Cafe Pesto
308 Kamehameha Ave,Ste 101, Hilo, HI, 96720
Cafe Pesto Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Hilo for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Hilo for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Hilo for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
308 Kamehameha Ave,Ste 101
Hilo, HI, 96720 - Phone (808) 969-6640
- Website https://cafepesto.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Dominic M.
Wonderful food and great atmosphere. Best place to eat in Hilo.
(5)Rob F.
Located in Downtown Hilo, near the Hilo Farmers Market on Kamehameha Ave you will find Cafe Pesto. I would have given Cafe Pesto a higher rating if not for the pricey dishes. There is a lot of seating, and the ambiance is nice. Overlooking Hilo Bay, they have plate glass windows fronting the establishment which gives you a good view. Just look past the street vendors on the sidewalk! They are open for lunch and dinner, with lunch starting at 11 a.m. Cafe Pesto is know for their pizza's. They are fresh and very tasty. No matter which one you choose, you will not be disappointed. As an appetizer we always go with the smoked salmon pizzette. Mini pizza with salmon pieces, rosemary gorganzola, fresh spinach, and sweet onions. Another definite must try appetizer is the coconut crusted calamari. It is set on fresh greens with a honey mustard-mango dipping sauce. They have several fresh salads such as seared poke with spinach which is delicious! There's the main dish menu which has the fresh catch of the day served with white truffle mashed potatoes and a mango glazed chicken served with a caramelized mango chutney and garlic mashed potatoes. Of course there are the wood fired pizza's! You have choices of either a 9" or 12" size if you want to share. From a classic pepperoni, the pizza luau which has kalua pork, onions and pineapple, and several others with fresh veggies and tasty cheeses. Or you create your own pizza with a huge selection of toppings, all depends on how much you are willing to spend. I love the Miloli'i sandwich, which has garlic basted shrimp, crab, mushrooms, and blended cheeses on french bread. It comes with a tasty sweet purple potato salad. If you have room for desert they have a lilikoi cheesecake, warm coconut tart, creme brulee or big Island Tropical ice cream and sorbet. The drinks that they serve are a lilikoi iced tea, or a tahitian limeade, smoothies, sodas and coffee drinks. The restaurant can get really busy at peak lunch and dinner hours. It gets kinda loud and cramped when most of the tables are filled. Food: 4 stars Restaurant setting: 3.5 stars Service: 4 stars Price: 2 stars If you are looking for a freshly prepared lunch or dinner in Hilo, Cafe Pesto is a good option. Just make sure you have a credit card, because the dishes are not cheap. If the prices were slightly lowered they would have received a better review.
(3)Kat F.
We decided to try Cafe Pesto because there were enough good reviews posted. We were not disappointed! For an appetizer, my husband and I shared the coconut crusted calamari and were immediately pleased. The sweet dipping sauce was heavenly and the dressing on the small salad that accompanies the calamari was also divine. Next we shared the Volcano Mist salad. My husband was hesitant as he doesn't like onions but figured he'd try it anyway. The onion rings were so good I almost didn't get any...he enjoyed very much. Finally, we shared the salmon Alfredo and were amazed at how light the Alfredo sauce was. It did not overpower the rest of the meal. The food was truly superb and we will return when we are back in Hilo. The only reason I did not rate it a 5 star is because of my Lemon Drop. It was small and had hardly any liquor. Aside from that, we enjoyed every bite...including the yummy apple crisp with macadamia nut crumb dessert. Yummy!
(4)Vivian N.
As an out-of-towner, I'm guessing that Cafe Pesto is probably one of the most tourist-accessible restaurants in town (if not the one most frequented by visitors). Located in downtown Hilo, this busy Italian eatery boasts a sizable dining menu during lunch and dinner, as well as a robust wine and drinks selection. I've sampled a few different dishes here, but my favorite was the Marinara and Chipotle pasta with penne. Such a flavorful dish, but then, I am a sucker for red sauce. They also have rotating nightly specials which can be pricey for what you actually GET, but the quality is high and fresh. Their pizza isn't bad either, but I'm not a fan of their dough as I find it too thick. Good variety of toppings though. And order the Chocolate Ganache Cake for dessert and split it with your dining partner -- it's not too rich, not too dense, with just enough sweetness to cap off your meal. My main qualm with Cafe Pesto is the lighting; it's both too dim and too bright all at once. It's like the restaurant can't decide if it wants to seduce or welcome their customers. Part of the issue is that Cafe Pesto is located inside of a shopping center, so the hallway light shines into the restaurant giving it weird, quasi-dark lighting. I'm not a fan. But whatevs, it's a small price to pay for some of Hilo's only decent food! Oh, and I would much rather go here than Hilo Bay Cafe.
(4)Jade T.
I Love their Salmon Pizette Pizza & Chicken Lallo Rosa Salad! Their Sandwiches are good too! Pricey, but good!
(5)Eddie A.
This place used to be great...nice portions and fair prices, then I think someone started watching too much food network and the prices went up and portions miniaturized. Last time I ate there for dinner, I ordered the +$20 mahi special with wasabi mashed potatos and few measly pieces of carrots and veggies. Seriously, the smallest amount of food I have ever received for over $20. It looked like a $3 portion of fish from the supermarket! I left thoroughly disappointed and still hungry. The atmosphere is nothing special, definitely not enough to warrant such high prices. I'd much rather stuff my face with quasi-Mexican food at Reubens next door. Definitely won't be back unless someone else is paying.
(3)Picky E.
Pricey but really good. Best restaurant in Hilo
(5)Ali A.
Food is average, overpriced and the service sucked! The only reason we ended up here was that at 8pm New Year's Day there was no other place open. We got the BLT pizza and it took 45 minutes to get which is okay. What's not okay was that it took 5 minutes for me to get a beer! Also this place is way overpriced for its food.
(1)Mojos G.
It is a pretty little cafe. I had dinner here and they had a singer playing guitar which was nice. I had a vegetarian pasta dish (Alfredo sauce added) and a small side salad. It was overall a pleasant meal.
(4)Tracy H.
This place is awesome. Best food in Hilo! Great pizza and calamari. Don't forget their incredible deserts
(5)Naomi H.
This restaurant made our trip to Hilo worth it. Hilo itself is not a fun place to visit - windy, colder than Kona, kind of a dirty-looking city. But Cafe Pesto was amazing! Hands down the best place we've been to eat since we've been in Hawaii. The service was excellent. I'm allergic to pineapple, so they made me one of their specialty cocktails without it. (I recommend the Banana Margarita). Brought our food very quickly, refilled our waters. The food was fantastic. We were blown away. We had the focaccia appetizer, which was very flavorful. I got the chicken risotto, which had local mushrooms and was very yummy. My husband got the catch of the day, which was Ono with a cream caper sauce, served with white truffle mashed potatoes. We were both extremely satisfied with our meal. There was a local guy playing music while we were there, and he was great. Loved this experience.
(5)Maria C.
We rolled in here late on a Friday night after driving across the island. My expectations were low as I thought it would be a pasta/pizza place that just had big gloppy starchy and fatty portions. We left thoroughly impressed and our jaws hanging in amazement at how good the food was. Some background: we spent most of the week in places where we could cook rather than eat out because a) we like to cook and b) the prices for food in Hawaii is known to be high. But this night, we were staying at an Inn with no kitchen facilities for us to use, so we ventured out. BF had a margarita that knocked his socks off and he immediately negotiated that I would be the designated driver as he knew he would need more. They were out of the entree we wanted, so we re-grouped and chose 2 appetizers and soup to share. We spent the entire meal gushing about how delicious the food was. The soup had tuna and was that perfect balance of flavor that is hard to describe, but we were asking each other, "where can you get fish soup this good in SF?!?!". The Calamari was steak that was breaded and fried, but the calamari was so tender and the breading was light and didn't have the oily, fatty feel you might expect from fried calamari. We also had a salad with crabcakes. The crab cakes were very good, but the salad was ...magical... I'm sure they got the greens from the farmers market (I'm sure they get a lot of their ingredients there, where else would they get them? Import them from CA? Mexico?) and the dressing was a delicious, slightly sweet and tangy concoction. We left swooning and with a completely different opinion of Hawaiian food. I am surprised to see all the tepid reviews and wonder if success in dining here depends on who is working on a given night? We went on a Friday and felt that everything we had was cooked with love and presented with caring and expertise and the portions were HUGE. If this place were in SF, I'd be a regular.
(5)Jim H.
We dropped in for lunch on Valentine's Day. The place was very crowded with a 30-45 minute wait for a table. I spotted a couple of seats opening up and we were seated immediately at the bar. This gave us a bird's eye view on an excellent staff who really work hard to make your dining experience great. My wife and I enjoyed a fantastic lunch. I ate the small classico pizza and she had the chicken risotto. We topped it off with the creme brûlée which was prepared by our server right in front of us on the other side of the bar. I even bought some roses for my wife from a guy sitting on the sidewalk directly in front of the restaurant (he was a handicapped man weaving roses from strips of palm leaves). Take some time to stroll along this shopping district in Hilo, it is well worth a trip to the rainy side of the Big Island.
(5)C. K.
Perpetually crowded but cozy and delicious. Best spot on Bayfront for a sit-down meal.
(4)Kelly C.
Appetizer was lighted breaded Calamari -delicious, beverage was guava Prosecco-pale but good. Service was quick for our large table. We were there to celebrate a pal's 60th. Wait staff easy on the eyes! Could Jazz up some music with some mellow rock and jazz standard classics. Enjoyable dining.
(4)Ava A.
I will say that this place has a great location. I went on a super busy night. I ate with my In-laws and the service was just ok. I suspect due to heavy traffic in the restaurant. The food was alright but nothing to write home about. At best it didn't displease me but it was also forgettable. I also have been to Italy and this is not true Italian food. It is a new American-Italian style of food with Pacific influences. I have had much better pizza by far. The fish was pretty good, but the menu felt a little off beat. I may return, but I am not counting the days or anything.
(3)Ash P.
This review is for the vegetarian dishes only. Let me start off saying that the ambiance was great and the paintings on the walls and high ceiling both give you a very nice feeling. Again for a vegetarian very limited choices. So we ordered a linguini pasta salad which they made without the eggs and we ordered a pizza which was Delisshh! Yes, would go there again....for their pizza:).
(3)Katherine W.
Food was good, great service and they were really diligent at checking ingredients for my soybean allergy. I'm sure they would be great for anyone with a food allergy
(5)brandi g.
Good, kinda pricey, which is fine, but I would hope the portions would be slightly better for the money. We had the goat cheese salad, the coconut calamari, seafood risotto, veggie risotto, the daily catch salad and plate, both with Ono and a Hawaiian pizza. The "risotto" was tasty but at 30 bucks or more, I want real aborio rice, not Cal Rose. Just don't call it risotto. The coconut calamari was one of the best calamari dishes I've ever had. Perfectly cooked, tender and not greasy. It nearly melted in my mouth. The lilikoi mango dressing was also amazing! Overall, love the concept and food and the service was pretty good, but they could have been slightly more generous. Case in point, the seafood risotto was over 30 bucks and there was 1 scallop, one small piece of fish, 2 shrimp and one piece of horrendously overcooked lobster. Meh. Sadly, the scallop was the best part and there was only one. Nice building though!
(3)Catherine G.
Cafe Pesto was recommended to me by a man on my plane ride into Hilo. I'm very glad he suggested it because my family ate there twice on our stay and enjoyed it both times. Wait staff was efficient and attentive yet never hovered during peak dining times which pleased my family. Meals are interesting and healthy options. My son gobbled up his meals which never happens. Great meals for us every time. I would recommend it to anyone.
(5)Jacqueline G.
Great location. Situated in a lively part of town at any time of day. Expect to park farther on Wednesdays and Saturdays (Open Market Days) Big windows let in light and view of passerbys. Hostesses are very friendly and accommodating if you walk in. The food here is consistent. I only eat a few things on the menu. Blue Caesar Salad is made with local lettuce that is crunchy and fresh like it's been picked that day. The dressing is flavorful and light, not drenched. Big pieces of gorgonzola cheese. I like that my salad plate is served cold as well. Nice touch. The house white bread is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. The accompanying pesto butter is addicting. Always have to stop myself from eating too much. The Miloli'i Sandwich, an open faced toasted sandwich is served with a scoop of Sweet Potato Salad. Generous portions of crab meat, bay shrimp, melted cheese and a smear of pesto make this dish. My new favorite is the Grilled Chicken and Hamakua Mushroom Risotto. I am amazed by the tenderness of the chicken yet crisp outside. I would prefer that the risotto be cooked a tad bit longer as has a grainy texture but the flavor is there. I usually skip on dessert and have a cup of coffee. They make a good cup here. By the end of our meal, our bill gets pretty steep but it is worth it.
(4)Candi C.
Fantastic! Server was fast with the drinks, which I needed since I was queasy, just having come off the helicopter to the volcano. G got an open-faced grilled ham and cheese which was wolfed down to rave reviews. I had a crab appetizer pizza which I loved. Then we needed some chocolate so we had a the torte. It was so pretty we almost didn't dare eat it, but I'm glad we did as it was super-dense and flavorful. I would eat here every day.
(5)steven h.
Great food, good prices. Was totally surprised to find this place like this.
(4)Kyle K.
The salmon alfredo is delicious! I ate at the bar and could see that they have great chemistry between the kitchen and waiting staff.
(5)Lara C.
Cafe Pesto has been our go-to place on the Big Island for years: fresh, light fare, featuring local produce--we've enjoyed their fresh fish, pasta, pizzas, and fresh fruit cobbler ala mode, as well as their refreshing, addictive housemade lemonade ($3.50, with endless refills). Though my 7 year old normally turns up her nose at the macaroni-n-cheese, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese offerings on standard kids' menus, Cafe Pesto does not dumb down food for the younger set and thoughtfully offers a tantalizing array of offerings: full meals, dessert included, for under $10. Young foodies can also opt for fresh veggie add-ons for a truly well-balanced meal. Though the restaurant can get crowded at peak hours, with lines out the door, we've always been seated quickly and received excellent, personable service.
(4)S H.
Overall, the restaurant was average. Not good nor bad, just nothing that you would rave about. The restaurant atmosphere is a nice casual place, perfect for a nice lunch after cruising through the Hilo area. The service was okay, our waiter was nice but rarely came by to ask how we were doing. We ordered the crab cake salad, mushroom and artichoke pizza, and the chicken and mushroom risotto. The crab cake salad was okay, the crab cakes were a inconsistent in size and texture and the salad was underdressed. The pizza was surprisingly good and would be something we would order again. The chicken risotto came with a small portion. The risotto was tasty however the chicken was a bit bland. The garnishes were a bit random and didn't seem to go with the whole dish. The prices are a bit on the higher end especially considering the size of the portions. Overall, we would not recommend it to others but not the worst place to eat.
(3)Elle S.
Great food, especially the seafood stomboli combo plate. Inventive new Hawaiian cuisine. Probably our best dinner yet...thank you :)
(5)Scott S.
Nice interior, musicians playing soothing tunes, and some pretty tasty food at a reasonable price. Bam, there it is.
(3)Meg G.
I like Cafe Pesto but I don't love it. Last time I was there we had to wait forever for a table. The pasta special with shrimp and roquefort cream sauce was good but mine only had 3 shrimp on it. Seemed pretty skimpy for the price. Also, our entrees took forever to come out with no explanation or apology. Probably one of the better (if not the best) places to eat in Hilo, but not an all-time favorite for me.
(3)Les T.
