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Name: Merriman’s
Address: 65-1227 Opelo Rd, Kamuela, HI, 96743
Telephone: (808) 885-6822
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.33

Merriman’s

65-1227 Opelo Rd, Kamuela, HI, 96743

(808) 885-6822
Store is closed

Merriman’s Menu

Course One

Kalua Pig and Sweet Onion Quesadilla

Crispy Rice Paper Lamb Spring Rolls

Fresh Hawaii Shrimp

Miso Steamed Clams

Taster Platter

Taster of Keahole Lobster

Kalua Pig and Sweet Onion Quesadilla

Crispy Rice Paper Lamb Spring Rolls

Fresh Hawaii Shrimp

Miso Steamed Clams

Taster Platter

Taster of Keahole Lobster
Course Two

Peters Organic Caesar

Soup du Jour

Hufford Farm Spinach Salad

Big Island Goat Cheese and Mango Tart

Vine Ripened Lokelani Tomatoes

Vine Ripened Lokelani Tomatoes

Organic Waimea Greens

Organic Waimea Greens

Organic Waimea Greens

Peters Organic Caesar

Soup du Jour

Hufford Farm Spinach Salad

Big Island Goat Cheese and Mango Tart

Vine Ripened Lokelani Tomatoes

Vine Ripened Lokelani Tomatoes

Organic Waimea Greens

Organic Waimea Greens

Organic Waimea Greens
Local Vegetables

Local Vegetables

Local Vegetables
Vegetarian Entree

Stirfried Vegetables in Coconut Curry Sauce

Stirfried Vegetables in Coconut Curry Sauce
Day Boat Fish

Day Boat Spicy Sambal Roasted

Sauteed Kampachi

Seared Rare Ono

Ponzu Marinated Mahi Mahi

Merrimans Original Wok Charred Ahi

Panko and Kefir Lime Crusted Scallops

Day Boat Spicy Sambal Roasted

Sauteed Kampachi

Seared Rare Ono

Ponzu Marinated Mahi Mahi

Merrimans Original Wok Charred Ahi

Panko and Kefir Lime Crusted Scallops
The Prime Cuts?

Roasted Big Island Striploin?

Grass Fed Big Island Filet Steak?

Prime New York Steak?

Kahua Ranch Naturally Raised Lamb?

Roasted Big Island Striploin?

Grass Fed Big Island Filet Steak?

Prime New York Steak?

Kahua Ranch Naturally Raised Lamb?
Merriman's Mixed Plate

Merriman's Mixed Plate

Merriman's Mixed Plate
Merriman's Platters

Merriman's Platters

Merriman's Platters

Healthy Meal suggestions for Merriman’s

Course One

Kalua Pig and Sweet Onion Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Rice Paper Lamb Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Hawaii Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miso Steamed Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taster Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taster of Keahole Lobster [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kalua Pig and Sweet Onion Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Rice Paper Lamb Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Hawaii Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miso Steamed Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taster Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taster of Keahole Lobster [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Course Two

Peters Organic Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup du Jour [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hufford Farm Spinach Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Island Goat Cheese and Mango Tart [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vine Ripened Lokelani Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vine Ripened Lokelani Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Waimea Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Waimea Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Waimea Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peters Organic Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup du Jour [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hufford Farm Spinach Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Island Goat Cheese and Mango Tart [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vine Ripened Lokelani Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vine Ripened Lokelani Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Waimea Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Waimea Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Waimea Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Local Vegetables

Local Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Local Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetarian Entree

Stirfried Vegetables in Coconut Curry Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stirfried Vegetables in Coconut Curry Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Day Boat Fish

Day Boat Spicy Sambal Roasted [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Kampachi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared Rare Ono [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ponzu Marinated Mahi Mahi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Merrimans Original Wok Charred Ahi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panko and Kefir Lime Crusted Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Day Boat Spicy Sambal Roasted [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Kampachi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared Rare Ono [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ponzu Marinated Mahi Mahi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Merrimans Original Wok Charred Ahi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panko and Kefir Lime Crusted Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
The Prime Cuts?

Roasted Big Island Striploin? [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grass Fed Big Island Filet Steak? [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prime New York Steak? [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kahua Ranch Naturally Raised Lamb? [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Big Island Striploin? [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grass Fed Big Island Filet Steak? [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prime New York Steak? [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kahua Ranch Naturally Raised Lamb? [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Merriman's Mixed Plate

Merriman's Mixed Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Merriman's Mixed Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Merriman's Platters

Merriman's Platters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Merriman's Platters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

nit p.

Terrible food!!!! The only decent food was the garlic truffle fries.
(2)
Matthew C.

Simply the best restaurant on the Big Island. This is the first and last place I visit every time I am on the island and for good reason... the freshest ingredients, creative dishes with classic Hawaiian twists, great service, and a wine list that makes me wonder why I pack wine whenever I come to the island. It is certainly worth a drive from any of the resorts on the Kohala coast... and I consider it a destination in and of itself. I always find myself ordering whatever they have on special that night. They always have great fish preparations (try the Ono and Opakaka). One thing that sets this place apart from many other places (including the mainland) is the saucier. Most dishes are served with some sort of sauce, and the saucier does an amazing job. Bottom line is that this place could compete head-to-head with any of the places in the bay area. Go out of your way to visit.
(5)
Frank S.

A solid upscale dining experience. We ordered the cavatelli (excellent), the MAHI MAHI (delicious), filet mignon (average), and the purse for desert (outstanding!). Service was attentive and the atmosphere was decent. To me, it's all about the food and Merriman's did not disappoint. For the price point, I'd expect really excellent food and top service and in that regard it may be slightly overpriced (hence the four stars and not five). All and all, we had a great meal.
(4)
David J.

Excellent food. However the building looks like it was built using a church blueprint. The dining area is large, rectangular with a vaulted ceiling. One one side are small windows that can be opened and look like those found on a church and on the other side are big windows for a view. The noise level was very high as there was little to deaden it other than the carpet on the floor. While the food was excellent it is not a place to go for a romantic dinner as you hear pretty much everything around you including discussions of the Parker Ranch and the cattle. If they do something about the noise level then I would give it a five.
(4)
Danielle H.

Merriman's was my favorite dining experience on the Big Island as far as food quality goes. We were the last reservation and were running 5 minutes late due to construction and they held our table and stayed open just for us. The food was excellent, (we all tried each other's food and it was all great... especially my fresh catch fish dish and my husband's chinese short ribs). You might not leaved stuffed as it's like fine dining serving size and plating, (though less expensive than typical fine dining), but you will leave satisfied.
(5)
Wayne K.

Outstanding food. Great flavor, fresh ingredients, skilled prep and cool presentation. I liked the pupu/appetizers, main dish, and drinks. It was all good. Service was tops. You can tell by the photos on the walls and descriptions of menu items presented in the menu and by the server that Merriman's takes great pride in what they present. We did salad and lamb shank. I wish I would have had some of the seafood selections. They looked wow. Everyone in our party of 20 were blown away by the food. Those who shared the dessert were very happy. I was too with a glass of the cheapest tawny port. Even their cheapest is like plenty good. If you do wine, I'm sure that you'd be HAPPY with their suggested pairings. BTW, we went to the Merriman's on Kauai and this one was mo betta.
(5)
Brent D.

After visiting the Merriman's in Poipu (Kauai) two years ago, we were thrilled to realize that the original Merriman's was on the Big Island. On our vacation there this month, we made the hourlong drive from South of Kona to Waimea to give ourselves this treat. We started with the special appetizer: two different kinds of seared fish, sliced and spiced terrifically. We paired with a delightful Sancerre. And, because we are share-ers, we ordered the Macadamia Nut Crusted Ono (fantastic) and the local beef (which was a grass-fed, grass-finished filet mignon). Oh. My. Good. Gracious. That was the finest cut of meat I've ever had. Delicious. Fantastic texture. Just so great. Our server was friendly and on top of things. She even expressed concern when we had temporarily put aside the beef (to have a "fish course" first) -- but we explain how that we didn't even think to structure the meal that way until the food arrived. We just looked at it and said to each other "oh, we want to eat the fish first!" It was well worth the drive. I wish there was a Merriman's in my state!
(5)
Hien C.

Best food we had on the Big Island! Our dishes and the kids' dishes were phenomenal - nothing was left on our plates! Service was outstanding too as they made us feel at home and were very attentive. Absolutely recommend Merriman's in Waimea when you're on the Big Island.
(5)
Joli W.

We started with - couldn't help ourselves - Mai Tais, as we'd had them at Merriman's Kapalua in Maui. Excellent! We shared the Caesar salad, Wok Charred Ahi, and a Steak special. Can't recall what sauce was served with the beef, but it was very, very good. Also ordered a bottle of red wine and, yes, pricey, but you're far from Sonoma. Our B&B gave us a coupon for 2 desserts, but as we're trying not to over eat we only ordered one, the Ginger Shortcakes as it sounded different. It was excellent, but we did hear from others at the Inn that the famed Chocolate Purses were to die for. Overall, a really good dinner and evening.
(4)
michael d.

What a marvelous evening. Let's start with the obvious- it's on the way to nowhere. But worth the drive! Started with the best MaiTai of our trip (and I've had one each night so far). Innovative cavatelli appetizer was delicious, though not at all what I expected. My wife had the Ono fish special, which had a delicious blend of unexpected ingredients (asparagus, bacon, fingerling potatoes). I had the steak I've been craving after five nights of seafood- a bone-in strip that was perfectly cooked- so I satisfied my meat urging and can avoid going to Ruth's Chris in Hawaii! The accompanying bread was sweet and served with butter and a bowl of salt. But it all lead up to the desserts: a complimentary birthday piece of chocolate torte was good, but we saved our calories (really??) for the fabulous creme brÃ»lÃ©e (topped with a thick slab of fired Hawaiian sugar and the pineapple bread pudding. All washed down with French press coffee (I was assured it was decaf- but the length of this revue makes me doubt that!). And Jim our waiter was incredible.
(5)
G I.

This is the best restaurant in Kamuela and in Kona, and worth the drive from Waikoloa. The service is first class and the food is fresh and delicious. The decor reflects the ranch-like feel of the area, and the restaurant has a laid-back, yet refined kind of feel. I highly recommend the heirloom beet salad with quinoa and goat cheese. I had the pork saimin. It is different; not a lot of broth like in typical saimin. I recommend going with the hamburger or the fresh island fish for your entree, and leave the saimin for the saimin shop. Our 3-year old loved the herb garden outside the restaurant with lavender, strawberries rosemary, basil, thyme ---- smells so good. Will be back again!
(5)
Holly B.

Attentive and friendly service. Food is tasty, but portions are on the small side. Nothing outstanding, but had to try it because of all the reviews. On the pricier side.
(3)
Marissa M.

Our waiter dylan was awesome and very knowledgeable. He made everything sound awesome. Mahi mani was the "best I've ever had" spoken by my father. Ahi was great and just the right size portion. We didn't have any of the meat but it looked great as it went by. We sat right by the kitchen and I thought it would be noisy but it wasn't. Only problem was that we were seated at a 6 person round table for a party of 4 and it was hard to shar the fabulous chocolate purse. Overall, don't miss if you're coming to the big island
(5)
Chris R.

Just enjoyed this awesome restaurant. The only thing preventing the firth star was we felt a bit rushed, and little time between courses. I had the 4 course prix fix menu. The tuna ( "old style" ) was amazing, and the steak was perfect. loved the host, and service. Bussers were on-top of everything. We will come back here again.
(4)
C A.

We have eaten here many times over the past 15 years and this location remains one of our favorites. It is causally elegant wit outstanding service. The kalua pig quesadilla was great, a consistently good choice. The special appetizer was a lamb meatball appetizer which was delicious although a bit skimpy. My wife and I both had a combo dinner of macadamian nut crusted mochong and the ahi tuna and both were just delicious. It was a lovely evening and we would highly recommend it.
(5)
Asuka N.

On another day passing through Waimea on the way back to the Kohala Coast, we decided to stop at Merriman's at the latter end of lunch. We booked a reservation via OpenTable, but by 2 PM or so, there's not much of a need to do so. There's a little bit of a center that is next to Merriman's where we were able to find parking. Getting seated was a cinch, and we had a very friendly waitress who gave her well-informed opinion of what she liked. The feel of the restaurant is one of casual elegance - it has definitely feels a bit like a restaurant you'd find at one of the resorts here, but it's got a very laid-back feel to it. We started out with the kalua pork appetizer, which was really good - you get the rich fattiness of the pork, paired with cheese and sweet onions for a top-notch quesadilla. The one really puzzling thing (that we decided not to rectify) was they served it to us with the dipping bowl with nothing in it - so it's hard to say how the sweet chili-mango sauce was. The soup of the day was also delicious - a lobster bisque-inspired fresh seafood soup that utilized fresh catches to create a soup that would be at home in any of the big seafood cities in the country. For entrees, I went with the specialty short ribs. The meat was succulent as all good braised ribs are, and there's a light citrus taste to them. I wasn't blown away by them as much as I was at Plantation Grill, but it was still very good - and for $15, what I felt was a real bargain. My fiancee had the grilled fresh catch, which was one of the meatier fishes (ono or mahi - I forget right off). It was cooked just right, with a firm texture but a light flavor also grilled into the filet. The ponzu sauce was a bit on the interesting side - definitely not the straight-up ponzu you'd find at a Japanese restaurant, but it added a twist to the fish. I would definitely say that dessert was the highlight, though - the 'chocolate purse' is basically a lava cake that's somehow wrapped into a paper-thin dough wrapping. With there being less dough in the cake, you really get to enjoy the creamy goodness of molten chocolate without as much of the heaviness that you'd encounter usually. Definitely a one-of-a-kind dessert that's very well-executed. Merriman's didn't hit all the spots, and it's possible that end of the lunch hour led to a small slip like forgetting the quesadilla dipping sauce, but overall, it's got a good fusion-based menu that does food really well. I'd definitely like to come back and try out some more dishes, particularly at the value that the lunch menu prices provide.
(4)
Tina B.

The dinner was a disappointment. The mixed plate that I ordered was suppose to be a combination plate of mahi mahi and filet mignon. A few minutes before our food was served, our server apologetically advised us that the filet mignon was being replaced with braised short rib. The short rib was too dry to eat and still had some fat on it. And you would think since a lower quality of beef was being served instead of the filet that a complimentary side, glass of wine or dessert would be offered...no. On the positive side, the ahi was delicious. My husband woke up in the middle of the night with stomach cramps and diarrhea. He had the Chef's 3 Course Special, so I have to change my rating to a 1 star.
(1)
Chris R.

Excellent wait staff that aims to please. Only issue is they are overpriced on their seafood entrees, make sure you have dessert or you will leave hungry. My fish was about 6 bites.
(4)
keri r.

When I saw that Livingsocial had a $15 for $30 deal for Merriman's, I decided to jump on it since I had never been. We were on the Big Island this past weekend and decided to take my bf's family out to dinner here, and everyone was glad we went. We first had the Hamakua mushrooms and tomato/beet/papaya salad for appetizers. Both were amazing, but the mushrooms were a standout. We then split three entrees: the lamb, pork, and ono. My favorite was the lamb, but the others were great too. We ended with the espresso cake, which was paired well with the brittle. Our waitress was fast, attentive, and had great suggestions. I also enjoyed her knowledge about the ingredients and where they were grown. I really enjoyed my dining experience here and will come back soon.
(5)
Dawn A.

Service was excellent. Our server, Dale, was very knowledgeable about the menu, food preparations, wine pairings and coffee selections. We liked all his recommendations - Honopua Farm Spinach Salad, Macademia Nut Crusted Ono, Bone-In New York and the Crispy Molten "Original Hawaiian Chocolate" Purse. His attention to detail was superb. Avoid the Ahulaloa Macadamia Nut Financier. Presentation left a lot to be desired. It was not up to the standard one would expect from Merriman's. The vanilla bean pastry was spongy and had a gritty texture. The cream was melted and the strawberries was more like jam rather than fresh strawberries. We are going back tonight to try the Merriman's Mixed Plate, Kahua Ranch Naturally Raised Lamb and Caramelized Coconut CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e.
(4)
Rodney A.

The Wall Street Journal published a few criteria to classify a first-class restaurant: No 1 was being offered a drink within two minutes of sitting down; No. 2 was pleasant and atmospheric lighting; and No. 3 was good spacing of the tables. Merriman's in Kamuela totally fails #3 creating a cacophony of loud people and cramped quarters on top of an open kitchen (do we have to suffer open kitchens for the rest of the millenium??) People were yelling at each other across tables when we ate there on a Friday night. Could not hear the waitress recitation of the specials. Food was OK but not cooked to perfection--medium rare was rare and the fish was raw in the middle in spite of a request to be cooked through. OK, I know a restaurant needs to meet its margins but it is a shame to see a special place become a mediocre place.
(3)
Dean L.

Pleasant atmosphere that kind of recalls the "old-school tropics." Prompt and friendly service. Wife and I started with the Ahi Poke. I am not an experienced poke eater, but I know enough to tell this was fresh. The 3 or 4 different flavors on the plate worked well together, and we enjoyed it. I moved on to the Chinese short ribs, with a side of kimchee and a tomato slice on fresh lettuce. Holy crap was this great. The meat fell apart inside a soft, thick coating of saucy savory-ness. Wife had the Maui onion/corn soup and the caesar salad. I tried the soup and thought it was okay. She thought it became 5 stars as she ate it. The "crispy" onion adorning it seemed to continue to caramelize, changing the flavor. She was less taken with the salad. The leaves were big and fresh, but the dressing lacked any hint of anchovy, which she expected in the middle of the ocean, and the salad was overdressed. This made the white bread croutons soft. The iced tea was refreshing and was refilled without request.
(4)
NoName M.

Plus: -service is OK -cocktails are phenomenal. There is a sophistication that is quite exceptional. Never tasted such complex and well merged flavors before. -simple food is great. They have a real BBQ going and really know how to cook meat on the grill. Con: - This was my BDay dinner and it just felt rushed. It was very clear that they wanted to fit as many services and tables as they could on that night but from the moment we stepped in, we felt that we had left the starting blocks. We wanted dessert and our waiter discouraged us from getting it. WTF???? - They had to move our table to accommodate another table mid-dinner. again WTF??? I have never seen this kind of trick at a restaurant before. - Overall the food was just OK, nothing great or memorable. They try so hard to stick to their rules that the final result is not as good as it could be otherwise. Flavors are somewhat disparate. Overall: -Go for a cocktail and a light fare to go with it.
(2)
Christina J.

Poor customer service, no reservation I suppose means they can be rude assholes when you show up.
(1)
Lynn G.

So delicious! Best food on the island. The service is excellent, to say the least. We went twice during our stay on the island. Loved the flavorful beef and lamb for dinner. Loved the saimen noodles for lunch. Still thinking about this place and my mouth waters each time!
(5)
Sharon H.

Merriman's is a lovely little restaurant about a 30-minute drive from the Waikoloa resorts. If you're a seafood or meat lover, the menu is full of delicious options punctuated by fresh herbs and produce grown right on the property. And, if you're on a diet, you'll appreciate the portion-controlled plates ... and I mean this with the utmost of respect for the chef. I was able to enjoy an appetizer salad, appetizer-sized entree and shared dessert, and left without feeling overly stuffed. My salad pick was the crispy goat cheese served with just-picked lettuce and a raspberry vinaigrette. The cheese was creamy soft in the center, surrounded by a light crispy batter. There's only one piece of cheese, which is fine, because it can be heavy. But if you're hungry, I'd suggest you order the mixed appetizer plate that includes the goat cheese, a dish of smoked bacon/pork, a boullibaise broth swimming with shrimp and mussels, sashimi and kalua pork quesadillas. We did, and it was a perfect starter. For my entree, I selected the catch of the day -- grilled monchong. Opting for the 3 oz appetizer plate will save you $4, so if you're hungry, go for the 6 oz. entree. The fish was flaky yet soft. I substituted garlic macadamia nut rice for the wild rice, and it gave a nice crunchy textural contrast to the softness of the fish and the silky smoothness of the beurre blanc-like sauce. As a grand finale for the night, we ordered the chocolate purse and the chocolate cake. Both were decadent, served a la mode, and offering two distinct variations on a chocolate theme. The chocolate purse was a rich mousse, densely chocolate but light and airy all at once. The chocolate cake, sigh, it was a slice of heaven. One of my more memorable meals during my stay on Hawaii Island, and one I would like to enjoy again.
(5)
Lulu L.

From Los Angeles I have had great fine dinning experiences and delicious food. Many times in Hawaii I have found the food over priced and underwhelming. Not at Merrimans! I took my husband there for his 40th birthday, we had a great experience. The food was reasonably priced and the food really delicious. We had the Kalua pork quesadilla for a appetiser and the seared ahi, tenderlon, and the mahi mahi. All were delicious as well as the rice and corn on the plate! The wait staff, bussers, hosts etc, were friendly, professional and educated on the menu. They even surprised us with a cake for my husbands 40th. My expectations were surpassed. I would go back and recommend it to anyone visiting the big island.
(5)
Hizu I.

This place is well worth everything. The plane ride, drive and money. Everything was excellent!
(5)
Charles Y.

These guys don't know how to book. Don't expect to get your table quickly. Not worth going off the beaten path for.
(1)
Bob M.

We decided that we would try Merriman's for our last dinner in 2013. We were not disappointed. The appetizers were delightful, our entrees were delicious, and my dessert (chocolate purse) was to die for - a great way to end the year. Overall, I enjoyed the local fare, fresh and well prepared vegetables, and portion sizes. We walked in hungry and left totally stuffed - and happy about it.
(5)
Sharon C.

A return visit - Table was ready for us on time and service was beyond superb from Jen. Incredible options including a tasting sampler of 3 or duo sampler in case you can't choose one from all the great items on the menu. The only snafu was it took two tries for the kitchen to correct a request for a well done lamb chop. But the staff was more than eager to make things right for us by comping us the lamb chop plate and our corkage without us asking! Excellent handling of that situation and we will be back!
(5)
Steven M.

We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and had a wonderful meal, great service and even a special anniversary desert. Merriman's is always a favorite for us when we visit the big island. It is truly a gem!
(5)
Grace N.

This restaurant was a little hard to find since there are no street lights along the highway but I'm glad we found it! The food was great and the atmosphere was nice but what made it even more enjoyable was the terrific server we had. She really knew her stuff and was very engaging. I had the onaga, my sister had the mahi with ponzu sauce and my husband had the steak. We all enjoyed our entrees. My sister seemed to enjoy the beet salad she ordered. We shared the prawns which I thought should have been fried at a higher heat so that it would have been crispier since I like to eat the head and all. The creme brÃ»lÃ©e was a little too soft but yummy.
(4)
Jared W.

Merriman's was not bad at all. The appetizers that was ordered were the Kalua Pig with sweet onion quesadilla and Kim Chee. ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ ) It had a flaky outside and the sweet onion sauce was great. It wasn't Kim Chee that I am use to but it wasn't bad. It was spicy and tasted pretty good but too small for three people to share. I ate their Chinese speciality short ribs. ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ ) It was soft and easy to break apart. Savory and tasty. The rice was not the usual Japanese sticky rice I am use to, so I didn't like the rice. It was my first time drinking Spaten beer which wasn't too bad. ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ ) They had great desserts! Angel cake mango strawberry ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ ) Lilikoi mousse ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ Congo bar ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ ) Spaten Beer ( yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ ) The place nice and relaxed, the weirdest thing was the restaurant was filled with only caucasian people who were 50 and older mostly in aloha shirts.
(4)
Donna S.

Went for lunch. Not really impressed. First of all, there was visible thick dust on the rings of all the chairs. I'm not even a big neatnick, but for the cost of dinner here, come on! We had a salad with tomatoes, goat cheese etc and it was tasty. I had the Asian chicken wrap and it was edible and fresh but not so flavorful. I mis-ordered w that one. Hubby got some lamb pita special and did not really enjoy it. The lamb was fatty. Pineapple iced tea was just ok.
(2)
Carmen D.

A must visit when visitting the Big Island. I love going here for lunch. I had the fresh catch and a mai tai. Yummy
(4)
Barbara L.

Had dinner there last night. We waited 45 minutes after we ordered for our entree with no explanation from the server! Pork chop when I got it was lukewarm and very dry. Red sauce was wired and a very little dab of rice was not filling. My favorite dessert, Lilllikoi mousse, was not available. I'm totally over Merrimans!
(2)
Vivian J.

One of the best meals and dining experiences in my life! We accidentally arrived before Merriman's had opened last week while on vacation, and they graciously seated us and let us have happy hour at our table before dinner service began. (We had 5:30pm reservations.) The food was one of the best meals I have ever had, and we have eaten in top places in NYC, etc. All fresh - I had the fish special, hubby had the lamb - both were perfectly seasoned, portioned, and balanced. We also had the goat cheese and strawberry app - it was my favorite course of the meal. Dessert and coffee were also perfect and the Botanist martini was to die for, and I don't even like martinis. (Hubby ordered...) Service was the best we have had in years anywhere. Absolutely anywhere. Can't recommend enough - go to Merriman's if you are on the island - it will be our first stop on our next vaca!
(5)
J. Patrick M.

You won't do much better than this on the Big Island. The food is all locally sourced, fresh, beautifully prepared and delicious . I could eat every meal there and not get tired of it. Very friendly service, at a reasonable price. I drove a half hour to get here, and it was worth every minute. My wife had the short ribs, which were fall off the bone tender and delicious, with just the right amount of sweet and heat. Love this place!
(5)
Steve H.

A must go to spot if you want locally sourced regionally based fare. An unexpected surprise that will soon require calling days in advance vs. hours.
(5)
Mary C.

Underwhelmed. Went for lunch yesterday. Ordered the Chinese chicken wrap. Meh. The chicken was dry. The Asian slaw so so. And the spinach tortilla was grilled -- adding to the dryness. It came with a soy-based sauce which was okay and helped moisten the wrap. The big downfall was the side: Lukewarm salty petrified potato nuggets. In edible. Seriously? My fellow diners agreed that our entrees were disappointing. Two stars for the ambience and welcoming hostess.
(2)
Shauna G.

Been here to lunch a few times. We've enjoyed both times. The service and food are excellent! Things we've tried and loved: Mobeeto (don't let the idea of beets in an alcoholic drink fool you - this was delicious and refreshing!); Nicoise salad; Heirloom Beets, Tomato, & Quinoa salad; Spicy Fish Tacos; and Chinese Short Ribs.
(5)
Tad S.

It's been a while since we were on the big island, but I still remember this great place. We ate at Dinner, then Lunch, and another Dinner. There are other Merriman's places, but they are not similar in any way, in fact, I would treat them as completely their own place; if you dined at the little cafe place; do not even attempt to think about being similar, they are not. Since this is about three months later, I will only say, the butter they serve is awesome, get it locally from an ice cream company; the bacon they make in house, amazing, nice and thick, full of flavor; the beef, yes, to people thinking while visiting the island, I will eat more fish; even my wife, who mostly eats fish and chicken, said this place had one of the best tasting beef she ever had. This place is a must go. The wait staff was awesome, I really had a great time, my memory goes as I get older, so next visit here, I will write up more, just wanted to let all of you know, that I loved this place; so on the big island, it is a must go.
(5)
Janet G.

Wow!!! Amazing dinner and service!! Ihi (server) is a class act. The chili pepper Kauai Prawns were perfection! The chocolate purse dessert was not a disappointment and too good to share :) get your own ;)
(5)
Russel M.

Definitely one of the best restaurants on the Big Island. We liked everything that we ordered from the menu including some of the nightly specials. Reservations are a must for dinner.
(4)
William C.

Another fabulous resteraunt from Peter Merriman! The Merimans restaurants are the best in Hawaii. This one had no view, not even any windows...but great food and great service! Great food! The food was perhaps a little bit better than the Kapalua, Maio location but it needed to be to makeup for the lack of a view. This Merrimans is situated in a non descript area neat Mauna Kea and the Parker Ranch. The server was also better than Maui. Perhaps Peter Merriman should take this locations staff and manager to train the others. Would be 5+ stars if we could transplant this staff and food to a beach setting. I'll give it 5, anyway.
(4)
Siao W.

This is a highly acclaimed restaurant by the chef who started the Hawaiian regional cuisine. The Kalua pig quesadilla was delicious. The savory kalua pig was complimented by the mango chili and house made kim chi. The spicy tomato clams were well seasoned and very tasty. Goat cheese was awesome. It was crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. The strawberry vinaigrette and onions went well with the cheese. The House Cured Bacon was thick and juicy with a crispy top. It was basically like pork belly. The sashimi was ok. The fish was super fresh. However, I didn't buy into the special sauce. It had no hint of wasabi whatsoever. The entrees were less impressive than the appetizers. The Wok Charred Ahi was very plain. It came with the same sauce as the sashimi. Wok charring really didn't add any flavor to the amazing quality of fish. The Mahi Mahi was good. The shitake, hearts of palm, and onion really brought out the flavors of the fish. The filet was well cooked, but nothing I couldn't do at home. I realize that Merriman started this type of cuisine. However, at this point, I didn't taste anything creative or inventive. Everything was well cooked and fresh, but for these prices, I expect to be wowed by flavors I've never had before. After the appetizers, I felt like I've been there and done that. For me it really wasn't worth the long drive or the extravagant prices.
(3)
Katie F.

