I had the chicken orzo soup on the side and that was very flavorful. I had the lychee martini and that was delicious as well. And we had the cheesecake for dessert which was very creamy and yummy. And the waitress filled my water bottle which was a plus! Good experience overall.

    (5)

  • Brandon M.

    This place was much smaller than originally thought from the pictures online. The tables are placed very close together, so any decent amount of customers will make it seem crowded. We ordered the Chicken Teriyaki Breasts & 8oz. Teriyaki Steak Meals which come with a salad bar and bread. The steak was ok and had no hint of a teriyaki flavor. The chicken seemed ok as well. Each meal was about $20.00, which seemed fair for the area. Total bill was $51.20. I didn't like how there were no other side items that came with the entrees besides the small salad bar. I decided to try and order the Key Lime Pie for dessert, which was $7.00...it wasn't much different than anything I have tasted from a typical store-bought or homemade kind. Overall, the waiter and staff were friendly and attentive, but not worth it for me to make a return here.

    (2)

  • Erin K.

    My fiancé and I went here to celebrate our engagement. We were seated at an indoor table and decided to order a bottle of wine, along with two appetizers and 2 desserts. We were wrongfully profiled as a young couple by the manager and told that we shouldn't be sitting in the dining room since we didn't order entrees. I am never a person to complain or post anything on Yelp but this horrible experience has caused me to write this review. Anyone in the field of business knows that the customer always comes first. The fact that we were being reprimanded for what we ordered (or the lack thereof) was extremely tacky and uncalled for. The waiting staff was extremely courteous and friendly but the management needs a wake up call. If Buzz's wants to retain any valued customers, they definitely need to change the way they treat their clientele. What does it matter what I order? I can say for certain I won't be returning to this restaurant and I will spend my money at a place where it is appreciated.

    (1)

  • Roger H.

    This is a very popular restaurant - the ambience is right on. It's about location and being outside. Food is average - nothing special. Service needs improvement. During our visit we arrived just as the restaurant was opening. Servers, hostess and management seemed annoyed or irritated. Not one employee gave eye contact, smiled or acknowledged any of the customers who were waiting. As I continued to watch staff I realized they all seemed miserable. Perhaps it's not a great place to work. Smiles, sincerity and acknowledgement can go a long way.

    (3)

  • malakial j.

    Last nights meal at Buzz's was a huge disappointment. I ordered the Baby Top medium well with a baked potato. When my meal arrived I was shocked with what I saw, a flat piece of meat. Seeing what the other steaks at the table looked like, I questioned the others at the table regarding their meals because theirs looked so much better than mine. Three of us ordered the exact same steak, yet theirs was thick and juicy and mine as flat as a pancake. When I brought this up to the server, thinking I must have been given the wrong item, I was told that mine looked that way since I asked for it "medium well." He then said, "It looks dehydrated" and walked away. Now I have been ordering my steak medium well my entire life, have eaten at the best steakhouses all over the world and NEVER been served a hockey puck or anything that wasn't thick and juicy.The meat was tough, flavorless, straight up awful. The side baked potato was also not fully cooked, there hard in various places. Goodbye Buzz's, I won't be back.

    (1)

  • Michele M.

    Personally, I think there are much better choices to take advantage of right down the road in Kailua. I had the soup and salad bar for dinner after meeting up with friends late thinking it would be a safe (hard to mess up a salad bar) quick option. Quick was accurate. Not such a good salad bar or soup. To be fair I would not write a review based solely on a salad bar... After trying many of my friend's meals I was equally unimpressed. Also, everything was way over priced. Bottom line? Spend the extra bucks on the gas tab to drive into Kailua Town for a better meal.

    (2)

  • Mary J.