I have been a patron of Cafe Pesto since it has opened celebrating birthdays, girls nights out or date nights. I unfortunately have to report a severe decline in the quality of food and lack of interest to improve it. I had ordered several appetizers and salads for a take out. The two orders of Greek salad (entree sized) were sorely lacking. I guess as a cost cutting measure the linguine is no longer spinach but egg noodle. There was about a half dozen leaves of fresh spinach, about 2 black olives (no kalamata), and a single small piece of sun dried tomato. I could not find any evidence of goat cheese, peppers and marinated artichokes. The portion filled a small salad plate. I called the restaurant and after being transferred to the manager, who did not answer the phone, I called back. I told the manager the salads were insufficient and lacking. He said he would take it off the credit card bill but made no inquiry as to why I was not satisfied. I told him the salad had egg noodle, he said that it has been like that for awhile. The menu describes the salad as having spinach fettuccine. He did ask for my cell number and asked if the chef could call me. I agree as I figured the kitchen staff should have feedback. I did not receive a call back. I guess Cafe Pesto is happy to serve the cruise ship passenger for a quick buck but are not interested in maintaining a semblance of quality. It's sad and regrettable.
(1)Jim I.
We were a party of 6 hungry adults and everyone left stuffed and happy. :-) The food was good from soup to nuts. I had to take a star off, however, because the pizzas came out too singed. Mine was made incorrectly, so they brought me a free and sizable salad until I got a new one. Classy move. When the new pizza come out it was perfect. My dad's pizza was border-line burnt. He should have returned it. My girlfriend's was okay but still fairly singed. The desserts were amazing - we shared a cheesecake and a crème brûlée. We sat next to the live entertainment which consisted of a guitarist / back up singer and a lead singer. Standard 1970's AM radio fare. My girlfriend liked it but it was kind of loud and hard to talk over. The interior is bright and clean. The service was pretty fast and attentive. The restrooms are outside of the restaurant but not far. Bottom Line: Go, have a great time, but if your pizza is too cooked - return it.
(4)June O.
Found this place via Yelp! Thanks to all the contributors. The Volcano Mist Salad and the spinach, pesto and goat cheese pizza was delicious. We weren't too sure about the pasta because of other reviews but our daughter had the white sauce pasta with sausage kids meal and that was tasty as well.
(4)Mike Z.
We had friends visiting from the mainland that were staying in Kona. They came over to Hilo for lunch and sightseeing. We suggested Cafe Pesto and I had been there once before for dinner and quite liked it. We arrived a bit after they had been seated. Our waiter came by the table when we sat down and asked if anyone wanted any drinks. We all stuck with water so that was that. I ordered the small "Peperoni Classico" pizza. There were six of us so I won't go over what everyone ordered but to suffice to say they were all pleased. I have to say, Cafe Pesto does a GREAT pizza. You really can't go wrong by ordering one. The ingredients are all local and fresh. The small size pizza was more than enough for lunch. I brought two slices home for later. Lucky me. One of my friends ordered the "Fresh Catch" salad. The fish was Ono and was cooked perfectly. He really liked his salad. Our server was friendly. Our busser was right there whenever any of our water glasses needed to be filled. The decor is simple, but nice. The restaurant is clean,the food is good and the service is friendly. My friends were impressed with all their meals. High Point: My pizza. Delish! Low Point: None that I can think of really. Chances I'll be back: Definitely. I hope I can order something other than pizza. It's so good.
(4)Denise M.
Spotted this while driving by so decided to give it a try for lunch. We enjoyed the beer sampling of local brews - the wheat was our favorite, and many of the beers had interesting floral notes. I wish we'd written down the brands and names (although I'm sure we wouldn't be able to find them here stateside). I had the Miloli`i - an open faced, shrimp and crab meat sandwich with mushrooms with several cheeses on French bread - very good and quite light. My husband ordered the Hakalau, described as a "warm kalua turkey sandwich, wilted spinach, caramelized onions" - although it is not at all what he was expecting, it was excellent - it looked and tasted more like pulled pork BBQ - he was in heaven! The restaurant wasn't busy on this weekday afternoon and we were seated right away.
(4)Jamie M.
Great service, atmosphere, food an drinks! The best Hilo has to offer, by far. We ended up having lunch AND dinner here!
(5)Emily D.
Great service & live music. We ordered 2 small pizzas- the 4 cheese and spinach gorgonzola. The 4 cheese was superb- the red sauce was perfect in my opinion. I wouldn't recc the spinach pizza though. You couldn't taste anything but the spinach.
(4)Shannon J.
Great, friendly service and delicious food! Entrees ranged mostly from $12 to $17. We ordered pepperoni pizza, cheeseburger, and ham sandwich (open-faced) - all was good. Lemonade was really good, too.
(5)Jennifer G.
Awesome food! We got the artichoke pizza, eggplant sandwich and side salad. All was good. Fast service and nice people.
(4)Keri S.
There salmon pizza and salmon alfredo and simply sinful! Their service is always on point, and their complimentary garlic butter with bread is light and addictive. Don't forget to try their Lilikoi Iced Tea as well. Love this place!
(5)Jon G.
Atmosphere is really this places strong point. The Live music was great. Honestly, the food I felt was subpar, and quite expensive. We had pizza, and it had pretty bad "red ring". Lack of cheese near the crust kinda killed me. Dominoes does a better job cheesing their pizza. And at $20 something dollars for a 12 inch? The quality just was not in that range. Salad was ok... Yeah I would not come back here. It looks fancier than it really is.
(2)Jayna P.
What a treat!! Delicious food!! Great music!! The waitress was sweet and many people came by clearing our table. We ordered the sesame crusted goat cheese and it was to die for! We ordered the Volcano Mist salad and that was equally yummy. To end, we ordered the tenderloin and that was pretty good too but I don't think I'd get it again because the meat had a overpowering burnt aftertaste and the meat was a bit chewy. Still good regardless but I'd just order the risotto or something else. I enjoyed the night and glad to have came here. If you can stop here on the Hilo side, do so.
(5)Michelle E.
The best gourmet food on the entire island (including all the resorts in Kona). Everything we've eaten there is delicious, fresh, creatively-presented, and flavorful. And the service is excellent.
(5)Luann C.
I don't get it all the great reviews. While the food was adequate it certainly wasn't great. In addition, the service was terrible. Won't be going back. Location is okay but really doesn't have a view and was super crowded for lunch.
(2)Sue L.
Cafe Pesto is probably one of the nicest and contemporary looking restaurant in Hilo We came here for lunch. I ordered the pizza with artichokes and mushrooms -yummy, not greasy, crust was thick and doughy. My husband and son shared the Pizza Luau -with Kailua pork and onions -delicious. Our waitress was friendly. You need to make a reservation as it does get crowded.
(4)Alviesan T.
Delicious food! I had poke salad, fresh catch of the day, Parmesan bread.. I also tried my friend's customized pizza. Great service, kept filling up my water:) with ice:) and asking if we're ok. Food came in a timely manner despite the huge amt of customers last night!
(4)Dan R.
Hilo is a time warp of a town characterized by its early twentieth century shanty-style architecture, having survived multiple natural disasters (earthquakes, eruptions, and tsunamis apparently), and being an absolute dead zone by 7p. So, allow me to spare you the trouble of strolling around aimlessly for a bite to eat. If you are wondering where the hell everyone is - they're at Cafe Pesto. Upon first impression, this establishment certainly has some old-school charm - the high ceilings, black-and-white tiled flooring, rattan chairs, and a wood-fired pizza oven tucked away in the kitchen, to name a few. Even a little live entertainment has been thrown into the mix as some chill guitarists sitting on stools will play soft rock staples and Hawaiian favorites. Housed in a building erected in 1912, Downtown Hilo's go-to restaurant by default, Cafe Pesto has done its job preserving this century-old style. Their Italian-Hawaiian fusion cuisine, however, seemed to miss the mark a bit. Seeing table after table dig into pizza pies, my stomach auto-locked my brain into going this route, despite all of us (stomach, brain, myself) suspecting these offerings to not stand a chance against my New York style palate. Well, we were right. Between the sauce (too thin) and the crust (too doughy), I felt that all pizza proportions were off. I know these were not designed to be the slices I'm used to, but I've had a ton of pizza in my day, and at the least, I know I've had better. The toppings however, were fresh - this included the Kalua pork, local sweet onions, and fresh Hawaiian pineapple on the Pizza Luau and basil pesto, vine-ripened tomatoes, spinach, and gorgonzola crumbles on the Lokelani. We also shared a five-beer sampler that featured all Big Island brews. I wasn't particularly impressed with any of these selections, to be completely honest (we even left some glasses half-filled), and most suffered from being extra-hoppy. Still, it's a good opportunity to check out some local beer, although manage your expectations accordingly. Cafe Pesto markets itself as an award-winning restaurant, which while I don't doubt is true, I've a hard time believing said awards were for any of the dishes we ordered. And while food still remains king, all other components (decor, service, presentation, ambiance) did seem to be in place. I imagine it was something my stomach-brain overlooked on their menu that scored them such accolades. Skip the pizza and beer - as with the rest of Hawaii's restaurants, perhaps it's best to go with fish and a cocktail, after all.
(3)Stephanie P.
One of the few nicer places. Had the steak, juicy/tender/flavorful. Think it was called kahuna beef or something? Broccoli cream soup was delicious, light but not watery and still flavorful.
(4)Jet B.
Everything from the appetizer to the dessert was phenomenal and our waiter Josh was also excellent who hailed from Virginia originally. Overall great gem in downtown Hilo. Must have the shrimp nachos!!! Thanks Josh
(5)Leslie R.
We love Cafe Pesto. Excellent service with delicious food. I ordered the Greek Salad for lunch - more than enough for lunch and dinner. My partner ordered the local fish of the day - ahi. Came in a sandwich form. Just off the charts great. Every time we are on the Big Island, Cafe Pesto is a must. i would also highly recommend the market near the restaurant. Great fresh fruit and vegetables as well as some other items. Plenty of parking on the side streets, too.
(5)Kosmo K.
Service is always good Jazz on Fridays. If you drink they have a beer sampler. Food is good with local fish.
(5)Ryan T.
Delicious food at reasonable prices with quick, efficient service. We had soup, one of the personal pizzas, a linguine pesto, the lilikoi cheescake for dessert. The live music (The Marshall Group) was great and added wonderfully to the ambience.
(5)S. L.
The calamari and southwestern calzone were cheesy & tasty, with just the right amount of kick! I enjoyed the guava margarita as well!
(4)Dennis S.
"Best place to eat in Hilo" may be true. But that really condemns the competition. Pizza we had to start was terrific. But the pasta dishes (their specialty, you would think) were awful. They set a standard for risotto that I hope will never be matched - worst ever. Mush. No taste. No texture. A complete distraction from the seafood served with it. Three stars means "OK." I'll go with that. No reason to avoid the restaurant, just no reason to look forward to it.
(3)Norm H.
Great place to grab a bite to eat while in Hilo. The have a creative fusion between Italian and Hawaiian. The food is all fresh and yummy. They have some great passion fruit items and they have a good selection of pizzas to choose from. The garlic bread was really tasty and the fresh greens salad was super good. My favorite item was the passion fruit cheesecake. I had been wanting some the entire time on the island. Theirs did not disappoint. It even had chunks of chocolate in the crust. The service was attentive and friendly. We enjoyed our lunch here and would highly recommend anybody to check it out.
(4)Briana P.
Apple maps will have you turn on the road, but just turn into the parking lot before the road. The have house bread which is served with a rosemary butter. The butter was very good. We ordered Focaccia with goat cheese. It had a hint of butter and was good value. We each had a drink. The tropical margarita was yummy and the da poi pounder was strong and lovely to drink. For dinner, two of us split a 12" BLT pizza. It crust was good and the lettuce on top complimented the flavors of the crust nicely. The crust was crisp on bottom, but not burned. Overall, an excellent experience.
(4)Veggie E.
amazingg food! ordered the Volcano Mist salad based on popularity. blown away by the presentation first and the flavors next! Slightly on the expensive side. But satisfied by service, food and ambience!
(5)J P.
We thought this place was ok. I'd give it 3.5 stars if i could; it doesn't deserve 4, so 3 it is. The salads were very good. The pizza might be good for the area, but even though they're wood-fired, they need a better dough recipe for a thin but chewy crust. We're spoiled by the Italian-certified pizza we can get in Seattle and even the thin, chewy crust I can make at home. I got the small Greek pizza which has veggies on it. The crust was soggy in the middle, probably because we had to wait forever for it--at least 45 minutes. They had a large birthday party group there that night and said that was why the long wait. How's about having more staff on board for evenings like that so the rest of the customers don't have to pay the price with their dinners for your large group?! The molten lava souffle dessert was fantastic. Lovely live guitar music. The service was indifferent at best,and we are not fussy, pick-at-little-things-people. Thus, the low rating. We may try the one on the Kona side to see if things are any better there, but there are probably enough other choices on our list to not give it another go. Disappointing as we'd heard and read good things about it.
(3)Rochelle A.
Great for date night in downtown Hilo or after work cocktails over a pizza with toppings created by you! Favorites include coconut calamari, volcano mist salad (add chicken), and the apple crisp with tahitian vanilla ice-cream and carmel/apple martini. Huge menu variety and casual setting. Great service; Rodney is the best waiter~
(4)Loves G.
Went to check this place out, as we wanted to eat American cuisine, as we ate so much Asian food. We had no reservation, but got a seat right away. Nice and pleasant hostess. The server - Masha was very nice and personable, but not very efficient. We ordered the special Chicken Tortilla Soup - weird, sweet and not the chicken tortilla soup that we all know. Scale of 1-10 - a 2. Not very good. We also ordered a caesar salad with gorgonzola - not bad. Scale of 1-10 - I would rate it a 5. The soup and the salad took 20 minutes to get to our table. I was wondering where the food was. My bear kept looking at the kitchen and saying, "the cooks are just standing around and food tickets are just lining up". He kept saying, the kitchen looks like it's at a standstill. I must have heard this at least 3 times. Bring me my food! 20 minutes is too long to be waiting for a soup and a salad. The bread with basil butter was hot and tasty. We finished our soup and salad and no one came to buss our table. Waited and waited, then the bartender came and bussed my bear's soup bowl, but did not take my salad plate. She commented, "I don't have enough hands". Awkward. Then no one bussed my salad plate. Luckily, the table was large enough, so I placed the plate on the side of my dinner space. The plate sat there till the end of our meal. Poor. What's so hard about removing a dirty plate?! Bear ordered the Kulana filet with mashed potatoes and I made my own 9" pizza - goat cheese, eggplant and spinach. I must say, my pizza was very good. The crust was very light and crispy. Scale of 1-10, I would rate it a 8. The filet was also good. Iced teas and waters were regular filled by young female bussers. Too bad they don't remove dirty plates too. After the meal, I had no room for dessert. Very rare, but in this case, I could not do it. Got to say, I was pleasantly surprised with the food. Would not rave, but for Hilo, it's good.
(3)Jake P.
Outstanding! Great food... Try the pesto cheeseburger... Fish looked great too. We had the bread and pesto appetizer with olive pesto... AMAZING!
(5)Zackery F.
Bland, slow service, and overpriced.
(1)sarah m.
So, we've been here twice now, both times with slow but excellent service, a DELICIOUS menu, but I came back two years later for their lilikoi cheesecake- I remembered it this whole time and had cravings... But when I ordered it, it came out different, I think. Not as good at all. Not worth the 5$... But my $36 seafood risotto was delicious! Boyfriend ordered the chef's choice $29 beef entree and he said it was perfect, moist, perfectly cooked and the mashed potatoes were just as delicious! Lilikoi limeade was fantastic! But cheesecake was not only what I didn't have before, but it was fairly bland... so, if the cheesecake lived up to my expectations, I'd rank it 5 stars. Bring back the original - or however it was 2 years ago...