Here's my tip... you MUST save room for the "chocolate purse" for dessert! This is one of the fine dining options on Big Island and since it's been around for years, I booked a table for hubby and I after our treks up the Kohala Coast and Pololu Valley. Thank goodness for the Hawaiian casual environment for your pricey dinners... was still acceptable here! Great local menu. Bread service are fresh buns with peices of taro in them... unique twist but I didn't really notice a taro taste. For starters, hubby had the kalua pork quesadillas with mango dipping sauce. Yummy - the spicy mango dip was excellent! I had their salad of the day that featured greens, toasted coconut, local goat cheese and pineapple vinaigrette... wonderfully fresh and light! For mains, I had their ponzu mahi mahi. Beautifully done. Hubby had the lamb and thought it was OK, but nothing special... I always tell him that he should order something more local, but he never listens! The desserts were EXCELLENT... gotta say it again... you MUST get the chocolate purse if you love chocolate. Light chocolate phyllo pastry that has the perfect amount of crunch (not oily at all) covering a warm molten dark chocolate centre.... mmmmm. Served with a side of vanilla ice cream. Hubby had the fallen chocolate souffle with orange sauce and vanilla ice cream. Also tasty, but definitely the chocolate purse was more of the standout here. Not sure if it's worth a trek to Waimea just for the meal, but if you're on your way back from somewhere else, it's worth a splurge. (about $150 for 2 without alcohol).
(4)
Debbie L.

Went here as a last minute decision... it was the only restaurant within 5 miles with good reviews and still open. I'm glad I went here. It was pricey, but no different than other resort-type restaurants. And the food was good, and our waiter Dylan was a riot. I would come here again and would want him as a waiter again. It wasn't a dressy place per se, but I wouldn't recommend coming here dressed like you just finished visiting the volcano...like we did. Nice tropical resort wear would fit in best. But they won't treat you any different if you were dressed more casually, which is nice.
(4)
Shah S.

Wow, is this place overrated or what? We made the trek from Waikola based on all the reviews. The food was just average and extremely bland. For starters, I had the beet and asparagus salad. There were just a few small chunks of beet and asparagus. Overpriced! The entree was one recommended by the waiter. Fresh-fish with potatoes and vegetables. The fish was luke warm and while edible looked from a presentation point of view like it had just come out of can. Grey and lumpy. Don't believe the hype! Plenty of awesome restaurants on the island. Try them instead.
(2)
Paul M.

On the formal side for the Big Island in terms of the waitstaff with the best, fresh, local vegetables and fish we had on our 2 week trip. Dined there twice.
(5)
CaroleAnne H.

When planning my first trip to the Big Island, I asked friends for travel tips. The overwhelming response was "Don't miss Merriman's!" So although I had already made reservations for my husband's birthday dinner at another popular island spot (you know the one and yes, I did cancel!)), we decided to try Merriman's. I'm so very glad we made the drive to Kamuela and celebrated there! First, we were running late (getting off the grounds of the Waikoloa Hilton can be a nightmare), so I called to let them know we'd be at least 15 minutes behind, maybe more. The pleasant, "Don't worry at all. Drive safely and we'll have your table waiting," was the first indication it was going to be a lovely experience. When we walked in the door, they said our table would be ready in 2 minutes. As we were seated, the waitress wished Dave a happy birthday, and it just got better from there. We began with the wine flight, which was perfect since I was driving the unfamiliar roads home and just wanted a taste of each of the four pours, and Dave was able to enjoy a nice selection of wines. We opted to start with the Hand Made Ricotta Cheese Cavatelli Pasta (Waimea Asparagus, Hamakua Mushrooms, Basil - Macadamia Nut Pesto) to start, and it was AMAZING. There are only a handful of restaurants that leave me dreaming about the food for days and weeks and months afterwards; this dish put Merriman's on the list. Perfect to share for 2 (had I ordered it for myself, I would have needed nothing else but the truly wonderful bread). Next was the special salad consisting of locally grown spring greens with crisp vegetables (radish, local asparagus, and other small-cut yumminess) marinated (did she say pickled?) in a champagne vinaigrette with fresh mango. It was simple, fresh, delicious, and perfect between the pasta and the entree. Not big eaters (just food lovers!), we wanted to share an entree, so we chose the 'Duo' with the filet (on smashed potatoes and local grilled asparagus) and the seared ahi. Both the beef and the fish were perfectly prepared (medium rare erring on rare) and excellent. The only misstep (I can't even really call it that) was the stainless steel chop sticks (very cool looking, but they made it nearly impossible to pick up the ahi! Once the entree was cleared, we were served a special dessert that isn't on the regular menu. Another reviewer called it "passion fruit mousse," but the server explained that it's not exactly a mousse (the texture is more like greek yogurt and is heavenly). She told us twice what it was called, and I wish I'd written it down. Simply perfection, as was our server's quiet singing of happy birthday as she lit the candle. Somehow her delivery, once again, made us feel like we were at someone's home for the out-of-this-world dinner. I can't say enough about Merriman's except to repeat that I've been dreaming about the meal ever since--and that we'll definitely be back if we find ourselves on Hawaii any time soon!
(5)
Cynthia K.

This place was good--nice service and food--but given the hype and the prices I expected more. I had the falafel and my husband had the pork chops. Both were good, but the different elements of the dishes didn't meld together as much as we hoped. The passion fruit mousse was delicious, as was my after-dinner coffee, but my husband's after-dinner drink (Grand Marnier) was $16, which seems exorbitant. We had other equally good meals in the area with a lower price tag, and probably would not go back.
(3)
Sharon K.

We stopped by this famous restaurant based on a friend's rave review of his dining experience. We were able to make a reservation within the hour, which was great. Once we arrived, we waited about 10-15 minutes and were seated. The waitress was nice and friendly, however, she was mostly absent. I ordered the fresh fish of the day, and it was delicious. My friends however, ordered food that was not edible. It was actually disgusting and full of fat. The famous fried goat cheese? Gross. The Kalua Pig quesadilla and kim chee? The quesadilla wasn't anything to rave about and the kim chee, well, have to admit, I'm bias with the kim chee since I'm Korean and picky, but it wasn't very good, that's for sure. Overall, will I return? No, I've been to some fantastic restaurants in Hawaii and this wasn't one of them. And, within two hours, we were hungry again!
(2)
Josh B.

Probably does win as best meal on big island. 5 stars for that reasn. My wife's ponzu mahi mahi was really nice. The dark chocolate purse was also special for desert. I had the lamb special which was good. I also found their wine list impressive with some favorites such as sea smoke. It's a white table cloth place but it is kid friendly and there were plenty of kids.
(5)
Miles R.

Perfect! From the service, Mai Tai using fresh juices, the tartare appetizer, filet, then the chocolate purse to top it off, this place is great!
(5)
Chris K.

Oooooohhhhh boy. Everything is good. We got Ahi done like 18 ways and each was better than the previous. The steak was also delicious. I actually gave a 25% tip and made a point to personally compliment the waitress; she was memorably good. Merriman's deserves every star it gets.
(5)
Cheryl H.

These guys know how to do DINNER!! I didn't have to worry about a thing all night!! Service was impeccable--from the host to the table runners to the waitress. Seating system was modern and computerized for top-notch efficiency. Service with a smile, and they were VERY VERY busy! Food...we got a little bit of everything with the mixed plate combo platter, the ahi poke w potato chips and avocado (I've lived I'm Hawaii all my life and this poke is STELLAR, I tell ya! You MUST try it!), spicy pork gumbo, opakapaka w prawns, and of course the LEGENDARY chocolate purse dessert!!! You MUST get the chocolate purse dessert...flaky fudge goodness and not too heavy as a finisher. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly. I especially thought the mahimahi with pickled veggies was one of the best fish dishes I've ever had. Lighting is also not too bright but bright enough to see wth you are eating; a very comfortable ambience. Air conditioned nicely and not too cold or hot; I brought a sweater but did not need to use it. Parking was free. Be sure to make reservations, cuz this place is BIZ--AY, and don't be late, cuz they accommodate those parties who are first (as they should). I will definitely be back to Big Island again and will make sure to come here every single time. This place is a gem. Wish they were on Oahu, too (hint hint). Lol. A whole hearted FIVE STARS to this place. And hats off to our wonderful waitress, Ihilani!
(5)
K B.

A beautiful dining experience! To start we enjoyed the Kalua Pig & Sweet Onion Quesadilla served with House-made Kim Chee & Mango Chili Dipping Sauce. My husband had the Chili Pepper Kauai Prawns "a la Plancha" Hirabara Farm Fennel, Zucchini & Arugula, Charred Tomato-Grilled Lemon Vinaigrette. I also had Hirabara Farm Earth Grown Lettuce Salad Maui Onion, Fennel, Cucumber, Radish, Waimea Tomato, Fresh Squeezed Lime & Extra Virgin Olive Oil and I added the Big Island goat cheese, which was a great call. This salad was really light, although a huge portion and could easily be split between two people. What is cool about this place is that if you can't decide between a couple dishes, you can do the "duo" and enjoy 1/2 portion of two different entres on the menu, which I loved. So, I chose to do the fish special opah and the pork chops. And save room for dessert... coconut crembrule was served with the greatest macadamia nut cookies I've ever had. They tasted like they were made with an oatmeal and they were light and tasty. The coffee choices were outstanding and it was fun to choose what bean and from what area of Hawaii we preferred- served in a French Press. Finally- the service was impecable and friendly. So why 4 stars instead of 5? After all that food (and our bottle of wine and beginning cocktails), a restroom was desperately needed before we left and unfortunately, all restrooms were out of order upon our exit. It made the 30 minute drive to the hotel a bit uncomfortable- but I am assuming this isn't something that happens often. If you are on The Big Island- (or any island with a Merriman's) definitely head to this wonderful restaurant and enjoy a lovely meal, which you will remember forever.
(4)
Kelton J.

I don't usually rave about a place that advertises burgers as some of it's finest faire, but I'm going to break protocol here. We were told that their beef is 100% organic and local, and being that Waimea is known for it's Paniolo culture and cattle raising, though we had to give it a try. Good move. I had the burger, and my wife had the fish special plate. This was lunch time so the prices were lower, but still it was more than reasonable considering the food quality and locale. The burger was just delicious, a kind of beef I've never had before that just melted in your mouth. There was a nice, thin pesto on it that really added to the flavor and was enhanced by the fresh greens in the salad and on the burger itself. It had that aromatic thing going on, where you felt like you just walked into the middle of the most amazing herb garden on the planet. The fish was also amazing, better yet was the sauce for it which took the old tartar idea and turned it into a dill-ish herbal mouthgasm. The thai dressing on the salad was also out of this world. I left thinking it would have been a fabulous lunch just to have a large salad with that fanastic dressing. The service was just top notch, and this was even during the height of lunch when they were extremely busy. We so much more enjoyed this place, than it's more shee-shee cousin down in the Waikoloa Resort. I'll say this unwaveringly to anyone: if you want the true Merriman experience, come to Kamuela.
(5)
Tim H.

I drove over an hour to come out to Merriman's in Waimea for lunch. This place is in the middle of nowhere. The food was just ok in my opinion and did not live up to the hype. Service was good/great as you would expect in this class of restaurant. I ordered 5 dishes and only thought the bbq shrimp and strawberry with custard dishes were good. Although I am glad I got to try out Merriman's, I don't think I will be back to this or the other locations.
(3)
Jon P.

After dining here, I was reminded that the difference between being a good restaurant and a great restaurant are in the little details. Given the premium that one spends here at Merriman's, they need to work on the little details. Overall, I would come here again - and agree with the other 4 star and 5 star reviews that the food is great and service friendly & good. Yesterday, we dined here for lunch - and in full disclosure, showed up very close to the end of lunch service. The hostess warmly greeted us and quickly found us a table. Our server also warmly greeted us and made us feel right at home. Service throughout was good, cheerful and full of the Aloha spirit to the very end. Our server also had a large birthday table he was handling and it didn't seem to impair his ability to work with us and the other tables. Only one glitch occurred when trying to process our bill on the computer, almost not worth mentioning accept to say that our server was very apologetic even though we weren't in hurry - and in my view, an apology goes a long way these days! (I'm guessing it was because of the birthday table - LOL!) We had ordered the Heirloom Beets to share, but it was no longer available - we arrived at 1:20 - they stop serving lunch at 1:30, so best be here by 1:00pm if you don't want to be disappointed. I ordered the Kalua Pork and Cabbage with the Macadamia Nut Rice. This lunch entrÃ©e also was accompanied by a simple green salad. I appreciated that when my entrÃ©e arrived, the salad dressing was separate, as was a house created BBQ sauce. It allowed me to spice and dress as needed. The Kalua Pork was flavorful and not too salty. My only complaint was that the cabbage seemed lacking; to be frank, I had expected more cabbage than just a few little pieces mixed into the pork. Overall, lunch was satisfying and as a result of not having the Beets, it left me room for my own dessert. I ordered the Coconut CrÃ¨me BrÃ»lÃ©e and my wife ordered the Liliko'i Mouse. Both were served with house made Macadamia Nut Cookies. Although both desserts were fantastic and flavorful, the simplicity of the cookies stole the show. Don't get me wrong - each dessert was awesome and perfectly prepared. Details, details, details. OK - so here are my only criticisms. On one hand, their wine list for the dinner menu is pretty good for Hawaii standards. However, their beer choices had MUCH to be desired and they need to step it up a notch! I ordered an IPA that came from the Maui Brewing Co.(the ONLY local option) the only other choices were your run of the mill big name, pedestrian brewers. Really? This place has made a name for itself as a purveyor of products that are locally grown and produced. Why not remove all but the Bud Light, and offer the multiple selections of beers produced by the Kona Brewing Company? End of lunch service, doesn't mean it's time to immediately and hurriedly turn the restaurant over for dinner service. As folks were leaving and as we received our food, staff started running around the place tossing table cloths out onto empty chairs, shuffling bread plates and glassware and basically taking away any form of ambiance the place had. I confessed above that we came at the end of lunch service, but don't you think you could wait until 2:30pm to start turning things over for a 5:30 dinner service? In conclusion - I would go back again for lunch (maybe try and get there by 1:00pm) The dinner menu looks a little pricy for a place that's not that formal, however the food is fantastic and the staff are very friendly so I might be tempted to give dinner a try too.
(4)
Deidre C.

Favorite restaurant on the Big Island. Never disappointed, always delicious and the staff gracious and hard working. Wine list is wonderful as well.
(5)
S C.

We ate at a lot of places during our vacation on the Big Island, and this place was one of my favorites. It was a very nice dining experience, we stopped in for lunch and so we did not need a reservation. The food was skillfully and freshly prepared and we thoroughly enjoyed everything that we ordered. I would visit again in a heartbeat.
(5)
Tom S.

Big Island food is generally mediocre and extremely expensive. Merrimans is not inexpensive, but oh boy it is worth it, big-time. A mound of lobster salad with pea-shoots, celery, radishes, and other green stuff in a light vinaigrette is simply fabulous. The nightly special of barbecued shrimp, a perfect piece of Ono with a mixture of assorted Hawaiian vegetables in a subtle broth was also wonderful. The service is impeccable. One minor quibble. The food comes a little bit too quickly. The pacing could be slightly slower. This restaurant shows you what perfectly fresh ingredients cooked simply and presented beautifully can do for your soul. If they gave me a meal card for the week I would go every night. Go!!
(5)
Ari G.

San Franciscans are pre-programmed to flock to restaurants touting "locally sourced" ingredients. We line up to get our Blue Bottle coffee, bread from Tartine, and bags filled with $8 tomatoes at the Farmers Market. It's just what we do. Most of us ignore the hype and hate the "holier than thou" food snobbery often associated with it. We identify more with Bourdain than Trotter - we are the 99% of foodies. My girlfriend and I were excited to dine at Merriman's earlier this week. It was a half-hour drive up a windy 2-lane road (with no center divide) from where we were staying in Waikoloa. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a pair of really nice hostesses and checked in. We were a little early for our reservation and over the course of the next few minutes, it turned into a total madhouse. Consequently, we weren't seated for 40 minutes after our reservation time. We were packed in like cattle for almost an hour and it took the Aloha right out of me. Redemption, in the form of a killer dining experience was just around the corner, or so we thought. Service was slow and inattentive. To our server's credit, it was a very busy night and they could have been short-staffed. We ordered the local goat cheese & jam to accompany our bread and the nightly special salad to start. The salad was good - essentially a plate of hearty mixed greens. After we reminded the server, we later received the bread accompaniment and it too was good, but unremarkable. The freshly baked bread however, was one of the highlights of our meal. For our entrees, we ordered the scallops and the lamb (nightly special). Presentation was nice and the assortment of farm-fresh vegetables was good. The sauce served with my entrÃ©e though was far too complex and masked the lamb's unique flavor notes. For dessert, we ordered the lilikoi mousse and the chocolate purse. The former was outstanding, in spite of it being served in a water glass. The latter was the opposite - good presentation but over-cooked pastry exterior that rendered the chocolate filling a little too bitter. All-in, our meal was about $150 for the two of us, including one glass of wine. We don't regret dining at Merriman's but we won't be back. If you're on the island and want to invest the time/effort into a good meal, I'd say do it, but keep your expectations in check better than we did.
(3)
Heidi S.

The appetizers and desserts were great, entrÃ©es less so. If we were to return, I would say skip the entrÃ©e and focus only on the starters, salads and desserts. Place is pretty, and staff friendly.
(3)
Shelly M.

Stopped here for a nice meal while we were on the Big Island and it was everything we expected. I don't think you can go wrong with this place is you are looking for an upscale dinner.
(5)
Nancy O.

Great experience and service. Most of the dishes are superb.
(5)
Jannet L.

it's cold up there - be prepared! I was not and was wearing a tank top, t shirt, long sleeve and windbreaker throughout dinner. anyway - it's a bit of a drive even from hilo but the food was put together with care and the freshest ingredients. i'd say def high end, good service, nice decor. but prolly wouldn't go outta my way to drive up there unless i was there for some other reason.
(4)
Julie W.

Farm fresh to table.... unique combinations, excellent quality and a fantastic and knowledgeable wait staff... make this a can't miss destination. Started with the Merriman's special mai tai in a darling tiki glass cup with handles (which I used as it was quite full with dark and light rum)! The complimentary relish dish of taro hummus and chips, fresh cucumber and daikon. The beet/papaya/tomato salad was incredible and veggies perfectly ripe. Had the Macadamia nut crusted ono... melt in your mouth goodness. Other entree's ordered at the table were the mixed plate(beef/ahi/mahi mahi) and the lamb... both were raved about. We ordered a couple of deserts, but the chocolate purse was the one we were fighting over! Chocolate ganache wrapped in phyllo, served with tahitian island made ice cream and brittle. Mmmmm....
(5)
Charlie P.

Recommended by a friend,We stopped by after zip lining for dinner. We did bring. a Change of clothes (good thing). Merrimans is an upscale dining experience. Great food, excellent service and great atmosphere. Out in the pastures compared to the beach resort areas of the big island but if you are craving this, make the drive.
(5)
Ben P.

Great meal with an exceptional waitress. Make sure you save too for dessert. I had the chocolate purse, which was amazing. I'm not typically a big sweets guy, but I didn't leave a single drop of chocolate on my plate.
(5)
Jason J.

I was reminded to write my review of this restaurant after seeing its sister restaurant last week on Food Network's "Chef Hunter." (And I have to say my excitement about this place was heavily tempered by seeing that show. The corporate chef in particular was extremely rude and sarcastic with the chefs they were "trying out" -- so much so that I don't really feel like going back to any of their restaurants. If that doesn't concern you, read on.) We ate here with a large group that was really too big for the restaurant and had too many loud children for the restaurant and too many people without enough excitement for fine dining for the restaurant...and it still blew me out of the water. Fantastic, patient, professional service. Excellent--really over the top fresh and sophisticated--food. Very elegant and pretty decour. Great restaurant.
(5)
J L.

Came here this past weekend with the fam and bf when we went to the Big island. My mom kept wanting to come here so we took the drive from the Waikaloa and tried it out. This is a pricey restaurant. Expect the bill to be over $100. It was about $280 for all 4 of us. The atmosphere is classy yet laid back. I'd say the attire to be semi-formal. Don't come here with jeans and a screen tee, but no need to dress up in a mini prom dress or anything. I wore a body hugging leopard dress but felt over dressed so yeah just plan accordingly lol. This isn't a large restaurant and when we went here it was packed so it was a good thing we made a reservation. I would say walk-ins need to wait a while. We were quickly sat down at the table by the manager, he seemed friendly and talked pidgin haha. Waitress came pretty quickly and brought a small jar with some type of pesto sauce and like 5 small veggies as a small starter. I just got a tea (orange jasmine) and parents ordered some wine. (Cheapest bottle= $50) They gave me a cup WITH THE TEA POT. I REALLY appreciate that!!! I hate it when i have to keep asking the waitress to fill up my hot water, I much rather have a pot! Anyways, we ordered our entree's and I had the beef, parents had a special salad as a starter and then the trio sampler. My bf had the seared ahi. My beef was pretty good but not much flavor. I should have gotten the steak! My parents salads were YUMM I shouldve gotten that, and my bfs ahi was very good too. However, like many high-end restaurants, you DO NOT get a lot for your money!!! It's more about the flavor and dinning experience than it is for the quantity. So you might wanna eat a little something before! Their bread was pretty good and was piping hot when it came out so that's always a plus. We ordered desert and was some type of chocolate "purse". Very interesting. It was crunchy and flaky on the outside with oozing chocolate and salted caramel. VERY GOOD but VERY small. I couldve eaten the whole thing myself. But we shared 4 ways...not very much though for each of us. Overall, I would come here again when I feel fancy but I'm usually a girl of being full and satisfied and not dropping $$$$$ so maybe not anytime soon!
(4)
Scott M.

By far the best meal on the island, maybe ever. Everything and I mean everything on the menu is local. Everything. Hannah was amazing in her presentation of the menu, attentiveness to our needs and suggesting 2 first time diners on what would be best to experience. $170 for 2 with a nice tip. Order "The Purse" for dessert. They open at 5:30 for dinner and within an hour they were packed. Elevation is 2500 feet so cooler than Waikaloa (25 minute drive) by 10 degrees. No Mainland locations so this is a must dine.
(5)
Jon M.

My wife and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary at this restaurant. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. Dale was our server...I'd give him 10-stars. We drove about 45 minutes from Kona to Waimea where the restaurant is located. It was well worth it. Our bill was about $100 before gratuity including a couple of cocktails and dessert. We'd give Merriman's 6 stars if we could. Don't miss Merriman's when you're staying on the big island.
(5)
Howard G.

Totally enjoyable experience. Excellent food, service and ambience. Had the 3 course tasting menu and each course was superb---- Ono entree, salad w/ local produce and asparagus, and a chocolate torte with strawberries and cream. All beautifully prepared.
(5)
Brooke J.

What a let down. I'd like to think I went on an off day, but the cynic in me thinks this might happen often. I went for a farm to table experience. I'm glad that I decided to go for lunch instead of arranging to stay overnight in a hotel just to eat dinner. I consider this to be in a class of restaurants where one would make a special trip just to eat here. That's usually what one needs to do to earn a Michelin star. He doesn't have his yet to my knowledge. Perhaps I'm being too harsh for this location and I should reserve judgment til I eat in Kauai. There was no evidence of all of the James Beard hype here. I left really deflated. Unfortunately, the highlight of my meal was the iced tea. The pineapple really came through and made it something special. It wasn't overbrewed or bitter in the least. It wasn't syrupy. My server was pedantic. She would interrupt me mid mouthful to tell me how I ought to eat and why I ought to enjoy what I had in my mouth. She did not tarry to get my response if she asked me how things were going. Nor did she refill my water frequently. It was a super hot day. No one patrolled for lemon seed removal, which is something I expect in fine dining. I came for a big memorable meal, and I was hell bent on having my three courses. I started off with a high level of trust and I ordered the Ahi Poke. Oh bad. Oh wrong. Oh horrible. Soooooo many miscuts. Tendons everywhere. Oh the humanity! #firstworldproblems It really made me want to get up and go back of the house and teach them how to dice their poke. I could teach them how to dress it at the same time. My poor tuna had exchanged their salty sea for a brown mess of oily soy. The miscut chunks were just awash in the stuff and looked like little pink icebergs. Yep, pink, not bloody red, thanks to being near cooked by the oversaucing. Gah! I was a little glad, because it tasted plain off to boot. When asked about it, I said it was okay. Usually a server will then ask further questions and tease a problem out. My server just nodded. I finished so little of this that she asked if I wanted it boxed. I took a deep breath. Sometimes appetizers are off. One usually hopes the market price appetizer at a fine dining restaurant is not off, but this has been known to happen. Onwards to the entrÃ©e! Surely Merriman's couldn't screw up Kalua Pork? *sigh* Now this is a classy joint, so I lost the bun for rice and a salad. Yes, I realise this is barbecue. I love barbecue. I'm pretty sure they sent to the mainland for added fat. My salad, my rice, my pork were all swimming in oil. It was gross. The rice *would* have been incredible if it weren't for the fat. The macadamia nuts really added to the rice. I tried my best to shove things about the plate to avoid the excess fat, but it was nearly impossible to accomplish this. So I heaped on as much of the side sauce that I could bear. I ate a little bit more of my main than my appetizer. The pork didn't seem to have any smoke flavour at all to it. I sat there wondering how community college kids on O'ahu had outdone bloody Merriman's. Again I was asked about a box. *eyeroll* I was crestfallen and hoping for dessert redemption. No, no, no. I ordered the congo bar. How could I possibly get something so cloying out of a professional kitchen? Was *anyone* at the pass that afternoon? Sugar, sugar, sugar, syrup. $45 dollars later I left relieved I'd not spent $100ish on dinner.
(3)
Gopi V.

A very leisure place in Waimea. Great place for late afternoon lunch. The music and the breeze through the laidback dÃ©cor sets the perfect ambience for a lazy lunch. The fish of the day and the fish tacos were great. The dessert however was simply mind-blowing. The chocolate purse is every chocolate lover's delight. The lilikoi mousse was also light and sweet.
(5)
Jamp V.

Heard about this restaurant from my hubby's friend so decided to make the trip from the Hilton Waikoloa to Merriman's in Kamuela. So very worth the trip! The food was amazing and our server, Shea was more than well versed on everything on the menu. I had the filet mignon with diver scallops added to make it a very choice surf and turf. Shea made all the specials sound so delectable that we pretty much just ordered that. She didn't disappoint and neither did the food! The restaurant is small, so make a reservation. The price is what you expect for the quality of food and level of service. The atmosphere is classy yet not overly snobby. It is the epitome of casual fine dining!
(5)
Bradley H.

Where has this retaurant been all my life?!?! We went here at the recommendation of someone in our party. We had eaten not too much earlier in the day and weren't even really too hungry...until... Everything here from the wait staff (we walked in at 8pm, they closed at 9pm, but they kept the restaurant open until after 10pm when we left) to the outdoor herb garden, oh, to the food, was spectacular! All food was island grown and organic, so it was all extremely fresh. The wait staff was so nice and catered to our every need. We went in as a party of six so we got to try a bit of everything...lets start from the beginning: First off, we asked them about the bone marrow butter and asked them to prepare us a custom dish to emphasize the bone marrow butter. They made us a bruschetta with the bone marrow butter, carmelized onions, and heirloom tomatoes. The onions really brought out the flavor of the bone marrow butter and the tomatoes were a light refreshing topper to the appetizer. Hirabara butter lettuce salad with organic island beets and heirloom tomatoes, bacon, and a bacon vinagrette. Maybe the best salad I have EVER eaten. This was a special for the night, so it's not the Hirabara salad on the normal menu. Spinach, Fennel, and Strawberries Salad. The strawberries were so sweet...probably some of the best i've had as well. The combination of the seemingly random ingredients was amazing. Merriman's Mixed Plate. We substituted the Kampachi and the garlic macadamia nut rice for the Mahi Mahi and were not disappointed...perfectly prepared and very tasty! The seared Ahi was delicious and the dipping sauce was was a great compliment...slightly sweet and salty but not overwhelming. The Filet steat medallion was much bigger than a normal medallion, prepared to order (medium rare of course) with a tasty hamakua mushroom topping. We were stuffed. We were ready to leave, but then there was dessert. I had the chocolate "purse" which is a combination of a filo dough "purse" filled with a rich, dense chocolate filling and vanilla ice cream on the side. If you like chocolate, you will LOVE this dessert...even if you are full...and we were FULL. Kambocha (japanese pumpkin) cake (more like a brownie) topped with vanilla ice cream. The flavor of the dish was so rich...hard to believe you could get that much taste out of a pumpkin. Despite the intense taste, the pumpkin flavor wasn't too overwhelming amongst the other ingredients...another A+ dessert. Waimea strawberries with creme brulee. To be honest, i don't even remember if it was creme brulee or not, because like the salad above, the strawberries took the cake. I doubt that you can find these strawberries in the stores (at least that quality of strawberries) because they'd never make it out of the strawberry "patch" without being bought out by the local restaurants. Overall, the dining experience was incredible. We all walked away very impressed with everything and it would be a no-brainer to be back there the very next time we are back on the Big Island. Happy Eating!
(5)
Rachel H.

My Husband and I were here for lunch, I was very keen on trying this restaurant even before we landed on The Big Island. I was very, very impressed with my dining experience. For an appetizer we got the Merriman's famous Chinese Short Ribs, even though it was an entree. Actually it was my idea, after I saw the table next to us get it and couldn't take their ooohing and aahhhing silently. Needless to say it was excellent. For the main course I got the fresh Fish of the day. I don't recall what it was called, all that I know was it was delicious. Hubby got the Filet Mignon, only beef from Parker Ranch is served.The filet was just delicious, the quality was simply delicious. We visited the Ranch a couple of days earlier and were very impressed with it....well, thats another superb review in itself! For dessert we split the chocolate purse.I am proud to say, I ate up almost everything. I highly recommed Merriman's, it is very child friendly, super food and excellent service...what else can you ask for?
(5)
Alan H.