    Never have I been so insulted and disrespected. I will never return to Buzz's! Very rude staff and extremely poor service. From the drink girl to the hostess to the waitress and especially the manager, the vibe was very stuffy and rude. Such a disappointment! We walked up to the place, were first rudely told by the drink girl that we had to put our names in for a table before she would serve us. After we did that we were asked by the manager if we were here for drinks or dinner. We said dinner. Waited outside for a table. Once we got inside we decided to order a bunch of pupus (appetizers) to share amongst the four of us. After placing our order of 2 alcoholic drinks, calamari, shrimp, and 2 ahi pokes we were so rudely told "oh you're JUST ordering appetizers!? You have to eat outside then and let me see if we can even move you outside!?" What!? I've never been kicked out of a restaurant (super casual on the beach) and told I wasn't allowed to sit inside!!!! We live on this island and work very hard and do not deserve to be treated with such disrespect. To top it all off they stated this policy was because they are "so busy" even though they had many open tables that night. After I voiced my concerns with the manager, it was clear she did not care about pleasing the customer or repeat business. She still made us pay for our watered down drinks after all of this. I told her we will never return and her face said it all. "I don't care get out of my restaurant". Do not EVER step foot into this place filled with racist rude conceited people on such a friendly island. I felt like I was in NYC not my home, Hawaii.

    (1)

  • Marshall W.

    Great ambiance, very "beachy". Prices a little high, but you are paying for the view and the atmosphere. Food is only OK, but they do deliver a tasty meal. It was one of our favorite places on Oahu (first choice was Roys). I think Buzz's is an institution as the locals speak very highly of it.

    (4)

  • Wendi H.

    Don't try this place if you're not a local. The hostess was so rude to me when she showed me to the table that I actually told my husband that I wanted to leave. (She gave total attitude when I said didn't have a reservation. Mind you the place was nearly empty. Then she shows me to the table and slammed the menus on the table and walked away. Wow!) And so we decided to leave before we even ordered. Who wants to pay $$$ to be treated poorly?

    (1)

  • Kayla J.

    We had a great experience all around. Our waitress was Taylor who was practically born to work in customer service. Her service was excellent! The employee DJ was nice as well. It was my husband's birthday and he made sure my husband got a brownie with ice cream and a candle! Thank you so much to Taylor and DJ! We will come again and I recommend this place to everyone.

    (5)

  • Matt H.

    Sad but this was probably a decent local joint but now just a tourist trap. Food - ehh... Salad bar is definitely hit or miss (brown lettuce). Good luck reserving a table 2-3 nights ahead. If you request outside seating you'll be told on the phone it's not guaranteed. Then you get there, get seated inside but see an outdoor table empty only to be told it's reserved for someone who called ahead (interesting). Mind you it sat empty for an hour?! Maybe I just didn't impress the elderly host when we entered. . . All in all, BE REAL WITH YOURSELF - 3 stars before my review. That means it's par for the course.

    (1)

  • Nikki H.

    2.5 stars actually. We made reservations for 8PM for 4. We had some friends visiting from out of town who wanted to see Lanikai and since Buzz's is pretty much on the beach we figured this would be a great spot to take them. We arrive a little early and find a spot on the patio and order drinks. Our cocktail waitress was wonderful. When 8PM rolled around someone came over and said "The party at the table we have reserved for you won't leave. So we're sorry for the extra wait" - What the hell, you can't find another table? Whatever. I'll have another glass of wine. We finally get seated and she hands us a cutting board, that's also their menu, and I should have used it to smack the shit out of whoever thinks it's okay to charge $15 for that bullshit excuse they call a salad bar. It had mixed greens, beets, carrots, onions, seaweed salad, 4 dressings. Really, that's what $15 will get me. You're an ass, Buzz's. We finally have our waitress come and tell us what the specials are, since the cutting board wasn't giving me any spectacular options. I opted for a spicy seafood pasta dish and my husband had a filet. Well, this is where Buzz's gets the .5 extra star, the food was good. Not worth what they charged, but still, good. All in all I wanna call Buzz's a tourist trap with outdated decor, slow service and really really overpriced food. You've been warned.

    (2)

  • Janet L.

    Got in just before the dinner crush. Salad bar was decent and had fresh avocado and fresh pineapple. Greens on the salad bar were clean and no brown pieces, a pet peeve of mine. Had the opah (moonfish) which was excellent. It came with the salad bar and delicious steamed squash. Also had a Bloody Mary that was excellent as well. It was very loud where we were seated. It's small and they pack people in when they're busy, understandably. Not cheap, but good food and it's right across the street from Kailua Beach Park.

    (4)

  • Lynne N.

