Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in Hawaii / Big Island

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best service in Hawaii / Big Island? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Merriman's – Waimea – Big Island

4.9

4.9 (9689)

$31 to $50

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Kamuela

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of the Big Islands farm community is Peter Merriman's original restaurant; Merriman's Waimea. Chef/Owner Peter Merriman is one of the founders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine and uses 90% or more of local produce, fish and beef. All dishes are handcrafted to highlight the natural flavors of each menu item. Our award winning wine list has selections for all to enjoy. Merriman's knowledgeable and friendly staff will guide you through a culinary experience you will not forget. We look forward to serving you!

Top review

Christina

Dined 5 days ago

Fantastic food and service! Everything we got was amazing.

Discover more

Experience

Festive Season 2024 Prefix Menu

Experience

Christmas & Christmas Eve 2024

Experience

New Years Eve 2024

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery

4.9

4.9 (210)

$50 and over

Japanese

Kohala Coast

About the restaurant

Welcome to Engawa, a small restaurant limited to 20 guests per night, where we offer an exquisite experience of Japanese cuisine. We invite you to indulge in a memorable dinner experience. Our menu is a celebration of traditional Japanese cuisine, featuring an array of exquisite dishes prepared with the finest local ingredients. From fresh sushi and sashimi to hearty tempura and other savory dishes are crafted to bring out the authentic flavors of Japan. Enjoy a unique culinary journey with chef & brew master Chiaki Takahashi, where each dish complemented by our award-winning hand-crafted sake, designed to enhance your dining experience.
At Engawa, we pride ourselves on providing not only exceptional foods but also an inviting atmosphere and impeccable service. To ensure you have a wonderful evening with us, we recommend making a reservation. Our attentive team is here to accommodate your needs and preferences, making your visit truly special.

Top review

SarahVIP

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

We’ve traveled all over the world to eat. This place could compete with any of the best places. The sake was extraordinary. Even the rice - the rice was the most delicate and silky rice I’ve ever had. If you miss this place, it’s on you. You’re not really living and you’re missing out on something very special. You owe it to your palette. The service was impeccable as well. Just go.

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar - Mauna Lani, Big Island

4.8

4.8 (5502)

$31 to $50

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Kamuela

About the restaurant

Tommy Bahama combines a tranquil environment and good food with an emphasis on hospitality to make for the perfect place to recharge or unwind while indulging in a unique dining experience. The experience is sure to feel like a getaway, whether you’re on vacation or looking for a vacation from your everyday life. For more information: www.tommybahama.com

Top review

Erick

Dined 5 days ago

As usual Tommy Bahama’s did not disappoint. The Mac crusted Mahi Mahi was delicious. The waiter was attentive and knowledgeable about the offerings. Will definitely return.

Jackie Rey's Kailua-Kona

4.6

4.6 (27)

$31 to $50

American

Kailua-Kona

About the restaurant

Jackie Rey's Kailua-Kona is a celebration of delicious cuisine, refreshing drinks, delectable desserts, and the warm spirit of aloha. Indulge in a symphony of flavors from our menu featuring fresh seafood sourced locally, succulent prime steaks, and an array of gourmet entrees. Complement your meal with our specially crafted cocktails or explore our meticulously curated wine list featuring selections that perfectly pair with our dishes. Come as you are and enjoy our open-air Hawaiian restaurant.

Top review

Roy

Dined 5 days ago

Most incredible food. All three of us were extremely pleased and commended the chef and sous chef who was also our waiter! the only thing keeping it from A+ across the board was the noisy drainage grates folks drive over to enter the entrance/street as we were seated closest to it and it was absurdly noisy and the city should fix it. You jumped from the noice almost every time someone drove in.

Miller & Lux Hualalai at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

4.6

4.6 (151)

$50 and over

American

Kaupulehu

About the restaurant

The highest-quality steaks with impeccable flavor from the best ranches in America; a robust raw bar; fresh sustainable seafood; and farm direct vegetables – all perfectly complemented by a globally curated wine list – combine to inspire the next chapter in Chef Tyler Florence’s mark on innovative American cuisine. The Miller & Lux cocktail program is curated using seasonal Hawaiian ingredients and artisanal spirits from around the world.