The Gold Hale Aina Award went to the wrong restaurant, Kaleo's is still my favorite spot to eat on the big island. Let's start with the pros. This place is located en route to the beach and is rather spacious inside despite what it may look like on the outside. The wall has custom designed art, the ceilings hang down with chandeliers topped with bronze pineapples, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming and brightly lit. The decor and the waiting staff is impecable, filling water when the cup is half full, and checking in on us to make sure everything is going well. The food on the other hand was less spectacular. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it was just not great, and not better than Kaleo's. I got the chinese chicken wrap. It had some decent flavor, but the wrap itself was small, and slightly soggy, suggesting it had sat there for a bit while the rest of the dishes were being completed. The salad was fairly uninspired, and tasted similar to what you would get from costco + ranch. What really ruined the food was the water. Is it just me or should water not have a smell...ever. For an award winning restaurant, this should never be the case. It was a good thing I ordered the tropical ice tea, which was very much ice tea with just a hint of tropical (not sure what kinda tropical, just tropical sweetness). Overall great decor and staff. Food was okay. water was terrible. which is why i say kaleos should be gold
(3)
Andrew M.

Great food. Good service. Ambiance is a bit noisy when the restaurant is crowded, but I suppose most places will be like that. Go before 7 pm to avoid the crowds. Reservations are recommended. I will definitely go back whenever I am on the Big Island again.
(5)
Katherine W.

How many times can you go to a restaurant and leave talking about how they made the vegetables sing? We ordered dishes with protein (steak, lamb, scallops) and those were handled really well, but OMG the vegetables! Cooked to perfection and tasted AMAZING. We ordered an additional side dish of more vegetables because they were so amazing. Especially when you've been traveling for a while and you're craving your veggies, this place hit the spot. The service was also 100% spot on, and they handled my soybean allergy elegantly and I was able to really enjoy the meal.
(5)
Chris O.

Omg, what a tasty and healthy meal we had here. All of the food is local and organic from what I could tell, they grow some of the herbs and veggies themselves even. So this was a great break from fatty no vege plate lunches and heavy breakfasts we had been eating. What a treat it all was. I couldn't decide what to get so I got the sampler which had Seared Ahi Tuna, Mahi Mahi the most delicious ponzu sauce and a beef filet that was excellent. My girl had the lamb dish which was also very tasty and I don't even like lamb. Service was a bit formal for my taste but very good. Decor was kinda fancy and not my style (I don't like white table cloths in Hawaii especially, seems odd) but who cares, the food was scrumptious! Oh and yeah, it's pricey, we spent about $130 for two but walked out full and happy.
(5)
Rebecca B.

Excellent! Great service and ambiance was perfect. Loved the cozy vibe it has. Had the fish special which was amazing. The chocolate purse is to DIE FOR!! A "must" for dinner when on the Big Island. Will be back again for sure! It's pricey but sometimes you have to pay for quality. Worth the drive!
(5)
Simon M.

In some ways we liked the big island's version even better than Maui's. The setting is a bit more intimate and quiet, a bit less fancy. The food though was just as good with local fish and farmer's produce the star of the show. The service is very friendly and helpful, great wine list too. Fresh Ono and Ahi and wonderful salads as appetizers. Definably worth it, a must on the big island.
(5)
Matthew B.

Most Hawaii restaurant reviews ("it's good ...") have to be qualified ("...for Hawaii"). Merriman's is one of the few that's not just excellent, it would be excellent anywhere. Creative menu, fresh preparations, friendly service, and a serious cocktail & wine list. An entirely different experience from the generically fancy meals served at the nice hotels on the Big Island. Best meal I've had in Hawaii, for sure.
(5)
Sara W.

I am all for quality of product, that is what you will get here. Organic, fresh and well prepared. Bring you credit card however an entree is at least $40+. Also if your man is with you he will he hungry a hour after dinner so he prepared for a late night snack if you go for dinner. Great wine list! The staff are highly trained and provide excellent service. They are flexible on menu choices as well. Overall very very good but pricey with small portions.
(4)
Brooke D.

Once again another fabulous meal at Merriman's! Was in today for lunch and it was delicious! I love how the menu always changes and today I ordered the Fish Tacos which were perfect! The salsa and sauce were so yummy!
(5)
Kurt V.

6th visit in 15 years. Quality food, service, everything keeps getting better, Our favorite dining spot on the island by far. Don't mistake this one in the Kings Shops by the Hilton Walk-a-lota for the real Merriman's 30 minutes up island. (Been there and would not go even it if it was free). The wok grilled ahi is always good, but the Ono special was by far the best fish dish I've had in years. The beef is grass feed steak and not from Parker Ranch, but still local, so its flavor, while great, is not for everyone. I loved its, but the table was split. The best of the evening was the head on shrimp, served as an appetizer, or added to any dish. Just order it. The wine list is limited, but not bad, just not as great as the food. Don't miss the chocolate purse desert. It is rich enough for just a bite, but wow, its memorable. Service - as good as it gets. I cannot think of a better place to spend your last evening on the big island after the sun sets.
(5)
Tom C.

Great service and food! Fresh local veg, meats and fish. Love their use of the fresh herbs.
(5)
Mark L.

OK, Merriman's on Kauai blew me away. But this is the flag ship. While it's a beautiful restaurant and the service was attentive and nice, the food was a little off. The desserts were excellent but the fish and pork were a little dry and lacking in flavor. The wine list is extensive and you can definitely find something worth drinking, the price tag ($300 for family of four with two kids and one bottle of wine) is high enough that I expect everything to be tops on the island and I preferred Jackie Rey's in Kona. Definitely recommend but order carefully and know you're paying for reputation and name.
(3)
S G.

great good, complex and interesting blend of flavors, everything is fresh.
(4)
Amanda K.

We drove over an hour and a half & plan on going again in two days :) the atmosphere is awesome!!! Small Restraunt with so much personality & charm. I had the spinach salad & I couldn't get enough!! The lamb is out of this world!!! Mahi magi was delicious. You CANNOT leave without their chocolate purse for dessert.
(5)
Anna S.

If you're in the northern part of the big island, I definitely recommend you go here! We didn't even have a reservation and were able to grab a table on a Tuesday night. They also have an open kitchen with an herb garden right outside the kitchen so you know they use fresh herbs. We ordered a nice tortilla soup with layers of flavor for the starter as well as a crispy goat cheese platter. Absolutely delicious, especially with the warm bread they gave to every table. My hubby wanted to drink coffee with his meal and they were able to help us with that request. They came back with a large coffee press and two warm cups. The attention to deal was excellent and he REALLY loved the coffee. For our entrees, I ordered the seared scallops and hubby ordered the pork. he kept eating out of my plate because the scallops were so wonderfully seared. I wish I had room for dessert but the warm Hawaii air just cuts my appetite in half. Two thumbs up! I love how the location is a bit more discreet in the middle of Waimea.
(5)
Jan G.

We had a lovely experience at Merriman's, in fact one of the best in the area. We tried lots of different menu items, ordering the sampler appetizers, the two entree sampler, a delicious dessert and even the tasting sampler of wine. Our waitress was fantastic and the whole experience was wonderful. We ate at many of the other high end restaurants and were not as excited by their menu options. We also felt great after our meal and healthy to boot.
(5)
G L.

My fiancÃ© and I ate at Merriman's in Maui last year so we knew we had to eat here. We were not disappointed. Our meals were delicious!
(5)
Capitalist B.

Nice menu and food prep.
(4)
David J.

Simply stunning, always a destination when we visit the big island. Excellent food and service as good as it gets.
(5)
Maylee H.

Absolutely a must! Everything is fresh and from the island. Organic produce and dishes were prepared to excellence! Order from daily specials. I had the beet salad, mahi mahi fish and ended with a bowl of berries with cream.
(5)
Dave S.

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Hawaii and is worthy of 5 stars. When we are on the big island, we are at Merriman's at least once. There is nothing new to report here. Food, excellent. Service, top notch. The ONLY issue my wife and I had this time was the dining environment.. We usually are in Hawaii in February. Which means, usually, no kids. This time, we visited in June. This means, KIDS! We left our kids at the hotel because Merriman's is, frankly, an adult dining experience. Apparently, the other adults did not get the memo and see Merriman's as a perfect "family" restaurant like Chili's and Red Lobster. Well, it is not. And while we enjoyed everything about the restaurant, we did not appreciate the crying kids, the whining kids and the generally loud atmosphere, which is not existent in February. So, while we recommend this for adults, parents, leave your kids at the hotel! Nobody, other than than you, finds your kids cute and adorable. We have no interest in dining with them.
(4)
michael p.

Well worth the drive to Waimea. Excellent service and wonderful food. Fresh tara bread, well-prepared fresh fish and incredible vegetables from their sustainable farm! Save room for desert. Reservations a must. Hau'oli Makahiki Hou - Happy New Year!
(5)
Bill C.

Was here for lunch. I had the Chinese spare rib, wife had the pork and cabbage. Preceded by an excellently prepared lime margarita, the spare rib was aromatic, crusted with spice and fork tender. Garnished with fresh kim chee. The pork was smokey, moist and served with a pungent BBQ sauce on the side. French press Kona coffee made the meal!
(5)
John G.

Fantastic menu and well executed. We loved both of our fish entrees. If we lived on the big island we'd go all the time.
(5)
Toni M.

Just returned from a couple of days on the Big Island. As usual, I did my homework on restaurants before I left. It makes it so much better when I have a list of possibilities to work from...yes, I'm a planner. Merriman's was a yelp favorite...it was also recommended by Trip Advisor and featured in Honolulu Magazine. It seemed like a great bet! The restaurant is small with only dining room seating. Their menu is very diverse, focusing on local ingredients, and has options to accommodate every palate and diet. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and the kitchen is willing to modify orders to please. I arrived about 7:30pm on a Thursday night. I underestimated the distance and driving conditions from Hilo...probably not my smartest move, driving 90 min in the dark and rain with a low cell phone battery. I digress...in any case, the place was full and I thought, without a reservation, I just might be turned away. But, they found a small table just for me. The delicious aroma of grilled meat filled the air and it was a keen debate with my inner carnivore what I should actually order. All of the beef on the menu is local as well. The pescatarian won and I stuck with the specials: a tossed green salad and grilled monchong with herbed polenta and fennel and a French Cheverny. The salad was velvety and flavorful. The ingredients were fresh and succulent. And the fish, WOW! It was grilled perfectly with a moist and flaky texture. The sauce and polenta complemented the fish wonderfully. Dessert came much too soon. I've been trying to avoid a lot of processed sugar, so I asked the waiter if there was a fruit or cheese plate on the menu. He replied that the kitchen could do just about anything. 10 minutes later I had a beautiful LARGE fruit and cheese platter with Matag blue, Vermont cheddar, local feta and a cornucopia of local fruit. Heaven! This was an excellent dining experience that I would truly recommend. Call for reservations and if driving, leave early!
(4)
Matt R.

Bacon and the beast!! 'Nuff said! Arleigh vintage smokey scotch with a piece of gargantuanly thick house smoked and cured bacon with a light BBQ glaze draped atop the glass. Sweet, salty, smoky savory pork goodness with a fantastic scotch. Roast pork and sweet Maui onion quesedilla with a sweet chili dipping sauce. I could die now if they serve that in heaven! Finally I tasted the mahi mahi in ponzu sauce over sweet corn and macadamia nut rice, as well as the bone in pork chop cooked to perfection of medium rare with sweet Maui onion rings on top. Queue the Homer Simpson drooling sounds!! Fantastic service, fantastic views on the drive to the restaurant, and unreal food. Top 3 meals of my life. Great wine list a well! It has it all
(5)
Brandon C.

This was the third year in a row that we have been fortunate to celebrate Thanksgiving here. The food was great and the service was wonderful. I hope we are lucky enough to make it next year.
(5)
Jim L.

Had lunch there yesterday and it was very good. Excellent waitress who was very personable and knowledgeable as well as attentive. The chocolate purse desert was one of the best deserts I have ever had.
(5)
Adam D.

Solid restaurant if you find yourself in Waimea. I got the local island lab, which was delicious (but sparing). The chutney for the lamb was one of the best parts, hands down. Prices are a bit high compared to other restaurants I went to on big island, but not outrageously so.
(4)
Nish N.

Merriman's is one of those few truly gourmet spots on the Big Island deserving of all the accolades put on it. We're talking the seasonal ingredients and a choice selection of wine (just a really well-thought out list, diverse too). Service is casual and the atmosphere is anything but pretentious, I guess they let the food speak for itself. If you're a first timer like myself, I'd go with the Mixed Plate, which is a taste of his signature dishes: Ponzu Mahi Mahi, Filet Steak Medallion, Wok Charred Ahi, and Hamakua Mushrooms. Get some fresh corn on the side, maybe some local beets, and you are all set. For dessert, go with the Chocolate Purse, decadent but worth it, and easily enjoyed for two. If there was a "scene" on the Big Island, it might as well be here. That could account for the fact that Mayor Gavin Newsom was seated nearby!
(5)
Dan G.

We ate here for our 10-year anniversary, opting for something unique and local over the big names. It turned out to be a great choice! The food here is top notch, the service attentive and friendly, and the ambiance is fancy, but relaxed. Fancy Hawaiian, I guess? I had the pork special of the day, which was a pork loin brined in local coffee and sea salt, then smoked, served over a bed of yukon gold potatoes with feneal and an amazing light-textured smokey sauce. it was fantastic. My wife got the macadema nut crusted ono, which was the fish special. The bite I had was excellent; very fresh and cooked perfectly so it melted in the mouth. There were kids there (even a few crying babies) so it's kid friendly if your kids can keep it together in a nice restaraunt ;)
(5)
Justin M.

This place will not fail. Just be warned that if your looking for a big dinner, please eat a snack before coming here. There portions are small but will do the job, and yes its is pricey for such small dishes. HOWEVER, everything was perfect, from the fast and kind service to the orgasmic (yes its that good) delicious food Modern Hawai'i has to offer. Definitely have a reservation for this has a limited amount of spacing. Me and my family were very fortunate for coming before prime time. I had the the 3 entree sampler and everything was made without flaws. The sushi was the best sushi I tasted in years. The steak was a nice delight. The Ahi Ahi was undeniable, also the best part. Crisp on the outside and tender in the inside. Can't forget about dessert! Original Hawaii Chocolate Purse! That is the rave and also the flave! I was originally gonna give this 4 stars but they had a waiter that looked like Rob Sneider's character from 50 first dates and the hostess was the first real beautiful exotic girl next door local I found. HOw can you not give this place 5 stars after eating with your mouth AND eyes! EPIC WIN!
(5)
Deborah L.

I've been coming to the islands for many years, and I think it's safe to say that Merriman's is the best of the best. All of the meat and produce are locally sourced, which only serves to enhance the flavor of the perfectly prepared dishes. Normally my husband and I don't eat pork, but the Kalua pig quesadilla with kim chee dipping sauce was amazing. Our spinach salad, lamb and beef filet were also first class. I can't wait to try their other restaurants on Maui, where we normally vacation.
(5)
Nina B.

Best restaurant on TBI. Still craving the cheesecake..........and I dont even like cheesecake all that much. I heart Merriman's!!
(5)
Gary E.

It had been a long day. My wife and I had been up at Mauna Kea since 1:00pm, and at 8:30pm, I was barelling along a pitch black Saddle Road, trying to make Merriman's by the time they closed. We'd heard the recommendations, read the reviews, but it was on the way back to our B&B, so that night - Merriman's was the place. We rolled in the door at 8:40. (35 minutes from the Mauna Kea visitor's center to the parking lot at Merriman's. Those who've driven Saddle Road before, know this was no mean feat!) and ordered some Mai Tais. They arrived, and were pretty flavorful - not too heavy on the alcohol, and certainly using fresh juices. This place mightn't be bad after all... Then the food started arriving. Our server, who noticed my wife was still shivering from the 35 degree weather up the mountain (could also have been from my driving) brought us a sample of their sweet potato soup to warm up on. Considerate touch, and the soup was phenomenal. The kalua pig and cabbage quesedilla we ordered showed up a few minutes later. Not bad, a touch greasy, nothing I'd expect from such a "hallowed" place. But then the entrees came. My wife's filet was a great example of what meat should be. Hawai'ian beef is tougher than it's mainland counterpart, since the cows are much leaner on the Island, but the flavour was amazing. Earthy, with a touch of sweetness that only grass-fed beef gives, and was excellently married with the sweet flavours of the jam. The potatoes, cooked with broth and not butter or cream, were a little disappointing, but still tasty. Then there was my mahi-mahi. Oh. My. God. Similar to the steak, the fish was prepared flawlessly, and the dish's focus was squarely on the protein. The accompanying ingredients - sticky and wild rice, shiitake mushrooms and hearts of palm - seemed an afterthought, and did temper the experience a little. Almost like a masterpiece painting, displayed in a generic frame. All in all, we were really satisfied with our meal. We'd heard a lot of mixed things about Merriman's, usually it being a hit or miss depending on the night. I feel we were there on a hit. Our service was great, our food didn't disappoint, and it was the first (not last) time we paid a three-figure bill on the Big Island without thinking I just got hosed.
(4)
Jillian P.

I've eaten here a few times with my sisters for lunch. And every single time, I've LOVED IT. Granted, I did get the same thing over and over - I couldn't help myself. :) It's a kalua pork sandwich with barbecue sauce. Oh my gosh, it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good! I absolutely love it!!! Once when we ate lunch here, Reba McEntire was there. It was probably one of the coolest experiences ever! The restaurant is kind of tiny, but it's got such a great atmosphere and the service/servers here are great. :) Not once have I ever encountered a rude server. :) I would definitely recommend this place. Oh and PS, their desserts? DELISH!
(5)
Shayla M.

Absolutely delicious. I have a particular interest in restaurants that grow their own greens, herbs, and/or source locally. I looooved seeing the wall of fresh growing herbs inside the restaurant that employees picked from. Great way to show the clientele how it works. Also it was pretty, as was the terrific garden outside the restaurant. The food was fantastic. I tried parts of all my friends' dishes and we were all incredibly impressed with everything. Great salads, amazing sandwiches. I only wish I'd gone for dinner as well as lunch! I will definitely be back.
(5)
Jens S.

Another great restaurant on the Big Island. Excellent service and food. We normally go here on our date night when we leave our kid with friends at the hotel. It's a little bit more dressy and elegant than Roy's, but it is somewhat more pricy as well. The food is locally produced and so everything tastes really fresh. Especially their meet and fish dishes are outstanding. The service is also impeccable and our waitress made our visit memorable. Sadly, we can't bring our son (3 years) along, but I guess there need to be places that are limited to adults for dinner. One word of warning: Don't confuse this place with Merriman's Cafe at the King's mall in Waikoloa Village. Even though both places are owned by the same owner, they are like worlds apart. When I have more time I will add a second review for that place as well, but be assured that it won't be 5 stars.
(5)
Avata R.

Solid. We had the beef short rib and I had the beef curry, with a poke appetizer which really was the best thing. Comparatively, this restaurant is one of the best on the Big Island. In real life, it's a solid, no complaints restaurant, somewhere in between Spago and Denney's. Still, like I said, NO complaints, and after a week of eating at dumpster's like the Pine Tree Cafe [Insert toilet flushing sound effect here], well worth the drive. So, to sum up: It's a Hawaii four star and a Real World three star. Anyway, just go. You'll like it.
(3)
Diana W.

Lunch is back to wonderful, after a few less than stellar years. Service enthusiastic--ingredients so fresh. Hawaiian fusion at it's best!!
(5)
Juan F.

A little ways drive from Waikoloa, about 35 mins which wasn't too bad. Wailea provides for scenic and geographic change from the normal Hawaii scene since it's 3000 feet above sea level centrally located within the big island of Hawaii. We had already received a hot tip that this place was famous for locally grown cattle and game, as well as choice seafoods. Merrimans actually prides itself in local sustainability which is always something to be proud of. If your checking out reviews on this place then you already know its 3-4 $'s on the yelp rating system. For me when i compare the value to other places ive eaten at (not just in Hawaii) this place is good, but not great. I ordered the filet mignon (home grown cattle) it was delicious but not super memorable. However since it is in Hawaii, its a nice place and i would much rather go to a place like Merrimans instead of doing a comparable big chain like Ruths Chris where you can find in any big city in the US.
(4)
Kelly B.

Very very delicious! Even though the BBQ Grilled Shrimp & Asparagus is smaller than some of the other dishes, it was still tasty and left room for dessert! Our waiter was very nice and helpful, but we were left waiting for an extra place setting and chair for a little while.
(4)
Darlene L.

Best mahi I have ever eaten. Nobody does fish better. The serviceIs spot on too. Great affordable wine choices round out a great dining experience. This is clearly among the best the Big Island has to offer and is worth the drive if you hotel is afar.
(5)
Mark I.

Disappointed this time.service was excellent but food not nearly as good as in the past
(3)
Brian B.

Their rude, unprofessional staff ruined our plans to quietly celebrate my wife's 50th birthday. As I advised management by email: One of the waiters (with a prominent mustache and goatee), who was apparently in charge of the restaurant that evening, sat at a table next to us, while the restaurant was about 2/3rds filled with diners, and very loudly began to "quiz" another employee on how to answer guest questions, take their order, etc. - ridiculous questions and off-color remarks included. Whether or not this was a serious attempt at staff training (which it certainly did not appear to be) or simply staff fooling around during a slow phase of the evening, it was distracting and completely inappropriate to the dining experience we expected. We asked our server, who was very nice and understanding, to ask your staff to lower their voices, which they did for a minute ... but they then resumed yelling across the room at each other, loudly laughing etc. They were even joined at the table by the hostess, who mimicked their behavior. Our waitress again asked them to be respectful of the diners and lower their voices, telling them others had complained - but this time they didn't go quiet for even a minute. We left soon afterward... and will not return. (On the other hand, the service was quite good at their cafe at the shopping center location.)
(1)
Ryan K.

Food was so good...I'm not a big seafood eater and have never actually ordered a seafood dish as my meal but I figured I'm in Hawaii, might as well try something new. So I ordered the half Mahi Mahi and filet plate, ok so I didn't actually order an entire seafood dinner, but anyway...the Mahi Mahi was the best fish I've ever eaten, next time I'll order the full plate. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Heather S.

I have never written a review on here before; however, I think it's important for vacationers with children to know that they could easily be discriminated against if they choose to go to this restaurant. I have no complaints about the food as it was delicious. However, where we were seated, in addition to the resulting terrible service were abominable, especially for such a highly rated restaurant. We were staying in Waikoloa and drove 30 minutes to Waimea so that we could have the experience of eating at a nice restaurant. We (my husband and I and our 3- and 5-year-olds) arrived for our reservation at 5:30 and even though there were only a few other diners, we were seated at the far far end of the restaurant, almost down a hallway. The rest of the diners were seated in the main dining area, leaving us separated from everyone else by at least 6 tables. I'm assuming we were seated there due to having young children, as we were dressed appropriately. Our table, in the middle of nowhere, left our children with nothing to look at but the wall and empty tables. As anyone with young children knows, having bored children does not enable you to relax and enjoy an expensive dinner. Unfortunately, as all of our waitress' tables were in the main dining area, she seemed to forget about us for the majority of the evening; another problem when dining with young children. At one point, the bread and water boy even came over and got us our dessert menus as we had been finished with dinner for over twenty minutes. If you have young children and you're looking for a delicious and expensive meal, and you don't mind being made to feel like a pariah and having to wait forever for every course, then this is the place for you. Otherwise, I encourage you to dine at another restaurant.
(2)
Mike I.

For big Island fine dining this is THE place. The chef uses local seasonal ingredients. It is a neat touch that the farmers that provide the ingredients from lettuce to the goat cheese are all pictured on the wall in beautiful black and white photos. I would go six stars if I could. Finding a gem like this tucked away in Hawaii was just great. My steak was prepared perfectly. The kalua pork quesadilla was absolutely amazing. The kim che that went with it was a wonderful addition. It was a milder twist on kim che, which I normally don't like, and it was absolutely phenomenal. The french toast and bacon appetizer was very creative and delicious. They have a great selection of wines here as well. You cannot go wrong. If you want great food, skip the resorts and come here.
(5)
Amy H.

Their warm taro bread with butter was delicious!! Their version of Butterfish was superb!! :))
(4)
Carmen C.

Great lunch experience, wonderful service, great fresh local food, superfresh fish, kids menu, reasonably priced, pleasant atmosphere, unique Kona coffee and an amazing lilikoi mousse.
(5)
Jonathan S.

Possibly the best dinner I've ever had on the islands! Miles better than Roy's, or any other resort restaurant I've been to. Simply amazing!
(5)
Jennie M.

Treat yourself to this place if you have the chance. I wished we had gone with a group so we could have gotten the sampler platters for appetizers and entrees. As it was we shared a salad, each had a small entree and split their signature dessert the chocolate purse. It was a delicious meal and was a wonderful way to celebrate our last night on the island.
(4)
Todd R.

Good food, but not quite worth the price. The wait staff was quick, friendly, and attentive. However, a few silly mistakes were made that I wouldn't expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Shortly after receiving the menu, we were approached a few times to see if we were ready to order. However, as soon as we indicated we wanted to order, the server explained the specials. It sure would have been helpful to know the specials BEFORE we spent time deciding what to eat. Also, the server spilled wine on our tablecloth, then promised to replace what she spilled, but never actually followed through. The food was ok, not great. I appreciated the focus on local ingredients, but some of the dishes seemed dated and unimaginative.
(3)
H. H.

We were staying at the Four Seasons Hualalai and wanted to go out for a nice dinner away from the hotel. Merriman's was about a 35 minute drive and we got to see a beautiful double rainbow along the way. The restaurant is fairly small and popular so a reservation is necessary. The staff is great, very relaxed and helpful, without being overbearing. We sat at a window table and could see their nice herb/vegetable garden. We typically share everything as a family and we had tuna/poke sashimi as well as spicy shrimp appetizers, crusted ono and a steak (filet mignon) followed by some desserts (coconut flan and chocolate). Everything was perfectly prepared, light and tasty. The steak was much better than many filet mignons I've had in the past. It was still juicy and not the slightest bit dry. I'd certainly go again.
(5)
Josephine L.

Lunch was great for everyone except for my mom. She ordered a shrimp dish which came with soaking oily rice. I told her to send it back but good thing she was not that hungry. She ate 3 shrimps from the plate and that's it.
(4)
Jennifer W.

This restaurant is amazing, and definitely the best on the big island I have ever tasted! This place is beautiful, romantic, peaceful, and everything is fresh and delicious. We started with the crispy goat cheese salad, which was just the right size to share and had lots of yummy local stuff inside. For dinner, my boyfriend had the half and half entree - half of the pork special and half of the lamb special. Needless to say, everything on the plate was delicious. I had the fresh catch special - kona kampachi with spring veggie ragout. Soo amazing, best fish I have ever had. Dessert was chocolate ginger swirl cake with chocolate sauce and passion fruit posette. Both amazing. And don't forget the drinks! The ginger martini was delicious, with fresh candied ginger too! I love Merriman's and can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kathy Z.

I'm not convinced that this is the best restaurant on the Big Island, but it's pretty darn good. I had the fish of the day - snapper, fried eggplant with lentil, tomato and bacon. I thought the dish was quite lovely. The fish and eggplant went surprisingly well together. My husband had the ahi tuna, which was also delicious. Both dishes were hearty amounts of food, but both were well-balanced. I left feeling satiated and not stuffed.
(4)
A V.

You must all be joking about Merriman's. It is the most overpriced food we've ever eaten on the Big Island. Fish came overcooked and flavorless. Prawns came raw.......no they were not advertised as sushi, and from the ammonia smell, were not sushi grade. I think all the Merriman's hype comes from books like Fodor's where people from middle America who don't know good food think they're really having a gourmet experience. Feh! We have about 20 restaurants in the East Bay with twice the quality at about a quarter of the price.
(1)
Patrick S.

We stayed in the Waikoloa resort area and I wish we'd been closer to this place--we'd have gone every day. Really nice lunch options, didn't try dinner. The seared ahi was excellent, but have an appetizer with it, was left a bit hungry afterward. Local produce and meats were very appealing and fresh. We arrived at 1:29 on a Tuesday and I guess that was closing time, but they kept the kitchen oepn for us. Had a tough time finding the hours on-line, so call to confirm before you drive 30 minutes out for lunch. ;-) They were great with my 5 year old, and all of the adults had a great time.
(4)
Karl S.

I couldn't be more impressed. EVERYTHING at this place was incredible. Starting with the service, the BREAD they even bring to the table, the food, the choices, the wine, just everything. I literally could not think of enough good things to say about this place.
(5)
Daphne J.

Fresh local ingredients inspire the menu at this upscale-but-casual restaurant. Mr. Merriman was featured on Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie for his innovation in Hawaiian Regional Cuisine. We went for an early dinner during the summer months and ordered the special: Ono (fish) with Japanese eggplant on a bed of black rice. There was a delicious lilikoi sauce around the entree. I had to order the special side of locally grown purple baby carrots--and they were fresh and perfectly cooked to preserve a little crunch. The chocolate purse is a must for desert! Oh--and for starters we had lovely goat cheese and mango spreads to accompany our warm bread. Check out the little garden outside with fresh fruit and veggies while you're there. We found the waitstaff to be very polite, attentive, and laid back. Perfect atmosphere for Big Island hospitality.
(5)
Brian C.