    Make sure to call in a reservation or else the manager/host will make you look stupid in front of everyone and give you a hard time about it. My fiancé and I were about to leave because of how rude she was but it took us about 20 min to get there. So we decided to stay and hope for the best. Our waitress was very polite and knowledgable. The food was not what I expected. It was delicious! We started of with the Calamari steak. Calamari was thick and nicely breaded. For dinner, I got the hibachi plate. One thing I do not recommend is the salad bar. Fruit fly maddness.

    (3)

  • Victoria G.

    Pretty good food! I would recommend the salad bar, catch of the day, and the drinks! Their french fries are also pretty good. Going for dinner is better than going for lunch!

    (4)

  • Jonny R.

    went here because we were staying in Kailua and some mokes recommended it. It's pricey, and not a great place if you're not into meat. My first clue should have been the sign "Steak House" DOH! Also not kid friendly at all. Drink menu seemed fun, bartender was a good pour, and portions seemed decent. Our waitress was nice and helpful, other staff members not so much. Did I mention this place is pricey?

    (3)

  • Nicole S.

    It's truly sad and disconcerting to have to write a review of this nature after patronizing this establishment since I was a child. In adulthood, I eat here about twice a month, whether it be for lunch or dinner. After our experience this past week, I can say the days of Buzz's being our restaurant of choice are over. I thought about contacting the manager, but given the reviews that other people have written, it appears as though my complaint would have fallen on deaf ears. And frankly, I was too upset to speak. NEVER in my entire life have I gone to a place in which service is to be provided and been insulted both to my face and then amongst staff members. My parents, husband and I decided to have a leisurely lunch in Kailua. Living in Hawaii Kai, it's just a short jaunt and naturally we chose Buzz's as we typically do. Well my husband called for last minute reservations and was told outside was already reserved so he mistakenly requested a booth near the entrance. We've been there many times to know that's not the most comfortable seat in the house and I decided to ask if we could move to a table as there were at least three tables in the back area that were unoccupied. I politely approached the hostess and asked if a table was open. She literally sneered at me and said "your table was what was requested." I was blown away. I explained that my husband had made a mistake in requesting that table--her overtures at that point were so nasty and her attitude so overtly rude that it was seen and heard by my family as well as other guests seated nearby who when I returned to the table, gave me a look of absolute shock. I was so horrified by the way that I was being treated, I had to walk away. Clearly, this person realized the gravity of her actions and approached the table. I was actually sickened, so I motioned for her to go away. She replied "okaaaaay" and proceeded to walk up to the bar and loudly talk about my family and I to which the woman behind the bar started snickering. At that point, we walked out. I can honestly say that I have never in my life been treated this way. Working in the high end retail service industry, specifically management, I am most certainly appalled. If I ever witnessed or received word that one of my employees treated a customer in this manner, they would have been immediately asked to leave. In search of lunch, we then proceeded to the California Pizza Kitchen. Not our first choice but we weren't about to let this person ruin our day. There were clearly issues on her end that she felt she needed to take out on guests, specifically me for some reason. I could only describe her behavior in one word--DISGUSTING. Her actions were absolutely be shameful! When we walked in the door at CPK, the hostess smiled at us and our server was phenomenal. I then asked to speak to a manager and thanked her for her gracious hospitality and told her that from start to finish the service had been impeccable. I then proceeded to share this story. Let's just say, while she certainly didn't comment as she was the unequivocal service professional, I could tell that she was pretty shocked. She simply said, we pay our employees to smile--that's what they're here for to provide excellent service. Period. Buzz's was a place that we consistently turned to for dinners and leisurely lunches. We've had celebrations with family and friends and had countless meals here without any complaints. Is this a restaurant that necessarily PRIDES themselves on stellar service, no. Are employees polite and are all requests met with good food, yes. I can say that I will never step foot in here again. I will also continue to share this story with everyone that I know who is a patron and anyone looking to eat here. To walk in as a paying guest to be insulted and humiliated is unforgivable.

    (1)

  • Stephen P.