(4)Nhung H.
This was our first time visiting the Hilo and we walked around downtown hilo and came across this place and decided to try it out! We ordered the coconut calamari as an appetizer and this was sooooo goood! Surprisingly good actually because I don't like coconut much. We weren't really hungry so we just ordered a 9" Hawaiian pizza to share, which was delicious as well. Service was okay and the setting was also okay. It's a bit run down but it's all good because the food was great! Once again it's a touristy area so the price is high as expected.
(4)Nina U.
Whenever friends are visiting my home town I tell them to go to Cafe Pesto on Bay Front! It's near the farmer's market and Ruebens Mexican Restaurant (my friends' favorite) but Cafe Pesto has so much more flair! And I say you can get mexican food anywhere in the world. Cafe Pesto incorporates fresh local produce into the entire menu and you won't find another place like it...except at the Cafe Pesto in Kawaihae....but seriously. Great pizzas, salads, crab sandwich, pastas, burgers. And if you aren't hungry then at LEAST have the lilikoi cheesecake!!! You can make reservations online for dinner and they have live music at night. Lunch is usually not that busy.
(5)Bibby L.
Really great drinks but pretty darn expensive. They had good pizza and sorbet, but skip the "fusion" style dishes.
(3)Lee C.
We have stopped here every time through Hilo over the years (7) and enjoyed the fresh and local feel to the menu. We have come to the conclusion that the kitchen is the backbone of this now landmark establishment. Service is always adequate but sometimes lacks friendliness? The Ahi salad was excellent with a great Asian vinaigrette served on the side automatically witch I think should be new trend (outstanding) my traveling companion ordered the smoked salmon pizza off the starter menu ( big flavors) Still a must visit on my island tours! 4.5 stars again
(4)Barbara d.
Good margarita pizza, good sweet and sour tofu vegetables, good calzone. Enough for vegetarians to choose from. Our waiter mr Winfield had a voice like James Spader but my son didn't want me to tell him so. He was nice. Service was on the slow side but hey, we're on Hawaiian time.
(4)Kevin N.
The food is good but be aware, if you dont plan to eat in the restaurant and want to take out your food... SURPRISE!!! Once they calculate the total plus tax, they will automatically tack on a 10% tip to the bill. Have you heard of anything like this?
(3)X X.
Only went here once and wasn't as impressed with I thought I would be. The menu is big but my pizza was tiny (Oriental Pizza) and not that special. Servers were fine and prices were okay. It wasn't the cleanest place. I had trash directly under my table, and I saw trash under a few more tables. I would try it again, but it didn't meet my expectations. Also enjoy the views of the homeless people of Hilo.
(3)Jannet L.
great service, solid food, nice location, very tall celiings - nice old building. had the pasta of the day which had ono and alfredo sauce and hamakua mushrooms - was good, very rich. also had the cream of mushroom and leek soup - SO good with big chunks of mushrooms!! the hub had a calzone which was good but the sauce was really yummy. smoked salmon pizette - also very good, very rich. good solid restaurant.
(3)Andrea R.
My brother kept raving about the fresh fish (ahi) sandwich he'd had his first day in Hilo. He said, he thought it may have been the best sandwich of his life, but he wasn't sure, and maybe it was because he was so hungry when he ate it. So he went back again before leaving and confirmed that yes it was the best sandwich. So after all his ravings, the rest of us had to go. It was a delicious sandwich: soft wheat bun, rare ahi, fried onion strings and pesto aioli, with a side of purple sweet potato salad. It was a big sell to the group, but we all agreed, it was a fantastic sandwich. We also ate there a couple of nights before and had the fresh fish of the day. The choices when I was there were ono (wahoo) or ahi. I had ono, some had ahi, everyone agreed the fish was great.
(5)Sam V.
A couple that was staying at the same B&B as me recommended this place for lunch. We ordered the coconut crusted calamari, a burger and a fish sandwich. The calamari was really good! It comes with a mango dipping sauce. Very flavorful. The burger was good quality and juicy. The fish sandwich was okay but it came with a purple potato salad -- which had an interesting flavor. Overall, a good meal in downtown Hilo before driving up to the Akaka falls.
(4)Sanjin L.
This place sucks. If you never had a good pizza or a good sandwich you will most likely like this place. Service is fine but confused. I ordered turkey sandwich with salad but received beef with potato, not a big deal, but still why is it so hard to bring correct order. Anyway, Cafe Pesto is too overpriced for what they make and sell. Pizza's are sad looking, sandwiches are small. I am not going back.
(1)Cynthia C.
Lovely- great venue, superb service and yummy food.
(4)Aubrey J.
pretty good for fine dining in hilo town. if you're a tourist from the mainland & need a break from all the local food you'll be eating in hilo, try this place out to give yourself a break. or maybe you miss mainland restaurants... well, here it is for ya. it's great food, service, & ambiance. it's not super fine dining, so you can walk in with regular attire during the day, i suppose. a cute outfit for the ladies would suffice for the evening time.
(5)Laura M.
The best meal we ate in Hawaii, hands down. Strangely, the atmosphere in here sort of reminds me of the Vault in Oakland - but that is neither here nor there. My burger here (free range, grass-fed Island bred) was probably one of the best burgers of my life. It was like the 12th elevation of a burger - the bodhisattva of burgers ,if you will. The Ahi salad we split to start was right there with it. Service was great. Wine prices a little high - I can't get a class of riesling, veltliner, gewurtztraminer, for under $10? Well, it is Hawaii. Even so. Give me an affordable glass of wine with lunch and we'll go five stars.
(4)Deborah L.
During our recent visit, my husband and I decided to order some of their pizzas. While the crust was totally so so, which was surprising since they were wood-fired, the toppings were amazing. I can only assume they were locally sourced because of the freshness. If only they can make both aspects equal they will definitely get five stars from me.
(4)Marie N.
First time in hilo and first time at cafe pesto. Fresh delicious island cuisine was very enjoyable. We had the wok fired shrimp and scallops, and mango glazed chicken. Both were flavorful and cooked to perfection. We also had the tropical smoothie, which had pineapple, lillikoi++Yum. Will be back!
(5)Seth H.
We love this restaurant! We visit Hilo once a year for the Merrie Monarch Festival and eat here at least twice during our visit. Everything we've tried has been great. We just finished a Lokalani pizza, a light cheese pizza with basil pesto, fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, julianned spinach and Gorgonzola crumbles. It is now our all time favorite pizza! Our waiter Joel, and several helpers provided excellent service. We also liked the beautiful Hawaiian artwork they had on display by an artist named Suzy Papanikolas.
(5)Amy O.
Believe it or not, this place has the best burger in town. I also love their signature saketin!
(4)Morgan L.
My one-day trip to the Big Island wasn't so successful due to the whether, but this place really made my day, great food and the price was very reasonable, definitely worth paying a visit.
(5)Sharon K.
The service was bad, we were practically ignored, and had to wave another waiter for our bread. Like the other yelper mentioned, it was like our waiter was doing us a favor by taking our orders. What's worse is that he didn't get our orders right! Ordered a few dishes but wasn't too impressed. The East West calzone was sour, the only thing I liked in that calzone was the bread. The view however, was nice. It's in downtown Hilo, so you see the ocean in front of you.
(2)Gino A.
I really don't understand why this place gets such great reviews. The service has never been that great when I've been there. It is overpriced for what you get. Also, the food is not great at all. I may have higher standards coming from the Northeast where there are a lot of great Italian restaurants.
(1)Manong P.
if you're a tourist visiting Hilo for the first time, this place is hard to miss, it's dead smack Hilo town. Their pizza is unfuckwittable. the crust, there's something about it. i don't have any particular favorites, just because they have a whole lot of different kinds. you can also make your own custom pizza. They used to bring out bread and butter for every meal. that bread was to die for, but i didn't see it this time around. ask them about their bread beforehand, you might just get it. They have burgers and of course pasta. The beef on their burgers are island beef, happy cows, no hormones or any kind of BS. Hawai'i grass fed beef taste a little sweeter than mainland beef, just like Maui beef. Hilo doesn't really have a whole lot of foodie places, this is one of the best. Nice view of Hilo bay too. I suggest you go have a meal at this place if you're ever in Hilo. Peace and no grease.
(4)Kalei N.
I didn't have the same experience as everyone else. You know if the server sucks, everything else seems 10 times worse. My server was pretty bad, he didn't want to deal with us it seemed. He came over and asked what drinks we wanted, took 10 min to come back, started going over the specials, then stopped midway and said "it seems like you are not interested, seems like you made up your minds." Bad start! We ordered a foccacia (rosemary and blue cheese - more pizza, less foccacia; but tasty 4/5; Volcano Mist Salad - local ingredients but was way more tomato then lettuce and they forgot the dressing so hard to critique 1.5/5; pizza w kalua turkey - crust and sauce was good but kalua turkey was so crispy from cooking it was almost inedible - should have placed it under the cheese; candied apple banana fosters dessert - was more like a carmel sauce w bananas, was nothing special 3/5. For the food - overall we felt it was over priced and undersized. This restaurant is very much geared towards the tourist. As a local, we didn't feel like we were serviced the same as the tourists. We didn't even get offered a bread basket and were serviced after others who arrived. Just didn't feel right being there...awkward almost mainly because of the service. We placed our reservations through opentable.com and made a note about a birthday, even mentioned it again to hostess, but were not recognized like the 4 other birthdays that happened to be celebrated that evening. Also they had the sticker on the door that they were hawaiianmiles merchant extramiles members but 3 people had no clue what it was, but found out after that they have an issue with Hawaiian Air so they don't honor it. Overall - i wouldn't recommend or go there again. UPDATE - Either the server or manager did return my complaint email and was willing to give me a credit for my next visit - but i go to Hilo every 2 years if that so may not be worth it.
(2)Lauretta L.
Pricey but good food. Dinner for 2 was about $50, but the portions were kind of small. I got the Chicken Salad ($15) which looked pretty wimpy at first, but had really good flavor. The Seafood Stromboli was eh...no flavor...just tasted like mozzarella and fish. The coconut crusted calamari and snow crab salad were delicious. One thing we noticed was that all the dressings and sauces were yummy and unique!
(4)Alan H.
Fancy little place right in downtown hilo. The restaurant is located near a museum and is in a somewhat shaddy little area, but the restaurant itself is rather nice. We went in on a friday night at around 8pm, so pretty much everything else around us was closed. I ordered the fresh catch Stromboli with a crab salad. The stromboli was hearty, packed with cheese, fish, and veges. On the side was 3 strips of fried calamari, which were sweet indicating the freshness of the seafood. The crab salad was served in a japanese style dressing with black sesame. The whole meal together with tip and tax came out to be $32 (too pricey for a student, but hey, its not like i get to eat like this everyday). I also tried my friend's salmon alfredo, its was also good. My other friends got soup and and a pizza, both looked pretty good, so maybe I'll try them next time. The service was good and the waiters were very friendly, though when i asked for a recommendation on what's good, he pretty much named everything on the menu, but judging from the quality of the food i've seen so far, he wasn't lying. There was also a guy playing guitar, singing softly into the ambience of the restaurant, making the whole experience very much enjoyable.
(5)Tiana A.
Nice spot fronting Hilo bayfront. Offerings are Italian with local flair. The Hakalau sandwich (kalua turkey with mango chutney) served with sweet potato salad, is tasty. Gratuity automatically added to take out orders. Service here is hit and miss. Sometimes servers are very friendly and attentive and once we had a server ignore us the entire time except to take the order, deliver the food and bill, and take the payment. He had the gall to take it upon himself to keep the change as his tip! It is one of the better places to eat in Hilo, however, the food is just okay. If I ever have a Hakalau craving, I'll be driving to Kawaihae to see Michael...who is consistently awesome.
(2)Michael H.
The food here was soooooo good that we ate here for lunch and came back for dinner too. Wish they had more locations.
(5)Michael K.
Great place for people watching from the window seats. I had the mushroom soup which was served hot and was of medium taste and flavoring. Also had the hawekia sandwich which was good. Again, food served very hot. The waitresses were efficient, effective and proficient. Parking was an issue due to the farmers market going on. Next time in Hilo, I will return here.
(5)Ponso P.
seems to be fancy for Hilo laid back style. May be a nice place to take a date. No need to wear fancy attire. I went in with cut off jeans and sandals. Food was good. I liked how we can make our own pasta and pizza. I would go there again, but nothing sticks out to where I would crave it.
(3)Tim C.
We were looking for a place to eat before our flight and came across this place on Yelp. The good reviews are accurate. We had two kids and none of the other near buy places had a kids menu. Food and service were excellent. Kids had pizza and spaghetti, wife and I had Lasagna. Kids meals even came with ice cream. Got out of there for under $40 for the four of us too. Highly recommend.
(5)Kara M.
Cafe Pesto was a solid choice for lunch after a drive over the Saddle Road from the Kona side. My husband and I shared the Caeser salad,I had the Luau Pizza and hubby had the pesto linguine with chicken apple sausage, I also had a piña colada and husband had a mocha. All of the food and drinks were excellent, and the service was solid. I would definitely recommend this place and would definitely go again!
(4)Amber W.
After a bunch of hit-or-miss dining experiences in Hilo the other times I've visited, I tried Cafe Pesto on this last trip on the advice of some friends who described it as "solid". Solid, indeed! So solid, I ate there twice over a weekend. I got a burger at lunch that was one of the best 3 burgers I've had in my life - fresh beef and tasty toppings. At dinner we split some pizzas and the chili shrimp pizza was a standout. Best restaurant food I've had in Hilo.
(4)Amy L.
We were really happy with this restaurant. We went for dinner with another couple and everyone enjoyed their meal. We ordered everything from pizza, steaks and the seafood risotto. On Friday nights they have these guys that perfrom live music and they were wonderful! It made for very nice ambiance. Our server was excellent. They also had a good wine list and full bar. We will definitely return.
(5)David S.
Very good food, albeit a bit pricey...in terms of value. I had the beef special w/mashed potatoes & sauteed vegetables. Beef was ordered med, but arrived med-well, very tasty nonetheless. Finished w/creme brulee...very good. Waiter could have been more attentive, as I had to flag down the watergirl to order another beer.
(4)laura r.
Delicious food, friendly service, fast seating, excellent Hilo downtown location, all-day hours, reasonable prices combine to provide good value and an enjoyable all around experience. Pizzas are bigger than expected, good crust, tasty sauce, generous with the toppings. Caesar salad is terrific. Had it 2 days in a row. A salad lover is at work here. Hot sandwiches get rave reviews (although the purple potato salad side dish is something you either love or get a substitue for.) House sauvignon blanc was very nice; good wine list if you want more choices. The lilikoi blossom home made iced tea is really terrific, too. Would like to try their other fresh juices next time. And the other Yelper is right, this is a nice cozy place if you're caught downtown on a rainy day in Hilo.
(4)Nancy W.
Four stars because the service is lovely -- and there's so little competition in town -- not because it would rate 4 stars anywhere. Five of us ate here twice, and we enjoyed it, both times. Some tourists like us, but a lot of apparently local people as well. They're nice to small children.
(4)Carolyn B.