A must see on the big island. All the reviews do not lie. The food is perfect. The service impeccable. I had Mahi Mahi with the ponzu sauce. It is somewhat expensive but if you want great quality and good food you need to go. I could have ate that ponzu sauce with the sole of a shoe it was so good. Everything is local and organic. The way food should be cooked. The menu changes but wow both were incredible. Peter Merriman you are a legend.
(5)
Jason W.

Merriman's is, hands-down, the best restaurant on the Big Island and one of the best restaurants I've ever been to in my life. My wife and I each had an appetizer, soup and salad, entree, and dessert and there wasn't a single weak spot in the entire meal. The service was excellent as well. While the decor was not particularly noteworthy (it wasn't bad, just not as memorable as the food), I can't recommend Merriman's highly enough!!
(5)
Kim H.

Excellent service food was excellent nice atmosphere. Felt good place.
(5)
Lauren M.

For us Merriman's was our splurge for meals on the Big Island. We were generally quite happy with the meal. For starters, we got the goat cheese and jam with the bread which was delectable. For entrees, I had ponzu mahi mahi which was pretty good- I was disappointed in that my sides were better than the fish but I still enjoyed it. My husband got the scallops with tarragon creamed corn which was amazing- the scallops were very tender and the sauce was great. For dessert we had the cheesecake which was actually a bit sweet for my liking, and we also got the lilikoi mousse which I thought was awesome. Overall quite tasty meal.
(4)
Annette M.

Best Restaurant on the Big Island. We stayed at the pricey Wiakaloa resort area - and tried several of the top restaurants at our resort and in the area - we landed up coming back to Merrimans for a second time because the food here was so much better - the staff was amazing - and the ambiance impeccable - This is the must do restaurant on the island. This is our second trip to the Big Island where we felt Merrimans topped all of the other restaurants we tried.
(5)
Nancy G.

So worth the drive just to dine at Merriman's! Food and service were a delight start to finish! Let them know if you are celebrating an event, as they have a passion fruit mousse for special occasions that is a true delight for the senses!
(5)
Terri W.

We visited Merriman's on our visit to the Big Island in March 2012. I had heard a lot of good things, and I was lucky enough to be there for lunch. There were four of us, and we all ordered different things. My friends were both happy with their burger and their fish sandwich. I ordered Fish Tacos, or, uh, Fish Taco. That's right. ONE fish taco. I have to say, i was a little disappointed that for $15, I got one (albeit tasty), fish taco. My partner ordered the short rib, and that was a little light, as well. I am not looking for monster portions, but, really, one taco? I was hungry, still, so I ordered desert (we all did) and coffee, which were both stellar (I even bought a bag of ROOSTER FARMS coffee-excellent by the way). The service was great. The atmosphere was nice, The food is good, but I felt it was overpriced for what we got for lunch.
(3)
Guy N.

This is my second time at Merriman's and it was just as fantastic as I remembered it being the first time I went a few years ago. My girlfriend & I started with the Appetizer Taster Platter. Everything was great, but next time, I'd be satisfied just going with the Kalua Pig & Sweet Onion Quesadilla or the Crispy Shrimp served on a delicious bed of sautÃ©ed fern shoots! We both ordered the Kahua Ranch Lamb entrÃ©es which were excellent. This restaurant has great ambiance, courteous service, and the food is just outstanding. Although pricey, Merriman's HAS to be the best restaurant on the Big Island.
(5)
Ryan M.

My gf and I came here on the spur of the moment after hiking the Waipio Valley, and we must have been quite the sight as we scrambled, parked outside the restaurant, to change into attire that was a) nice restaurant-appropriate and b) chilly weather-appropriate. With our random, whatever-we-happened-to-have-in-our-rental-car wardrobe, we didn't quite succeed, but this place, despite being on the fancier side, has a relaxed, island vibe and won't turn you away if you're wearing sandals. Gotta love that. We were drawn to the restaurant's use of fresh, local, organic ingredients, and the food quality, by and large, was in line with what we expected from those efforts. A couple days later, my mouth still waters when I think about the bread with goat cheese and mango jam. The wok-seared ahi and the vegetable sampler were tasty and perfectly-cooked. The mushroom linguine on the other hand disappointed me, as the cream sauce was way too rich. As far as I'm concerned, though -- and I have to preface this by saying that I am normally not at all a dessert person -- the "chocolate purse" dessert was the most memorable part of our meal. Absolutely delicious. One taste, and my senses were swarmed by chocolatey goodness. Maybe that makes no sense, but you really have to taste this dessert to understand. Almost five stars, but the so-so linguine and slightly overpriced nature of this place keep it at four. Still, I haven't found a better restaurant on the Big Island.
(4)
David F.

This is the kind of restaurant I hope to find when I'm on vacation in tropical paradise. Really top notch food is hard to find on the Big Island, but Merriman's really shines. This was the best (and admittedly most expensive) meal we had on the Big Island, but it was worth splurging. If you're looking for a really nice meal on your vacation here, this is it. The menu takes local ingredients seriously, and uses them very creatively, elevating the local flavors and fresh ingredients to the level you might expect to find in a big city. They grow their own herbs in the kitchen and out back, and probably some of the vegetables. The service was excellent as well. The only downside is that if you're not staying in the Waimea/Kamuela area, it can be a bit of a drive - it was 30 minutes from Waikoloa. The fresh fish is amazing - I had the Hawaiian Ono, which was prepared with local ingredients - root vegetables of some kind and an amazing sauce ($33.95). The local lamb that night was a mixed plate of lamb shank and filet, and was equally excellent ($33.95). We ordered the vegetable sampler ($12.95) with it that included corn, green beans, beets, garlic macadamia nut rice and several other treats from the island. There were only a few bites of each thing, but everything was just right. The flavors really came through. The wine list is definitely interesting with some great choices, and about 20 or so wines under $50 - but that probably means they're $40 or $45. If you want something special, you're easily looking at $90 or $100. We had the 2007 Morgan Pinot Noir ($59) that paired well with both the fish and the lamb. I know it's cheaper back home, but heck, it had to fly to Hawaii just like we did. The desserts all sound really good. We had some sort of chocolate pastry with ice cream that I sadly forgot to write down. If you've someone to drive you home, there's a nice selection of dessert wines and digestifs - not bad for an island that's over 2,000 miles from the mainland (alas, I was the one driving home!).
(5)
Joy A.

We had our wedding rehearsal lunch here - it came highly recommended by both yelpers and locals. The food did not disappoint - it was fresh and delicious. I would probably have given them the full 5 stars except for service being a bit uneven - we had a large group of 28 people (3 tables) - while it is understandable it can be challenging, one of the tables waited quite a while for their food and it was also challenging to get their drinks! also, it was a bit stuffy in the restaurant because of the heat. overall, it was good - the ono was excellent. i also liked the short ribs. leave room for dessert!
(4)
May T.

The fresh and local produce, the freshly butchered and locally raised meat, the great wine list and the friendly service has all been well-documented here, but people tend to forget how the kitchen puts everything together: PERFECTLY. The bf and I shared a kalua pig, sweet onion and kim chee quesadilla that was savory and appetite-whetting. I had the mixed plate with mahi mahi, ono, filet and rice. The filet was perfectly rare. The fish were flaky, fresh and gave at the slightest knife pressure. The rice was sticky good. I also shared a side of fresh beet salad with locally-made chevre. Everything was simply put together, but perfectly prepared. The flavors of Hawaii were infused and the soul of each dish. This is not Roy's. This is not Ruth's Chris. And thank goodness for it. If you go to the Big Island, you must stop here for a meal for the big night out.
(5)
Stuart C.

I see why this place has the reputation it has. It is a beautiful little restaurant in a little office building complex. The view out the windows surveys the restaurant's herb garden (which has tables for those really nice days). The menu emphasizes freshness and place of origin (for the "terroir") of the ingredients. My fish was wonderful, and since I ordered it as part of the "What's Fresh Today" special, it came with a preselected salad (that day's was beets and goat cheese) and a dessert. The prices are as one would expect for a fine dining restaurant, and no higher. The value for the money is excellent.
(5)
Michael L.

Great mahi sandwich and tacos. Portions A bit small for the price. Kids portions small too if you have a hungry kid. Veggies are fresh. Great tomatoes on the sandwiches.
(4)
Ocean S.

This is probably without a doubt our favorite place to eat on the Big Island. We tend to go there once a week for lunch or weekend brunch. We have been fans of Peter Merriman for about two decades. We enjoy his places on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and here on the Big Island. We also used to live near Monkey Pod on Maui, which was our favorite place there. I have never had a bad meal here! I have had some of the best meals in Hawaii here! I highly suggest making a reservation on Open Table.
(5)
Bruce H.

Excellent food, a commitment to real service, and so wonderfully accommodating. We have a family member with serious food allergies - we contacted them in advance of our making a reservation. The chef and managers emailed back & forth with us to get a menu ready to work for our celebration dinner, and they rocked it! Love the seasonal, fresh local driven menu. This is serious food - one of the few serious places for a pretty much guaranteed great meal in the area. The resort & hotel restaurants can be hit & miss night to night, so if you are planning a meal for a special night and it has to be great - we recommend Merrimans.
(5)
chelsea m.

Amuse bouche of edamame and pea puree is served with purple potato chips. The puree reminded me of guacamole with its green color and texture. But the flavor is more starchy than buttery. It is a stunning little palate of color. Rating: 4/5 Hirabara Greens topped with brown butter lilikoi dressing, Pepeekeo Peppercorn Brittle, Honopua beets, Nakano tomato and cucumber, and Big Island goat cheese. The ingredients have the perfect balance of flavors from sweet beets, brittle, and tomato; creamy and earthy goat cheese; and refresh and crispness of the cucumbers. It's hues of color are also so beautiful! Rating: 5/5 Peter's Original Caesar Salad is made with Hirabara Farms baby romaine, shaved parmesan, and croutons. The dressing is creamy but needs a bit more anchovy and garlic flavor. The lettuce is crisp and slightly sweet. Rating: 4/5 Hirabara Farm Earth Grown Lettuce Salad is topped with fennel, cucumber, radish, sweet onion, Waimea tomato, fresh squeezed lime and extra virgin olive oil. It is a simple salad with a lot of flavors. The lettuce varieties used have qualities of greenness, sweetness, and slight bitterness all their own. The lime and olive oil accentuate the flavors of each vegetable for an umami flavor. Rating: 5/5 Pan Roasted Mahi-Mahi is served atop Ninole heart of palm, Goo Farms peppers, bamboo-steamed sticky rice, and tamarind-lemongrass fumet. The mahi-mahi is perfectly roasted and it is soft and silky like butter. The heart of palm, peppers, and tamarind-lemongrass fumet give this dish an Asian flare. All of the juices that are left can be soaked up with the sticky rice with no drop to waste. Rating: 4.5/5 House Cured Pipikaula is sliced Kahua striploin sliced and served with cream corn, roasted eggplant, Nakano onion rings. The pipikaula is saltier than I am accustomed to. The meat was perfectly grilled, but had to be immediately paired with the cream corn to balance the flavor. The onion rings were the star of this dish with light, tempura-style batter with a juicy, sweet onion in the middle. Rating: 3/5 Macadamia Nut Crusted Ono is served with Hirabara Farms ginger sautÃ©ed broccolini, black forbidden rice, roasted Hamakua mushrooms, and miso-white wine truffle reduction. The macadamia nut crust adds a crisp texture on the outside and also helps seal the juices in the fish. The black forbidden rice has a nutty flavor which works well with the fish. The miso-white wine truffle reduction is luxurious! Use the rice to sop up the sauce. You don't want to waste a drop! Rating: 5/5 Low Line Cattle Company Local Beef "Butcher Cut" is served with whipped potatoes, sautÃ©ed sweet corn, grilled Waimea asparagus, and red wine-roasted shallot sauce. The beef is so tender and juicy. Even though it resembles a "meat and potatoes" dish, it is much more than that. You can taste that everything is so fresh from the meat, the potatoes, and the vegetables. It's amazing how the rich volcanic soil on the island makes everything so vibrant. Rating: 5/5 Hawaiian Hogs Berkshire Pork "En Vise" is a perfectly pan-roasted pork chop with pork "meatloaf" topped with roasted tomato served with stewed vegetables and polenta. The pork chop is meaty, tender, and juicy. The outside is perfectly caramelized from the pan. The meatloaf ball had an Italian flavor profile to it. The roasted tomato acts as the "marinara sauce". Polenta is a perfect side dish as it helps clean the palate between bites for the uber pork experience. Rating: 4.5/5 Merriman's Original Work Char red Ahi is seared on the outside - sashimi on the inside. The ahi is top notch. Definitely sashimi-grade as it is so soft and tender. The fish on its own has a sweetness to it and a dip in the shoyu makes it perfect. The black forbidden rice is okay as a side, but would be better with just plain sticky rice. Rating: 4.5/5 Waimea Strawberries served with Hanaoka Farms passion white chocolate sabayon and Original Hawaiian Chocolate Shortbread. These are the best strawberries I have ever had! They are so sweet and juicy. The only strawberry that I have had that even come close are grown in Oxnard, CA. The sabayon is creamy and tastes like a crÃ¨me brulee without the ramekin. The shortbread cookies are light, but buttery in flavor. Rating: 5/5 "Original Hawaiian Chocolate" Purse served with red wine caramel and vanilla ice cream. If you are a chocoholic, this is the dessert for you. The presentation is presented like a wrapped gift of chocolate dreaminess. With sweet and sour wine caramel mimicking a raspberry coulis, it works well with the chocolate. The vanilla ice cream is creamy and acts like a cream anglais that balances with the chocolate and wine flavors. Rating: 5/5
(5)
Mark B.

Tourists Trap, thats what this place is all about. It was recommended and booked by our executive lounge concierge. She said it was a "top notch restaurant that serves superior food using locally grown ingredients". After we were seated I looked around and all other guests were from the same or nearby hotels. The space had bad acoustics and cheap furniture and decor. I ordered their $41 lamb which was poorly prepared and tasted (not to mention the portion was tiny). I also paid $22 for a glass of house wine, and $25 for a couple of mussels and a shrimp appetizer. I hoped to get a corrective experience and ordered their bread pudding which soaked in syrup, heated in the microwave and tasted like crap. This is the most over priced, worst value for the money, place I have even been to. I'm a big foodie who loves food and restaurants, and therefore have appreciation and respect for great food and the smallest details around preparing and serving it. I spent hundreds of dollars on meals in many restaurants around the world but always felt I was getting good value for it. I never had a problem paying allot for my food as long as it's justified. While the service was decent, I felt that I'm being conned from the moment I stepped into this makeshift 'gourmet' shack. Their sophisticated superior cuisine jargon didn't come close to justify the ambiance, food quality, and above everything - the price of this restaurant. This place is a 4 seasons pricing with motel 6 quality.
(2)
Chris E.

Me and my family were doing a google research on a best restaurant in Waimea! It claims that Merrimans is the best in Waimea ! So we decided to make a reservation at 730 pm last night. We came in a little bit earlier than 730pm. The waiters and waitress were super friendly and mentioned the specials. Customer service , of course, was very outstanding. The food was very appetizing and we will definitely come back again ! Also for dessert, we tried out their chocolate purse, which was also known as their best dessert and words cannot explain how delicious it was ! If you are going to travel to Big Island in Waimea, you definitely need to come to this restaurant and eat here !
(5)
serina c.

I don't understand what all the rave is about. Food was just ok at best. I ordered the shortribs and was not craving it afterwards like so many people said I would be. The caesar salad was the most pathetic caesar I have ever seen. My bf ordered the ono and said that was good but not great. Not worth the 25 min drive from the fairmont orchid for sure.
(3)
Patrick W.

This is really high on my favorite restaurant ever list. I've only been here once; but it was really, really great. We didn't even have a reservation but they got us in (it was kind of a rainy weeknight the day before Valentines day). Merriman's is one of the several top-knotch restaurants in Waimea. If we visit the Big I again, I'd definately be here one day...
(5)
Richard G.

We've eaten in Merriman's a number of times, mostly for lunch. We believe it's the best restaurant in Waimea (aka Kamuela). The service and food are first class. It can get crowded for lunch so go early or make a reservation.
(4)
Lauren R.

I have heard about Merriman's every time I come to Hawaii, but didn't do much research on it until our most recent trip. I looked up the menu online and was intrigued by the yummy dishes using local ingredients. I had a very difficult time choosing something and was super happy with all the veg options. I ended up with a salad that included beets, papaya, quinoa, and local tomatoes. It was very tasty and I felt a small portion for the $13 price tag. I also had the ricotta pasta which was good as well, but a bit bland. The best part of the entire meal was the bread they bring out with butter and then sprinkle on some of the pink Hawaiian sea salt. Life. Changing. I wasn't impressed with the two desserts we had. The chocolate purse and coconut creme brÃ»lÃ©e. The chocolate purse would have been so much better if they just left off the phyllo dough. The salted caramel sauce on the plate should be bottled and sold. The creme brÃ»lÃ©e was just ok, a good coconut flavor, but I liked the mac nut cookies that come along with it better. Service was fantastic. The host at the beginning was very friendly and welcoming. Our waitress was a wealth of information. My only complaint about the service was how fast the courses came out. There was literally no break in between courses and it would have been nice to digest before adding more food. I would recommend reservations, you can do it online, because they fill up fast. I would venture back here on a future trip and try out a few different things.
(4)
Marilynn L.

The florentine eggs benedict was the best ever!! Hamburger was awesome on homemade foccia. Loved the ambience and the service!!
(5)
Chuck D.

We lunched here knowing of their reputation beforehand. It was an excellent across the board experience. This was our only meal on this (yearly) trip to the islands that reminded me of what we eat at home. No pretense, just straightforward and really good.
(5)
Matthew J.

Our friends live on the Big Island of Hawaii and at their suggestion we tried Merriman's.. WOW! The food, the atmosphere, the presentation, and the service will ALL impress! Be prepared to drop some money but this is a very special place where you are eating fish that was caught THAT DAY and carrots that just came from their own farm. It is really quite extraordinary. FYI, wear long pants because it is 10 - 20 degrees COLDER when you go up the mountain. If you are in Waikoloa be sure to check out the Merriman's Cafe in the King's Shops (and movie night on Fridays at the Queen's Shops - make a whole night of it with dinner and a movie!)
(5)
Laura D.

Someone from Kona recommended this place to me - told me the chef had a Michelin Star. So, we decided to try it. We landed here after a long road trip around the island. We weren't in the mood to be picky, but we ARE foodies, so we're always picky. The service was excellent, menu limited but each dish ordered was excellent. We got the crispy shrimp salad, the vegetable plate sampler, and chicken paillard. All was outstanding. The sweet corn is a MUST, along with the garlic macademia nut rice. The only downside was the coffee...it was just ok. They had a good children's menu and were surprisingly tolerant of my over-tired 2yr old. Decor was tasteful but not stuffy. We were dressed very casual and they were good with that.
(4)
Jackie H.

After reading the positive reviews on yelp and always wanting to give this place a try on past visits I finally decided it was time. Seeing as I now have more of a appreciation for restaurants using fresh local produce it just made sense to go here. I decided to go during lunch so as to avoid the dinner crowd as well as taking advantage of the lunch prices. I went in thinking I was going to try their burger using local big Island beef but instead decided upon the fresh fish of the day due to it being mahi mahi (which os one of my favorites). To drink I had the Tahitian limeade (didn't care for it, wouldn't recommend it, just avoid it). I normally use shoyu aka soy sauce when I eat fish (which they do have) but was so presently surprised that I didn't need it. It does cine with a ponzu sauce which is quite tasty but my fish was cooked so perfectly it was moist and obviously fresh (definitely recommend trying). The dish comes with jasmine rice, some veggies and a small salad. The lunch portion for me was more than enough. I didn't even finish all of the rice or veggies. I planned on trying a dessert too so didn't want to overt eat since I normally a light eater. For dessert I went with the lilikoi mousse. My only complaint is I wish they did half the serving size for lunch as it was just too much and a little too sweet to eat more than half. The service was great and since they weren't busy seating wasnt an issue. Only thing I noticed was once finished my plate lay for quite a bit and none of the staff or servers asked about removing it or of I needed anything else. Overall though very lovely lunch and I definitely recommend if you want to avoid a wait dinner usually brings or not spend as much as the dinner would be while still enjoying quality local produce.
(4)
Linda P.

Best meal we had on the Big Island! Great service, imaginative menu. My husband particularly appreciated small portions of 2 entrees as he was having difficulty deciding between the two.
(5)
Aggie A.

Very nice, if noisy restaurant on the Kona side of the Big Island. Best nice restaurant we ate at north of Waikoloa Beach. It was pricey--2 entrees and 1 drink + 1 dessert came out to $120 with tax and tip. The food was perfectly cooked (the ahi tuna and the ribeye I had were superbly grilled), and the accompaniments were novel (fern salad, curry and wasabi sauce pairing), interesting and tasty. The dÃ©cor and ambience were nice but could do with something on the walls to absorb the noise of the conversations.
(3)
Austin A.

5 star reviews for Merrimans are attempts by customers to trick themselves into reasoning why they just spent a luxury car payment on a meal. I'd rather pay for amazing food that tastes great instead of OK food masked by upscale service.
(3)
Thomas V.

We happened on this restaurant on recommendation of a friend. Was absolutely great food. The pork on the menu was to die for. We actually came back a second time on the trip to eat there. I have dined at many places in New York, LA and Vegas and this place ranks up there with the best of best of them. Also ate at the Four Seasons restaurant near Kona. This place is definitely better. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Adrianne W.

Forgot to review this when we were there in August. Overall, a total downer, service and food. First service, waited another 25 minutes even when we made a reservation. The front desk girl kept running back and forth and sometimes even went back helping in the kitchen, instead of greeting people at her post. Looks like very disorganized functions. After finally seated, waited another 10 minutes for the waitress to show up. During the wait, we tried to get attention from a guy in blue shirt walking around like a manager, hoping he could help us. He obviously saw us, but chose to ignore and went to greet other customers, very rude! Second food, now after two months, I don't remember much about food, really not that memorable. We have been to Mama's Fish House in Maui before, and this is nothing comparing to them. What I can only remember is that their drinks are horrible. I've never had such weird and bad mojitos and Mai Tai on the island. I don't understand why this restaurant is rated so high. Comparing to some nice seafood restaurants we have been to, Mama's Fish House in Maui and Seastar back in Seattle, this is not comparable at all. Very disappointed!
(2)
william p.

Every year, we go to Merriman's with our friends to have our "big" dinner on the island. The price is a bit steep but the food is always worth it. Top notch wine list makes the meal even more enjoyable. The wait staff is attentive and friendly. The food always delicious. It's an easy drive from the Kohala and its overprice underperforming resort restaurant food.
(4)
Nix M.

Been trying to make it here for years, everytime we come to Big Island but it has never worked out. We went for lunch and did make reservations. Food was so good! Super fresh and everything we expected and more. The beet & goat cheese salad is a nice fresh appetizer to start. We really enjoyed it. I had the fresh Mahi sandwich with potatoes. Super yummy! Best fish sandwich ever! The potatoes on the side were really good too. They are made in a three step process, boiled, baked, then fried. So good!! Tatar sauce was perfectly made as well. My other half had the fish tacos. Also really good and nicely seasoned. We were full by the end of our meal but not stuffed to a sick point. So we passed on desert but the desert menu looks impressive. We were surprised that they had live entertainment during lunch, made for a nice local ambiance. Our particular waitress wasn't too friendly, kind of rushed us to order & would just drop off food and leave, but the other wait staff seemed really good. And one waitress even jumped in and started dancing hula with the guitar player. Really warm atmosphere. Highly recommended making the trip if staying at Waikaloa. It's about a 30 min beautiful drive.
(5)
Asher B.

this place was AMAZING, with the best ingredients carefully prepared. It was really one of very few pricier restaurants I have enjoyed lately as I find most of them to be too showy and I also go away still hungry and/or with indigestion. NOT SO at Merrimans! The local meats were great and I had a truly inspiring salad dressed with a brown butter vinagrette. I would recommend this place to anyone who can budget it and get reservations
(5)
E N.

Sometimes a meal starts out poorly and recovers. It's rare. This is one of those times. My Merriman's story starts two years ago, the night I couldn't get a table and ate at the Red Water Cafe across the road instead. That restaurant was good, accidentally kitschy. We had low expectations that were surpassed. Tonight, after wasting two years since my last Big Island visit, with my reservation assuring a place at Merriman's, expectations were high. And things did not start out well. I was last through the cramped lobby and followed my party, five in all, to a round top at the rear of the restaurant. Two seats were actually in the service area, with two legs on carpet and two on white six-inch tile. We requested another table. We very nearly left Merriman's because I called and found a table down the road at Red Water. I'm glad we stayed. They reseated us near the front of the restaurant, near a large table of well-behaved kids. We had children in our party as well, so ya gotta expect that. The table was much more intimate than the round top. You must demand to be seated along the side of the room; it's a single hall. Unless you like being on display or don't want to actually talk during your meal, ask to be seated along the sides. Also, avoid the two tops in the front. On to the food: Caesar salad was good with green tomato croutons that were a little mushy, but interesting. Ono, very good. A little spice on the broth/sauce. Ono is a winner. The lamb was perfectly cooked and well prepared. Even if you don't like lamb, this dish is worth a try. The tomato chutney was perfect. Filet Mignon was ordered medium rare and served rare, ninety seconds on a side rare. Perhaps this was a plating error. It was a disappointment, because you either gotta eat it like that or screw up the cadence of the meal. But, even undercooked (to order), this steak was solid. Kids meals were run of the mill. They could try harder there. A slice of papaya? Some guava? A kiwi garnish? We skipped dessert because there was no non-dairy option. We enjoyed the "Bacon and the Beast," which was worth the splurge, and the lilikoi margarita, which was excellent. The bill was $250 for three folks eating off the adults menu and two kids with just two drinks between the adults. Pricey. Service was good. I would have ordered another drink if our almost-Mila-Kunis-lookin server would have stopped by and checked on us, but that's no complaint because she was attentive and she saved me a few bucks. Food was good. It was not really a memorable meal, except for the lamb, just a good one. We hit the Red Water Cafe again the next day--it was a hit again. Both places are worth a try.
(3)
Max O.

This was one of the best meals I have ever had. I absolutely loved this place. I'm just glad I was not the one paying ;). This is a great place to bring a date or anyone for that matter. I would love to come back someday.
(5)
K K.

Wonderful experience. Filet, lamb, monchong were very well done. Clearly select ingredients in addition to preparation using local island flavors. Very good selection of flavoring without overwhelming the taste of the main ingredient. Ambience was also great. There was not any loud noise although it was crowded. I would highly suggest eating there at least once.
(5)
Mike A.

Great restaurant! Our favorite on the island. Great with kids, food is always elegant and delicious. A must when in Hawaii.
(5)
Cindy S.

We have dinned here many times before and had very good experiences however the last visit was not. The Asian ribs were terribly dry and when I ask for some type of sauce the only option was a tamarind sauce that was more tart than the mustard that the dish came with. No teriyaki or any other sauce really? The hubbies 2 fish tacos had only about 4 small bites of fish. Trying to save the day we ordered the coconut creme brulee which I love there and it was way way over cooked so I let the waitress know thinking she'd replace it but instead she brought the bill real quickly removed it and walked away. Would have preferred to try another one or something else. Love birthday dessert even if it was just lunch. You see I had received a certificate from the restaurant which seemed well worded and it offered you a free entree up to $40 so we thought it was a nice gesture but we noticed that they took off my husbands, the lower entree $13 and not my $15 one. Not worth mentioning to them but seemed strange. Small things but a simple happy birthday from anyone there would have been nice since I came at their invite. When I ask about the changes I was told that there was a new chef. Hopefully this was not the norm and the great food will soon be back but has anyone else had the same experience lately?
(3)
Cheryl N.

We read the reviews and checked the menu before making reservations. We were a bit shocked when we looked at the menu to see a limited selection of entrees with no vegetarian items except for add on dishes. I am not a vegan and occasionally indulge in a good cut of meat so I ordered the pork tenderloin special. The veggies were warm & the pork was very salty and the texture was more like sausage cooked in grease, there was now wow factor as there should be with a tenderloin. The waitress was very kind and offered a tofu vegetable meal that I hadn't seen on the menu... Which it wasn't... The corn and veggies were very warm & tasted freshly cooked. The first few bits of tofu were interesting and the I could only taste the heavy oil took it over. I was not going to complain again, since I had watched my husband eat. I was disappointed that my husband didn't say anything about his Ono since it was warm and dry without much flavor for $38. The staff were warm & friendly but the food was way over priced. I was quite disappointed to see that I was still charged full price even though I didn't get to eat with my husband... They didn't even comp my wine. 2 stars for the wine and waitress. I feel that a classy restaurant should have either offered to remake spouses so that they could enjoy the meal together, replaced the meal without cost or at the least comped a glass of wine or at least a free desert for the trouble. Yes well a gentleman did come over and ask my husband if he would like a sorbet so that he was having something while I was eating..... No one asked me while I awkwardly waited while my hubby ate. Could not recommend.
(2)
al w.

Our friends chose this restaurant. Great choice. Absolutely fantastic. From the greeting at the door, to the 'Aloha' when leaving, couldn't ask for a better experience. Food was 5star. Service was outstanding. Wine list was award winning and lots of price points to satisfy any taste. Can't add much more to the previous glowing reviews.
(5)
Lori I.