    My girlfriend and I ate here two times while we stayed in Kailua, and although we had a great time, it did not blow us away from a food perspective. The first time, we actually had a table on the patio (we were there very early) that from reading the other reviews, is hard to get. The setting was wonderful, and the service was great. The second time we went, we sat inside, and our table top (not the base), was pretty wobbly, and we had to make sure we did not tip the table too much. We really liked the drinks. But unfortunately, the food was not up to our standards, especially for the price. Between the two times we went there, I had the Ribeye and the Prime Rib, and although good, not great. My girlfriend had the Ono the first time which was good, again not great, then the Ground Sirloin which was actually pretty good. This is a fun place to go, the service was great, and was within walking distance to where we were staying which was convenient, but we thought the quality of the food did not match the price.

    (3)

  • Karen M.

    Went there for lunch. I ordered the burger. It tasted bland, the patty was gross and burnt in parts. It tasted really cheap and frozen and definitely not home made. A sad looking piece of lettuce rounded it out. The bread was also sweet fast food quality rather than what I would expect from a restaurant. The chips were delicious however, and my boyfriend had grilled fish and he said it was very good, as was the Caesar salad. Another point - we sat inside and it smelled bad like a wet dog smell. Suggest management should look into fixing that....

    (2)

  • Ellen K.

    This place had great fish but the salad bar was disappointing. The restaurant ran out of bread and did not offer anything in compensation to replace bread. I feel like it was way overpriced for what you get. I know the restaurant has been here for a long time but the atmosphere is way outdated and slightly dingy feeling. I probably would not go back because

    (3)

  • Guy H.

    You might think location location location, but this has a little bit more than just a beautiful location right across the beach, good food and friendly service. The only downside is for lunch there is no children's menu but we made do with a delicious teriyaki chicken.

    (3)

  • kona y.

    After hearing pretty good things about this place I decided to try it out. The salad bar was great but the teriyaki steak entree left something to be desired... Better off with a bag of gas station beef jerky. The restaurant has a beach theme and I came in in a tank top with board shorts (as they have self described their "patrons" to normally be in such attire-on a poster in the back bragging about a presidential visit) and was forced to wear a oversized shirt because of the salad bar... After I visited the salad bar I asked if I could remove the shirt and the staff told me I needed to keep it on until I left, by the way- I am a very neat and clean person and had just come from home-not the beach. Not recommended. Go to Hailewa joes in Kaneohe instead!

    (2)

  • Patrick S.

    Came here to celebrate my best friend's birthday last month which he came from out of town with his wife to celebrate. There were 9 of us in our party. Service: Was good. Our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu and daily specials. Atmosphere: It's has a nice, low lit, classy, old hawaiian kind of feeling. It looks like a big house or mansion, converted into a restaurant. We went on January 21st (Martin Luther King Day). The place was packed so the one small negative I have is that it felt a little cramped when walking to get salad or going to the bathroom. Food: Main Entree - Oh My!!!! I know it's a steakhouse and I didn't get steak...but I had their Opakapaka. Now they have many ways to get it cooked, so I got it grilled and WOW. Don't ask what the options are...just get it grilled...the sauce they use makes it taste HEAVENLY. It was fresh and cooked just right. Nice portion too and was totally worth it. Reasonably priced for what you get. Their salad bar is compact but still offers quite a selection and was fresh. It's also really nice that it's included with all their entrees. Their drinks are INTENSE....had a mai tai and they make them STRONG....my second and only other drink was their BFOD (forgot the actual acronym but it does reference a swear word)....it's basically their mai-tai lightened with pineapple juice. Yeah you read right...a mai tai WITH pineapple juice. Their straight mai tai is basically all alcohol. I heard they limit folks to like 2 or 3 of those drinks cause they make them so potent. We ended the note having their famous homemade key lime pie. Our waitress was nice enough to save some slices for us when we were seated because they only had a few left. It was light and delicious. The cookie crumb crust added a nice crunch.

    (5)

  • Matt K.

    Returned after a few years for dinner. While the restaurant still isn't really comfortable and the service still mediocre, the dinner salad bar was exquisite and the surf and turf was delicious. Some if the food is delicious, but I would still choose a location with better atmosphere and service.

    (3)

  • Scott G.