Visited this place on a day trip circling the island. Didn't expect a lot but was pleasantly surprised. I got the seafood pizza. They were very generous with the seafood and it had a good amount of arugula. The kids menu was excellent as well as the service. Definitely worth a stop if your in the Hilo area. It was the best non-asian restaurant we went to on the Island.
(4)Lori C.
Everything was just o.k. Service was medocre. Server/manager had been on leave because he was "attacked". I feel bad, but should I know that? The food was good, but the whole experience left a lot to be desired.
(3)Jared S.
Appetizer - shrimp nachos: wonton chips + big fresh shrimp. Entree was ahi fish, pretty good. Dessert was macadamia nut apple tart thing, really good. I would say 4.5 stars.
(4)Jessica E.
Went here yesterday for lunch with my husband. While the restaurant has an okay atmosphere (Art deco meets cafeteria) service was super slow, despite it being about half full. Unfortunately, I ordered the "greek salad," which looked quite safe to my vegetarian eyes, only to receive a mass of cold noodles covered in -wait for it- caesar dressing! I took one bite, and then had to call the waiter back and ask what the dressing was. Took him five minutes to find out. Thankfully I only had one bite, but it was enough to put me in bed with terrible nausea for the rest of the day. The waiter barely apologized, though at least took it off the bill without being asked. If it were my place, I'd be sending the manager over right quick with an apology. Seriously, who puts caesar dressing on a greek salad??
(1)Andrew W.
Great food with local flavor. Best in town.
(4)Jade T.
Pizza was aaiiiight. But dudes, it was not filling. Put it this way. Had to hit the Mickey D's on the hill to finally feel like I had a happy meal. Cafe Pesto seems reasonable, but judging by portions on the pizza, it's kiiinda over-priced. Quality stuff but you don't get much. Good drinks. For the most part a very nice place. Too much air-conditioning. Props to the super-hella-tolerant staff. I mean, wouldn't you feel sorry for waitresses who had to cater to a spacey bitchy rude homeless and possibly demented.. surfer woman who brought in her transistor radio, blasted her island muzak, and kept demanding free or replacement wine and food? Ugh, now that's a major bummer. :]
(3)jen r.
there were slim pickings in the cuisine dept in hilo.. cafe pesto seems like the only choice!! the food was much better than i expected but the service was ridiculously slow. we sat in the corner so i think our server kept forgetting us bc other tables who got there way after us got their food right away. the pizzette was really good. as was the calamari and the goat cheese appetizer!!
(3)CalaMari A.
Ok so I finally got to write my review for cafe pesto (idk what took me so long)- an island infusion restaurant that I prefer to frequent for lunch. It boasts an upbeat feel and a downtown vibe. I'd recommend reservations for a window seat, to get a beautiful view of hilo bayfront. And you can't miss people-watching; the eccentric folk of downtown Hilo also adds to the ambience and makes for interesting conversation. the food and service here is usually good and consistent (if it isn't I think it's worth another shot), the staff is friendly and accommodating. I always have a hard time deciding what to eat here. The Half moon nachos is my favorite appetizer. I absolutely love their blue Caesar salad, with fresh, cold romaine tossed in a light but slightly rich dressing, and topped generous portions of blue cheese crumbles and crunchy croutons. I also love their milolii sandwich, an open faced sandwich served with shrimp, crab, pesto, topped with melted cheese and served with a side of yummy sweet potato salad. The chicken risotto is also delicious, creamy chicken flavored risotto with mushrooms topped with a tender, moist chicken breast that is slightly crispy and charred on the outside. Another favorite is their salmon alfredo, and generous portion of pasta topped with salmon, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and capers. And for dessert, their creme brûlée and chocolate raspberry torte are to die for.
(4)Jim D.
Great food, good service. Busy restaurant, so reservations might help
(4)Chuck A.
We had a fantastic lunch here. Pizza and the pesto burger - both were exceptional. We would not hesitate to return. The service was prompt and friendly. Both our meals definitely hit the spot!!
(5)Genevieve R.
Terrific menu and kitchen was very accommodating with gluten-free requests. Fish fresh, burger with island-grown grass feed beef was memorable. Will definitely return when we return to Hilo.
(5)Bryant D.
Great find in Hilo. We had a mahimahi sandwich and a pizza. Very good.
(4)Juliette B.
my boyfriend and i had a great lunch here after a morning of scuba and golf, it hit the spot! their food is so good and we loved the selection of local beers. this is a perfect spot for lunch and the prices were reasonable. we only ate here once but i wouldn't hesitate to go here for dinner given the excellent service and meal we had at lunch. this plaza is awesome too, if you are a diver (or want to be a diver) check out kohala divers a few doors down and the gift shops nearby had an excellent selection of locally made goods.
(5)David W.
This is one of the nicer spots in downtown Hilo to eat. I really like the greek pizza, salad and full service bar. Bathrooms are outside in the main building, you need a key by the front door. If you get a window, it has a nice view of the bay and is good for people watching. It can be busy and slow, but if you go off hours, it's a real delight.
(4)Diane E.
While visiting the Big Island, we stopped for lunch at the Cafe Pesto after visiting the Botanical Gardens in Hilo. It is a tradition for me to visit the Cafe Pesto when visiting the Big Island. 3 of us ordered the Pesto Burger made with the free range beef raised locally on the Big Island. The fourth person in our party ordered the free range chicken salad and said it was very good. Always a very enjoyable experience.
(5)Forest F.
I was in Hilo for work last week and had a lunch and dinner at Cafe Pesto. For lunch I had a fresh fish sandwich. The catch of the day was Ahi so I ordered MR. It came out perfect. The bread was really fresh and tasty, all the vegies and the salad was crisp and fresh too. For dinner I also had the Ahi ceasar salad. The salad was good, and fish again was fresh and cooked perfect. Plus there was a live music. Can't remember the guys name but he was good and he kept going from traditional Hawaiian songs to classic rock and any kine other stuff. He was great to listen too. Next time I will have to try the pizza but all in all I thought this was a great place to eat.
(4)sideshow b.
Eaten here both times to the Big Island and look forward to our next trip! Eclectic menu with variations on popular themes. This time around she had the special salad of the day (seafood on greens with a mango habanero dressing) and I had the salmon pizzette. Both kicked butt, very flavorful. We also ask for a side of the rosemary-Gorgonzola dressing to dip the bread into. Try it, you wont' be disappointed. And we WILL be back!
(4)al g.
We had a coconut calamri appitzer. Calimari were thickest I've ever had (remember I live in a landlocked state) and were well prepared. Almost wish they didn't have coconut coating so I could get more of the calamari flavor. Shared an artichoke and mushroom pizza that was wonderful. The white gorgozala sauce was perfect. Right amount of toppings. Crust was chewy and flavorful. High marks on this dish. Server was attentive. If we were going to be in Hilo longer, I'd go here again.
(4)Matt G.
Will preface review with "all of Hilo is a bit depressing." One of the nicer restaurants around, but only by comparison. Healthy eating is not so much an option. Appears to be decorated from mid 1970s. Food is not bad, not good, ok. Expensive for what it is. However, it does not look creepy like many others do. Recommendation would be the grocery store or Subway instead.
(2)David O.
The crab quesadilla was a lot like a Neapolitan pizza and very delicious. The fresh catch sandwich was a choice of ahi or Ono. I had the Ono. A delicate fish nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. Loved the blue potato salad on the side! My partner in crime had the ahi 'poke' salad which is made with seared ahi and was a taste treat. Finished up with the lilioki'i cheesecake and a smile,
(5)Ye P.
Great sandwich & spaghetti!
(4)Gary P.
My wife and I ate here last week. We ordered a Margarhita Pizza and it was very good with a nice, crisp crust. Waiter service was good and prompt. Decent wine list for a small place. The atmosphere is cafe-like and very comfortable. We would return.
(3)Kari V.
We were driving around and checked out yelp to see what people were recommending in the area. Cafe Pesto had good reviews so we decided to give it a shot. We definitely weren't disappointed. I had the Miloli`i. It was AMAZING! I wish I had a Cafe Pesto where I live. Guess that just means I need to figure out another trip to Hilo!
(5)Natalie S.
I was thirsty and couldn't find a cafe in downtown hilo that just served coffee and tea. Fortunately Cafe Pesto has a bar with an espresso machine. We got an americano and iced tea for about $7 and took it to go and on our way to the volcanoes park... service was very good.
(4)Heather B.
This place is overrated. Okay? The atmosphere is nice but the food is absolutely forgettable. Like I moved back to the mainland a year ago and I don't remember what the hell I even ordered here. And I really wish Hilo would get over this obsession with "fancy pizza" already. Don't say this food is "good for Hilo," either! Get your ass to Hilo Bay or get in the car and drive to Paolo's in Pahoa. Honestly!
(2)Joe D.
Food is good, we had a 9" pizza for a later-evening light dinner. Service is good. Convenient location - enjoyable for a casual night out the first evening in Hilo.
(5)Deirdre S.
This isn't the kind of place that I'd normally go for gluten-free food, but their menu made them look enough like foodies that they'd do it well -- and I had an amazing fish dinner.
(5)nit p.
Great food and very friendly staff!
(4)William S.
Not just the best pizza I've had in Hawaii, but the best I've had ever. You MUST, MUST, MUST get the CALAMARI. It's the bomb. Big, coconut battered goodness. Pesto salad dressing also tasty.
(5)Lisa G.
Go here. This is the best food I've had on the islands and I've been here for three weeks. Everything on the menu is fresh and artistically prepared. Perfectly sized portions aren't too big and are preparedl with a masterful blend of spices - not dependent on oversaltiness. I hardly ever have dessert, but our group ordered just about everything on the menu - so when you're ordering dinner, make sure you save room for dessert. The warm coconut cake, apple pie thingy with vanilla ice cream that's not too sweet is a perfect ending to a spectacular meal.
(5)TL V.
One of our favorites in Hilo, we had lunch here again today. While we missed most of the usual buskers, including the man with the fancy chickens, we were again not disappointed with the food. I had the Hakalau (kalua pulled turkey) sandwich with purple potato salad (better than it sounds) with an overly sweet syrupy chutney, my wife had the "Catch" sandwich (fish) with the same pot salad. Iced tea and a "Hilo Sunrise" (the local name for an Arnold Palmer) finished the menu for us. Service was initially good, but fell off as the meal progressed. Overall a good value at $33.15 and worth a trip.
(4)Michael M.
I go here every time I visit the Big Island. Even if I am not on that side of the island, I make a special trip to go!
(5)Gary S.
Fresh carrot bisque, free range beef burger with exceptional toppings, soft warm bread, seasoned fries, purple sweet potato salad, crab & shrimp crustini, all items were wonderful, excellent service. Great value for the islands. Terrific choice
(5)Samuel B.
We stumbled in to this place while on a brief visit to Hilo. I was not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised. The coconut calamari (as others have commented) was very good and I am not a seafood fan. The broccoli soup, which turned out to be an interesting and delicious Thai/curry flavored dish, was worth the stop. Lunch servings were all very tasty and creative combos. The restaurant was very clean and comfortable. The wait staff friendly.
(4)N N.
Grilled catch of the day, excellent! Pricey but a treat. Make a reservation for dinner, it gets packed!
(4)Dean S.
For Hilo, the food is pretty good here. I had the "Miloli`i" or Garlic basted shrimp, pacific crab, sliced mushrooms, blended cheeses on open faced French bread. This place is actually a pizza restaurant, but they have lots of other stuff. My family enjoyed the food. However, the wait was about an hour for our food. And it took about 15 mins for the waitress to get to our table to take our orders after we had been seated. The place is crowded during lunch and there aren't that many waiters/waitresses. Overall, decent experience.
(3)Shelly K.
Went here for my birthday dinner in Oct. Most of us ordered the 9" pizza because we heard great reviews about them, good thing we decided not to share. My husband was definitely not full when we left. The pizza was alright, but not one of the best we've had for sure. The place in general was also pricey, but that's probably because they cater mostly to tourists. This is not a "local" place to eat. Our server was also VERY impersonal and we were not impressed with her service or demeanor. We were sat at a table that was right next to the live guitarist, and though he was decent, it was WAY too loud. We had to shout across the table just to hear each other. Although, he did get everyone's attention and sing Happy Birthday to me, and I did receive a free dessert of my choice. I chose the Creme Brule with pineapples... very tasty.
(3)Yesse T.
This Place is really good, they have organic salads and the Smoked Salmon Pizza apetizer was amazing! I ordered the Ono Fish Sandwich it was so good! If you are in Hilo stop by you wont regret!
(5)Brittany A.
We had Cafe Pesto cater our wedding and they were fantastic! The calamari is really yummy and everyone was so willing to make my day spectacular. Whenever we are in Hilo we go to Cafe Pesto at least one night specifically for their thin crust pizza!
(4)Andy S.
This is a big restaurant, and still fairly crowded when we came in around 8ish, but the service was prompt and attentive. We were looking for a light dinner, and decided to split the 9-inch Pepperoni Classico, with "Italian sausage, dry salami, pepperoni and red onion". The pizza was excellent (great flavors, nice sauce), although my Mai Tai was just so so.
(4)Mari C.
We ate there twice over the course of our 6 day stay in Pahoa, which is an hour away. Granted, we didn't drive to Hilo specifically for Cafe Pesto, but the fact that we repeated a good thing has to count for something. If this place were in San Francisco, or Chicago, or New York, I wouldn't give it five stars. But lets face the music: food on the island generally falls into one of three* categories: 1.) really terrible 2.) really terribly expensive 3.) really terrible and expensive 4.) something you have to gather/stab/shoot/net yourself. Happily, Cafe Pesto was none of the above. Maybe a tiny bit pricey, but the pizza was hot and fluffy (not the NY or Chicago style I'm used to but still pretty good) and the salads were pretty good too. Not to mention the excellent service and array of locally brewed brewskis. Yum... it was a great meal after airplane-food hell. The shrimp and cilantro pizza was the best one. I would say this is the second-best place to eat in Hilo, from my experiences. But really, you HAVE to try yelp.com/biz/naung-mai-t… *the fourth category may not yet be classified as food, depending on who you ask.
(4)Josephine W.
Although slightly overpriced, Cafe Pesto has tasty items. From pizza with whatever toppings you want (and boy do they have a lot of toppings!), to seafood sandwiches, crab quesadillas, and burgers, this place has a little bit of everything. Cafe Pesto's salads are to die for. The greens are so lush and fresh, the dressings are full of flavor (the creamy pesto is a little heavy but use just a little bit and it's perfect). I ordered the Miloli'i sandwich; shrimp, crab, mushrooms, and cheese laid on an open-faced, pesto covered, half-roll. I definitely will go back to try more off their menu. Not quite "island food" but good quality, healthier than most of the foods offered out here, and the Liliko'i iced tea is probably the best refreshment EVER.
(4)Kristina R.
Best food Hilo-Side. I had the grilled calamari salad, hubby had the shrimp and crab grilled sandwich. Both were fantastic. Mainland upscale ambiance in the middle of laid-back Hilo, though no one batted an eye when we walked in dressed aloha casual. Service was good, prompt, and friendly. A bit expensive - more than what I would expect to pay for local fare, even accounting for food prices on the islands.
(4)eshwar k.
I have eaten here several times, and now that i am on big island i am eating here once to twice a week. the pizzas are really tasty, and the entrees are well-prepared. ingredients are fresh, and there is a hint of inventiveness in the menu. it's not island food though, more like a taste of the mainland infused with some local flavor. warning: service is well-intentioned, but you are investing in the commitment of time when you eat here (translation: yep, slow service; local translation: try wait). don't knock the decor-- it's supposedly a historical building. it's nice and open, and the live music plays well in the dining area...