Top review

Soheila

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing Unforgettable night warm atmosphere great set excellent food

Discover more

Experience

Cooking Class -Tyler Florence & Harvey Pasternak

Experience

Cooking Class -Tyler Florence & Harvey Pasternak

Brown's Beach House - The Fairmont Orchid - Kohala Coast

4.6

4.6 (3752)

$50 and over

Hawaii Regional Cuisine

Kohala Coast

About the restaurant

The breathtaking ocean vistas alone are worth a leisurely evening at Brown’s Beach House, our signature fine dining restaurant. Boasting fresh Hawai‘i Island-inspired cuisine, live Hawaiian music and spectacular sunset panoramas, this dining experience is a feast for all of your senses.

Top review

ErinVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Frank our server was great! We loved the food and the ambiance.

Discover more

Beach Tree Restaurant, Bar and Lounge

4.8

4.8 (879)

$30 and under

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

Kailua-Kona

About the restaurant

Beach Tree Bar & Lounge at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is a casual dining option set along the sand and overlooking the ocean, perfect for sundowner cocktails. Toast the sunset with unforgettable views, local flavours, creative cocktails and more.

Top review

JillVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Not a better spot on the Big Island to enjoy good food and great service!

Discover more

Popular dish

Spaghetti "Cacio e Pepe"

Experience

Tide to Table Amalfi Under the Stars

Halani

4.6

4.6 (1096)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Kamuela

About the restaurant

Reflecting a journey through the Mediterranean, set against a spectacular Pacific Ocean backdrop, choose between colorful mezze platters, a selection of tender kebabs from Hamakua raised lamb to Kahua ranch beef sirloin, signature grilled seafood dishes including Whole Kampachi and Mibrasa Style Branzino with ladolemono & Waimea cherry tomatoes, as well as wood-fired pizzas and fresh salads. This beloved al fresco eatery embraces the rich culinary traditions of Coastal Mediterranean cuisine with the tropical beauty of Hawai’i to offer a rich tapestry of dishes highlighted by locally-sourced produce and seafood.

Top review

CesarVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Great location with savory fresh ingredients. Kitchen was slow but the fantastic location help the wait. Great GF options and they have cauliflower pita bread.

Discover more

Popular dish

Margherita Pizza

Experience

Rhythm and Brunch at Halani

Pueo's Osteria

4.6

4.6 (1868)

$50 and over

Italian

Waikoloa

About the restaurant

Welcome to Pueo’s Osteria, an Italian-inspired, inviting restaurant that provides great food, prepared from scratch daily, complimented with a stocked wine list and set in a delightful osteria environment. Co-Proprietor & Chef James Babian focuses on original creative dishes, pairing the finest, authentic Italian products with select seafood, produce and meats from boutique farms (sourced locally whenever possible), including “farm-fresh” products from local farmers’ markets.
Pueo's is located at the new Waikoloa Plaza in Waikoloa Village with ample free parking and designated pick-up stalls right outside the restaurant.
The "Pueo" is a nocturnal owl indigenous to Hawaii, which symbolizes Chef's focus on serving dinner and into the evening hours. Pueo's Osteria caters to locals and visitors via sit-down, bar and take-out. Engaging service, approachable pricing, great flavors and a lively atmosphere await at Pueo’s Osteria – food, wine & fun … "where the night owls meet."

Top review

Steve

Dined 1 day ago

Food was amazing. Had to wait a few minutes (ten?) after our reservation, no biggie - first seating was finishing up. Service was super friendly but slow, I think they were short handed. But it is Hawaii, be nice to everyone. Already planning our return!

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (3225)

$50 and over

Creative Japanese

Kamuela

About the restaurant

Long regarded as the premier dining destination among the Hawaiian islands, this beloved institution is a gathering place for generations of friends, families and neighbors. Helmed by Executive Chef Rhoda Magbitang, CanoeHouse features thoughtful, seasonal dishes that celebrate Hawaii’s landscape through Japanese-Paniolo inspired cuisine, accompanied by craft-cocktails and diverse wine selections.
Please kindly note that CanoeHouse accepts reservations 60 days in advance for outside guests of Mauna Lani.

Top review

Nancy

Dined 5 days ago

Should enforce a non yoga pants and tennis shoes dress code (beach sandals ok). Parents need to use better judgement about how their children behave and disrupting other diners. We had one child nearby us that was very loud and disruptive of ambiance. Another child near us was no problem and quiet.

Discover more

Explore Diners' Choice best of Hawaii / Big Island

Explore more Diners' Choice lists