    So, I have been coming here for years. Love this place. Great atmosphere. The food is very good, not great, but very good. The salad bar is always fresh and the staff is friendly and fast. Always pay attention to the specials as they usually offer some very fresh fish. Good drink selection. Call ahead to make reservations. Overall, just a fun place with great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Todd P.

    Live 2 houses down from this place and just wanted to order takeout quickly while it wasn't busy. I was then redirected to the bar where I sat down and the lady asked me if I would like a drink. It was 11:15 am and I said no I want to order something to go. She then asked me to move to the seat at the end of the bar to order from another lady. So I left. Been here in lanikai for 2.5 years and still haven't eaten there. Clowns

    (1)

  • Dan N.

    Buzz's is a small Steakhouse, so make reservations or be prepared to wait for a table up to an hour. Parking is a pain in the @#E%$#, so walk if you can or be prepared to drive around as parking at the restaurant is limited. They also have REAALLLY strong drinks, but if you are paying $10 for a mai tai you know you are getting your money's worth. The calamari was very fresh and my wife's steak was grass fed beef from the Big Island. It was very tasty. I had the stuffed Opa which was pretty good, but the stuffing was average. For dessert we a couple of items. The bread pudding was delish and my daughter had the flourless chocolate cake which was a bit dry. My wife's coconut cheesecake was the bomb.

    (4)

  • Brandy M.

    I have lived here for almost 3 years and I have never heard anything good about Buzz's...I wish I had not listened! We went at a little after 11 so we missed the crowd (maybe that's the secret lol). Our server(s) were all great, the strawberry lemonade was the FRESHEST I think I've ever had, the Calamari Steak was incredible and the Open-faced Crab Sandwich was hands down the best thing I've eaten for as long as I can remember! My hubby had the Reuben and he loved that as well :-)

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Had a great experience. The food was excellent. Salad bar was fresh and tasty and included fresh avocado. Had the hibachi style fish and it was incredible. Service was great. Its a touch pricey but its understandable considering the great food, atmosphere, location and demand.

    (4)

  • Greg B.

    I would like to state that the chocolate cheesecake was really rich. It was great. It was wonderful. What was surprising is that the cheesecake was the real thing on the desert platter. I thought it would be a plastic representation of it. The Jack Daniels burger was nice. The fries tasted like sliced in small long rectangles toasted on an oven. The ketchup helped. The burger was delicious and the added sauces just added to the 'volume' of the taste. It is expensive and small. I gathered that the place is the original one, as the name implies, and resembles a house with a view of the road. The road is next to Kailua Beach Park. You couldn't miss the place if you tried. It is expensive and busy. It is obvious that the many people at the beach and walking to the beach tend to go this place. There are other items on the menu - open crab sandwich, the Thursday's special for a Rueben, an ahi wrap, and so on. I went there for lunch. There are salads. There is a bar.

    (4)

  • Jimmy J.

    We ate here once and drank outside another time. So not worth it. When we ate there, I came in wearing a tank top and was told that was a no-go so I had to go out to the car and change. We were then squeezed in behind the bar. The food was OK but you really need to try to screw up a burger. I would not want to be seated out on the floor - it looked way too crowded. If you are sitting outside for drinks, it's OK but the price points are high for what you are ordering. You are better off price and space wise to just drive a little ways to town and eat/drink somewhere else. You'll have more room and likely a much better experience.

    (2)

  • Lois B.

    i've lived in Kailua for nearly 9 years now, and have never gone here until last night, to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. i can't believe i've wasted 9 years NOT going here. we made quickie reservations late in the afternoon, and they took us nonetheless. we got there on time...the entire lanai area was packed, as was the interior of the restaurant as we stepped inside. a little dim but bustling with energy...servers serving, patrons laughing and having a great time. we were seated at the rear of the bar in a cozy corner (yes, "cozy", despite it being bench seating). our server, John, greeted us promptly and informed us of the menu specials. we decided to get the escargot as an appetizer, my husband got the teriyaki steak, and i got filet mignon. the escargot was delicious and tender, the drinks were delicious (Mokulua something and the Lava Flow), his steak was cooked perfectly and mine was a little red (i asked for medium but it was a super thick slab--nothing that can't be fixed by cooking it a little before i eat my leftovers!). the salad bar looked small but there were actually quite a wide range of items to make your salad hearty and interesting. fresh fresh food! we declined on the offer of desserts since we were too full, but i spied the selection being offered to the neighboring table before dinner, and...i would eat the entire plate of desserts on a future visit. the service is TOPS! John was very attentive and friendly, and checked in on us often. we will DEFINITELY be going back.