(4)Annie C.
Gist: Perfect place for great food in a casual setting. This was the first really proper place we found during our stay in Hawaii. Granted the first half or our trip was in the national park, but Cafe Pesto was such a treat. We ordered a Ahi Tuna Salad and Crab Quesadilla for lunch. The salad was amazing. We are still talking about it. It taste like they sear the tuna using a hot wok of spring onions, sugar, and soy sauce for a nostalgic chinese influence. And with a bed of cold baby spinach and vinegarette, it was the perfect light lunch. I was curious about the crab quesadilla on menu and we were pleasantly surprised that it came out looking like a pizza because it was open-faced and on flat bread instead of tortilla. Again, delicious! nice light cilantro sauce and cheese. Don't know where I'm going find anything like this again.
(5)NH N.
After a LONG day of checking out the island hiking, we were waiting to eat something amazing. And we were not disappointed. Everything we ordered at the restaurant was SO good. I finished every drop of food on all of my plates!! I recommend the beef on the menu - its local, with amazing local vegetable medley! We topped it off with their warm apple dessert. SO good. MUST check out if in Hilo!! Our favorite restaurant while visiting the entire island!!
(5)Nick H.
6 stars for good pizza, awesome and friendly service, good location, convenient hours, and a cool violinist outside who let my brother with down's syndrome take over the strings for a while. Minus 2 stars for sub-par crust that tasted more like a dinner roll than pizza crust. I would be happy to eat there again and Mari C. and I ate their twice during our 9 day stay in Hawaii.
(4)Jeff W.
We went to dinner on a Wednesday night. It was late so there wasn't much atmosphere. The food was OK, not nearly as good as my guide book described. I had a pizza and salad that were good, but not so good that I need to rush back. Our waitress was a sweet girl.
(3)Malea X.
Decent food, good cocktails! We had the flatbread appetizer with goat cheese, the greens salad and a mushroom pizza - delicious! The lava flow cocktail is great and the bartender respected my low tolerance for alcohol. there were a few meatless pizzas to choose from and a few appetizers. The food is pricey but good, and I recommend stopping in.
(4)Vic P.
What a great location for such an overrated restaurant. I like their pizzas, although very overpriced. We ordered a chili shrimp pizza tonight. 6 slices. Half of a shrimp per slice!! That's a total of 3 shrimp for my pizza for $14. The waiter said no one has ever noticed that and left it at that, showing very little concern. Well here's what I'm saying :"never again", keep catering to the tourists, enjoy.
(2)Njon W.
Shatangi likes cafe pesto for there use of fresh local ingredients. I worked in ther kitchen for a little bit. OK pizzas but great local fish and produce. Slammin poke. Shatangi told you
(5)Rebeccah C.
Found this place because of yelp. I got the special of seafood risotto, and my fiance got the wok fired shrimp and scallops. The risotto was awesome, and the pasta that came with cilantro pesto was a delicious surprise. A great find, and worth the drive from the Volcano National Park. Wonderful find.
(4)Kim G.
After hearing from a local friend that it's one of his favorites, and after reading a few reviews, I expected more out of this restaurant. The salad was fine. The bread wasn't very flavorful, but at least it was warm. The pesto butter that came with the bread was good, but not great. For a main course, we ordered a Margharite pizza with local sweet onions. Pizza is my favorite food. IMO, it requires a certain balance of flavors to make a delicious pizza. The Margharite had way too much cheese and way to little sauce for my taste. The sauce itself was fair bland. I was really hoping for more out of this cute little pizza cafe, but I'm sorry to say I was disappointed. That said, the food wasn't bad and I wouldn't mind trying a sandwich next time.
(3)H L.
It was getting late at around 8:30 PM on a Saturday and my wife and we knew most restaurants were closing soon. We came in on a whim and the staff seated us anyway, took our order, and we had a wonderful time. The waitress we had was helpful with my meal selection and the food was good. We tried only items from their daily specials menu. Despite the high prices, I felt it was worth it considering the simple elegance and freshness of the food and because it was on the Big Island. It seemed to us that some of the wait staff was young and didn't sound like a local guy or girl. I wonder if they are recent transplants or college students. I guess that doesn't matter much.
(5)Maile Y.
We came here looking for a nice meal with family on our visit to Hilo. Husband ordered the fresh catch - which was Ahi! I found this a bit pricey for what it was, especially since they overcooked the Ahi (such a no no in Hawaii) - but hubby said it was delicious none the less. I got the special pasta al pesto which was pork belly with corn and spinach. The pork belly and fresh vegs were delicious but the pasta tasted like it was barilla out of the box! Come on this is an Italian restaurant that offers a pasta special nightly - could it kill ya to make your own pasta? Maybe I'm just picky but in summary the meal was tasty...but expensive!
(3)Kristine D.
Just what the doctor ordered after the long drive from Keahou to Hilo! The food was fresh and delicious. I highly recommend the Smoked Salmon Pizzette. The Volcano Mist salad was another favorite amongst my party. The atmosphere is charming. The staff is nice. Cafe Pesto's is located in historic downtown Hilo. Be sure to walk around the area after your meal. There was a pleasant flower mart near the restaurant as well as an oceanic education center right nearby.
(4)Patti V.
Pizza was excellent with fresh ingredients and light crust. Also they made a great Bombay gimlet!
(4)Steve A.
If you can eat any where on the Big Island this is the place to go. Great way to kick off a "ruffing-it" weekend if you are going hiking, etc, etc. Right by the water with great apps, wonderful service, and some pretty good tunes to go along. Awesome, stromboli
(5)Kathy G.
We ate @ Cafe Pesto 2 nights out of our recent 4 night visit to Hilo. We were happy to discover they were not only still in business but had retained their high level of service, ambience, entertainment & food quality. We had eaten there ( every few years) whenever we were in Hilo since 1997. For a restaurant to stay in business in Hawaii for this many years, is admirable. For an outer island restaurant to stay in business while maintaining the standards of cleanliness & just good tasting food, is amazing. The Caesar salad was the best ever- it had the perfect amount of dressing. We enjoyed the coconut crusted calamari very much. The winner this vist was the ahi vegetable soup- have never had it anywhere & we'll try to duplicate it @ home. Keep up the great work, Cafe Pesto- thank you for your terrific restaurant- we hope to come again soon!
(5)Jeffrey W.
Great place, everything we ordered was gourmet quality. The coconut calamari tasted like it was caught that day. I asked the waitress if it was fresh and was surprised to hear it was flash frozen.
(5)Lawrence T.
I didn't feel like pizza but the salads here were very good and everything else on the menu was pretty solid.
(4)Kenny C.
The pizza was good eating. The price was fair. The staff was helpful and friendly. Tons of seating and free wifi.
(4)Merrell T.
mmmm dessert, chocolate ganache cake with raspberry coolie sauce mmmmm
(4)Kara D.
Lots of choices on the menu. Enjoyed the poke salad. Staff was very friendly. There was a cat tied to a palm tree outside which seemed to be pretty entertaining for some.
(3)Goodbers G.
3.5 stars. Excellent bread and superb carrot curry cumin soup but mediocre pizza (isn't pizza marguerite supposed to be sans sauce?) and Greek calzone. Convenient location and prompt service.
(3)Chris C.
Everything we ordered contained the freshest ingredients that you can find anywhere. Our pepperoni pizza was laced with sublime fresh sausage, salami sliced when ordered and the sweetest Maui onion I've ever had on a pizza. Our grass fed beef burger was also spectacularly cooked to order. Medium rare just the way I like it. Some places don't even offer that choice anymore or worse, ask you then proceed to cook it medium anyway. The juicy fresh meat paired with fresh tomato and lettuce with fried potato wedges more than made up for our nasty experience at another burger joint that will remain un-named (why give them publicity). We would have returned for another part of the menu if we spent more than one night in Hilo.
(4)Weezie W.
I also found this place mentioned in my vacation planning searches. The first day we went there, it was graduation day from UH, so the place was packed and we left. Went there today and it was EXCELLENT!! My husband got a ham sandwich and was able to get the mushrooms omitted and we also swapped the potato salad for the Lomi Lomi tomatoes - also so good. I got the Pesto Burger - easily one of the best burgers I have eaten - love the toasted bun, the sauces - the fries were top-notch, too!
(4)Kevin R.
Surprisingly excellent fair; traditional Italian smartly interpreted thru refined island sensibilities. Definitely try this place, preferably on a rainy night.
(4)Jen S.
I have only tried the pizzas here because it seems that the 2 times I've come here, I've been broke so the pizza is the only thing that I can really afford. The ambiance and service are lovely and I'm sure that when I have more money in my pocket, I will order a fish dinner. -_-
(4)Michelle C.
We stopped at Cafe Pesto one of our nights in Hilo. Needless to say, it was the best food we had eaten for days. It was clean (which, suprisingly was more of a rarity in Hawai'i than I thought it would be) and the pizza we ate was fabulous. We shared pizza and a salad and had pizza leftover. I don't think you need to stop somewhere else and eat after you finish here like a few of the other people wrote. The wait was suppossedly long for Hilo (we had to wait around 30 minutes) but coming from Los Angeles that was nothing! The only thing we regret is that we left our leftovers in the fridge at the Bed and Breakfast we were staying at. It's too bad because that pizza was awesome.
(4)Liz S.
Everything we had was very delicious, a little expensive but that is hawaii i guess! the fish nachos appetizer were really memorable
(4)Michelle P.
For the week that me and my family were visiting Hilo, Hawaii, we ate at Cafe Pesto twice. It. Was. That. Good. I ordered a pizza with pesto and was super impressed. Can't remember much detail (it was over 7 years ago) but if I'm writing a review on it now and still remember the name then it's worth a visit. You know, I do remember the farts we all had on the return ride home and saying "there's something in the pesto"... Lol!
(4)Melissa D.
I love Cafe Pesto and in many years of indulging here, I have yet to be disappointed. The food is always good and the service is always friendly!!! The Hilo sunrise (half ice tea half lemonade) is really really good!!! The crabcake salad is the best I have ever tried and I am a crabcake fanatic :)
(5)Dustin H.
Nice little stop for a drink and share an appetizer or two. Gets a little pricey but the food is pretty good. Not a damn thing about this place is Hawaiian, aside from the beer, but whatever it's still good. And variety is always appreciated.
(4)courtney r.
Let me start off by saying that this restaurant is great as a fine-dining establishment , but is also great for just stopping in on a more casual note. It has a comfortable ambiance that allows for both casual and finer experiences. One of the really great things about this restaurant is their passion for local foods. They buy local organic products and you can surely taste the difference. Try the sesame crusted goat cheese on spinach greens...the goat cheese comes from a local organic dairy very nearby and the quality and flavor is superb. Their seafood selections are superb. Their saffron risotto is excellent. Their chicken is amazing. Their pizzas are heavenly, or so I've heard....I have a gluten sensitivity and therefore haven't tried it myself but my guests that we were treating to dinner raved about the pizza! On a gluten-free note, the staff was courteous and helpful regarding my food restrictions. The only "complaint" that I have (and I use that term loosely) is that on a few visits our waiters haven't been extremely friendly. Not really rude, just not as pleasant as I would expect from this caliber of restaurant. By the way, the view is so wonderful. Go for dinner just as the sun is getting low in the sky and you'll see how magical Hilo town can be. Cafe Pesto is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for, which is organic, local, quality food that are not only incredibly delicious, but supports our local farming community as well.
(4)Demur E.
Cafe Pesto is a treat. Parking may be a challenge, but it is definitely worth a little wait to stroll around the old Hata building and check out the various shops. You will probably enjoy a little exercise after eating at Cafe Pesto. Food: Incredibly fresh. Local produce is used and you can tell. I had the Bleu Salad (fresh greens with bleu cheese and anchovy croutons) which was perfectly dressed and so cool and refreshing. A co-worker and I split a chicken chipotle pizza with goat cheese (cheese is my friend, I'm so lucky I'm not lacto-intolerant!) It was excellent. Made in the wood-fired oven, the crust was crisp, the pesto sauce was not overwhelming, it was a spicy (the chipotle) and had a clean, sharp finish due to the liberally sprinkled cilantro. Sodas, iced teas and lemonade are refillable. (Side note: the "Hilo Sunset" is half a glass of lemonade and half a glass of iced tea...yummy!) Service: Friendly, attentive and professional. Our pizza took awhile to get to our table (definitely worth the wait), and our waiter was very apologetic. He definitely kept my diet cokes coming, which I appreciated. Ambiance: Definitely laid back. Tourists in tourist gear and professionals having lunch all munched together. Large windows to see and be seen and a high ceiling give the space an airy feel. Overall: Definitely worth a return visit.
(4)Sherri C.
I love Cafe Pesto, especially their sandwiches and purple potato salad. I run a green vacation rental in Keaau. Now that most of the flights come into Kona, sometimes guests check in very late, and they usually want to stop someplace for dinner. I always recomment Cafe Pesto. Wide choice on the menu, reasonable prices, friendly service... it's easy to find and always has food that makes me look good because I recommended it!
(5)Dustin K.
this past mothers day was the first time i've ever eaten at Cafe Pesto.. and it won't be my last... service was okay.. food was great.. volcano mist salad and crab cake salad was by far the best we've had in a while.. a coconut crusted calamari was a change of pace.. our main dishes were very generous and great... wine was good but the beers were slim.. would we go back... sure!
(4)D N.
Oh the grass fed cow burger or whatever u call it was definitely good, well made but they didnt ask me how I liked the burger...I would have prefered it little more rare, but it was still a great meal. My boyfriend got some other sandwich that I didnt like but he liked it and the price was reasonable as well.
(4)Albert H.
Adorable location in one of the main downtown strips of shopping/dining. Great food, just like the other location, plus local craft beers. I was really annoyed at the restroom policy here though, having to get a gas station-like key attached to a chain in order to use the restroom which was located outside in the mall hallway, just behind a tobacco shop. Non-customers follow you and try to sneak in to use the restroom. Lame.
(3)Nolan K.
Great food and our server, Ira, was very friendly and knowledgeable. Lunch was $72 for 4 people with 4 entrees, 2 appetizers, and no drinks. Walu sandwich was terrific and the Kalua pizza was amazing. Ira suggested for the next visit: Go fishing in the morning, catch something, then call ahead on your way to the Cafe. The chef will prepare your fish for you and serve it to your specifications. Sounded like a great idea, but unfortunately we failed the catch something part. Highly recommend you stop by here for lunch. Dinner is also good, but the lunch prices are wonderful relative to the quality of the food. As a side note, I like the fact that the paintings on the wall are by local artists and that you are able to purchase any of them that spark your interest. I would have preferred that each painting be accompanied with a short blurb about and/or picture of the artist (rather than just a price tag), but it adds to the small business decor nonetheless.
(5)vernice l.
This place is at a good location. They also have lots of lights outside so it is very inviting. However, the food was not great. The food at Hilo Bay Cafe is SOOOOO much better. I can't even remember what I had, but I remember the chicken was dry. And, I did not finish it. The smoked salmon pizzette appetizer was pretty good. There was live music and it was too loud!!!
(2)Michael B.
Great food. Besides pizza they very good entries with daily specials. About five local beers on draft.
(5)No T.
What a gem! The portions are price worthy, the atmosphere is excellent and its located in the 'downtown' area which has undergone a successful revitalization campaign. The bathroom is an inconvenient distraction! Otherwise this would have gotten the 5-star review! heres a secret: if you're lucky to get the ohelo berry or lilikoi creme brulee, you won't regret the splurge!
(4)Ben L.