YOU ARE FRESH! (sigh), I so wanted to love you. You are beautiful and your fresh herb and fruit garden outside enticed me with sweet smelling whiffs of heaven. I thought I made the right decision this time. I got to pick ONE restaurant, and I chose you based on your long standing reputation for creating "hawaiian regional cuisine" from day one. For the $$$ price, I thought you would be like Alan Wong's or Roy's on Oahu, the other pioneers in the Hawaiian fusion movement. No doubt you may be the best dining in Waimea, but I don't know if I'd drive up again. PRO 1. Use Open table for reservations 2. Fresh herb and vegetable garden outside is lovely 3. They BUY LOCAL so you can EAT LOCAL! Hirabara farms (Big Island) lettuce, locally grown sweet potatoes, Maui onions, Kauai prawns, and herbs grown right on site all keep the dishes fresh and support the whole "farm to table" movement. 4. Presentation is excellent. All dishes looked beautiful! 5. Casual dining area with open kitchen in the back feels like you're in someone's house. 6. Kid's menu was reasonably priced and offered familiar foods. The cheese quesadilla and bowtie pasta were perfect. 7. PUPU TASTER $27 - Kalua pig and onion quesadilla, House cured bacon with coffee bbq sauce (weird), ahi sashimi, chili pepper Kauai prawns, Crispy goat cheese and kim chee. Small portions of all the above are a great way to sample a little bit of everything. You could even order this as your entree and save yourself some money. yelp.com/biz_photos/2y3mâ€¦ yelp.com/biz_photos/2y3mâ€¦ CONS 1. Service was friendly but incredibly slow. 2. The kids menu chicken strips looked like breaded sliced chicken breast, and came with a coffee BBQ sauce. The kids didn't want to eat them so I had to try it myself just to make sure it was not good. 3. SALTY - the broccoli and pasta are either boiled in salt water and not rinsed or heavily salted. Too salty. 4. Fresh Big Island sustainable Fish special - the day we were there, it was 3oz onaga and 3 prawns for $44. The fish wasn't really juicy and was almost dry. It seemed like it was trying to be the ginger crusted onaga at another place but fell short. They have a sign at the table that explains why the fish portions are so small and how they are trying not to wipe out the Hawaiian fish supply, but if I hadn't eaten the pupu platter, I would have been hungry after this: yelp.com/biz_photos/2y3mâ€¦ 5. Merriman's Mixed Plate was $49. Ponzu marinated mahi mahi, wok charred ahi and prime filet mignon. Geez for that price you would expect all three items to sort of wow you when you eat them. yelp.com/biz_photos/2y3mâ€¦ Bottom line: If you are visiting and haven't had a chance to try out "Hawaiian regional cuisine" yet, definitely check this place out. The portions are small and the price tags are high, but you are eating some of the freshest and finest foods the Big Island has to offer.
(3)
Polly J.

Merriman's is absolutely the BEST!! Professional waitstaff, clean, friendly and the most amazing cuisine. We have been to Merriman's many times over the years. I have never had a bad meal. Thank you Merriman's for your excellence!!
(5)
Loic C.

****Merriman's MOP (Meal in One Pic)**** yelp.com/biz_photos/2y3mâ€¦ *********************************************** The merriman's is probably one of the finest dining places on the Big Island. It has a always changing menu featuring local fruits, vegetables and meats. The kitchen is skill, and master the art of cooking the food right, and making it look beautiful. If I would have gone for dinner I would probably be a 4 to 4.5 stars. But I went for lunch and it is more a 3.75 star. The decor is a little old fashion, and for lunch the wait staff Hawaii shirts just made the place look sad and not modern in comparison to the plating which was so beautiful, and modern. The restaurant is a large room with the kitchen in the back. Only tables, no booth, no partitions. It gives a casual feel to the restaurant at lunch time. We tried for lunch: Heirloom beets and quinoa salad not so good yelp.com/biz_photos/2y3mâ€¦ A beautiful plating for this salad. The goat cheese tasted so fresh and had a creamy flavor with a perfect brittle texture. The beets were nicely cooked, and tasted great. The quinoa was drizzled on top of the tomatoes and beets. It had a powerful visual impact. But it deconstructed the dish. It felt then that all the ingredients were separated. They all tasted great but nothing brought them together. Soup of the day Corn Chowder yelp.com/biz_photos/2y3mâ€¦ A nice chowder. The cup is really small, about the size of an expresso shot ( almost). Get the bowl. The croutons were nice. Kalua pork with cabbage macadamia nut rice yelp.com/biz_photos/2y3mâ€¦ A amazing dish. The local shredded pork was succulent. The cabage was cooked right, and the nut rice was so fluffy, light and falvorful it was almost better than the pork. Try this dish. As most places on the Big Island use fresh and local meat and vegetables , Merriman's is one of the few wish as a highly trained kitchen able to prepare and present them in the most exquisite way. (Prices are high, or higher than other places. But in general the big island is expensive)
(3)
Jay H.

We had lunch this week at Merriman's Waimea. It was terrific from the start. My spouse had the signature Caesar and thought it the best Caesar she's ever had. I had a bowl of the soup of the day: chicken broth, potatoes, thinly sliced carrots, and bacon. It was the star of my lunch. My salad Nicoise might have been a bit fresher as it appeared to have been assembled earlier in the day. The ingredients, though, were quite good. We shared a Mahi Mahi fish sandwich on house baked bread. The fish was perfectly cooked and the bread delicious. This is a fine restaurant.
(4)
Sian S.

The service at this restaurant was excellent, the food was outstanding. I recommend the Pupu starter platter, this allows you to sample the best of everything. This restaurant is worth the money you will pay for an outstanding dining experience.
(5)
David H.

This was our fourth visit to Merriman's in three trips to the Big Island and we haved loved it each time. The service was pleasant and without delays, but not rushed; the food was top-notch, inventive, oustanding. Don't miss Merriman's!
(5)
Brian A.

There are dining establishments that don't necessarily revolutionize the dining experience, but strive to come as close to perfection as possible. Merriman's is one of those places. It starts with the small things. The racks or real herbs growing here and there. The wide open warm but lively country orange, brown, and yellow toned room. The garden growing right outside the West facing windows. Even as so much as the spacing of the tables was good as well. Leaving enough space for all to enjoy their intimate dinners with their own groups sans other tables interruptions. We started off by being served an excellent steaming warm hand weaved basket full of bread and butter. It's always good to start off a nice dinner on the right foot with a nice basket full of bread. In fact I ate slightly too much of it, but later on that. Next we orderd the appetizer sampler. It consisted of deep fried goat cheese, prawns, sashimi, bacon, and a kaulia pork quesadilla. Nothing revolutionary here, but it was executed perfectly. The filet minion was pedestrian by high dining standards and failed to separate itself from other establishments of similar backgrounds. That is where the "negatives" end though. The grilled ahi (tataki) was utterly fantastic. The grilled flavor (which is usually lost in other restaurant's who attempt the same effect) burst forth and was a revelation. This is what the preparation on this dish should always be. Finally, the strawberries and cream and lilikoi was extremely refreshing. Add in the coconut macadamia nut cookie and that just took the desserts to another level. By this time, the bread was really catching up to me, but everything was so great! Couple that with my French pressed peaberry coffee and it was an absolutely wonderful dinner. The service was prompt and casual. The friendly atmosphere from the servers to the manager proliferated the space. No worries as well, they also take credit cards. I suggest an early dinner (we made ours right at opening). Then you'll get a sweet parking spot and a nice sunset dinner. This has become an immediate favorite of mine. It has distanced itself from any other fine eating establishment on a piece of lava for circumference of several thousand miles. Even with the limited dining options of the Big Island, I feel that this place would thrive dropped in any large city. Unfortunately, then it would loose it's small rodeo town Waimea charm. So, stay small Merriman's and we'll have to be treated to your wonderful fare whenever we are able to visit Waimea again.
(5)
Scott K.

Excellent service and wonderful food. Enjoyed this location more than the one on Maui. The lamb and pork dishes were fantastic, as was the quesadilla appetizer. Great wine list as well. Addressed the food allergy in the family quite well.
(5)
Mickey D.

My wife and I were staying in Waimea and just had to try Merriman's after hearing and reading so much about it. Consider it the splurge meal of our mini vacation on the Big Island. Sometimes, in reading Yelp's 5 star reviews, you wonder whether it's just a case of the crowd following a celebrity chef or popular restaurant. All of the 5 star reviews for this restaurant are well deserved. In fact, my wife claimed that her Monchong fish special was one of the best meals she has ever had. Besides a delicious fish, the sides of a crunchy rice cake and vegetables were amazing. I had another fish special with the most delicious sauce. I later found out from the server that the deliciousness was most likely due to the truffle oil. We finished the meal with the famous Chocolate Purse which was a good as others have stated. All in all a great meal, one to remember.
(5)
Anthony Z.

I have been here at least 7 times in the last 10 years, visiting from Chicago. I have memories of being excited about eating here, but sadly this is no longer the case. There is nothing inspired here. The menu is stuck and unchanged, and the kitchen is on auto-pilot. The appetizer sampler, for almost 30 bucks, was indifferently prepared, and the quality of sashimi was suspect, containing many fibrous strands of tough fascia. What didn't help matters was the attempted upsell on the steak I ordered. She explained that the standard strip was not local, but from the mainland, and the Waygu was local, and worth the extra $$$. Are you serious? We are in the middle of Hawaii cattle country and you fly in your beef? I did not believe what she was telling me, but if it is true, this goes in the face of what I believe this restaurant is striving to achieve. Steak was well prepared, though. The famous chocolate purse dessert is stuck in the 90s. Very uninspired, and very disappointing. Cannot recommend.
(2)
Kaaren D.

Without a doubt, I would agree with some of the negative review. My friend ordered the fresh fish, smaller portion, and realized after we had left that they had billed her for the larger portion. She really enjoyed her meal. We had the fresh veg salad with tangarine dressing, and that was the best thing on the menu. My mushroom pasta was way, way too heavy on the garlic, maui onions, and cheese. So much so, I couldn't taste the mushrooms. I only ate part of it, and later during the trip I improved on their version by adding fresh tomatoes and veggies. I would not return; thought it was way overpriced for the food we got.
(2)
Robb B.

We came here while on our honeymoon on the Big Island. The food and service was good. They have a nice wine list. We shared a caesar salad, which was great. I wanted to try the Ono and it was delicious, and my wife had the chicken which also tasted very good. Top it off with a creme brulee and some good wine and it was a nice meal. The only thing I can remember that was not so good was the price, oh well on that part, as we wanted to try the place, and we were glad we did, as it was a nice experience, but of course everything was on our honeymoon.
(4)
T E.

Well worth the drive up from Waikaloa. I wish I could get them to Denver! The food is amazing, the staff is very friendly and the wait is significant...so don't forget to book your reservations plenty in advance. But it's worth it!
(5)
Julie R.

We had reservations, but didn't get seated until 1 hour later. It was terrible. We arrived a little earlier than our reservation time, and then had to squish in with all the other people who had reservations but were forced to wait. It was a very unpleasant experience until we sat down. Unfortunately, we were seated at a table right near the kitchen, and it was extremely loud in that area. All the food was excellent though. I went there with my family and every dish that we ordered was really delicious and well done. If you go here, go on a night that's not so busy.
(3)
Melissa B.

BEST meal I've had in a very long time. We showed up early like 1/2 hour before our reservations, they had no problem sitting us, the host was super friendly. Everything on the menu the drinks to the desserts sounded drool worthy. First up was the Kahlua pig quesadilla & the spinach salad. Cocktails: bacon & the beast for me & my husband had the botanist. The appetizers were yummy & drinks soooo good. Stealing the bacon & scotch idea :) My husband had the lamb & I ordered the beef. Everything was super fresh, simple & delish. Wonderful. I had the she so Manhattan, Manhattan done their extra special way... wished I remembered what the herb infusion was, cause it was awesome. Had to order the chocolate purse, made with local chocolate (especially since we were unable to visit Original Hawaiian Chocolate), my honey had the panna cotta & we got coffee- believe we ordered the Cloud forest. I loved my dessert, I guessing my husband loved his 2 since he didn't share & the coffee was yummy & much needed for the drive back to Kona. The staff was great, perfectly attentive. The restaurant is pricey (think of it has the Hawaiian version of Chez Panisse), but we felt it was worth every penny. Definitely will make sure to go back on our next trip to the Big Island.
(5)
Aimee G.

If you want fine dining in Hawaii, step outside your hotel (unless you're at the Four Seasons). And, if you're on the Big Island, go to Merriman's. This small, unpretentious, cottage-type restaurant is actually a foodie haven, especially if you're tired of overpriced and mediocre resort food. The food is mostly organic, local, uncomplicated yet sophisticated, and flavorful. I found the prices to be reasonable and the portions a good size. We tried the appetizer taster platter, served with crispy shrimp, Kalua pig and sweet onion quesadilla, lamb spring rolls (delicious!), Ahi guacamole, and steamed clams. It was certainly diverse, but each dish came together beautifully. For our main course, I had the lobster and ono - both were slightly overcooked but still delicious. My husband had the braised lamb, which was cooked perfectly and had a nice kick to it. The wine list is extensive with excellent selections. And, if you're a chocoholic like me, try the chocolate purse for dessert. It is exceptional.
(4)
Steve M.

THE place for foodies on the Big Island. Pricey, but hey, you're on vacation. Macadamia fed pork...does it get mo' beddah?
(4)
Richard J.

I booked a dinner here to celebrate B's birthday before we left for Hawaii. Since I'd never been there I was somewhat apprehensive. No need. A beautiful room, attentive staff and a really memorable dinner. Waimea/Kamuela has an abundance of really good places to eat and this one was my favourites. Top notch quality and wonderfully fresh, local ingredients. Don't miss a meal at Merriman's if you're in the area. I opted for a seared strip steak and it was perfection. The mai tais were great, the salads were top notch...I had to pass on dessert.
(5)
Peter S.

Too loud,too crowded, but really tasty - plus attentive service. Fresh and local. Understands and executes vegan nicely.
(5)
James Y.

First time to Merriman's for dinner on our first visit to the Big Island. Was recommended by family to come here and it was definitely good. Ambiance: Quaint restaurant located in Waimea. The atmosphere is nicely lit and if you get a window seat, you get to sit next to a nice little courtyard with a fountain. Service: Excellent! We had reservations at 6 and was about 15min late. They still honored the reservation and also the "buy-one-get-one-free" special if you eat before 6pm. The servers were all super nice and very knowledgeable about all the items on the menu. Attentive to filling our wine and water glasses. Also, on Friday's, they have 50% off all wine bottles, which is awesome Food: What's cool about this place is that all their food is home grown on the island - which really gives you a taste of local cuisine. First, the bread was fresh and hot out of the oven. Highly recommend the appetizer taster with ahi, honey bacon, kalua pig quesadilla, and scampi-style clams - everything on the plate was good and was enough for 2. The ahi tuna was awesome - really melts in your mouth, clearly very fresh. Honey bacon was lean and had great flavor. Clams were very fresh - had a tangy taste to it and the sauce was great to dip your bread in. This plate was probably the best part of the meal. For entree, we got the lobster, and Merriman's mixed plate with the filet and rack of lamb. The lobster was tasty but small - slightly undercooked. It was cooked with corn and pumpkin and was overall very good. The filet and lamb were decent - we were too stuffed to really enjoy the meat. Also got the vegetable sampler and the mushrooms and corn were good. If leaving the restaurant feeling stuffed is a good indicator that the food is great, then this place is truly awesome. Overall, would highly recommend this place.
(4)
Ann K.

If you're looking to for a special dinner this is the place to come for a splurge! The food is incredible, fresh and local. The wait staff seems very professional. The ambiance is light and pleasant. I usually get whatever their special salad is and have never been disappointed. I also get the tastings of all vegetables and am always amazed by how creative and imaginative the chefs can be with simple vegetables.
(5)
Thomas M.

Merriman's: I don't know why people go nut-so over Merriman's. Don't get me wrong, the food there is a-ok, but its nothing to rave about. People really hype this place up because they use local ingredients, but thats nothing special. When I'm back in Hawaii, I cook with the same damn ingredients, so why do I need to to go this expensive place and have food that I could have made myself? The answer is: when I get lazy. This is why you gotta go for their take-out! If you must go, get their braised lamb. This is the best thing on the dinner menu, and the reason why I am giving Merriman's a "3" instead of a "two". Also, check their lunch out before you do their dinner.
(3)
Deco G.

My annual pilgrimage to Merrimans has been a 15 year cherished tradition. Every year as I start to plan my Hawaii trip, I begin fantasizing about Merrimans, their piping hot bread basket, creamy butter, scrumptious, plump, perfectly seasoned fresh fish, their gorgeous local tomato appetizer with blue cheese, their excellent wine, the dreamy, sometimes misty drive up to Waimea/Kamuela from the Kohala coast.... It's all part of my Hawaii ritual that has never once underwhelmed, much less disappointed. Is it the end of an era? Because I ate there last week and I'm still trying to figure out what happened to my beloved Merrimans. How could a fall from grace be this thorough? Let's dissect the components: 1. The heretofore piping hot fresh bread arrived warm, but tasting stale, like the heat was achieved by a microwave zapping of 4 day old bread, that wasn't good even fresh out of the oven. 2. The butter accompanying the bread had me fuming. It tasted like old, rank, rancid butter that had absorbed onion fumes. Seriously gross. 3. Starter of Hirabara Earth Grown Lettuce was described as being drizzled with Greek extra virgin olive oil and fresh squeezed citrus. The description made my mouth water. The tasting did not. The small dish consisted of some (nice and fresh) lettuce and onions. That's it. Completely dry. No olive oil or citrus detected, whatsoever. They couldn't be bothered to dress it enough to give it flavor. But they did not hesitate to charge $10 for 4 sprigs of dry lettuce. Waitress had disappeared far too long for me to enquire on the conspicuous absence of dressing. 4. I ordered the small portion of ponzu marinated mahi mahi. I've had this dish numerous times before, and couldn't wait to dig into it and the lovely side of rice. The full order is $39, and the smaller order $35. Nevertheless, I've never needed more than the smaller order since it's not half size (and far from half priced). I got the tiniest, thinnest tapered wedge of mahi mahi, with no plump bulk whatsoever. The waitress boasted as she placed the plate in front of me "can you believe this is actually the small portion? [translate: dang! We're giving largesse new meaning with such a generous portion; you will explode before you can finish this big hunk of fish!]". I sat staring at the dish, wondering whether the silverware would be supplemented by a magnifying glass. The skimpy wedge of fish had a greyish hue to it. The fish and seasoning tasted good, but I could see (and taste) that the greyish hue came from a flare up. The side of rice was dry, hard and cold. After one bite I'd had enough. 5. His Dudeness's $42 filet mignon was beyond disgusting. There's no way in hell that was filet mignon. Nope. Not buying it. It was shaped like a piece of lava rock trying to eat its offspring, its texture rough, tough, stringy, chewy, and the cannibal rock anchored on one side by a thick hunk of fat that took up about 35% of its mass. Filet mignon my ass. I could tell by the look on His Dudeness's face that he was appalled. I tasted a bite (more like it tasted me) and fell silent. I didn't want to pour more fuel on his fire so I changed the subject to his side dish of creamed corn, that would have been more aptly named corned cream. His plate went back largely untouched. Because it was largely inedible. Final tally with tip = over $200. Did I mention the place has no views to speak of? Well, I never cared before, the food has always been so good. Suddenly I noticed that for more than $200, we drove 20 minutes into Waimea, sat at a table with no view and had the most horrible meal on the island. If this was my first Merriman's experience, it would have been my last, and I would have chalked it up to a learning experience. But this was my beloved Merrimans, where I have had over 20 of my most consistently yummy, fresh meals ever, where years of Hawaiian joy memories were created and savored. The let down is far worse. On the strength of the many years of nostalgic memories alone I'm now giving them 2 stars, because that meal was a 1 star meal. So thoroughly awful that I dare not walk through Merrimans' doors ever again. Anyone can have an off night, but I can't trust the judgment, taste or quality control of an establishment that serves up that cut of meat and calls it filet mignon.
(2)
Michelle D.

The Hubs and I went here for our 'big night out' on our recent trip to the Big Island. We were not disappointed! Everything was fresh and seasonal. The Panzo Marinated Mahi Mahi was the best dish we had while on the island. The island corn side dish was so delicious; it may have been laced with crack because I couldn't stop eating it. And if you are a chocolate lover, do not miss the chocolate purse. It was amazing. Ditto Clint's comment about bringing a jacket. It is much chillier up in Waikoloa Beach than it is up there in Waimea! If you are not up for the drive to Waimea, Merriman's has a cafÃ© in the Kings' Shops in the Waikoloa Resort area. It is called Merriman's Market CafÃ©. It serves similar entrees and casual dishes such as pizzas all day.
(4)
Lily F.

About 6 years ago my husband came here and it was an amazing meal. This year, it was just as good, if not better. I highly recommend doing one of the pick 2 or combo dinner entrees since there are so many yummy dishes. My favorites are the char grilled tuna and the ono fish. We also really enjoyed the seasonal artichoke heart appetizer and the chocolate purse for dinner. If you're going to the Big Island, and want at least one super great meal, be sure to go here!
(5)
Nicole W.

Drove to Merriman's while in Kona for my honeymoon. Got a gift certificate as a wedding gift. Best meal we had while on the Big Island. Well worth the lengthy drive. The change in climate was beautiful. We had a touch of rain and saw many rainbows. One day I will go back.
(4)
Gary T.

This is a must go place. We go there everytime we're on the Big Island. I get the Fillet Migeon and ask to have it prepared seared with pepper corns. Fresh baked bread, local vegetables and ono desserts.
(5)
Adam C.

Service was nice but busy so not as prompt. Most food dishes are smaller portioned but the flavor was pretty favoring.
(3)
Nuntiya K.

The best meal we had on the Big Island. Certainly much better than Roy's which was really not very good at all. In fact, we loved Merriman's so much, we came back for lunch two days later. Our dinner was just perfect. My shrimp appetizer was perfectly cooked and full of interesting contrasts - each flavor blended together in just the right way. My husband had the vine ripened Lokelani tomatoes, which according to him were the best tomatoes he's ever had! My entree was the locally grown lamb and included medallions and shank, each prepared perfectly. The contrast in texture of each piece was really great. When we returned for lunch on another day, I ordered the signature dish - the wok seared Ahi, which was terrific. On both occasions, our waiter was super friendly and very knowledgeable about the food, including where all of the ingredients came from - which local farm or ranch. I love that Merriman's shows such loyalty and commitment to their local producers. It's all about the food here and not about the scene. Enjoy!
(5)
Michelle G.

This is consistently one of our favorite restaurants on the Big Island and the two meals that we had during our most recent vacation proved no exception. The Ahi appetizer is top notch and I even found myself savoring the Caesar salad. The locally grown greens, produce, and herbs adds such incredible flavor to the dishes. One evening, I had the ponzu marinated Mahi Mahi and my husband had the chef's special of the day, which was locally caught Ono. Both were absolutely amazing! Another night, I had the wok-seared Ahi and my husband had the scallops and again, the meal did not disappoint. Their wine selection is also excellent and offers numerous deviations from the standard selections available at most restaurants. We don't typically have dessert, but the port selections tempted us adequately that we found it necessary to indulge in a glass after our meal. All around, Merriman's is a first rate dining experience and well worth the price!
(5)
Joseph S.

Once again an excellent dinner at a very good price. The service was outstanding.
(5)
Daniel P.

Best place on the Big Island for high end food hands down. My mom requires we go there every visit. I always agree because the food is clean, fresh, local and the chef is a James Beard winner. Save room for the chocolate purse.
(5)
Michael O.

Someone stated they went to Merriman's and avoided the big names. Merriman's IS a big name. Zagat's review of Hawaii restaurants says that it is tops, and it is. Lunch is excellent and very reasonable. Dinner is outstanding. We will always go back to Merriman's. We are locals and love all of the local produce they use. We went there recently for my wife's birthday and I had the wild boar when was outstanding. Service is amazing!!
(5)
Clifford S.

This is the one restaurant that I always go to when I visit the Big Island. It may be a bit on the pricey side, but it always lives up to my expectations. The food is local and fresh and prepared to take advantage of the ingredients. No matter what we have gotten, it has been good. One feature that they have added is that you can get two main dishes but in smaller portions. Madde it a lot easier ordering for my wife :-) I was able to nibble off her plate and had two great new tastes.
(5)
Jill Q.

Just had dinner in Waimea with extended family. We had a group of 10. Service was good. Food was great. The waitress forgot to order coffee late drinks and my parents had to wait for them for quite a while, but finally got them and they were delicious. I had the lamb leg well done and was pleased but preferred my Dads taro patties! They were so yummy and unique. My dessert was my favorite though. I got the fallen chocolate souffle which came with vanilla ice cream and caramelized sugar. I also tried the chocolate purse which was good but pretty intense chocolate (and I love chocolate).
(4)
Debi C.

Best food and service ever! The General Manager was at every table seeing how everyone was doing, The servers were amazing, very well trained and happy to be at work. The food was out of this world. We will go back every time we are in Kona!! Don't miss the amazing place! Make reservations as it does get busy.....
(5)
Darin E.

When you think of Hawaii much iconic imagery comes to mind. Sandy beaches, Coconut palms, crystal clear blue waters...a tropical paradise. Juxtapose that with the central valley of California. The central valley, a prime California cattle producing area has a dismal bleak landscape of industrial farms, dry hot summers, and basically a man made oasis of unnatural unsustainable productive agricultural. In Hawaii it rains just about everyday whereas in the central valley life giving rain comes a few short months out of the year, the rest is piped in through canals. California has some very nice areas along the coast that can sustain cattle with green grass for parts of the year but they hardly represent most of the cattle production. Hawaii has a region that can sustain the ideal environment year round. If you were a cow where would you choose to live...Hawaii or Turlock? Now I know that is an unfair choice but hey, nobody said life was fair. Now lets think about what has been pumped into our brains by creative marketers. "Happy cows come from California." Have you ever seen a feedlot off of interstate 5? That is hardly a happy environment conducive to raising happy cows. Parker Ranch on the big Island of Hawaii is in a temperate region covered in lush green grass and nice weather, the perfect place for raising perfect "happy cows". I never thought I would say this but I do believe that I have come across the best steak- producing region in the world. Yes, I said the world. Now imagine a steak house right next door to this ranch and badda bing you have one of the best, if not the best steaks in the world. I do not mean to belittle Peter Merriman and his culinary prowess but lets be honest here. If you use all natural locally produced, fresh regional ingredients, you are going to end up with some great food. But the fact is that Peter is a skilled chef with a knack for cooking. This combo is the key to success creating something worth flying/driving for. I ordered the Filet steak served medium rare and it was the most delicate tender soft supple steak I have ever had. No chewing was necessary as it simply melted in my mouth. The Maui sweet onions jam provided a good balance with Hamakua mushrooms. The garlic mash potatoes were good but honestly they could have been raw and a conglomerate of syringes and glass...and I still would have thought this meal was great. So if you are even going to take a trip to the big island of Hawaii and you are looking to go to a fine dining restaurant that is outside of what most tourists see, take a drive to Waimea and treat yourself to this place. It is well worth it.
(5)
Eric G.

Great dining experience. The waiter was odd, but extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Imagine Buzz Lightyear hitting his buttons. The guy repeated every sentence over and over at each table. Pork chop was yummy. Trio was excellent. Worth the drive. Pricey, typical Hawaii.
(5)
Marie C.

Bah, I do not know what the hype surrounding this joint is about.
(1)
Ricky P.

For the 5 star reviews: Are you kidding me??? I paid $38 for a piece of small tuna, rice and corn; $14 for three tomato slices, anchovies and capers. $10 (or $12?) for coffee (for 2). Total bill (for two, including tip) = $175. Seriously? First, the service was great, so they deserve a few stars there. But I was disappointed with the lack of innovation with the food. I mean, I could've gotten tuna and rice at Foodland for $9 and have been more satisfied with my meal. I give it up to them for sourcing their ingredients locally and admit the food was "good", but I would definitely not give them five stars. My recommendation: if you want to spend money for ambiance on the Big Island, go to Merrimans. If you want really good food for the amount you pay, go down the street to Hawaiian Style Cafe.
(2)
Clint D.

The wife and I went on Valentine's Day while we were on vacation. It was packed, but we had reservations and were seated right away. The food features locally produced (grown, gathered, slaughtered, caught, etc) meals from the big island. In order to save some cash, we started off bread and a goat cheese and mango spread. The two spread melted together on the bread (think, mango Julius on bread). I ordered the steak and ahi (1/2 and 1/2). Both were served to perfection. Some of the best fish and beef I have had (Argentine beef is still better, though). We also ordered the vegetable sampler, because we weren't sure whether the entrees came with side (they do). The vegetables were all grilled and served and that perfect place in between of hard raw and overcooked soft. The desert was chocolate puff pastry with quasi dulce de leche ice cream (again, Argentine Dulce de Leche is much better). Overall, really good. I would give this place a five star, but I thought the service was a bit rushed at the end. Granted there were a lot of people waiting, but I just dropped $150 on dinner (if I had ordered a bottle of wine it would have been $250), so let me take my time and digest. Don't forget to bring a warm jacket with you. It was 80+ degrees and clear in Waikoloa Beach. It was only 50 degrees and raining up in Waimea.
(4)
Darrell H.