    (5)

  • J H.

    Was going to have dinner here but it didn't quite work out for us. Was greeted by the hostess who asked "do you have a reservation?" in a very condescending tone. We didn't, so we opted to have a drink at the bar while we waited for a table. The young bartender was beyond rude to us and made us feel very unwelcome. We ordered one round of drinks and split. Won't be returning.

    (1)

  • Robert C.

    Before dining out last night with my daughter I read a slew of yelp reviews. I prepared for the worst. Since we are only a short 5 minute walk from the restaurant we made our way for a pleasant night's walk to this steakhouse. The restaurant is situated on the edge of a body of water ( reminds me a bit of when the Blue's Brothers performed at that bar in the movie ). Anyway had a Mai Tai that proved disappointing even though the server said it was a popular drink there. The corn chowder was just very good. I thought that it may of been from the bottom of the pot as it had lots of tidbits that tend to collect there. I ordered the bluefin marlin that although it was a generous portion was lacking in texture and taste. I complained to my server who offered to replace it but I said never mind. My daughter had the top sirloin that was cooked to perfection ! Who would of known. I had the key lime pie for dessert which was okay. I had a good time here but for different reasons. The staff from hostess to servers were all pleasant and gracious. Nice to see smiling faces. My server " took care of me " for the unfortunate experience with the fish. I have to realize that we are a bit spoiled and have high expectations where I am from. So when things fall short I should just be thankful I had a good time spent talking with my daughter.

    (3)

  • Christina Z.

    Saturday service sucks, the poke was not fresh at all, the salad tasted old. I got the fresh fish and it was ok not that great, sma portion. We wont be coming here again.

    (1)

  • Tiffany A.

    Sooooo good! We stopped in here after kayaking and luckily got in early enough (around 5pm) to avoid a wait. The service was EXCELLENT, our server was very attentive and knowledgeable. They gave the boys coloring pages and a basket of crayons to keep them busy. The salad bar was very good and fresh, the bread was fresh too. Our steaks and fish were excellent! My husband ordered the Hawaiian Ribeye and I got the NY Strip. My boys shared the kids steak meal. One of our friends ordered the Mahi Mahi and said it was as good as the Mahi Mahi we caught and had prepared for us last June in Cabo at Grand Solmar - This is a very big deal as that was the best fish we had ever eaten and now is the fish we compare everything to. Since we were celebrating two birthdays, they brought out brownies with ice cream and candles! Then, they gave us lunar calendars as well. This was a fabulous dining experience; we will visit again on every trip to Oahu!

    (5)

  • Heather M.

    If you are looking for a fancy restaurant near the beach this is not it. If you are looking for a relaxing place with good food, then this is it. We sat outside in the lanai and it was cozy there and nice. the ambiance is great!the staff was nice and very friendly. A lot of people come here and they do a great job to accommodate everyone. The food is great but the selection is minimum thats why they get a 4 not a 5. They have great desserts where they entice you by bringing the tray of awesome desserts to your table.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    Poke was amazing! Didn't really love the calamari steak but the cocktails are delish as well

    (4)

  • N S.

    Value for money and good food and great ambience too! We sat outside and it was nice and airy.

    (4)

  • Aley M.

    My honey had a Ceasar Salad sandwich that was exceptionally good, cuz I had some ad I had chicken tortilla soup and we split the fries. I got a plantation iced tea and a Christmas Tee shirt! Loved going there after our swim in the ocean across the street...!!! GREAT place, nice ambiance and full of people.

    (5)

  • Leslie W.