Equating the Big Island with great pizza? Yep, that means that you have eaten at Cafe Pesto. If you are at all in the area (on the island) you owe it to yourself to stop by. Their pizzas have just the right ingredients and you can tell that they are fresh. Without boring you with the details of how I occasionally fall into short fits of Cafe Pesto withdrawal I can say that they have potentially the best gourmet pizzas anywhere.
(5)Michael W.
First of all, please know that we have enjoyed Cafe Pesto in each of their locations but most of all the Hilo location, going there each time we are on that side of the island. The food and service are as good as noted in other reviews; the variety and portions are excellent. I am writing this because of a recent visit that resulted in a very poor experience for us when visiting Hilo with our granddaughter. When we arrived for our reservation there was a singer/guitarist near the entrance so we asked for and were seated at a table on the other side of the dining room. The guitarist was using an amplifier of rather poor quality so the sound was very loud and very muddled. We could not have a normal conversation as the singer drowned out our words, especially across the rather wide table. We had to shout and repeat ourselves constantly - this truly ruined our evening. We requested of our server and of the hostess that the volume be turned down but were met with no accommodation. The hostess said that the manager selected the entertainment and she could do nothing about this. Our food and wine flight were really good; we had looked forward to having more wine and desert but could not bring ourselves to do so in that situation. When you spend well over a hundred dollars for dinner it should include a better dining experience that we had that evening. Outside the restaurant we spoke with a street musician who told us that he gets comments frequently from people that find the music inside to be objectionably loud. We hope that the management of Cafe Pesto takes heed of such comments.
(4)Cindy G.
I agree that this is one of the nicest, most accessible places for tourists in downtown Hilo. We ordered a salad and the mushroom pizza, and everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. We were there at an off hour, around 4p, so it wasn't busy at all. My thoughts about downtown Hilo aside, we had a great meal here and almost went back again the second night.
(4)Vikram C.
Great Place to eat. Wild Mushroom Pizza is amazing, so is the pasta Alfredo. Best place we have eaten in Hilo.
(5)Shane L.
On the recommendation of some folks at the Abundant Life Natural Foods store we tried this place for lunch during our visit to the Big Island. Located right on the main somewhat busy street with many interesting shops and museums nearby. Restaurant has a nice open atmosphere with a bar and kitchen towards the back and many tables in the open area with big windows facing the street. Was a mix of couples and families and friends and business people there. We were seated immediately - place was maybe half full. Service was quick and friendly, with the waitress covering their many specials for that day. My wife had the smoked ham sandwich and I had what they call the Sandalwood sandwich (Japanese eggplant, marinated artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, rosemary gorgonzola on French bread) for $10.95 each, which I considered very reasonable given how delicious they both were. My wife and I shared and switched our half sandwiches - I definitely loved that Sandalwood and would get it again. Ham sandwich was good, just to me, nowhere near as good as my 1st choice. We will definitely go here again!
(5)Jenn M.
We were looking for an early dinner in Hilo before we had to catch our flight back to Oahu on Sunday. This was a great option - close to the airport, open for an early dinner, and great food. The waiter was friendly, easy to chat with, and joked with my family. He showed up at all the right times. The shrimp nachos were quite yummy!! We enjoyed the casual atmosphere, but loved the tasty food. None of us ordered the pizza, so we can't comment there. I had the chicken and mushroom risotto - extremely good. Our only real complaint was the extremely small area we were seated in despite it being so early - I couldn't even move my chair back at all or even hang my coat on the back of the chair.
(4)Salvador V.
I went here once for vacation and the food was great.! I love their crispy, melt in mouth pizza.
(5)Ashleigh D.
Kind of pretentious and over-hyped.
(1)Chris D.
Had an excellent lunch here... I ordered the luau pizza which had generous servings of pork & pineapple as the toppings. They also serve the islander version of a Arnold Palmer, which they dub the 'Hilo Sunrise'. Everything tasted great!
(5)Katrice K.
The food here is pretty good. For the past two years I have come to Hilo for work. The first time I came here I can't remember what I had eaten since it was the last day before we were to leave and I was so over eating out. All I remember was that it was some type of salad that was alright. I recently came back for lunch and the food was very good. I had ordered the salmon alfredo which was very well cooked and seasoned. My boss ordered the turkey sandwich which had a nice smoky taste it was interesting as it looked more like pulled pork then turkey but was very delicious. I would definitely come back here, once I try the other restaurants around Hilo.
(4)Scott F.
Having lived in Hilo for a few years now, Cafe Pesto is a favorite. It is one of the nicer restaurants in all of Hilo. For someone who lives here it is a tad pricey, but for folks visiting it will seem very reasonable for the quality of food and the atmosphere. Don't overlook the desserts here! They are really good.
(5)Jaina A.
Started with the crostini and had the Rock Crab w/ Alfredo Linguini. The bread was crusty and delightful, I love how they add a dash of Big Island greens on the plate. The pasta was perfectly cooked, crab added a slight saltiness and on top of the pasta was spinach which added a nice freshness to the dish. Kinda on the pricey side but a good alternative to the plate lunch.
(4)Ian R.
We found Cafe Pesto last August, and upon returning to the Big Island a week ago, we stopped in again. We weren't disappointed. Once again we were treated to a wonderful lunch. There were four of us dining. Three vegetarians, and one not. We all walked away full, and happy. Our group of four has picky eaters, and dietary concerns. Cafe Pesto came through for us.
(4)Tory J.
Man I love this place. As a student in Hilo, it is my sanctuary for good food! I first ate here at the one on Kona side in Kawaihai on a vacation with my family when I was younger. I have been to the islands 6 times and only once I have not eaten here. We fell in love with their pizzas. When I moved here, my mom and I ate there 3 times within 10 days! My favorite series of courses here is the rosemary gorgonzola bruschetta appetizer followed by the mushroom artichoke pizza and topped off by the chocolate ganache. Simply delicious. You really have to try any of the things with their rosemary gorgonzola sauce. It is addicting! It is fairly reasonable with prices, especially if you stick to pizzas instead of the larger entrees. They also often have good live music that isn't usually too loud. I plan on eating here on Friday!
(5)Steven R.
Very friendly people working there. Went twice while we were there. The pineapple was so fresh on the pizza. It was fantastic. The salads were good too. They had an assortment of other foods as well including seafood which isn't my favorite but the people I went with loved it. I definitely recommend if you are in Kona to try Cafe Pesto! It's a bit of a drive but well worth it.
(5)Richard T.
Like this spot in an Historical Building in Hilo. It's has a good vibe with a mixture of students from the University, business people, and of course tourist. We had a delicious Shrimp and Sweet Chili pizza and the fried calamari was a nice exotic change from the standard "round pieces"(they were calamari steaks, with a coconut batter and a sweet dipping sauce.
(4)Sahra H.
Wow. The fish that I had a Cafe Pesto was probably the best-cooked fish that I have ever had at a restaurant. It was so tasty, so un-fishy, and all-in-all done to perfection! The ono really was ono. The poke was super. And the shrimp nachos were so seriously good, topped with this amazing salsa that had coconut water in it. I was beyond impressed. The food is light, healthy, delicious, fresh, and artful.
(5)Daniela A.
Practically everything on the menu is great. The calzones, pasta and gourmet pizzas are especially good. They make a great martini, too. They have live jazz on sundays and great ambiance every other day, as well. The service is excellent and the desserts are to die for. Cafe Pesto is also a great place just to get drinks and appetizers.
(5)Sam L.
It was 8:30PM, and this town seems to turn into a ghost town at this time as it was either this place or a seriously loud mexican place a few doors down where the menu states on an item "breaded and deep fried by our master chef". Anyway, we chose Pesto. This place is not inexpensive. My girlfriend and I spent $70 with tip and with her ordering one drink. I had ordered something called the Island Salad with Ahi, and when it came it didn' t resemble a salad at all. In fact it wasn't a salad it was just an Ahi dish with three small pieces of Ahi, a slice of tomato and 3 slices of sweet potato. It *was* incredibly good and it's totally my fault for not saying anything after I was half way into the dish and realized it wasn't what I ordered. But it apparently was a $30 dish. My girlfriend got the stir fry at $18 and it was good too. The only reason I give it 3 stars is because I just don't think it was all that great for the price. And the service was kind of snooty and started out with "Hi my name is ... and I'll be your server tonight". And he seemed annoyed to have to be working or something. Furthermore, the place was pretty empty, but instead of giving everyone decent seats, they crammed everyone by the window so outsiders would think the place is busy. One more complaint is that most of the dishes were listed as "Market Price". Hae that.
(3)Ashwina M.
My husband and I shared a pizza and the chicken and mushroom risotto dish. I am a HUGE fan of pizza and eat pizza from everywhere all the time! With that being said, their pizza was REALLY good! The chicken and risotto dish was amazing too, I still wish I could go back and have it again and again! I was SO glad that my travel agent recommended we eat there! Very clean place and the service was great too!
(5)Stephanie D.
This is one of our favorite restaurants! The food is fresh and delicious. My husband loves their free range chicken and mushroom risotto. My personal favorite is the Chicken Lallo Rosa salad. Whenever I get together with a particular friend, we share a salad, pizza, and the apple crisp! Their apple crisp is amazing!!! Sometimes we just go to eat that...LOL! We bring our out of town guests here too and they all love it :)
(5)Norman C.
Great thin crust shrimp, crab, and maui onion pizza. Great service with a bayfront view in downtown Hilo. $20 for a large pizza. Comfortable and clean with a great ambiance. We would come here again to try the dinner menu and Lilikoi cheescake.
(5)Katherine W.
I'm not really a pizza eater, but I loved the Pizza Luau. It had Kalua-style pork, local sweet onions and fresh Hawaiian pineapple. Delish. It is a great place to stop for lunch when you are in Hilo. Very reasonable prices as well.
(4)R.J. R.
great dinner. highly recommended
(4)Jodie G.
The chicken on the chicken salad was so tender and flavorful. The wait staff was also very helpful.
(5)Kate C.
Still great. We had the kailua pork pizza again and it was very tasty. The next day my husband ordered the seared poke salad and it was outstanding. I'd skip the kailua pork sandwich though.
(5)Chris E.
The place was packed on a Monday night, so we sat at the bar, which I am glad we did. K had a delicious Cosmo and I had the best Mai Tai I ever had. Foodwise, the wife had Ono with a cilantro sauce and is still raving about it. Yummy yummy Poke! I had the beef special. The steak was perfect - had a bit of gristle on the edge, but I love that. The glaze was, I think sweet soy and green onion and perfect. The red potatoes were done how I always want home fries to be - individually crispy. The only weird thing were the mushrooms, which were slathered in BBQ sauce. They were good, but the really didn't fit with the other stuff on the plate. What impressed me most was the way the restaurant ran. I can't say "was run" because there didn't seem to be anyone in charge.. No meddling manager, just a bunch of people who worked well together. The kitchen was quiet and busy and the waitstaff was attentive when most crews would have been overwhelmed. Great place
(5)Phill W.
Cafe Pesto is the perfect place to spend an afternoon in Hilo. With giant windows facing the harbor, friendly laid back staff, lots of space, and high airy ceilings in a historical building it's easy to lose track of time. I only had dinner once, but their approach is right on -- fresh ingredients (mostly from Big Island), simple, healthy combinations, and portions that won't make you tip the scales. Don't miss out on the King's Mighty Punch -- not your typical sweet tropical libation.
(5)Ron L.
Cafe Pesto is one of the most consistently great places I've been to in Hawaii. The pizza, pastas, salads are great. More later.
(5)Steve C.
We visited this restaurant based on the Yelp reviews. I had the catch of the day sandwich which consisted of a nice warm sesame seed bun with two small filet of grilled mahi mahi, one small slice of fresh tomato, one tiny leaf of lettuce, and a flavored mayo--a side of purple-skin potato salad accompanied. The food was good. The service left much to be desired. Our waiter must have found the women at the table behind us intriguing because he returned to their table no less than 10 times while we were there. We saw him perhaps three times: drink order, food order, then delivery of the check. We got no visit asking us if our food was OK nor did our water glasses ever get refilled. It took forever to get the food delivered and the check delivery was equally slow. I know Hilo may be a laid back ocean-front town but some of us have an agenda that doesn't include sitting in a "Italian" restaurant all afternoon.
(3)Robert P.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Great kicked back atmosphere and really delicious seafood and thin crust pizza...and ICE CREAM worth yelping about. Friendly staff too!
(5)Sam S.
Legit Italian on the Big Island?? I was pretty skeptical but after hearing multiple locals rave about it, especially when we asked for the best food in Hilo, we thought we'd give it a shot. And boy, am I glad we did. It was so good, we came back a second time during our stay! One of the best dishes we had was actually their focaccia appetizer (the rosemary olive oil one) - it was extremely simple, tasty, and reminiscent of what you'd find in Italy, which brought back great memories! We actually ordered all 3 varities to sample but the rosemary one was the best. Our second visit, we tried the smoken salmon pizzette to start, and it was also amazing. Their pizza was stellar too, I chose the pepperoni classico (meat meat meat) and it was again, reminiscent of actual Italian pizza. By this point, I was a definite fan! Great atmosphere, plenty of seating, tourist-friendly hours (one of the few places open late for dinner in Hilo!) and friendly service topped off a perfect evening for us. It's part of why we came back again, and we had an equally awesome time!
(5)Bruce M.
If Yelp allowed half stars, this would be a 4.5. At dinner the other night I started with a bowl of crab bisque that seriously may be the best soup I've ever had, with just layers and layers of interesting flavors. It came with a basket of warm, super-fresh bread. My main course was smoked salmon alfredo: linguine tossed in alfredo sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and two kinds of mushrooms, topped with a thick filet of smoked salmon. This was a near-miss. The smoked salmon was so intense and salty that it overpowered the other, subtler flavors. The dish would have worked much better with grilled fresh salmon. The combination of the soup and rich pasta was so filling that I skipped dessert. The service was good and the atmosphere pleasant. Live music was provided by an older fellow playing acoustic guitar and singing in a pretty nice voice. He started with a couple Hawaiian tunes that were quite enjoyable, but when he started dredging the '70s soft-rock songbook, I wanted to beg for mercy.
(4)Kathryn W.
Yummy food. I have wanted to come here for many years. Always looks busy from the outside. Finally went when they were open on Labor Day. Lots of local food cooked in interesting ways. Had the chicken and mushroom risotto. I wish that it had more color to the plate. They did have a giant red tortilla chip which seemed out of place. But otherwise it was just tan. Lots of dessert options which I didn't get to try because I was too full. But will definitely go back. The bathrooms are located outside of the establishment for the building. They are not kept up as they should for the quality of the restaurant.
(4)Claudia J.
This place was recommended by the hotel we stayed and it had great reviews on yelp. Unfortunately we were very disappointed. We ordered the focaccia and coconut crusted calamari. The calamari was decent, the focaccia was dreadful. It was soaked in olive oil, it was soggy and I swear it tasted like there was mayonnaise somewhere in there. We moved on to the entrees. My husband ordered the pesto linguini and I ordered the seafood risotto. I love risotto and the waiter said it was popular. The disappointment continued. The pesto was not fresh and it appeared like the put some sort of marinara or tomato mixture on top. You can't do pesto and marinara sauce! It's one or the other! It was all also very bland. Did I mention out food was bland? Just wanted to make sure. My risotto came with a couple of shrimp, small lobster tail, a scallop and a piece of fish. The risotto was also bland and it almost seemed like they microwaved one of those frozen steamed bags of rice and placed seafood on top. The shrimp was rubbery and I don't think I've had a tougher time cutting through a lobster tail even with a knife. The fish was dry. Nothing on the plate was salvageable. I will say the bread and butter we had before our meal was good. The bread was warm and there were spices added to the butter. We had such a long day and all we wanted was good meal. My fellow yelpers!! You let me down!