Merriman's is one of the best places to eat in the Kamuela area and the island of Hawaii. Yes, it is costly, but not like many restaurant's on the mainland. Have never had poor service, good staff and food is great. Call in advance and plan to take some time enjoying your meal. Check there web site.
(4)
Lynne L.

Sure this place is pricey, but I go only once a year (when I can use my birthday coupon for a free entree). I had the combo lamb chops with scallops & my husband had the steak. He thinks it's the best steak on the island - but wish they didn't put butter on it. Also had the appetizer sampler - perfect for 2 people. Should not have ordered the goat cheese & jam spread for the bread since there was goat cheese in the sampler. The desserts & coffee are expensive too - for $12 had the lilikoi mouse which came w/2 coconut macadamia cookies, for $10 had some decaf coffee with it. Would definitely go again for my birthday!
(4)
Terri M.

Fabulous service and food!! I highly recommend.
(5)
tom-e e.

Well.....Today is mothers day, my daughter gave my husband n I a certificate for dinner for two....two means two apps., salad, dinner, n desert rite?......n e way......our waiter....DALE....forgot about offering salad, dinner was really good...hubs had ponzu marinated mahi, I had the kompachi special which both were delicious..I xed for our chocolate purse to go because something at home came up...first he,....DALE brings only one container which contained only the choco purse, I had to x him where the ice dream was n it was like hecwas trying not to give us the ice cream saying....ohhhhh uuhhhh,....it's gonna melt if we put together....I told to put it in another container.....DDDAAAHHHHH!!!! U STUPID HA'OLE..wat did u think we're food stupid...every plate u described,...I cood n can make it. We were going to leave, I was laughing inside but wen we reached the front door I walked out but decided to go back in and I xed the hostess if I cood show her something....opened the ice crm container n xed if everyone else gets the same amount I just got n she cracked up n sed shell get me more......but there supposed to b another one since it was a certificated dinner for "TWO".... But das ok......n DALE says for us to recommend this place to our frends.....ooohhhh most definitely...jus make sure ur waiter isn't DALE!!!!!! He just might skimp u on salad n desert....especially the ice cream.......HEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! N dats y I can only give them 3 stars...if not I'd give um all 5!!!!!!!!
(3)
Dwight R.

Another day, another Beet Salad, Bread goat cheese, lamb with potato stuffed with cheese, Filet mignon with a beet compote and tasty corn. Some Lava cake, too. They could update their wine by the glass selection to get some Napa Cab, one can't always splurge for a bottle of Silver Oak. We love it here.
(5)
Russ C.

Fresh, local foods. Good service, although the server didn't offer to refresh drinks, which I don't understand since the restaurant makes more, the server makes more, and the customer is happy. Seems like a unseasoned server error. Dining room is small and cramped, even when not that busy.
(4)
A K.

Good Food, Good Wine, Good Dessert and Good Service. A low key take on fine dining. Very Highly recommended.
(4)
Matt H.

Went in for lunch with four adults and one child and wasn't expecting much but the staff were accommodating and attentive. The food was great, probably the best meal out on the island so far and after several days of seeing lunch and dinner bills in the $80-$100 range for five people, I was very surprised to see our bill was only $55. Extra points for surprising me on being affordable as well as good food.
(5)
Mary D.

I went for lunch, and then I went back for dinner a few days later. Both meals were excellent. Great service, great food with local ingredients.
(5)
Veronica P.

Located about an hour inland from Kona and up in the mountains, Merriman's Restaurant is a dining destination for just about any foodie. One of the original founders of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine, Peter Merriman, changed the face of food on Hawaii as we know it back in 1991. Along with Roy Yamaguchi, Alan Wong, Sam Choy, George Mavrothalassitis and a host of others, this group of young, relatively unknown chefs made a commitment to improve the food of Hawaii into something more recognizable than the veritable Spam. They dedicated themselves to the use of locally grown produce and island raised protein as much as they could. This group has developed strong bonds with local farmers and ranchers to use the freshest ingredients possible. Merriman's is oddly located in a small strip mall unlike many of the "destination" dining options which are either freestanding or, more likely, in one of the many resorts on the Kona coast. The location does, however, position the restaurant more strategically closer to Kahua Ranch, Hufford Farm and Honopua Family Farm. The Kalua Pig & Sweet Onion Quesadilla is a take on the classic Mexican dish. The smoky and salty pork is paired perfectly with the sweetness from the caramelized onions. It is served with a Kimchee and Mango Sweet Chili dipping sauce. The sweetness of the mango in the dipping sauce helps to cut the saltiness of the kalua pork, while the kimchee and chili give it a spicy little kick. The Organic Waimea Greens Salad is a mixture of locally grown baby greens with Kula onions from Maui and Chevre from Mauna Kea in a balsamic vinaigrette. The greens are vibrant in their color and are lightly dressed to retain the texture and subtle flavors of the greens. With these types of top quality ingredients, drowning them in dressing would be a shame. The chevre is soft, creamy and slightly salty, the perfect accompaniment to the salad. The Kahua Ranch Lamb are several lamb chops cooked to perfection. Charred on the outside to form a nice crust, the inside is a perfect rare-medium rare. The lamb chops are not at all gamey and have a wonderful rich lamb flavor. The Merriman's Mixed Plate is a combination of the Ponzu Mahi Mahi, Filet Medallion and the signature Wok Charred Ahi. The Mahi Mahi is marinated in ponzu giving it a nice citrus undertone while allowing the flavor of the fish to come out. Paired with grilled shiitaki mushrooms, hearts of palm and an onion relish this dish is a winner. Several medallions of filet were presented with sauted mushrooms and an onion jam. The filet was seared on the outside and cooked to a nice medium rare on the inside. The filet was full of flavor and the earthiness of the mushrooms only enhanced the rich beef flavor. The Wok Charred Ahi is simply prepared. It is lightly seared on the outside and rare as only top grade sashimi could be on the inside. The searing brought out a slight nuttiness in the fish as well as bringing out some of the inherent oil in the fish to give it a deep, intense flavor. This is the ultimate surf and turf combination. The Coconut Creme Brulee is a Hawaiian take on the classic French dessert. The sweetness of the coconut certainly is brought out in this dish, but is not overly sweet. The creme brulee was a looser custard, unlike some places where the creme brulee is really firm. The creme brulee was top with a glassy burnt sugar topping crust. This is a great restaurant for special occasions and is a great representation of what Hawaii Regional Cuisine is all about.
(5)
Nomey T.

Overrated. You read, see TV ads, hear the specials and are entranced by the palatable possibilities... and then... ??? My tastebuds did not get the same output (now input?) that my ears and brain had concocted. The food SOUNDS great. Our waiter Charlie did a wonderful job of reciting each dish, all sounding irresistable. But somehow, the elements on the plate didn't quite live up to our expectations, nor did they melt in harmony. They seemed to stand apart from one another which is a culinary no-no. The appetizers were okay (ahi tartar with eggplant tempura (weird combo) and potato leak soup with onions, mushrooms). We tried 2 specials (kampachi over spanish style rice and salsa & a rack of lamb over a bed of risotto and salad), both rather disappointing. I don't know what to say when the SPECIALS aren't gripping. Considering Merriman's was going to be THE fine dining experience during our stay, this wasn't IT. Glad they use organic produce, fresh fish, organically grown cows, etc. but their execution needs work. The decor is nice; a very calm and inviting atmosphere. But I've had better...
(3)
Victoria B.

This was our favorite restaurant on our trip to Hawaii. Unfortunately we were stuck at the hilton waikoloa most of the trip and had to eat greasy food. But we did get a car for two days and were lucky enough to stop here for lunch. The food was fresh and delicious and they were very accommodating for our infant daughter. We kept wanting to go back. It was a really pleasant surprise. I wouldn't drive an hour out of your way if you have other options, but if you are in waimea try to eat here. And definitely try the Tahitian limeade. Delicious!
(5)
AJ M.

This place was our favorite restaurant spot to eat on our recent Big Island trip (mid/late August timeframe). The staff is excellent, the food is excellent and offers great tasting options. We made a reservation for the first seating during the dinner session and were seated promptly. Our waitress was really cordial and professional - talked to us just enough without getting too intrusive. She presented the specials and various dinner options with enthusiasm and accuracy - very professional. We had a triple item combo selection (grass fed beef, mahi mahi and and wok seared ahi) - all three were well cooked. Side note - I'm not a grass fed beef fan - I miss the flavoring in the fat. . My wife had a half/half combo plate - Mongchong fish and Grass Fed Beef. Both were again well cooked. We also had a flight of wine which included 2 reds and 2 whites from the Santa Cruz mountains (a place we are familiar with since we go tasting there often). One wine really stood out and we got a bottle as well (Storrs - Guwertz 2007) - excellent taste and we're planning on making another trip to Santa Cruz to pick up a few bottles. The only knock I'd give this place is the driving. We stayed near Waikaloa Beach Resort and driving on a 1 lane highway from Waimea takes about 20 minutes depending on traffic. Another note - out of the 3 times we went to Waimea - it rained 3 times.
(5)
Miles G.

I am pleased to write this restaurant's first review. Off HIghway 19, take a worthwhile detour for lunch at Merriman's Restaurant. Their food is guaranteed to catapult your tastebuds.....that is, before you immerse in "bulked goods"-mode at Costco. Everything on Peter Merriman's menu is outstanding. Even the peach iced tea was ridiculous! He uses organic produce from local farmers to compliment freshly caught Opakapaka (local Hawaiian pink snapper) or other troll boat caught fish. For a light fare, order Peter's Original Caesar Salad (enough for two people). For the full Merriman's lunch experience, the Ponzu Marinated Mahi-Mahi with jasmine rice/local vegetables and marinated Chinese short ribs will set your tastebuds straight. I meant to order a mahi-mahi cheese melt sandwich "to go" which I neglected to do.It was a huge mistake. Had I not been intimidated with driving 1.5 hours, that experience would have been epic. The Waimea trek from Hilo is laced with single-pass lanes where drivers tend to go slow. Passing could be quite enjoyable if you're in the comforts of a Boxster or Cayman S. Better yet, a 911 Turbo while a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti would be the ultimate. I was in unchartered territory + in a Chrysler rental = bad combination. There will definitely a next time.
(5)
Sarah M.

For our yearly trip to Hawaii I had researched this place and wanted to try it out. We had a party of 7 and were impressed as soon as we walked in the door. Our table was ready and waiting for us and they happily took our wine from us and chilled our white bottle and decanted our red. We started out with appetizers and I fell in love with the house cured bacon and the local goat cheese. The appetizer is worth it of you've never been there before. We each different salads which were all very good as well. Even their bread was delicious. We all had different entrees too, I feel in love with the lamb I had. I tried my dad's filet which was also very good, similar to any other good steakhouse. The desserts were to die for as well. The roasted pineapple soup was interesting and very delicious. The coconut creme brÃ»lÃ©e was very creamy, I would definitely have that again. My favorite was the chocolate purse. I would go back just for that! It just melted in your mouth and wasn't too rich. I can't even explain how delicious it was. We will definitely make a point of coming back to Merriman's every year.
(5)
Mellie D.

I have been to Merriman's about 6 times, pretty good since I live in San Francisco. Merriman's is my favorite restaurant on the Big Island. Aside from the spectacular food, the service is first class. The waiters and waitresses know what they are doing and they do it very well. The restaurant manager has been there for a very long time and I applaud him for managing an incredible staff. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here for about 30+ people. I messed up on the count and when we arrived the tables were arranged for 30 people. I felt bad for miscounting but Merriman's rearranged things to accomodate without any complaints or rudeness. I got married at the Fairmont Orchid and only wish that I had gotten such amazing service during my wedding reception as I got from Merriman's. My husband and I ALWAYS come back to eat here at least 2xs when we visit the island. Can't wait to come again. Oh, they also have great farm tours which we enjoyed very much and was worth the $.
(5)
Winnie C.

i really like how everything on their menu is locally grown and fresh. The service was fanastic and the ambiance was nice, cozy and romantic feeling. We came here for dinner and both my husband and i ordered fish. He got the fish special (opakapaka i think) and i got the the steamed kompachi. the food DID taste fresh, but it very much lacked flavor. My husband had a side of fried rice on his plate that tasted like something i make at home easily. My fish came with side of steamed pumpkin and on top of garlic rice (the rice was yummy) and a reduced sauce that had no flavor at all. The kompachi fish also had little flavor. So overall my dish was somewhat flavorless, but the pumpkins on the side were super sweet... i felt they go along better with pork than with fish. Overall, we enjoyed the service and ambiance. The food wasn't AS great as we expected based on the reviews from others... we expected more. But the food wasn't bad either. NOt sure if we'd come here again, we rather enjoyed the food at the 4 seasons hotel more for that price (and the fantastic ocean sunset view if your'e lucky). dinner overall costed over $200 for 2 entrees and 3 alcoholic drinks.
(3)
G M.

My boyfriend and I went here during our Big Island vacation. I'm giving it four stars because the service was a bit slow initially. But the food was excellent, albeit a bit pricey for my tastes. Entrees ranged from 30-48 dollars and the portions were relatively small. I got the fish special - ono/wahoo. It was delicious - very fresh and light, with perfect seasoning. Nicely complimented by the lentil side dish. My boyfriend got the pork and scallops combination dinner. Both were excellent. The pork had a fruit glaze that nicely complimented the meat. The scallops were fresh and very tender. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice, with tasteful artwork and plant accents. Most people were wearing dressy casual clothes: button down shirts and shorts or slacks for men, casual dresses or nice blouses for women. It was a bit difficult to hear, though, as it was very crowded. I'd definitely recommend it, overall. The food was excellent and the ambiance was very nice.
(4)
Mae S.

On several past visits, we have been enthusiastic about the fresh, local fish dishes at Merriman's. Most recently, we ordered lamb, steak, and veal: all local, all remarkable both in taste and presentation. The accompanying herb mashed potatoes, grilled tomato with blue cheese, and other sides were also super. Service, dessert, and above all the fresh local salads are all amazing. Awareness that Merriman -- beginning around 20 years ago -- inspired local farmers to produce these wonderful products adds to the pleasure. The atmosphere is very pleasant -- windows look into a garden where people take their small children if they're impatient. The setting creates such pleasure: a peaceful valley under the imposing volcano (even if there's a bit of traffic on the way). It's both a family restaurant, and a gourmet mecca -- they offer kid-sized salads and plain pasta for little appetites. All in all, this is my favorite restaurant on the Big Island.
(5)
Jeff W.

We did lunch here. Food was good. Service was mediocre. Just several young girls who looked like they were rushing to get out of there. The atmosphere felt more like a cafe than a nice restaurant. Pricing was very favorable.
(3)
Clare T.

We loved eating at this restaurant! So much so that we went back 3 times. :) The food is incredible, the setting is perfect, and the waitstaff are delightful. I just wish they had one here in the Bay Area so that we could go more often! I will miss it.
(5)
Lala l.

I live on the Big Island of Hawaii, and there are better restaurants for the price of this restaurant on the island. There are also restaurants with a nicer ambiance as well. My personal favorite is Huggos, they have excellent food for the same price (or maybe even a little cheaper), and it;'s right on the water. If money is no obstacle and you want the best of the best of everything, go to Pahu'ia (stands for aquarium, and there's a beautiful aquarium in the restaurant, and it's also right on the water) at the Four Seasons Resort. Now for a little bit more about more about Merriman's, I have had some really good things here, but honestly, not everything has been top-notch, and it should be for the price you are paying. I have also heard stories of the steak being microwaved, and some of the food not being organic even though they say it is. I don't feel good giving my hard-earned money to this restaurant after knowing this, and would much rather my money go to an honest, well-deserved restaurant. Pau, which is right next door is an excellent affordable, healthy place to eat as well. They have excellent pizza and salad! Also Huli Sue's in Waimea is a nice restaurant and has excellent BBQ style food. Solimene's (Italian) is also another great place to eat in Waimea, the host is really nice and friendly too! or Charley's Thai cuisine which is right next door. All kinds of much better options in Waimea! I would say though that I like Merriman's market cafe at the King Shops in the Waikoloa resort area, their prices are much more affordable and their food is pretty good. Happy eating! :)
(2)
Jeff W.

ambience & style - very pleasant. a pre-dinner stroll through their garden is highly recommended. food quality - high end, local ingredients. knowledgeable servers who are polite and friendly. wine selection is best I've seen on the Big Island. little touches like the fresh baked bread served warm before the meal and the mac nut cookies served with dessert were perfect. but poor execution on the entrees sadly dragged the dining experience down two notches. initially we inquired with our seasoned server if Peter Merriman was in the kitchen tonight. unfortunately for everyone involved, he only comes through once every two weeks. He has a second restaurant on the island and is opening another in Kauai. several of our entrees came out overcooked. my bone-in filet ordered medium rare came out medium well the local ono whitefish and lobster dish was delivered overcooked and bone dry. this means either the kitchen crew is understaffed or that the line cooks are inexperienced. for a restaurant of this stature, this is inexcusable. i advised my server post meal that my steak was not cooked properly to a haughty no response. another inexcusable experience. I likely will not come back here, but it does not mean that my dining experience was not a pleasant one.
(3)
Brian L.

Yet another fine dining experience in Hawaii. Merriman's is on the pricier side, but the food and experience is worth it. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere can be described as "cozy-elegant". As for the food, let me start with this... You MUST get a salad or something with raw tomatoes! I don't know how they do it, but the tomatoes are phenomenal; extremely tasty and sweet. For the entree, I had the Merriman's Mixed plate, which is a sampling of their 4 signature dishes. And because I was there with a large group, I sampled a number of other dishes including the lamb. Everything was fantastic, this is a must visit if you're on the Big Island.
(5)
Stephanie I.

My husband and I had dinner at Merriman's on our honeymoon. It met and exceeded our expectations. All the dishes were delicious and locally sourced. My husband had the pork loin (super tender and thinly sliced) with a delicious side of some local sauteed vegetables and fruits. There was one fruit which we had never had before but loved called a 'mountain apple' and the waitress was kind enough to answer our questions and bring us a piece of the raw fruit to try. I had the ono special, and it was perfectly cooked. Starters and desert were also delicious. Service was attentive but not pushy, they let us sit and savor the meal. Yes, it was not cheap, but if you are looking for a special place to go out and treat yourself on vacation Merriman's delivers.
(5)
tim k.

ok Shah..nothing is bland about Merrimans..what are you talking about? Best mahi mahi and local lamb ive had in my entire life, not to mention the Kahlua Pig Quesadilla ? yum. Dont listen to the haters.. If you are on the Big Island , this place is a must!
(5)
R K.

pretty good food and i like that they try to source most of their ingredients from local growers. my gf and i found that their lunch menu looks more interesting and it is also cheaper. i had the chinese short ribs. though i did enjoy it and liked the flavor, i felt that the flavor on the pork was bit over whelming at times and could be tamed down a bit.
(4)
Molly Y.

Wow, our experience at this restaurant was amazing. We went there for dinner and this was our best meal of the trip. Food had a lot of detail and fresh local produce and came piping hot. They offered a lot of original as well as time tested entrees and appetizers. We had the sampler platter for the two of us and really enjoyed the originality of the items. Each bite was so savory and tasty. For entrees we had the filet mignon and the pork chop. The filet was incredibly well made and rivaled the best steak houses we've been. The sides of creamed corn and garlic mashed were perfection. The highlight of the meal was the pork chop. Wow, each bite was so savory and flavorful. The meat was super juicy and was so well cooked that it made you enjoy it to the very last piece. We cleaned our plates entirely and did not leave room for dessert. However, we really did want to try the dessert "purse." Service was also very good. We'll be coming back every time we visit the big island.
(5)
Jesse W.

9/30/07: Dinner for four after a day in Kohala, we were fortunate to get a table since we didn't make a reservation (late Sunday night dinner). I ordered the Big Island Filet steak, others had the Ono and grilled shrimp, pasta and wok seared Ahi. The steak was well prepared, it came with a mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes. Service was excellent as usual, we skipped on any wines since there was a one hour drive back to Hilo after dinner.
(5)
Sheri E.

We had a reservation here and I almost canceled after our hike around the Waipo Valley. In the rain. And wind. Like someone else who reviewed this place, we ended up changing in the parking lot! But I knew once we got in there none of that would matter and I was soooo correct. The food is ultra fresh and simple, which is a sign of quality. If you are going to splurge on the Big Island, do it here. Do not blow your wad on one of the resort restaurants. You will be sorely disappointed (hello, Brown's Beach House). Save your dough and drive up the coast. This place is worth it if not just for the food, for the experience in local ingredients.
(5)
N. H.

I was extremely excited to go here after reading the many stellar reviews, but I was to leave sorely disappointed. First course: kailua pork quesadilla was tasty and had great flavor balance, however, the presentation was sorely lacking. I know that at the end of the day it's a quesadilla, but at these prices I expect the edge of the plate to be wiped down and everything neatly arranged. Main course: Ahi, Mahi Mahi, and filet mignon sampler. I wanted to try their "best" dishes. Again presentation was bad, edge of the plate was dirty with lots of grease stains and such. The seared Ahi was cooked perfectly and had good flavor. The filet was cooked well and was rested so it didn't bleed all over my plate, that was a plus. However, it was very underseasoned and was a tougher than I expected for a filet. The mahi mahi, oh the mahi mahi. I was already skeptical bc of the way it was prepared; breaded and fried...but I tried to keep an open mind. First bite was extremely salty, almost inedible. I then tried to peel off the breaded crust, the fish itself was still extremely salty. I tried to take another bite, but decided that I just couldn't do it. At a price of $50 for this sampler, I deserved to be happy with my food. The mahi was so terrible that even the scent of it made me sick. For the first time ever I had to tell a waiter that the food is inedible and as such, I simply can not finish it. It left such a bad taste in my mouth that I had to leave immediately. I really wanted to like this place. I love the idea of using locally grown produce and commend their efforts, however I feel that the price to value ratio is simply too high (this is based on the appetizer and ahi and filet, I'm just going to attribute the mahi to an oversight and not count it against them) to warrant another visit. I've had better food elsewhere on the island for a fraction of the price.
(2)
The Sock S.

Merriman's was good, but difficult to compare against a similar restaurant on the mainland. Maybe I'm just spoiled, but I don't think Merriman's would be as highly regarded if it were in a major city. Since it's not, it blows away the competition here. The food was good though. I like the comfiness, it's not a word but you know what I mean, of the place. If you want a special dinner or craving some elegance, this is a good place to be.
(4)
Jennifer D.

I came here for lunch, because it's a bit of a drive out from Kailua-Kona and we didn't want to do it at night. I'm glad we came for lunch, because we got such a good deal! I was originally planning on getting a trio of 2 fishes + beef for dinner, which would be $50, but my whole lunch bill ended up being less than $50 for 2 entrees, dessert, and a drink. I ordered the opah ($15) which was a tender, delicious, white fish - great sauce, which came with veggies. My boyfriend got the filet mignon ($18) which he said was tender, and just about one of the best steaks he's ever had. We also got the tropical iced tea, which was very clean and refreshing, as well as the caramelized tapioca pudding for dessert. This dessert was to die for- the cookies were melt in your mouth, buttery, and the caramelized pudding made it seem almost like creme brulee, but with little tapioca balls mixed in. DELICOUS! I highly recommend this restaurant, and I particularly love that all the food is grown/raised on the island, and not shipped in from the mainland. Also, as a side note, since I'm focusing so much on the food: the ambience is great, eveyrhing is very open feeling, and there's a great view of a cute little garden on the left when entering. I was happy to be seated on the left side, to enjoy the view of that garden.
(5)
Cbr A.

Yummy, the next time you are on the big island, no matter where, make the trip to Merriman's. The wait staff is so friendly, and the food is excellent. So save room for dessert but start with the Lobster, move onto the local tomato & Maui onion salad, then you won't go wrong with any fish on the menu but the beef is unbelievable, too... I'd go for the big island fillet with foie gras sauce but I'm a big eater, apparently. My vegetarian friends even loved this place. It was so great, we came back the next day for fish sandwiches. Wine list was well appointed and reasonably priced especially for Hawaii. So I told you to save room for dessert, have the warm chocolate purse and pair it with a dessert wine or port, you won't be sorry.
(5)
Kelly F.

Wonderful lunch - pork saimin was very tasty . Pork had a great smokey flavor to it. Had a good mix of sprouts, mushrooms, the awesome pork and noodles made in Maui - Mahi Mahi, the special of the day, was great as we had it served as tacos
(5)
Stacey W.

This is one of our go to places on the Big Island. Service is always good, great wine list and pretty decent foods too! We usually come here for dinner but looking at their lunch menu I think I may make it a point to come for lunch instead of dinner next time. I'm not a big eater and like variety so I prefer to have more of a selection with the small plates and appetizers. That said, during our most recent visit my husband and I had the following: Ricotta Cavatelli with Asparagus and Mushrooms: hands down this dish deserves 5 stars. My husband doesn't even like mushrooms but he couldn't get enough of this. Great flavor combination with the ricotta cheese and olive oil based sauce. Not to mention the Cavatelli is handmade at the restaurant. It smelled so wonderful and was so delicious that I forgot to take a picture before realizing the dish had been completely consumed. Warm Crusted Big Island Goat Cheese: another 5 star dish. Great combination of sweet and savory with the strawberries and lightly fried goat cheese. My husband swears that this dish is what keeps him returning and had been looking forward to it with baited anticipation. It did not disappoint! Peter's Original Caesar Salad: 4 stars. I love the creativity of the fried green tomato croutons. The salad dressing was a tad bit too pasty, even for a Caesar. But was still delicious no less. Waipio taro and fresh lone palm chickpea falafels: 2.5 stars. Great concept with locally sourced ingredients. Falafel is hard to do without the right accompaniments. Some pita bread and hummus would have made this dish much better. I'd love to see chef Merriman create his own spin on hummus with locally sourced ingredients. I bet it would be amazing! Prime bone-in New York steak: 5 stars. My husband would rate this 4.5 stars but he never gives anything a 5 star rating. I tried some of the steak and thought it was one of the better I've had. The steak tasted perfectly aged; cooked and seasoned to perfection. And I'm not much of a steak eater. The hubby rates the steak above Ruth's Chris which is his favorite steakhouse in Honolulu.
(4)
Melissa L.

Let me start off by saying the service here is impeccable! All the staff here deserve kudos and some recognition for the great job they do, however my overall experience in the other departments were "meh". Service: 5 stars! Service was great, our waitress was beyond lovely and attentive throughout the entire evening. Very friendly and our waitress was spot on. Food: meh this is were my review really went down. Ordered the New York steak because it sounded lovely but when it arrived it was beyond chewing and fatty not in a good fatty way. I am aware a New York steak isn't the most fantastic cut but for the price I was expecting more. Also the peppercorn topping/rub on the steak was just too much, killed the flavor of the steak and was way overdone. Very disappointing for the price. My party felt the same, their food was good but not great, our expectations were set too high. Cocktail Tip: the MoBeeto cocktail is beyond amazing, very girly looking but great flavor that anyone would love. Was the most popular drink of that night by far, almost every lady had one on their table. This place gets a lot of hype and yes if it was the first and only meal of my vacation I'm sure I could give it a 4-5 star review after eating Applebee's back home but after a week of fine dining trying all the best restaurants this place definitely wasn't in our top 5. Good restaurant, great service, just not what I expected, still worth a try.
(3)
Sam S.

I had the very best meal of my life here. No joke. Came here for a nice birthday dinner for the hubby whilst on the big island. Made an easy reservation via OpenTable (and glad I did, as it got quite busy quite quickly, even during the middle of the week!). Our server was fantastic. Friendly, to the point, gave us plenty of detail (but not too much) on menu items/drink suggestions. But the real star of this visit was... The food. Every food item we got was outstanding. Perfection. Perfectly flavored, seasoned, cooked, presented. I wish there were words to really describe how perfect everything was! I can't ever remember a time when I felt so happy while eating. I know it sounds like a cliche, but it really was some of the best food I've ever had in my entire life. Both the appetizer (Kalua Pig Quesadilla) and the entree (half portions of Seared Ahi Tuna and Mahi-Mahi) were out of this world delicious. The seared tuna, being my absolute overall favorite. It literally melted in my mouth. Crispy, flavorful crust. Soft and smooth and buttery on the inside. The shoyu-citrus sauce that accompanied was the perfect compliment to it. Man, I get happy every time I think about my visit here. Easily one of my favorite memories from my Hawaii trip! If (and when) we come back to the big island, I will make it a point to come here again. I'm already looking forward to it!
(5)
Christine L.

Wow Waimea country- charming cottage with free parking- need to return to try out dessert Pluses - I arrived early for my RSVP of 1 and they gave me a great table -waitress very nice and knowledgable - warm wheat bread in a bread basket and butter and spicy salt please!!!! - the lobster appetizer salad was light and tangy - there's the option to try two entrees for $49- the filet is amazing, tasty, lean, medium to perfection to me and that jalapeÃ±o mashed potato very nice - the red snapper with some skin was seared on top of risotto -casual dining - the macadamia nut cookies are awesome Areas of improvement -consider updating the ladies bathroom please
(5)
Kris G.