    I just had a negative experience that felt extremely personal at Buzz's. The older hostess with shoulder length brown hair basically shooed me and my out-of-town friend away and said the restaurant was booked and the bar was full so we had to sit outside on the benches in front of the restaurant. There were no tables out there and we were looking for dinner. I went back in to ask if we could put our names on a list and she said they were fully booked and it would be about an hour and ten minute wait for a table. I asked if we could be on the wait list for the bar and she reluctantly wrote my name down. About 5 minutes later, a couple came in and asked for a table... The older hostess asked the younger hostess to offer a table to that couple and to let them know they could only have the table for an hour and 45 minutes. I immediately walked in to just let her know we would not be waiting and we were offended that a couple was seated after we had just requested a seat. She could've cared less.

    (1)

  • Lisa K.

    I had guest in town and they wanted to try this place . I had never eaten here, and had no desire to eat here because it reminds me of Hawaii's version of Sizzler with mediocre and boring food ( no offense to those that like Sizzler). There are so many other exceptional steak restaurants to go to, why settle for less? Unfortunately, we were in the area and my guests persuaded me to give it a try. We walked up to the restaurant, and initially were confused by lack of hostess stand outside when you arrive. A person who was dressed like a waiter and a woman, who I later found out was a hostess, walked passed us without acknowledgement. I asked my husband to go inside and see if there was a hostess while I waited outside. As I waited for him, I saw a couple walk in. Shortly thereafter I went into the restaurant looking for my husband. At this point I witnessed my husband standing at a hostess stand watching the "hostess" assisted the couple who had come in AFTER us. I thought maybe my husband didn't realize where the hostess stand was until after seeing this other couple come in, and that the hostess decided to help the other couple first because they were at the stand before him. I went back outside to wait. My husband came out and says it will be a 45minute wait. The group is starving by this point, so we leave. As we leave the restaurant my husband proceeds to tell me that he had found the stand and was waiting to talk to the hostess. However, she never acknowledged him and only came over to the hostess stand when the couple who showed up after us walked in. She then felt it was appropriate to assist the other couple FIRST. My husband said they had reservations and it appeared the couple knew the hostess. He also was very certain the couple and the hostess knew he had come before the couple and had been waiting, but neither the couple nor the hostess felt it necessary to acknowledge the fact he was there first. RUDE hostess & RUDE guests. No thank you. We ended going to Prima in Kailua and having amazing food and customer service.

    (1)

  • Jeff K.

    Great stop between Hanauma and the north shore. Stumbled upon Buzz's and had a great lunch!

    (4)

  • Adam K.

    Food was decent, but the floor plan is terrible. We ended up being seated in the middle of a high traffic area with our backs up against the people sitting at the bar. I was lucky enough to get a seat directly under an air vent that was dripping ceiling water into my fish. They were gracious enough to replace my dish and move me to the opposite side of the table, but it struck me as odd that they were so nonchalant about the whole thing - as if it's standard routine or something. I don't expect handouts, but in this instance, I would have thought that they would at least acknowledge that there was something wrong with the whole situation, but at the end of the night, they charged us full price and pretended like nothing happened. That being said, unless you're into roof water accompanied by an entirely complacent wait and management staff, I would probably pass this place up in favor of something a little more buttoned up.

    (1)

  • Reginald F.

    Went on a Thursday night with some Friends- very busy- recommend reservations and to come early for parking atmosphere- family local with the bar inside taking a good deal of th space (u shaped) with tables outside menu is standard fare-steaks, fish etc with a average type salad bar. guess the attraction is the portion sized- definitely for American appetites although the locals Kahlua folk like it- thought the prices were a little on the higher side for a neighborhood place. OK place if you don't want to go into town.

    (3)

  • Amber B.

    Buzz's deserves four stars for the whole experience and location, not really the food, which can be hit and miss. However, if you order the right things, you can have a good meal. We went three times on our last visit to Kailua a week ago and we thought the best lunch item was the fish sandwich, which is on a soft bun with wasabi mayo. It comes with crunchy seasoned fries. I personally like the calamari steak, which is breaded and fried and topped with butter sauce. My husband thinks it is too much, so it is not for everyone. At dinner, you can get one of a couple fresh fish of the day prepared one of a few ways. I loved the Chinese steamed version on cabbage. The markup on otherwise cheap wines by the glass is ridiculously high, but you go for a great Mai Tai, so the wine list does not really matter.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Buzz’s Original Steak House

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