(1)Kristine C.
My parents are all about not eating out, however, eating out is the only option since our hotel is in Kona and we have about a 2 hour drive back. Tonight, was not an option to be cooking. Sorry! I just had to give them a little nudge and convincing that we have a long drive back and that downtown Hilo was not so far away. My dad approved and opted for a meal out (yay!). He saw Cafe Pesto from where we were parked and decided he wanted this little gem. We walk in and it was nice with AC! The setting had a nice victorian feel on the outside and the smell gave that impression on the inside as well. The decors were calm simple with Hawaiian paintings on most of the walls with a full bar. I came in here feeling like I haven't eaten anything real in quite a while. I decided on the Sweet and Sour Stir Fry with beef. The stir fry can be ordered vegetarian style (tofu) or chicken. The dish is garlic infused with snow peas, local palm hearts, won bok cabbages, tossed in sweet and sour sauce and white rice. Super tasty and the beef is not hard to chew on but is soft with the vegetables. This left a light feeling to my palette and stomach. My parents ordered the Wild Mushrooms with Artichoke Pizza and added pepperoni to this sweet concoction. I must say the cheese was amazing! The pizza consisted of fresh hamakua mushrooms, artichokes and gorgonzola sauce (sorry no picture!). Everything tasted great together. Perhaps the best pizza I've had in a very long time. I am looking forward to coming back here to try more of their dishes on my next trip back to Hilo. Parking is ample, bathrooms (must ask for the code). Customer service is excellent!
(5)Kira K.
The food here is SO good! My bf and I could not stop eating haha. We got the shrimp nachos as an appetizer, and for an entree I got the chili shrimp pizza, and my bf got the Greek calzone. -shrimp nachos: delicious sauce! The portion is pretty small for $14 though, but it was delicious -CHILI SHRIMP PIZZA: one of the best pizzas I've ever had!!! All the ingredients together, along with the fluffy dough was soooo good! (*note: if you don't like sweet chili sauce, do not get this, because it has the sauce on the shrimp) -Greek calzone: my bf loved it, and finished it even though he was full lol.. He also loved the marinara sauce .. It tasted homemade and fresh Can't wait to come back again and try some other things
(5)A S.
Same go to stand by when in hilo and wanting a popular meal. not too many veg/vegan options and service is good. Remains very popular so expect a wait if not reserved. Bathrooms need a deep scrub and deodorizing.
(4)Christian R.
The atmosphere and the food was fantastic! Get a window seat ! For sure ! Ordered the Linguine pesto, and it was great! My only downfall is that I should of asked for grilled chicken instead of the sausage it comes with ..would have blended better .. Wife ordered the chicken mushroom risotto, was also really good .. This place is a high 4 stars in my book! Service was a little slow, but friendly ..
(4)Anne C.
Had an early dinner with the family. Making the reservation through Yelp SeatMe was so fast and easy. The kids always enjoy their pizzas here. My daughter had the pepperoni pizza and my son devoured his four-cheese pizza. We shared a large blue cheese caesar salad. Sometimes the salad is very heavily dressed, but it was perfect this evening. My husband ordered the ham sandwich that we enjoyed. Yummy cheese and mushrooms with the dijon mustard make this open-faced ham sandwich worth the trip to Cafe Pesto. I had the seared poke salad. I like it but don't love it. It had a lot of dressing on it. But it is hard to go wrong with seared poke on a fresh salad.
(4)Chris L.
This place was packed and same-day reservations were limited. I was surprised. Most people were ordering pizzas and out to early Valentine's day dinners. The southwest pizza is delicious. The seafood risotto with lobster, ahi, scallops, etc. was ok ($38). The fish calzone was ok. The coconut fried calamari was good with the lillikoi sauce. The smoked salmon pasta was lacking in flavor. The noodles and sauce were bland. The table bread was one of the best things here. We didn't care much for the service. The waitress was nice but the hosts were busy and not that great. The bussers were rushing us and kind of rude.
(3)Magun S.
This location was great! The staff was excellent and the food was delicious. We started out with the salmon pizette, SO amazing! I ordered the risotto and my husband had the salmon Alfredo, we were not disappointed. The risotto was seasoned perfectly and the rice was cooked to perfection. My husband loved his Alfredo. The Hilo sunrise was a little too bitter for my taste so I would suggest asking for more iced tea than lemonade. We tried the Pesto Cafe near our resort, Mauna Lani, and were very disappointed. The service was horrible and the food was not as good as the location in Hilo. To save yourself, go to the Hilo location, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Chris S.
Cafe Pesto is one of the better places to dine in Hilo. But, that statement doesn't hold a ton of clout. There aren't many better than average dining options in this city, although the locals will likely disagree. If you were giving Cafe Pesto a rating compared to other establishments on this side of the island it'd be a 5-star. Meanwhile, when comparing to all restaurants it's average, if not a bit better than average. One of their strong points are the salads. They are graced by fresh, crisp greens (they taste like they came directly from the farmers market down the street) and taste great. You'll be impressed. Another item to try is the coconut calamari. It's excellent. How they are able to make the calamari so tender surprised us. Order it. We came here for pizza. The thought of coal fire pizza was enticing after all the wonderful seafood we had on the Kona side of the island. Meanwhile, it reminded us more of Dominos than something special. It's average pizza that was very doughy. On the other hand, average pizza on this island is considered good. It's simple. You'll get great, friendly service here and definitely slightly above average food, but if you are from the Northeast or a place where there's good Italian available you'll think it's average. If you're from the Pacific Northwest (which a lot of folks to come here from) you'll probably fall in love. And, I'm not bashing this place at all. It's a fun spot with some great items, but it is average Italian. If you believe otherwise, you think Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill is good Italian.
(3)Kevin H.
Delicious Italian restaurant in the heart of Hilo. Live music in the evening, which added to the overall experience. The ciabatta w/ garganzola was amazing, and rich of flavor. The mango chicken made a great entree. My friend was in love with the opah. Highly recommend for dinner in Hilo.
(5)Bumble B.
I've now been to Cafe Pesto twice, and both times I have had great service and quality food. You can taste the freshness of the ingredients. Live music is a really nice touch, but they typically only have it on Fridays and Sundays. This second time, I went on a Saturday and brought my parents who were visiting, so I was a bit bummed to find there wouldn't be live music. Despite that, their food is tasty - I recommend their pizzas, the carrot ginger bisque soup (OMG creamy carrot goodness with a hint of ginger!), their chicken risotto, and their linguine pesto pasta were all wonderful.
(4)Peter P.
Had takeout from Cafe Pesto quite often, and I really enjoyed the food. I was a slave to the Chili Shrimp Pizza, I think I ordered it about 3-4 times throughout my visit. I tried a few others, but I wouldn't recommend the other pizzas, just go for the win: Chili Shrimp Pizza: Chili seasoned large shrimp over cilantro creme fraiche shiitake mushrooms, green onions
(5)Jess F.
Stopped in here just out of the blue. We were looking for somewhere for a quick bite as we drove around the island. The food was really really good. I was a little disappointed in the fact that the first burger, their special of the day was sold out when we ordered at 1pm. The service seemed to be a little on the inattentive side but I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to grab a nice bite to eat while in town
(4)Alyssa J.
We were pleased to get last minute reservations here for Mother's Day. Service was attentive & efficient despite a full house. That night I ordered the Grilled Chicken & Hamakua Mushroom Risotto, my go-to dish here. The generous portion of chicken is tender albeit lacking some flavor. Luckily the rich saffron arborio rice makes up for it. Another favorite is the Wild Mushrooms & Artichoke pizza, probably one of the best pizzas I've had in my life -- creamy & so rich. My only complaint is that more often than not, part of the crust will come out burnt, which is a shame because while I tend to avoid the dense tasteless pizza crusts from other establishments, I actually want to eat the crust here. My mom ordered the Big Island BLT pizza that night & yes, part of the crust was burnt. Although we had to eat around the burnt crust, the rest of the pizza was delicious. Still, if you're paying $20 for a 12" pizza, you'd expect it to be fully edible. I didn't get to try the Smoked Salmon Alfredo that my dad ordered but he seemed to enjoy it. Five stars for the Hot Apple Crisp dessert with the amazing mac nut topping! Talk about melt in your mouth goodness. Be sure to order it a la mode! It's topped with a heaping scoop of Tahitian vanilla ice cream. Need I say more?
(4)Maria S.
One of our favorites on the Big Island. Service, ambiance, fresh and flavorful food is pretty consistent. We've tried most of the pizzas, salads, soups, open face sandwiches, calamari and hamburgers and love them all. Lilikoi margarita is quite delicious! You can't go wrong here-- they have something for everyone.
(5)Kalia G.
Service is always so great there and I love that they serve fresh seafood in addition to their amazing pizzas of which you can choose any topping combo you wish!
(5)Sara L.
This place was recommended by another restaurant that had already run out of food for the day. So we wandered around until we found the place and got seated right away. It took awhile for the waitress to either notice us or tend to us. The inside also got very smoky from the kitchen and they had to open the doors to let in the air. That being said, the food was pretty good. I ordered the Milolii sandwich - Garlic bay shrimp, crab, mushrooms, cheese on french bread - $14.95. What I didn't realize was this was an open faced sandwich and each side had the mixture on it and was toasted. It was good but I probably would have ordered something else if I had known it was an open faced sandwich. I also added a garden salad to it for $5.50 which was nice and I got the pesto dressing which I kept to add to my sandwich. The Molokai sweet potato salad was a bit on the sweet side from the sweet potatoes which was a nice change. They brought some fresh bread out to the table and it was basic white bread but was fresh white bread with herb butter. We were too stuffed to order any kind of desserts so I'm not sure how those are. I would come back again or even try their Kawaihae location if I am over that way.
(4)Tiffany T.
* Visit again? YES * Location: downtown area, clean * Staff: 8/10 * Food: 9/10 * Price: $$ * Proportion: good DETAILS Delicious pizza plates! Our order was around $30-40 for two dishes lunch. Ordered a pizza with some flavorful cheese and spinach. Crust was crunchy and the pizza tasted amazing! Also ordered a calzone and the cheese was super cheesy (in a good way). Restrooms smelled of chemicals but they could not be detected from inside the restaurant. Nonetheless, we would definitely come back!
(5)Andreas F.
A classic venue located in the real old Hilo parts of the town right off the bay. Came here for dinner and got seated right away by the friendly host. They had a live band performer in the middle of the restaurant who added some nice background ambiance without being annoying. Here you either go Hawaiian or Pizza or Hawaiian Pizza. They offer some really good seafood if you wanna be safe, otherwise try something new from the Hawaiian cuisine. Service was attentive, genuine and gorgeous (Yes you get extra points for that). Food was fresh an delightful as it should, and pricing wasnt very Swedish as expected. They got one dish wrong when we ordered, but they solved it really quick and also compensated us for it. This is the place you wanna spend both time and money at and you will feel the Hawaiian soul while doing it. But remember, although its tempting, you cant bring anything home!
(4)Chelsey A.
Not very many places in Hilo that you can dress up to and have a date night/girls night out. Cafe Pesto is one of them. Cafe Pesto has been my go to place for a great dinner and drinks on girls night out! Great atmosphere, and I have never had bad food there. I've been going for years, and I'm glad Hilo has a place like this! The place is always packed with locals and tourists!
(5)Alicia F.
Started with the salmon pizette. It was amazing. Waiter was pretty attentive. Ordered a seafood sandwich, which came open faced and was very delicious. Close to water and very close to farmers market. The atmosphere was nice but the food was stellar. Definitely go here if you are in Hilo.
(4)John R.
Best pizza out in a long time, and I make it from scratch at home. So, definitely try the artichoke and wild mushrooms pizza because you in for a treat. Oh, and the volcano mist salad was yummy as well. Good service and live music!
(5)Orville S.
I am 87 years old and their new Better Burger Project turned out the best hamburger I have ever had. The combination of grinding the mushrooms and beef together is fabulous. Add the cucumber crab mix plus the avocado just adds to the flavor. I ordered mine medium and it was slightly pink in the center and very moist. Bon appetite.
(5)Leisha A.
Great food, great drinks, nice atmosphere. I highly recommend the smoked salmon pizzette and the linguini al pesto. Soo good. My coworker had the Santa Fe pasta, that looked delicious as well. I'm 99% sure I could have eaten the entire pizzette by myself haha. I'm not a fan of blue cheese but my boss's salad looked good too. We ended with an amazing creme brûlée, a flourless chocolate cake, and the bosses had a coconut tart ala mode. The creme brûlée I swear is what I've always thought it should be. I will definitely be back.
(5)Ruth S.
We had an amazing dinner here tonight. The Ahi, cooked medium and Ono were the best we've ever had. The service was not perfect, just ok. I didn't tip my usual 20% for the service I'd expect. Also, only 4 stars because the wine pour was small and the prices for entrees was LARGE. Overpriced by at least $5 per entree. Quality and quantity of food was 5 stars.
(4)Annette Y.
Wow! I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Me and the hubby spent the whole day at Rainbow Falls and Volcano National Park, and we were starving...on the hunt for some good food, and there it is on Yelp, Pesto Cafe! I absolutely loved it! Service was great, food was hot and ready, wait staff was on it, and the food was amazing! I ordered the Chicken Risotto and the husband ordered the Smoked Salmon Pizette 9". Chicken Risotto - amazing! Saffron was amazing, flavor was amazing, warm, melted risotto in your mouth with each bite. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. And, the chicken was cooked perfectly with the skin just slightly fried on the top. Everything was just perfect about it..the presentation, taste, smell, everything! I loved it. The husband ordered the Smoked Salmon Pizette - ahhhhhmaaaazing! He was raving about it all night. The smoked salmon was seasoned perfectly & went well with the blend of cheese (maybe creme fresh?)..absolutely amazing and to-die-for. I will definitely be recommending this place to folks. Thanks for the great food & wonderful service, Cafe Pesto.
(5)Oliver S.
Casey and the team at Cafe Pesto just catered my wedding and it was so good!! The food was amazing and everyone loved it. They were great at communication and were really helpful in us deciding the menu. They even let my in laws come in and taste everything. The day of the wedding Casey and team set up and prepared everything and it went flawlessly! Such a hit! Thank you!!
(5)Chloe C.
The food is absolutely amazing! If you love Italian and sea food.. This is a must stop if you are in hilo. The service is pretty exceptional as well.
(5)Rena H.
We went to the Hilo Farmer's Market and ended up at Café Pesto for lunch. My son got a medium pepperoni pizza, my daughter got the linguine with marinara sauce (did not like, the sauce tasted like bell peppers and not tomato sauce), I got the buffalo mozzerela and tomato appetizer and my husband got the Asian chicken and veggies stirfry. Yes.... my husband ordered an Asian dish at an Italian restaurant.... I got tired of asking "you're ordering what?" Everything was good, service was good. This is a nice place to visit after going to the farmers market.
(4)Israel T.
Pros: good service, excelente italiano cuisine, good location. Cons: a little bit pricey.
(5)Bing A.
They have not failed me yet. The food is good and the service is nice.
(5)C S.
Yummy!! Wood fired pizza was great! Everything was fresh and flavorful!! Definitely go if you love good food!!
(5)Howard H.