When researching places to eat on the Big Island, Merrimans comes up a number of times as one of the best restaurants on the island. We each had the wine flight. It was four wines for $33. When we went it was a rose a white and two reds Rose - good. I'm typically not a huge fan of roses, but I did like it White - it was very fragrant. A very strong floral. We skipped appetizers in favor of dessert so we went straight for the main courses. We had the Kahua Ranch lamb, butcher's cut and the sautÃ©ed day boat mahi mahi. For dessert, I had read many rave reviews for the Crispy molten "Original Hawaiian chocolate" purse and we also ordered the Velvety Hanaoka Farms Lilikoi mousse. My friend loved the chocolate purse, and I thought it was ok. The mousse was good, but I didn't want to finish it. It is a "white linen" style restaurant Our waiter had a very unique style. We liked him and he seemed to know the menu. He was very "theatrical" with his gestures, which made us smirk. We enjoyed our meals, but I am not sure if it was worth the money.
(3)
Mia R.

One of the finest dining experiences I've ever had. A scenic drive up to Waimea leads you to this cozy restaurant. The decor and ambiance give the feeling of dining in someone's home - carpeted floors, white linens, peach walls and warm candles. The scents coming from the service staff's leis add whiffs of jasmine to the experience. The staff was perfectly attentive - not too overbearing or absent. The homemade bread was served in a basket with butter and sea salt, the pork/kimchi quesadillas were a strange thing to see on the primarily farm-fresh menu but were very tasty. Reminded me of LAs own Kogi BBQ. One of the most inventive cocktails I have ever tasted - a Mobeeto - their take on a mojito - made with lavender, lime, and beet juice for a red tropical color. Amazing! The homemade pasta with ricotta, asparagus and mushrooms in a macadamia nut pesto was perfectly al dente - a fresh light pasta. But the show stopper for me was the chocolate purse - by far the best dessert I have ever had - and I am a dessert connoisseur. Served with vanilla bean ice cream and sweeps of caramel this perfectly constructed dessert was to die for! A crispy/slightly salty puff pastry purse enveloping a molten soufflÃ©-like dark chocolate center. Never tasted a combination like this. What a wonderful dining experience! As it was my birthday, they also brought a lilikoi mousse that was fluffy and creamy and refreshing all at the same time. A must visit for those on the Big Island.
(5)
Paul T.

We drove up from the Kona area in great anticipation of a fabled dining experience. Appetizer shrimp and Kahlua pig quesadilla Ceaser salad delightful teaser dishes. Chicken leg delicate, flavorful with perfectly crisped skin. Lamb tender and Pork chop generous but nothing to get excited about. Chocolate purse and lilikoi mousse were both exquisite. I like the word exquisite. An adequate meal. Service was spot on. Overall, however methinks overrated and overpriced.
(3)
Kellye G.

Merriman's is a definite stop if you are on the big island. With many fine dining restaurants in Kohala gold coast region, this restaurant does not let you down. My husband and I came here to celebrate our anniversary. Atmosphere was excellent, fitting the Kamuela character. Service and food was outstanding! 5 stars for sure! Our waitress was top notch- attentive, great personality, great description of food and drinks. The food....wow! I had both appetizer and entree specials. Slow braised lamb tortellini with kale, radish, and micro greens. It just popped in your mouth and made you want to scrape the plate for more. For main course - slow cured citrus Ono over kabocha and asparagus risotto. My husband had kauai cajun prawns which were huge, succulent and delish! His main course - duo of local beef filet mignon and keahole lobster tail, how could you go wrong.
(5)
Glenn H.

Very disappointing. First of all, the ambience is rather bleak and simple. As you can see by the pictures, it is also very crowded and as a result, it is rather a loud and noisey dining experience. We arrived there on a Sunday for lunch at 11:50, and at noon, the musician packed up and an indistinguishable rap/rock type of music ensued. All of the waitresses were very young, none seem to be older than 30, and our waitress giggled as she introduced herself and spoke so quickly we couldn't understand what she said. After a rather long wait after perusing our menus she came back and we asked about the soup special and the catch of the day. We ordered the soup of the day...still not sure exactly what it was but it was so salty and bitterly lemon that I was not able to finish 3 spoonfuls. I ordered the grilled fish sandwich which was the mahi, and my fiance ordered the lobster salad. We also ordered side potato and lilikoi mimosa cocktails. My sandwich was beautifully presented but tiny, very tiny. Same for the lobster salad. Very disappointing since we both were looking forward to this. I must say that the food had an unusually high level of salt and either lemon or lime as my tartar sauce was bitter and so was my fiance's lobster salad. I could not recommend this restaurant because the ambience just isn't there. Even the dried up garden area, full of various herbs was not especially attractive and no one was out there dining as it offered no cozy or comfortable seating. We actually mentioned to our waitress that the soup was overly salted and bitter, and so was the entrees so she apologized and said she would mention it to the chef. No other comment was offered by anyone else after that and so we left very disappointed even though they seem to pride themselves on "doing the right thing". I would suggest you consider going to another restaurant that actually will offer great food on a consistent basis, have great service and especially have beautiful ambience such as a beautiful sunset ocean view as much of Hawaii restaurants offer.
(1)
Rebecca A.

Have to come to Merrimans anytime we are on the Kohala Coast. The best and freshest food. And beats most of the hotel food around (it's north and a bit east from the hotels). Don't forget to try brunch...pork saimin, yes it is the ultimate in noodles and super tasty broth.
(5)
Alia G.

WONDERFUL! This is a "white table cloth" establishment. Meaning... it's more than nice. Put on your Tommy Bahamas clothes and enjoy a lovely meal. The Service is Top Notch. The Food is Ono. (aka very tasty) The Ambiance is low lit and would seem intimate except the music is kinda loud making everyone talk way too loud. Plus the sound seems to just vibrate all over which is great for an upbeat, fun restaurant but not what I would have expected for a restaurant of this caliber which IMO would be more subdued and upscale serene. (The Food and Service make up for loudness tho.) The Tables are kinda close together. They do a good job at squeezing in as many folks as possible without being "on top" of each other. And they turn the tables fast. They don't rush you to leave, but when you do, they turn the table and reconfigure in like 3 minutes flat complete with new cloth and complete setting and have no folks sitting down immediately. We enjoyed cocktails before dinner, salads, fish of the day (kampachi), wine and dessert and coffee. So... basically.... we "dined". It was great. Everything that came out was fantastic! They start you with FRESH out of the oven bread, butter and Hawaiian sea salt. I could make a meal out of the breath alone. Yum! (Of course, I love bread so there's that.) The cocktails we ordered: Lilikoi Margarita, Ginger martini, Coconut martini and Mai Tai. All were wonderful. Be careful of the Coconut martini... it could easily knock a lightweight on their a**. The salads we ordered: Tomato salads and House green salads. Tomatoes were sweet and came with a drizzle of basil purÃ©e which was absolutely fresh and light but added a nice herb-y ness to the tomatoes. Oh and I love the fried capers on the tomatoes and the anchovy sea salt which was not fishy at all. The green salads were nice and filled with radishes, cucumbers and tomatoes. Super fresh ingredient all around. The dinners: We all ordered the special fish of the day.... Kampachi. YUM. YUM. YUM. It came with large prawn, green beans and mashed potatoes. The fish was absolutely the star of the dish as it should be. The fish was light and even had a touch of sweetness under it even though it was prepared in a lightly blackened style. The dessert: We shared the coconut, pineapple bread pudding. We got one with coconut ice cream and the other with French vanilla ice cream. Personally, I liked the coconut ice cream better. You must like coconut. The vanilla was very good tho too. Not your typical Dryer's ice cream for certain. The coffee: French press style... Old Tree medium roast... ... I didn't have any but everyone else said it was the best coffee they'd had all trip. (We'd been taste testing the coffees of the area.) The wine: They have a really nice wine list and the prices are NOT stupid expensive. We enjoyed a lovely Truchard Chardonnay from Carneros for $46. I didn't see the end bill... but I'd guess it was $120/pp with tax and tip. So, definitely a special dinner out type place.
(4)
Casey A.

It may have been just been my expectations but I felt that it could have been a better lunch. I wanted to give this place a 4 star but it felt like something was missing? Our waitress was good but I guess the food didn't compare to what I was hoping for. This is definitely a gathering place for tourist and the occasional locals from out of town (if that makes any sense?) For now I feel like that I have to come back and experience their dinner menu and atmosphere. Oh and by the way, don't be expecting any generous portions. This is a restaurant of quality and not quantity, which they did deliver.
(3)
Chelsea K.

My husband and I agree that this was in our top 3 best meals we have even had. From beginning to end, the experience could not have been better. Everyone was friendly and helpful and we really enjoyed the ambiance. We each had a caesar salad that was made with fresh butter lettuce and breaded and fried green tomatoes as a crouton replacement. Then I had the monchong (type of fish called pomfret) and hubby had the filet mignon. We both couldn't stop talking about our food. The sauce on my monchong was the best thing I've ever taste, I even got a little more to eat with the broccoli and bread. Even the bread was fantastic, I couldn't tell you why, but I just loved the focaccia bread! I can't recommend this place enough. Perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
(5)
A C.

Merriman's never disappoints!! We loved the Maui location so we knew we had to come here. It was so good we just had to come back a few days later. For dinner, I had the Lamb and Mac nut crusted monchong. Everything was so delicious. The sauces were tasty and the proteins cooked to perfection. My husband had the filet (AMAZING) and the ahi. We ended with the lilikoi mousse. Love the macadamia nut cookies that came with it. I wish they sold it in a box so we could take it home. For lunch, we had the braised pork and fish of the day (mahi mahi) with a side of roasted potatoes. No complains and everything was up to par. Service is friendly, helpful and attentive. This was the best meal of our trip. Worth every penny.
(5)
Neil W.

After a spectacular dinner at Merriman's in Kauai a few years back we had to try the original during our visit to the Big Island and it turned out to be as good as we remembered. Our server, Sara, was lovely and welcoming. She understood our pace and was helpful yet not overbearing and knew to show up at exactly the right times. She helped with our choices of wine by giving us a tasting of two different pinot noirs and had some excellent recommendations (we ended up with the Patz and Hall one). The dining room is relatively small but fills up nicely when all the tables are filled. It was a rainy evening but the atmosphere inside the restaurant was pleasant and homey. People do dress up a little bit which creates a nice ambiance. Then for the food, we had a near perfect dinner and found all the flavor profiles to be spot on. To start off with, the local butter that is served is just divine - airy, light, a tiny bit salty and almost so good that you want to eat it by the spoonful. We started with the pork quesadilla, which was surprisingly light and well balanced. The pork was definitely the star of the dish but it was nicely accompanied by the Maui sweet onion and paired well with the mango chili sauce. Our second appetizer, the Ricotta Cheese Cavatelli Pasta, had the right flavor profile, great hand-made pasta, combined with local mushrooms and asparagus. Unfortunately the dish was a bit too generously seasoned which made it hard to finish the dish - a minor flaw in the overall dinner. Our mains were the lamb and the chicken, both perfectly executed and paired very well with their accompanying sides. All the vegetables are locally sourced and come in simple preparations and were all delicious - a great example of how local and farm-fresh ingredients can lead to fantastic dishes without overly complicated preparations. All-in-all our most enjoyable meal of the trip and the better of several higher end restaurants we tried. Not to miss on your trip to Hawaii.
(5)
Wendy S.

This was the best, but most expensive meal of the trip, but well worth it. The food was excellent and the service was on point. After having so much seafood, we decided on steak (local beef) at this restaurant and we were so glad we did. I like my steak pink in middle and asked the waitress the thickness of the filet mignon so we can get it perfectly pink and she said you will want medium. Although it took a while to get our entree after the appetizer it was well worth the wait! It was cooked perfectly and one of the best steaks we've eaten. There was complimentary bread, straight out of the oven. Our waitress suggested the Kauai shrimp for the appetizer which didn't disappoint. Our dessert was the bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream was a nice way to cap the meal! I would definitely recommend Merriman for a nice evening out! Don't forget to make reservations on Open Table!
(5)
Jackie M.

Recommend reservation! The dining room is very cozy and you dont feel like you are in Hawaii. Looove the extensive combination that the menu has to offer. You can get lamb, seafood, and meat all in the same plate! Portion was generous. Unfortunately, i was too tired from a long day of hike and wish I had more energy to enjoy this great meal. The lamb entree was really good. Dessert was delicious and creative. NOTE - it gets really cold (60s in winter) at night because the Waimea area is at a higher elevation.
(4)
Lauren W.

The best culinary experience on the Big Island. Our server was one of the most refined, attentive, and pleasant servers we have had. We ate mongchong and the grass-fed filet. My favorite Kona coffee of our trip... French-pressed. Local, delicious, wonderful experience.
(5)
Becca W.

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to Merimans! This place is absolutely delicious and worth every penny. Stopped here for lunch as we passed through on recommendation from a friend who ate here on his visit to the Big Island two weeks before us. He had said he loved this place so much that he made the drive back to eat here again and we saw why! Fantastic!
(5)
Lisa B.

Amazing food. Friendly service. Reasonable prices. We journeyed up the hill from our resort for my husband's birthday, and the trip was more than worth it. Every dish, including the pupus, represented a balance of color, texture, and local flavor. The goat cheese was phenomenal, as was the seasonal fish, seasoned in the best mushroom reduction sauce I've ever tasted. To top it off, rather than bringing us some crappy cake like most places, Merriman's bought us our choice of dessert from their menu in honor of the birthday. Don't miss out on the chocolate purse! It's not cheap, but you get better food at better prices than the overhyped resort restaurants. Make a reservation now! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Tiffany T.

Came here because I really want to try their famous chocolate purse dessert and it was indeed one of the best desserts I have ever had! The chocolate outside is crispy dark chocolate, once you break open the outside the chocolate inside gushed out like lava! The sweetness is just right. Warm, rich and creamy! Eat with vanilla bean ice cream is the perfect balance dessert! Now going backwards, my main dish was a special of the night, opah and prawns, pickled veggie. It taste good with a hint of spice but the fish was like warm when it came to my table and the fish was a little tough. They offer a combo meal where u can have two 1/2 order of entrees, so hubby ordered filet mug on and monk fish. His dish was delish and hot! Our server Emiko was awesome, she's super nice and always smile, make us feel welcomed and comfortable. Overall great experience and would definitely go back just for the dessert!!
(4)
H H.

Go every time on big island. First time for lunch. Had a ground ahi burger. It was amazing and full of flavors. Yukon fries over the top and perfectly cooked. Pineapple iced tea is a nice twist. Press coffee aroma and taste was perfect.
(5)
Danny C.

Outstanding! You will not be disappointed!!
(5)
Justin C.

Best restaurant on the island hands down. Pork Saipan, Fish Tacos and Smashed Yukon Goods were amazing
(5)
Amelia S.

Came for lunch and really enjoyed the "mobeeto" mocktail. The avocado and tomato salad was very good, and I enjoyed the pork saimin - really nice flavors and al dente noodles. The dining room is nice without being too fussy, and the service was friendly and prompt. I'm glad we came for lunch, since it's more affordable than dinner. It was nice to experience this Waimea institution.
(4)
Doris D.

It was a very good meal! I thought it was definitely worth trying at least once. We started with Schwenker Roasted Local Beef Raviolo with Peach Farms Pumpkin Pasta, Hawaii Island Goat Chevre ($16). A lovely dish with nice flavors. My husband had the daily special of ono, prawns, sweet potato puree, and dashi broth. The seafood was well-executed and the broth was extremely delicious. My dish was Hawaii's Low Line Cattle Company Local Beef with Whipped potatoes, sautÃ©ed sweet corn, grilled Waimea asparagus, red wine- roasted shallot sauce ($46). It was really good, executed to medium rare just like I requested. The potatoes and asparagus puree were awesome. Each element was well-seasoned but not overly salted when put together. We had the famed dessert of Crispy Molten "Original Hawaiian Chocolate" Purse with Red Alae Hawaiian Salted Caramel SauceVanilla Bean Ice Cream ($12). The "purse" name is pretty cheesey. It's actually a molten chocolate cake wrapped in phyllo dough, which crisped up in the oven. Kind of a nice technique. Coupled with a strong cup of Kona coffee, this dessert was a perfect ending to our day.
(4)
Quinn M.

What a fantastic restaurant! Every time, great service, exceptional food, and I feel good about dining here supporting my local farmers, friends, and ohana. Truly a great place for lunch, fresh fresh fresh, yum yum yum! If you usually like what's in the dish you'll love what Chef Eric does with them.
(5)
Ann T.

Our whole meal from beginning to end was fantastic. We are staying on the Kona coast, and it was definitely worth the 30 minute drive. Our meal was hands down the best meal we have had the entire week of our stay here. Our waiter Jared was so nice and all around awesome, so friendly and attentive. The ambience was perfect too, not too loud so that we could easily hold a conversation. The food was simply amazing though. You can tell the staff and management care, eating there felt very homey yet it was still very nice.
(5)
Trishia P.

Really wanted to eat here after seeing Chef Peter Merriman on Top Chef years ago. With its reputation and price point I was expecting a five star experience. Let me explain. Maybe my expectations were a little high but I just felt like the Merriman's dining experience was lack lustre. First off, the interior is a dated looking 80's hotel look. Secondly, my server was pretty boring. Service wasn't horrible but it wasn't over the top amazing either. When I eat at a fine dining restaurant I expect amuse bouches or petit fours. I expect more than one basket of bread, I expect an explanation of where the food is purchased/locally sourced. I expect an explaination of the food, period. I did not get that from Merriman's no matter how much I probed my server. Don't worry, I already mentioned that on my bill survey. However, the food was delicious. I can't speak ill of the food. I ordered the pork chop which came with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes topped with au jus flavored with red peppers and onions. The pork chop and potatoes were really good. The pork chop was tender and melted in my mouth. It was a pretty good sized meal. Not cheesecake factory large but not too small that your man would be disappointed. My husband ordered the protein sampler: came with three of their top proteins in a mini size: ahi tuna, petite sirloin and the ono. I believe my husband liked all of it but we both felt that the ono was the best out of the three. I still preferred my pork chop overall. We also had the chocolate purse for dessert. It's a little puff pastry stuffed with chocolate cake with a side of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce with Hawaiian sea salt. Very rich, but the caramel sauce with the Hawaiian sea salt cut the flavor a bit. Merriman's prides itself by obtaining their food from the local farmers and being one of the original restaurants to do so. However, with the less than stellar service I feel like I can have local food with tons more aloha from elsewhere on the island for half the cost.
(3)
Heidi B.

Delicious local Hawaiian fare! Coconut, pineapple, macadamia nut bread pudding with rum sauce was fantastic! Everyone loved their meals & lots of sharing! Can't decide on appetizers or entrees get the duos & trios plus entrees come in full & half order if you want salad & smaller entree so there is plenty of room for dessert! :)
(5)
R.E. A.

Make the drive for dinner or lunch and you won't regret it! We drove for dinner while staying at Mauna Lani. Our kids were tired and antsy so we appreciated the fast service. The servers were understanding and accommodated our family. It's considered high-end dining but you can still wear casual clothes. We were dressed in sundress, sandals, shorts, and polo. Food is amazing. I had the duo because I couldn't decide on the fish. Husband had the steak and the portion was huge. Fresh food with great flavors. Farm to table at its finest.
(5)
Kevin H.

I ordered the 8oz filet. I am still eating it as I write this review. My mouth using its happy place and I am humming with pleasure. Excellent. Great service.
(5)
Lenny B.

Haven't been here since I lived here in the mid 90s andwas not disappointed. Service was excellent, our waiter Ben was exceptional! I had the Colorado lamb chops and it was cooked perfect. My friends had seafood and one of them had the combo of any two entree. We had a bottle of red Poliziano, Rosso Di Montepulciano, D.O.C. (Tuscany, Italy). This is the closest I'll get to Italy for now lol. For desserts Crispy Molten "Original Hawaiian Chocolate" Purse, Caramelized Coconut Creme BrÃ»lÃ©e and Maui Gold Pineapple and Toasted MacNut Bread Pudding. YUMMY!! Next time I'm in town, definitely be back :-)
(5)
Vin S.

I'm not sure what has happened to Merriman's, but I have a theory. ---------------------------- The food was basically lousy, and we were super disappointed with our dinner. I had a dry and flavorless pork chop (did they forget the seasonings?) and my companion had the fattiest lamb chops I've ever seen. I swear, it was 75% fat and only 25% actual meat. The service was spotty, perhaps because the place was packed, and our waiter was friendly but seem to be pushing the expensive wines a little bit too hard. Merriman's has an extensive wine list, much larger then their list of meal choices. ----------------------------- Many, many fine dining establishments deteriorate quickly after the executive chef establishes a reputation and then moves on to expand to other locations. I believe this has recently happened Merriman's. The restaurant appears to be resting on its laurels, and if you want a romantic high-end meal in Hawaii, go elsewhere.
(1)
Tad N.

While Honeymooning on the big island we happened to see this place in the small town of Wimea. We had been to the Meriman's in Kauai and enjoyed it so we decided to stop here for dinner. Everything about the experience was wonderful. It truly is a 5 star restaurant in the middle of a tiny town. Excellent service from our waiter (Ben), delicious food, great martini and nice ambiance. Highly recommended if you are in the mood for a fancier place on the big island to be pampered and eat a scrumptious meal with very tasty locally grown foods.
(5)
Ryan H.

The service was impressive, my cousin didnt like the taste of his beer and they immediately swapped it out at no charge. Food was extremely fresh. I had the duo course which they gave half portions of two entrees. The filet, and the ahi.....was awesome. You have to make resrvations, or you will be sorry.
(5)
Sona P.

Lunch is the time to go with entrees in the $14-$17 range! As a mainlander, the prices in Hawaii were a bit hard to swallow. Merriman's gave us the opportunity to enjoy a gourmet meal at reasonable prices, and with normal (i.e. not typical "American") portion sizes. I shared the ahi poke bowl, fish tacos, and coconut creme brulee (must order this!)
(4)
Mel J.

Merriman's is overpriced and overrated! My husband and I paid about $125 plus a 20% tip for the most disappointing dinners we've had in our 2 trips to the Big island! My Lamb was $41 for 2 small lamb chops which were so fatty that I didn't get much meat, and a tablespoon of braised lamb shoulder. My dinner also came with a Kale-like veggie which was tough and bitter and inedible, and another veggie which tasted like very tart tomatoes. My husband ordered the pork dinner for $40, and his pork tasted ok, but was overpriced, and didn't taste special. We shared the Hirabara Salad which was ok but small and unremarkable and not big enough to share. It was $11 plus $2 for adding Goat cheese. The hamakua mushrooms for $8 were pretty good. For dessert we ordered the Phyllo crispy molten chocolate lava with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce, which I think is also called the chocolate purse. The phyllo was burnt black and tasted like ash, so we tried to eat the chocolate filling and the vanilla ice cream. The salted caramel sauce was good. The server was kind enough to remove this item from the bill as $12 is a lot to pay for a burnt dessert. We also received a complimentary dessert with strawberries, chocolate, and a small cookie since we were celebrating our anniversary. This dinner was on the day of our actual anniversary. But the experience was so disappointing that we have decided to have a do-over anniversary dinner someplace else, although it won't be the same, as the date of our actual anniversary has now past. )-; We could see some young cooks in the kitchen since it's an open kitchen, and we are wondering if Merriman's is training a new kitchen staff. I wouldn't recommend Merriman's to anyone, based on our experience.
(2)
Jared P.

Went here for my mothers 70th birthday celebration. A fantastic and special place. Get Dylan as a waiter, he is absolutely phenomenal. A genuine personality who loves his job and shines. The food was amazing. JalapeÃ±o mashed potatoes were incredible. Steaks and fish are great, extremely fresh. The chocolates purse is a must. You will not be disappointed with this absolute culinary gem of the big island!
(5)
Eric Robert R.

Merriman's... One of the true pioneers of the farm fresh to table restaurants. A review that's been in my draft for well over a year. Why? I wanted to revisit Lovely Merriman's one more time prior to my review, but since I'm cleaning up my Yelp... It's due now! A Big Island gem for over 2 decades, Merriman's-Kamuela is Chef Peter Merriman's flagship & original restaurant, located in beautiful upcountry Waimea- Home of the legendary Parker Ranch & the Paniolo! Merriman's has been praised by both The NY Times and The LA Times for their 90% locally sourced menu and creative preparations, Merriman's-Kamuela has been named "Best Big Island Restaurant" by Honolulu Magazine for over a decade and honored by Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for many years. Sometimes restaurants with a ton of accolades fall short, but not at Merriman's- it hits a HOMERUN! Merriman's-Kamuela is the Home of the ORIGINAL Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Where it all began... I'm a purist at heart, so I'm one to always favor the OG! From original restaurants to original movies to original band members. Merriman's is a good example of the best is the ORIGINAL! OG! Don't get me wrong, the other Merriman's located in Kapalua and the Merriman's offsprings... Merriman's Fish House, Mediterranean CafÃ©, Merriman's Gourmet Pizza & Burgers, Moneypod Kitchen are all fine and delicious, but something about the original that just can't be beat, plus it helps that Merriman's-Kamuela is WORLD-CLASS! I've been to Merriman's-Kamuela several times. It is truly a special place if you enjoy fine foods and the best of the best! The fame of Merriman's has grown worldwide, and because the name Merriman's is associated with top quality- the restaurant gets booked up fast. It is wise, very wise, to make reservations for dinner. I would even suggest doing so for lunch too, but lunchtime it seems less busy and typically you can get squeezed in no matter the day (although high-noon might be a reach). Personally, I prefer the lunches here at Merriman's- I mean it's easier on the man-purse, tastes just as good as dinner and it's just overall a more relaxed vibe for me. I've done both dinner and lunch here. Dinner-wise it's more a romantic tone. I've had the following entrÃ©es: ****Half-Pound Hamburger: Grass-Fed Big Island Beef, Herb Roasted Potatoes. Added- Cheese, SautÃ©ed Mushrooms. Just an incredible burger... Juicy, Flavorful and so incredibly fresh! A Bargain! Approx Cost: $14 (lunch). ***Blackened Shrimp Ala Plancha & Asparagus: Garlic-Macadamia Nut Rice, BBQ Sauce, Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette, Tomato. Very delicious and light, but every bite you have that satisfaction of top quality! Approx Cost: $13 (lunch). ***Kahua Ranch Lamb: Organic and local raised. Chef preps it per your request. I personally loved it. Since no one eats lamb daily... I chose this dish. The only other place I had lamb in Hawai'i was at Mariposa in Honolulu. The Mariposa dish was about $10 less, but just as good, so I have to say it was delicious, but value-wise? Approx Cost: $40+ (dinner). ***Sauteed Mahi Mahi: Fresh-catch Mahi with Ponzu, kimchee cucumbers, Kahuku sea asparagus, toasted broccoli rice cake, local beet-citrus ponzu vinaigrette. Delicious on all points! Approx Cost: $40+ (dinner). ***Merriman's Mixed Plate: A taste of signature dishes, Merriman's wok-charred ahi, ponzu marinated mahi mahi, local filet mignon of beef. This was by far the best deal for dinner. A little-bit of everything. Like a high-end local plate lunch! Of course, the difference is the organic filet mignon and mahi! This dish can be shared and a side or two might be a nice addition. Best Bang! Approx Cost: $50 (dinner). Merriman's is well known for the top quality wine, but since I'm rarely here I usually choose the fancy: ***The Mai Tai: Fresh Govinda's pineapple and lilikoi/orange juices, Bacardi Light and Whaler's Dark rums. Yum! Cost: $11. ***Lilikoi Margarita: Tropical Dreams passion fruit sorbet, tequila, li hing mui rim. Very delish! Cost: $10. ***Harens "Old Tree Estate", Kona Coffee: Medium (or Dark). Finest Peaberry included. If I'm the driver. Cost: $10 (serves two). If you prefer the wine & dine lifestyle, you can always go with the Chateau Haut-Brion, Graves at $1,000 a bottle, but don't get discouraged from ordering "fine grapes" if that sounds steep, because you could go with a Red like Monte Volpe, "Primo Rosso" at about $9 a glass. Wine tasting available and the vast selection would make any wine connoisseur or noob smile. And for Dessert? *** "Original Hawaiian Chocolate" Crispy Molten Purse: Red Alae Hawaiian Salted Caramel Sauce, Local Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Quinta do Vesuvio, Vintage Porto. My favorite *drools* Cost: $12 Merriman's also offers a brunch menu that I have yet to try! I've heard it's incredible! I need to straddle my horse and head back to Waimea! Anyone want to join me? LIVE ALOHA... YELP REVIEW #290
(5)
Byron S.

Best fish I have ever had, anywhere period. Lamb was good, but oooh the fish was amazing. Get a fish dish!
(5)
Rob J.

Had dinner here last night. The chef had some great choices on the menu but similar to our last trip there were some hits and some misses. The wife had the charred Ahi. If you're a fan of tuna, Merrimans definitely is the place to have it. The preparation is just perfect. Cooked / charred on the outside, and fresh, raw and flavorful on the inside. I had the fish special, which was poached Ono served with a hot miso broth. The mushrooms with the broth was great. Also in the bowl was a wild rice that had been over cooked and really detracted from the fish. The flavor of the rice was great but since it was extremely hard, was pretty much inedible. My daughter had the lobster and ono ceviche. She greatly enjoyed the dish. The only thing that I missed from the old Merrimans days are the vegetable sides that were phenomenal and really distinguished Merrimans from other places.
(4)
Jameson S.

Came for lunch and can't deny this spot their 5 stars. From service to the meal, everything was great. Shared a Caesar salad which wasn't our style (slight anchovie flavor with a more vinaigrette style dressing) but still tasty. Local pale ale was nice and Mai Tai was delicious. Second one was a lot stronger than the first. Short ribs were wonderful. The flavors on the plate paired to make a perfect balance. The chicken BLT was amazing. All the ingredients were perfectly proportioned amongst the dish and the flavors meshed so well. A little difficult to eat for a sandwich but with a knife and fork it worked out well. Overall this place lives up to the reputation and we definitely recommend.
(5)
Jeff C.

Fantastic dining experience. Ambiance, service and food were all first rate. Best meal that we had during our visit to Hawaii. I only wish that we had gone there earlier in our trip so that we could have visited more times!
(5)
John M.

The food was good but small portions. Service was fair and our server had to be reminded of our drink order. The prices are on the high side. Overall a good restaurant for some different food.
(4)
Carey C.

The service is excellent. Everyone was genuine and positive. Fe, our server was knowledgeable about the menu and specials. The food is fantastic. Tasty and well prepared. I had the Mahi Mahi and it was moist. Husband had the lamb and he said it was perfect.
(5)
SB S.

Please just go. Farm to table. Real. Delicious. fresh. Not at all pretentious although it's so good I wouldn't care if they were snobby. Start to finish lick your fork good. Tons of interesting and unique flavors. Go to celebrate something. We head to Maui tomorrow and can't wait to try their restaurant there.
(5)
Mike D.

We dined over the years at the Merriman's at the Kings shopping center in Waiakola. How bummed we were to arrive this week and see it was closed. Then we found the original and are glad we did. The food was exceptional and the service matched it. I highly recommend the chocolate purse for desert. A great dining experience we will enjoy every time we visit the Big Island. M&P from Southern Cal.
(5)
Terel B.

Get the molten chocolate dessert with house made caramel and vanilla gelato. Whoa! Both the Mahi Mahi dish and the bourbon brined kurobota pork chop were delicious. The pork came out a little under, but they happily took it back and brought it out re-plated with fresh sides. Nice touch. The strawberry, green bean, toasted mac nut salad and kahlua pork quesadilla were excellent starters. Would definitely come again. Surprisingly high end cuisine for such a small town.
(4)
Brianna K.

We've only been to the Waimea restaurant twice for dinner and each experience has been absolutely fantastic! The food is delicious without being too heavy, the service is quick (which is a huge bonus since we decided to take our kids the second time), and the menu has a good variety without it being overwhelming. We wish we could afford to go more often. Someone pointed out that lunch is less pricey so we may try that next. Also, sign up for their birthday club! The coupon you receive is beyond generous.
(4)
Ethan L.

This is easily one of the most amazing meals I've had. Keep in mind, that while just about everything on the island is pretty expensive, the plates here for the entrees can get up in the high range (40-60 for some items). However, it is totally worth it. Wonderfully attentive and congenial service. Situated high up in the mountains, driving up and pulling out of the rain at a balmy 62 degrees, this was a nice warm entrance. Big ceiling of what looks like a converted barn, servers in ka kui nut leis, who can recite everything on the menu backwards and forwards from memory. So many of the items made with local ingredients, which believe me on this island are really a treat and something special. Get the simple Hirabara farm salad and GET GOAT CHEESE on it. It is some of the creamiest melt in the mouth goat cheese I have ever eaten. Never mind the fresh greens and those tomatoes. Oh those bursting tomatoes, why can't I grow these where I live? Another item that blew my brain was a Fijian specialty like ceviche (I can't remember its name). Seasoned fish with lime, coconut, some other very obscure and almost from description clashing sounding ingredient I can't remember. Yet one bite of this thing and it was the most palate exploding savory unique ceviche I ever had. In fact probably one of the most incredible tasting items I have ever eaten PERIOD. Every friends fish bite was perfect (such as the Ahi and Ono) that I tried, it's really hard it seemed to find places that didn't know how to prepare fish here they just do it perfectly, but I went for simple lamb since it was from a ranch not far away. You haven't had lamb like this before. No you haven't (unless you came here and ate it, or got it from here). It is unlike any lamb I have ever had in my life. Even different from the local grass fed lamb I get from my local farmer, this lamb tastes unlike anything I have ever experienced. It has this exquisite earthy but not gamey aroma, fantastic texture, and is probably some of the best lamb I have ever eaten. I take that back, it is the best lamb I have ever had. And I have eaten a LOT of lamb in my life. I don't know if they feed them pixie dust, or if the chef dips them in unicorn blood or something, but I couldn't get enough of it. At this price point, wine cocktails beer are all represented as expected. Diverse, plentiful, and full of options. Many of the cocktails contain impressive ingredients, and are presented and created with thought and care. If you want a treat while on the island this is the place to go.
(5)
Chris R.

By far the best meal we had on our trip, and one of the best I've had anywhere. The service was exceptional, the food world-class, and the atmosphere so relaxing we didn't want to leave. Merriman's really is something special. If you're nearby, don't miss it!
(5)
Natalia B.

From the outside, looks like nothing special, but inside, you'll find a very pleasant dining room, and one of the best farm-to-table meals anywhere in Hawaii, and comparable to our neighborhood restaurant, Chez Panisse in Berkeley. There is an attention to farm fresh, local ingredients, focus on flavor and not fuss. Come here for lunch to beat the dinner crowds (and higher costs). I had the fish tacos which were amazing - beginning with the light, melt in your mouth tortilla holding the fresh, delicious fishies. My sister had the kalua pig, which was the juiciest, tenderest version of this local dish imaginable. Do not miss Merriman's - make a trip up from your Waikoloa/Kohala hotels, or stop here on your way to or from the Hilo side. You must!
(5)
Debbie R.

I don't know what I expected, but I had some high ones. I found the food to be mediocre. However, I'm giving a higher rating due to the helpful, cooperative and friendly staff at this place. We had a huge group (20) and multiple groupons (6). The manager set us up at 2 tables of 10 and allowed us to use 3 groupons at each table. The wait staff was attentive and efficient (almost too efficient - one waiter swooped in and laid down new forks, and another came right behind and scooped them up LOL) The atmosphere is "fine dining" and a little pretentious. One would expect this at one of Peter Merriman's restaurants. The food was disappointing. Several of us ordered Low Line Cattle Company Local Beef - Butchers Cut. The portion was good, however, I was told by all who ordered this that it was "bland" "nothing special" or "I've had better" . . . My husband and I ordered the 3 course dinner for $67 which was prawns and crusted fish. The appetizer was a lamb empanada. THAT was delicious. I could have just eaten several of those! The meal itself was bland. The fish was dry and kind of hard. The prawns were decent, edible, but again, nothing special. For dessert, the chocolate purse is DA BOMB. Ok, so they redeemed themselves on this one. Others in our party ordered salads, beets, appetizers and seemed to be fairly happy with those. So here's MY humble recommendation: stick to appetizers and desserts. . . and save your money. Seems the entrees leave much to be desired.
(3)
Libbie A.

This was by far the best meal we've had in a long time. If you are in the Kona area I really recommend Merrimans. Farm to table fresh and amazing!
(5)
Dotti O.

Absolutely the best meal on the island, maybe the best meal anywhere. Excellent service, friendly waitstaff, nice garden setting and great food. Don't even think that just because it is so well known that it will just be expensive and mediocre because it gots it's reputation purely with high quality food and is well worth the price.
(5)
M.L. W.

Is there a rating higher than 5 stars? Service, impeccable. Food pairings, amazing and spot on. Our party even ordered dinner! When we had a question on wine to pair with both Monchong and the special, the chef came to our table with amazing recommendations. He was with us 4-5 minutes. We are SO glad we already have reservations for two nights from now!! We came straight from the Mauna Kea observatory, a little self conscious on how were were
(5)
e c.

Go here. Just do it. Well, only if you like locally sourced, fresh ingredients crafted into elegant but comforting dishes without pretension. We couldn't make up our mind since everything sounded amazing, so we had the duo (which is two half portions of two entrees) and loved all four dishes. The accompanying sides were as thoughtfully prepared and delicious as the entrees themselves. Service is also fantastic - well paced and the perfect balance between attentive and leaving us to dine at our leisure; our server Sara was particularly helpful and welcoming.
(5)
James C.

Had a very memorable meal here on December 17, 2014 - excellent food that was fresh and 90 percent from the big island and the most attentive service imaginable. Also very friendly all around. I had the grass fed local filet mignon and it was probably the best meat I have ever had. I ordered it rare and it came quite rare which many restarants fail to do. My wife had a locally caught deep water fish that was also very good ("mon..."). We were dehydrated from an active day and the assistant server kept our water constantly replentished. Even the bread with a flavored butter and salt was excellent. We were underdressed but the staff was friendly about it and provided my wife a shawl to counter the air conditioning and cover up. Waimea is an attractive real working town (near Parker Ranch) so it is a nice dose of authenticity after the cloistered artificial feel of the coastal resorts. You will love this restaurant!
(5)
Ryan H.

Very nice experience. They have a great wine list. We had a green bean salad that was phenomenal. The mongchong dish was also memorable. Service is great. The only issues we experienced was that the prawns in my finance's dish were way overcooked. It's a little expensive, but generally worth it.
(4)
Jace P.

If you're looking for fine dining on the big island, I can't recommend this place enough. I'm lucky enough to have gone to a few "fine dining" places for someone relatively young (30), and this is one of my favorites. Often times I wish places would dial down the "Haute" factor just a little and serve me a nice dinner instead of a food science experiment, and this place does just that. It's very nice, but it's also just a little more like a restaurant than a "culinary experience," and I really appreciate that. I walked away not only feeling like I had been to someplace special and expensive, but also that I had a really good meal, and that I was really full. Also, the chairs are really comfortable. My girlfriend and I had the crusted goat cheese appetizer, the arugula and beet salad, we both had the filet mignon and macadamia nut crusted monchong (see next paragraph), the chocolate mousse purse, and the coconut creme brulee. We also had a toast of prosecco, a Botanist martini, a mai tai, a glass of the Primo Rosso red blend, and a french press of the Hawaiian Cloud Forest coffee. Everything was outstanding from start to finish, but the stand-outs for me were the crusted goat cheese and the monchong. The goat cheese was warm and melty with a wonderful, golden brown crust on the outside, and when combined with the strawberry compote, made an amazing appetizer. The monchong came with a buttery mushroom sauce and this amazing black rice that was earthy and velvety in flavor, probably the best rice I've ever had. The coffee was also really good, and this is coming from a coffee snob from San Francisco. The 1/2+1/2 entree thing is a really great idea; they allow you to get a smaller portion of two entrees mixed together, for a small upcharge on the price of a single entree. Great when you're stuck between beef and seafood, as we both were. It was really nice to be able to "make" a surf and turf style dinner like that. Service was outstanding; we mentioned in our reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary, and they gave us a prosecco toast on the house. Nice little touches like that. Prices were honestly pretty damn reasonable for the quality of food and service you're getting.
(5)
Lacey H.

We celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary dinner at Merriman's, and they exceeded our expectations. We couldn't have picked a more romantic and delicious place. Here's the breakdown: Appetizers: 1) We shared the Hand Made Ricotta Cheese Cavatelli Pasta. It was inventive, creative and very flavorful. The soft, homemade pasta paired with the crispy asparagus and pesto worked very well together. Had it been a little bit larger, I could have definitely chosen this as my main entree. 2) Peter's Original Caesar Salad: Blah. Skip it. The dressing is non existent, and lacks flavor and depth. My Entree: Fresh Catch of grilled snapper, prawns over purple potatoes, baby carrots and bok choy. Drizzled over the entire dish was a warm vinaigrette broth. It was hands down, the best thing I ever ate. Everything was cooked to perfection, and the broth was a genius way of bringing all the different flavors together. The Husband's Entree: Filet Mignon over Grilled corn, asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. Dessert: Little did I know, but my folks called ahead to surprise us with a gift card and unique dessert that said "Happy Anniversary" in Hawaiian. Unfortunately, the staff that manage the phones at Merriman's aren't very organized, and they lost the gift card and forgot about our dessert. My parents had to call three times, and finally asked to wait on the phone while they searched for the gift card (which was hidden in the back, for some reason). I'm not letting this effect their star rating, because I had no idea this was happening at the time - but my folks were pissed. Had we been given the gift card earlier on in the meal, for example, we would have definitely ordered more wine - but we didn't, so we didn't. Oh well. The surprise dessert was beautiful and yummy, and we received a little box of their special lemongrass and macadamia nut cookies as a present on our way out :) This place is worth the drive! We were saying in south Kona, and the drive took an hour each way - this is the only restaurant I would drive that far for on the Big Island.
(5)
Tracy W.

Amazing food with excellent service. Lovely wine list - even for snobby Californians :)
(5)
Dinsmore T.

One of the best dinners we have had on the Big Island! Delicious! And our waitress was on point from start to finish!!! By the way definitely try the macadamia nut crusted monchong!!!!!!!!
(5)
Melissa G.

The best service and best food we had on the Big Island. Our waitress was so sweet and helpful. I got the duo plate with macademia crusted ono (3 star-kind of dry) but def. the best I have had compared to any other restaurants I ordered this from in Hawaii. I also had the filet mignon (grass fed beef). It was just ok (3 stars). I enjoyed the side order of Hamakua mushrooms, basil butter corn, and macademia nut fried rice. I loved the bread and sea salt and butter to start with. My hubby's meal was much better. He got the Duo plate with the lamb chops (excellent lamb! 5 stars), lamb meatloaf (kinda weird but still good), ahi sashimi, and whipped Molokai purple sweet potatoes with coconut (yum!). Too full for dessert, they gave us a few cookies to go. :)
(4)
Jialing W.

I read a lot of Chowhound reviews before our recent pre-Christmas trip to the Big Island and Merriman's was consistently listed as one of the must try restaurants, so I decided to make the original Merriman's location our first nice dinner during our trip. Now that we're back home and I'm reflecting on our meals, I can definitively say this was my favorite meal. We made a reservation and I noted that we were celebrating my parents' birthdays. When we arrived for our reservation the host was super friendly and chatted with my parents, and even joked with my mom that she certainly couldn't be 60! This put us in a good mood and definitely reflected the type of warm, friendly service that they provide. It goes well with the relaxed yet refined vibe of the restaurant. We brought two bottles to drink with our meal, and they were brought to the bar, chilled, and opened for us. We are used to corkage policies and I think their $20 policy is very reasonable for this price point of a restaurant (there are no limits to how many bottles or what bottles you can bring which is good for big drinkers or larger parties). I was very impressed by the quality of ingredients at Merriman's and was happy that they created very well balanced, non-fussy dishes that really let the fresh, locally sourced ingredients shine through. While we all had really good fish entrees, my favorite dish was actually a side of sauteed local mushrooms. The flavor of the mushrooms was just so rich with umami! I wished that I could have had a steak with mashed potatoes on a bed of those mushrooms. My husband also loved the simple salad with local lettuces, which was so so fresh. For dessert, our favorite was a lillikoi (passionfruirt) mousse that they gifted us for our little birthday celebration. This was a wonderful memorable meal that made for a great start to our trip. We will definitely be back the next time we are on the Big Island.
(4)
Paul F.

awesome. great food, incredibly strange waiter, who was very good. wonderful desserts. 30 minutes from waikoloa.
(5)
William H.

Great lunch spot get there early 1130 fills up early it's pricy but well worth every penny all fresh meats and fish, greens all fresh.
(5)
Kalani C.

We had an amazing experience. Have been here a few times over the past decade and finally getting around to writing a well deserved review. This is where it all started for Peter Merriman, so it was a pleasure to discover that after all these years, it remains thriving and intact. We started with the Nakano Farm Rapsodie Tomato or Fried capers, Maytag blue cheese aioli, basil puree & anchovy salt. If you like tomatoes, primarily succulent Kamuela tomatoes, this dish will wow you! Just wish we had more blue cheese...never enough. All menu items looked amazing, so I splurged and got their Duo plate or two half portion entrees. I decided on the special fish of the night or 'ono with local prawns and lobster. A virtual surf and turf. Man, talk about broke da mouth! This dish was more like broke da face! So extremely delicious and enjoyable from start to finish. My partner had the Duo as well with lobster but with lamb. The lamb shanks were just superior and perfect all around. Unfortunately, we didn't have the time for dessert. Yes, shame on us. I'm sure we would have been impressed. What a privilege to have dined here and to discover that Merriman's hasn't lost one iota of its A-game and so deserving of its accolades as being Home of Hawai'i Regional Cuisine. Not to be missed!
(5)
Matthias J.

Service - outstanding. Food - great. Atmosphere - a little outdated, but still classy. Could be updated, maybe more in colonial style. We had macadamia-crusted fish with a terrific mushroom sauce and forbidden rice. This dish was excellent. The other dish we tried, local hog loin, was okay - they could have added a little more taste or zing to it. Interestingly, this is one of the few restaurants that offered senior dishes for a little less $. They would use a smaller fish or meat piece for those. Try the coconut creme brulet for dessert!
(5)
Robert H.

Three of us had lunch here on June 3. We arrived a few minutes before our reservation and we were seated promptly. We dine here, usually for lunch, about 6-8 times a year. We have never been disappointed. Throughout the meal the service was spot on, as is nearly always the case here. The three of us shared a splendid salad of fresh local greens and vine ripened tomatoes. We each had a separate entree for lunch. Each item was beautifully presented and well received. We firmly believe this is one of the two or three best restaurants on the Big Island.
(5)
AJ S.

Great seafood and interesting dishes. This is a classic Hawaiian restaurant with a twist. Loved it all the atmosphere, the food and the service.
(5)
Bick T.

Phenomenal. Best restaurant we went to on the big island.
(5)
Joel G.

So this place is my favorite restaurant on the island. If I put it in Chicago it may be a 3 star but to far off. On the big island it knocks it out of the park compared to any other place I hit. The exception may be a place in the 4 Seasons but the prices do not compare and frankly I believe the food here is actually better. Great creative menu that changes up with special nightly. Absolutely make a reservation as there is no bar to wait at. The resturaunt itself seems a little 90's to me but not terrible. The wait staff and the food are rock solid. We had kona crab tortaleni that were fantastic. They will let you create a combo meal chosing two dishes which was great to let me try the different fish options. My wife had the bone in steak which was great quality. I think a little heavy on pepper as I would have enjoyed it with less but very good. Like to see a kona coffee dusted option. Deserts and cocktails were also well executed. The chocolate bag was very good and I would suggest it. Overall a great experience. We purchased a gift card for our friend to try it out as they have a home on the island. Expect to go about $200 for two with drinks but not a full bottle of wine. Wine selection is average but covers a broad selection.
(4)
Judson R.

Hands down the best restaurant on the Big Island. My wife and I thoroughly enjoy a good meal and this experience was one of the best meals of our lives. Trust the wait staff. They made some wonderful recommendations and we left very fat and happy!
(5)
Jeff A.

We had dinner there on our second night of the trip. Food was just amazing and the wine that was recommended by our server was perfect. Can't say enough positive things about this place - highly highly recommend.
(5)
M D.

After a week of average resort food I was ready for a decent meal. Only partially delivered here. Beautiful relaxed setting, fantastic service, extensive wine list, etc. the steak was delicious, the rest... fine, just not as good. I had heard a lot about it, just wanted it to be as good as I had heard - and as good as the prices suggested.
(3)
Nicki H.

Honestly some of the best food I have ever had! Service hands down is fantastic! Dylan is so fun and knows the menu to the T. Excellent. Though it is pricy, you get everything you pay for. The cream of mushroom soup is to die for! I even ordered 2 bowls to take home!! Though this was just a visit to the big island, we will definitely be back for our next visit! No complaints. Just fantastic! :D
(5)
Jennifer H.

Delicious Lobster and Lamb. We really liked the area where the restaurant is, it felt like a local spot. Really good stuff. Great drinks, alittle too strong for me (haha). Would deifnitely go again when on the Big Island
(5)
Eric J.

This was one of the best meals I have ever had. I couldn't decide so I ordered the 2 entree special (1/2 of two entrees). I got the Monchong and Filet. Both were fantastic. The fish was a perfect butter fish with just a little bit of mushroom sauce for flavor. The Steak was the most tender and natural steak I have had. It was local grass fed beef. The staff is very friendly and professional. Great dining experience. I can't wait to go there again.
(5)
Michele R.

We had another fabulous meal at Merrimans. We made reservations on line at the last minute but were seated immediately. The service was great. I had a goat cheese salad with local goat cheese that was very nice. The pork chops were delicious, as was the dessert. The portions are what I expected for a high end restaurants. It was expensive, but we expected that. I wish it was ocean view, but it is one of the best restaurants on theBig Island We will definitely go back again. We had a lovely Portuguese waitress who gave perfect service, everything came on time and she substituted veggies to give me just what I wanted.
(5)
Bill F.

Each time we've been to Hawaii we've gone to the Merriman's in Maui and Kona. We really like the Kona spot. Especially because of our server Dylan who knows the menu forwards and backwards and has the perfect ability to pair wines with each course! THANK YOU Dylan. I really enjoyed the pork chop totally juicy, tender and perfectly prepared, my wife had the fish which was awesome. My only criticism is that the appetizers (I had the goat cheese, my wife a salad) and entrees could be bigger, it's not a lot to eat. We went back this trip a second time with friend's and again were were perfectly happy, although Dylan was off that night Hanna did a great job and all went well, the deserts were yummy although I'd lose the filo wrapping to the chocolate tart. A prior Yelper spoke about the filo being burnt, so I made sure to mention that, although it was burnt to a crisp filo does get charred a bit and it detracted from the yummy warm chocolate cake. All in all I always look forward to eating here.
(4)
John O.

Drove out from Hualalai on the recommendation of two separate friends with our family of 6. Everyone could not get over how delicious their dinner choices were. I had the local beef filet and it was out of this world. Cooked to perfection and spiced just right. One of the best I've ever had. Irene was our server and was so polite and knowledgable. Only con is the small waiting area, but we were told they are renovating it shortly to create a bar and larger waiting area. Perfect! Our drinks were comped for the wait time which was very unnecessary but highly appreciated. Overall wonderful experience and would highly recommend!
(5)
Ward K.

What does the movie Gigli, seeing the numbers on the weight scale keep moving up, your friend telling you they got awesome concert tickets only to find out it's for Justin Bieber and Merriman's have in common? In my book they are utterly disappointing. After reading all the reviews and hearing from others about this place I was really looking forward to coming here when we went to visit the Big Island. The staff was awesome as we had a big group in which they accommodated us just fine. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and the wines. So the anticipation was just building and building. Started out with some ceasar salad. The servers came and gave it to us already in bowls. Since it is supposed to be a fine dining restaurant I would of thought that they would of made it table side. It would of been nice to have been offered some freshly ground pepper but as soon as they dropped it off, they left. The salad was ok but then again how hard is it to mess up parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and black pepper. I know they were pretty busy that night as the big table next to ours seemed to be a bit demanding and mistakes do happen but none the less disappointing. I had their Low Line Cattle Company Local Beef "Butchers Cut." It came with whipped potatoes, sweet corn, asparagus (they laid it right across the top of the meat which wasn't appealing and it was over cooked), red wine in a roasted shallot sauce (that is what they told me). This is where in the movie Gigli when Ben Affleck finds out Jennifer Lopez is gay. Looks good from far but far from good. A kick in the nads I tell you. That steak looked really good and my mouth was watering and then I took a bite..... chewed and chewed and chewed. Why was this mouth watering steak so bland??? Am I chewing on cardboard? Maybe this piece came from China as they like to knock off things. I'm sure they could knock off some meat as this was one bland piece of beef. Some other people in our group had the fish and they said it tasted really good. "IF" I ever do come back, I will certainly try the fish. On to dessert! I do have to say that the chocolate purse is an OH MY MOMENT! I wont go into detail. Just trust me and order it. If it weren't for this and how great the staff here is I would of gave them one star.
(2)
Steve M.

Second time visiting the Big Island and our second time to Merrimans. Fantastic. The service was great. Dillion truly enjoys serving great food and describes everything with great detail, his recommendations never go wrong. If you are here visiting or live here full time, take the quick drive up the hill and eat here...you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Julie H.

Great white linen service. If you don't know what that means go have dinner and you will be able to judge all other classic dinning experiences based on their impeccable standard. Great cocktails, fresh local fare and ambiance. You can pick anything from their menu...there is no wrong or mediocre option.
(5)
MerryKay D.

We dined at Merriman's in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii for a very special birthday! The restaurant was an EXCELLENT choice! The server, Jim, was fabulous and the food was spectacular! We had dined at Merriman's in Maui numerous times and had high expectations for their flagship location in Kona and our expectations were met!! The food was presented beautifully, the service was impeccable and the food was outstanding! I cannot say enough wonderful things about Merriman's! We will definitely be back!!
(5)
Marty T.

Let me start by saying that the staff at Merriman's was very friendly and attentive. We had not planned to dine at the restaurant, but were looking for something with local cuisine and it seemed to fit the bill. Without a reservation, the hostess was very accommodating and was able to get us seated with almost no wait. This is where the good review ends. I found this restaurant to be pretentious with their menu offerings and completely out of touch with what constitutes a quality meal. Just putting a high price on something doesn't make it valuable. It almost seemed like the lighting in the restaurant was set low so you would have difficulty understanding that you were about to have your pocket picked. I ordered the pan seared ahi tuna dinner as it is one of my favorite entrees and was touted as one of their specialties. It was mediocre compared even to an appetizer I had a few days before at our resort restaurant. Serving size was nearly the same, but $18 compared to the $42 at Merriman's. And this price just for the entree - no salad or side items? Ridiculous. And the wine list - extensive, but over priced. Even the house wines offered by the glass were $20 or more - really? Unless you have truly expendable income and feel the need to "look" important by throwing money away frivolously, avoid this restaurant. I never mind spending money for an upscale meal as long as it delivers the quality expected. Merriman's does not.
(1)
Tony M.

My wife and I had an amazing honeymoon dinner at merrimans! The seared ahi was perfection as was the grilled mahi mahi!! The deserts were to die for! The chocolate purse was indescribably perfect and the pineapple bread pudding was just like my mother made it!! The drinks were beautifully crafted and I will never forget drinking scotch thru a mouthful of bacon!! If your on the big island you must treat yourself to Merrimans!! It's worth every penny!! The wait staff was second to none kudos to you fine folks that rounded out an amazing culinary experiance!!!
(5)
Will F.

Best meal we have had in the islands. We did not want to go to their sister restaurant in Maui - too big...too touristy. The Waimea(?) is small and perfect. Each dish was special. Server was excellently trained. A must for any trip.
(5)
Andrew P.

Outstanding food, great ambiance, terrific service - this is the best place to eat on the big island.
(5)
Lucy N.

3.5 stars. I'm not impressed unfortunately. Maybe it's because I live in Chicago and have amazing restaurants all around serving ever cuisine. For the meal I had here-1. Not worth the steep prices they charge, and 2. Service is good but not great. As a visitor to the island my family and I had heard this place was one of the best in Hawaii. Maybe I didn't order the right thing (market fish-red snapper which I love!), but I really just wasn't wowed like other reviewers say they were. I don't really have much else to say other than I enjoyed grilling out with my family more at the rental home than the dinner we had here.
(3)
gator l.

My wife and I have been to Hawaii about 4 times, between Maui, Kauai and the big island- this is by far the best meal we've eaten out. The ingredients were real fresh and the flavors of everything were outstanding. The cocktails were interesting and the creme brulee was perfect. Not sure why other establishments can't get this down, it seems it shouldn't be that hard to have simple, locally sourced, fresh ingredients but we haven't found much outside of this delicious place.
(5)
John B.

Merriman's is Merriman's, no matter what island you are on. High quality food and service consistently offered to clients seeking high-end food and drink. This review is for Merriman's, Waimea on the Big Island. We had both lunch and dinner at this fine establishment. I dare say that Merriman's Waimea is the best restaurant in the Big Island. You can't go wrong by selecting Merriman's. It's the ONLY sure thing, restaurant-wise, on the island of Hawaii.
(5)
Mandi B.

I had one of the best meals ever here on my most recent trip to the Big Island. My bf has been to the island many times, but had never eaten here, so we decided to treat ourselves. A treat it was!! We started off sharing the Kalua pig quesadilla... perfectly crispy on the outside with all that tender pork bursting with flavor on the inside. Yum! For dinner, I had the chef's daily preparation of the lamb... green chile braised lamb shoulder in addition to 2 Colorado lamb chops, served with Moroccan spiced lentils and a delicious Mediterranean salad. Best lamb chops ever. No question. I might be a CO lamb snob now. ;-) The bf had a steak, per the usual, and enjoyed it quite a bit. I bullied him into sharing a dessert (when in Rome!) and we ordered the Molten Hawaiian Chocolate Purse. It was decadent. Puff pastry with truffle-like chocolate all wrapped up like a present waiting to be opened. It was served with Hawaiian sea salted caramel and vanilla bean ice cream. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. The restaurant itself is busy and reservations are recommended. Our server was great, knew the menu well and made solid recommendations on both food and drink. Merriman's is pricier and definitely a splurge in our budget, but was well worth it.
(5)

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Address : 65-1227 Opelo Rd
Kamuela, HI, 96743
Phone (808) 885-6822
Website https://www.merrimanshawaii.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:30 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Merriman’s

65-1227 Opelo Rd, Kamuela, HI, 96743

Merriman’s Menu

Course One

Course Two

Local Vegetables

Vegetarian Entree

Day Boat Fish

The Prime Cuts?

Merriman's Mixed Plate

Merriman's Platters

Healthy Meal suggestions for Merriman’s

Course One

Course Two

Local Vegetables

Vegetarian Entree

Day Boat Fish

The Prime Cuts?

Merriman's Mixed Plate

Merriman's Platters

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