As we passed through Hilo on our way back from the volcano, we decided to stop by and grab a bite here which ironically enough was the only one which could accommodate our party of 7. This place is an Italian cafe with island influences. It works but since I'm from NYC, I'm kind of a stickler for my Italian fare. The pizza was fresh and tasted good but to be honest, its a far cry from the stuff I'm used to eating in NYC so it didn't really do much for me. The service was good and the highlight of our meal was when some kind dropped a glass on his cousin causing a panic when first blood was drawn like Rambo. The families argued loudly next to us about whose fault it was while the kid bawled on the street and the staff cleaned things up quickly. I will say that the staff took care of that moment incredibly professionally even when the family started leaving before the food was on the table (and presumably before the bill was settled). This is definitely an option for someone looking for artisanal pizza in Hilo.
(3)Vai L.
Had dinner last night with my hunny. First time at cafe pesto. The wait wasn't too long, the hostess was very nice. The moment we walked into the restaurant the smell of butter, cheese and herbs filled the air. Exactly what an Italian restaurant should smell like. We had a nice window seat for two. The bread they brought out with their basil butter was the best bread I've ever had in a restaurant. So delicious! Crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. We ordered drinks, Strawberry Shortcake is delish. Coconut battered calamari with their sweet dipping sauce is really good. Seafood Mushroom Risotto was pretty good. It comes with fish, lobster, scallops and shrimp. My scallops and fish were still raw and cold inside. I don't mind raw fish in a Japanese style dish, but on a hot plate, it wasn't very good. First time eating Risotto, it was different, pretty sure Gordon Ramsey would say, "damn!" The babe's had the Kaulana Beef, it tasted moist and tender with the reduction. 2nd round of drinks I had the Kona Sunset, I just had amaretto replace the alcohol. After our 2nd round of drinks, we couldn't fit in dessert. Service was pretty right on, food was mostly really good, prices a little high. But a memorable dinner date for sure.
(4)Logan K.
Small pour of an $11 glass of wine. Good vibes though with excellent servers and good pizza.
(3)Brian H.
This was a memorable meal for one reason. The sweet potato bisque was the best soup I've ever had. Hands down. In addition, the calzone was incredible, a bit salty but that's to be expected when it includes prosciuotto. The seared ono was spot on. And finally, the cheesecake with lilliquoi sauce and macadamia nut cookie crust....yum! Cafe Pesto is a bit on the spendy side but for our last dinner on the island before heading back to UT, it was well worth it.
(5)Daphne B.
We had the grilled chili shrimp pizza, chicken risotto, the cheeseburger, the four cheese pizza, and my daughter had the Pele pasta. Hubs and I split a piece of the mango cheesecake. All of the food was EXCELLENT, especially the cheesecake. I did manage to keep from licking my plate. The service was friendly, our water was kept filled at appropriate intervals. It did take a long time to get our food considering we were here at an off hour (4pm), but I'm guessing that's just island time.
(4)Kimberly B.
My husband and I went here a few hours before our red-eye flight back home. We didn't want to be disappointed by our last meal in Hawaii and were not. Now I have to say, the 80s decor did turn me off a tad bit. It had an air of a cheesy resort-type place. But we quickly forgot about these distractions. The wine list was great, and the food - wow. I typically don't like ahi tuna (it always tastes like meatier canned tuna to me and I'm not into the seared/raw style either). I had some of my husband's ahi the night before at another restaurant and thought why not. It was the special and my favorite local, ono, was not on the menu that night. Needless to say, I finished every bite. It was beyond delicious! It came with truffle mashed potatoes, a small and lovely salad, and even edible flowers. (My husband ordered a steak dish and loved it as well.) The staff was very pleasant and helpful. I'd like to hope we'll be back!
(5)Azzi E.
While visiting Hilo area we decided to have a nice dinner. Walking along the historical building in the old Hilo, we randomly walked into a decent looking restaurant with a name suggesting Italian cuisine. The restaurant appears to be popular - it was pretty crowded but we got seated immediately (without a reservation). Although the menu suggests Italian/Pacific fusion cuisine, the decor was not appropriate - we felt like in a Chinese restaurant. The tables and chairs were old and cheap (in apparently mid-to-upper range restaurant I would expect better). As an appetizer we ordered soup of the day (cream of mushroom - the cream was OK but the taste too strong, I did not like it very much) and seared poke with spinach (this was not exactly what we expected - I am used to poke as small raw cubes of tuna, this was a single seared steak of tuna on top of the spinach leaves). As an entree we order shrimp scampi pasta and linguine al pesto. Although the pasta was nicely mixed with the ingredients I don't think the pasta was home made. The advertised salmon in linguine was a miniature piece. In general, the pasta was average and below the expectation. After the dinner we had a coffee. I asked for espresso. Although the waiter talked about great organic local coffee, the blend, roast and grind were a disaster for the espresso - expecting a nice Italian coffee after the dinner, we got pretty disgusting one. Overall, this restaurant was an average experience. Comparing the quality of the meals to the price, I think it was overpriced. If they change the decor, food and attitude, this could be a great restaurant.
(3)Patricia P.
Best food in Hilo. Coconut crusted calamari is great. The "Chef's Choice" Kulana Beef was to die for. So tender and flavor able. Excellent!
(5)Dalila H.
Great food, my family and I had the Greek calzone, salmon Alfredo and a pizza for my little one. All were very delicious! Husband and I had drinks and those were tasty as well, however I wasn't to pleases with the service. All of our entrees were brought to us a different times and the waiter took a very longtime to bring my little one a cup of juice. Didn't help that everything was too pricey
(3)Ron O.
Fried Calamari was a good appetizer, Volcano Salad was yummy, but the special for the night was most memorable...Seared Scallops with Pumpkin Lasagne and Lemongrass Butter Sauce -- outstanding! Good service, nice ambiance (local singer/musician was very good) and good selection of wines.
(4)Lauren C.
Came here for dinner after Kayaking. Sooooo tired and hungry. Very good Pizza and Calzones. Shrimp Scampi was just OK, I've had better.
(4)Susan M.
I travel to Hilo every year. I first visited Pesto 4 years ago and then went again about 6 months ago. First time I wan not overly impressed, but thought I'd give it another chance. I am not a super picky foodie critic so thought, "Why not?", I looooove Italian where ever I go. However, I really felt like they were still non attentive and they had 'other' things they wanted to be doing.besides serve us. Had to wait for water, wait for the order to be taken, waited for food, etc. The food was pretty good but a bit overpriced. Next time I would like to try some smaller place where the server makes me feel like a special visitor and they've got the Aloha Spirit in full, not like we are an inconvenience.
(2)Brian S.
Had the risotto and pizza special that was the makilai sandwich as a pizza. The risotto was great, I always order it vegetarian and this time they put celery, zukinni, carrots, and tomatoes besides the fresh mushrooms. It was Great!!!! The pizza was really good, It had real snow crab, shrimp, sweet onion, mushrooms, and all in a basil oil sauce. The reason I am giving this a 3 star is do to service, our waitress Stephanie, was horrible. She ignored us when we tried to get more ice tea and get her attention. She was slow and gave priority to others. I love this cafe and come all the time so I hope I get better service or something.
(3)Brooke J.
Crummy. I ate here with 2 friends. One was just looking for a bathroom. I wish I had known that! I tried the Miloli`i. I do not know why I did. Dry, dry, dry. Cheese + shrimp = :( The shrimp were tiny. They tasted frozen. I might have got 4 for the entire serving. Most restaurants will give you 5 medium to large shrimp in a serving. If the shrimp are tiny, most serve 6 or 7 to keep their diners happy. For heaven's sake why would they add cheese? It was fake parmesan and added naught but salt to an overly dry crust. There's theoretically crab in here, but you'd need a magnifying glass to find it. Very disappointing considering that there's fresh crab skittering by the window. The garlic on this was undetectable, too. I hope you're not thirsty. Our waiter took our order then left us for dead. This made a bad meal worse. My mouth was a desert. Cafe Pesto bills itself as a fine dining restaurant. The chairs look as though they're the same ones they opened with. They are exceedingly uncomfortable. The dining room is in disrepair and in desperate need of a makeover. Normally I don't care about the ambience, but this level of neglect was distracting. There is a gorgeous view of Hilo Bay, though. $19 tip included for a very disappointing lunch. That's a dinner price for Hilo.
(2)Rachel J.
Not vegan friendly. They say there is a cheeseless option for the pizzas, but almost all of the sauce has cheese in it. They ended up bringing me a greasy tofu fajita that was almost all onions and fries that had cheese on them even after telling them I can't have any. Great way to ruin a date.
(1)Jenny K.
The Luau Pizza and dragon fruit juice were both really good, but nothing else on the menu really appealed to me so I don't think I would go back. The service was friendly but very very slow. The place wasn't very busy and had an abundant amount of servers walking around, but it still took 15 minutes before we were even acknowledged. It looked like the servers were helping with dishes or something, which is rather gross since they also handle food. Heavily overpriced.
(3)Samdooby R.
Consistency is the key here. Nothing on the menu will knock your socks off but you wont go home feeling like you just blew money for nothing... To me, this place is all about the pizza. I love their dough and quirky combination of toppings. It comes out with the perfect crust and a nice smoky, char flavor. Everything is melted perfectly and it comes to your table hot!! Their appetizers are ono also. Especially their pizzettes. Perfect size and combo of toppings! Their main entrees are good, just a little boring as they never seem to really change it up. Salads are good and can't go wrong with their fresh catch.. Again, for a consistent meal and convenient location, Cafe Pesto is a must!
(3)Michael R.
Cafe Pesto remains our favorite restaurant in Hilo. Service was good, in fact better than anything else in Hilo. The restaurant is contemporary and very clean looking. We made a reservation for two and put us at a table four feet away from each other. This cuts down on intimacy and close conversations. We told the waiter we were there celebrating a birthday, the entertainer sang a birthday song to another customer and we were given a to go cookie. Not accommodating for special occasions. The food was excellent. Well prepared and beautiful presentation.
(4)Stephanie H.
The food was amazing . The service was terrible. I still don't know who was my wait err/waitress. We had like 5 different people to come to the table multiple times. We also had to wait super long before someone cane to take our order as well as for the check .
(2)Amasa A.
I enjoyed my Linguine al Pesto. The ambiance was a bit middlebrow until the live jazz started up -- then it got nice and romantic. Good wine selection.
(4)Donna R.
This is my go-to eatery when in Hilo - usually 3 months per year. Their thin crust, wood-fired Margherite pizza is my favorite and, in my opinion, is the best on the island. Although, this is not saying much when Pizza Hut was voted best pizza in East Hawaii by the readers of the Hilo Tribune-Herald! Really? Sorry, I had to get that off my chest! Back to Cafe Pesto..... My husband loves the Stromboli and the Volcano Mist salad is delish! Everyone we have taken there have loved their choices and while they are not inexpensive, their prices are in line with any high-end cafe. In my search for fine dining in Hilo, Cafe Pesto still delivers!
(5)Yvette K.
I really liked Cafe Pesto a few months back when we were in Hilo. They have a large menu with really yummy items that I look forward to trying more of.
(4)David P.
Great service! Polo risotto chicken and pizza from the wood fire oven were spectacular. Would return and recommend . Second time eating here on our trip. Pizzas are woodfire and the chicken apple sausage is delicious. Great food!! Must stop in!
(5)Stephanie N.
Appreciate that they use fresh, local ingredients. For Starters, the Asian Pacific Crab Cakes, Coconut Crusted Calamari, and Sesame-Crusted Big Island Goat Cheese are good . . . Flavorful. Although during one visit the crab cakes were dry. Blue Caesar Salad is a favorite, and the Grilled Fresh Catch Salad is great with Ahi. The sesame citrus vinaigrette is just right --- a splash of tangy flavor. For lunch LOVE the Smoked Salmon Alfredo. Not a heavy pasta and the portion is large enough that I always have left-overs. Yum! The East West Calzone is also ideal for lunch since it's light and full of flavor. For dinner the Seared Seafood Risotto is mmm-mmm good! Wonderful. Fresh fish and seafood always cooked just right (not overdone) in a light truffle sauce. For dessert, the Hot Apple Crisp ala mode is oh so 'ono! The Dragonfruit sorbet was so refreshing, but I think it might be a seasonal sorbet. The restaurant can get loud, so not always the best venue for a meeting. Parking is a challenge, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays when the Farmer's Market is open. Be advised that service is not consistent. A couple of the servers are pretty inattentive to their tables, while others are great.
(4)Jason B.
Desserts were good. Pizza was okay. Doesn't come close to brick oven / wood fired and the sauce tasted like something out of a can. Service was very good.
(3)Pammy L.
Sorry but wasn't impressed by the food. Ordered the seafood risotto, and calamari and both were just ok. Flavors didn't stand out to me. Prices seemed a bit high for the quality and portion of food.
(2)Shauna G.
Cafe Pesto is definitely one of our go-to places to eat here in Hilo. Service and food are consistently outstanding! Some of our favorites: Smoked Salmon Pizzette, Smoked Salmon Alfredo, Volcano Mist Salad, and Wild Mushroom & Artichoke Pizza.
(5)Mia C.
Cafe Pesto seemed to be a major hangout place for the locals in Hilo. There were more locals there than tourists like us. It was our last night in the big island and decided to come here as a final goodbye. We had a pizza and a coconut pastry and it was great.
(4)Linda S.
We had dinner here last night and simply had one of the best meals we've had in a long time. I don't know the last time I enjoyed a meal so much that I didn't want it to end! I had the special coconut-lime grilled ono, jasmine rice and ginger/peach slaw with miso dressing. The hot bread was great with their oh-so-delicious butter. Hubby had the Santa Fe pasta and loved it. We will definitely come back again if in Hilo...have already told friends about it.
(5)Manas A.
We loved Cafe Pesto so much, we went there twice during our three-day stay. The Seafood Risotto after a drive through the barren parts of Big Island was refreshingly welcome. A bit on the pricey side, though (given its ambiance, location, and fare).
(5)Tina P.
Everything was delish!!! We looked at several eateries jn the area & decided on Cafe Pesto. Very happy we did! The crab cake & Cesar salad were fabulous and the Chef's specials were very good!! So glad to have found this little gem... We'll be back on our next trip! Aloha!!
(5)Jason K.
I LOVE me some buffalo chicken pizza, and I will judge a pizza place based on their buffalo chicken pizza (if they even have it). I believe they call it a southwest pizza, which contains "Fresh cilantro pesto, chipotle barbeque chicken, red onions, and Big Island goat cheese." It was amazing, one of the best I've ever had. However, my wife didn't like her Salmon Alfredo that much. I guess pizza is the thing to get here.
(5)Pismole T.
I'm not a fan of pasta, we had party of ten adults and 11 children, with 5 separated bills, they handled it very professional , 5 stars for the excellent service. The food were okey , a little pricey but with a good service I don't mind. I will be back
(3)Patricia Y.
I want to go back to Hilo just to eat at this place, we took one of their pizzas for our flight home it's that good.
(5)Bonnie S.
Pretty good. If you are looking for an intimate dining experience, you might want to find a smaller restaurant. Cafe Pesto is a large restaurant with a lot of tables packed in. It has high ceilings, but it still is quite noisy when it is crowded. The lunch menu is pretty tasty. I went there on a business lunch a month ago, and I was quite pleased with my kalua pork sandwich with poha chutney (or preserves). I think it came with fries, which were yummy in my memory. The dinner menu has scarcely changed in years. The pizzas are yummy. I used to always order the chicken, which was well prepared. My favorite appetizer is the half-moon nachos, but poor lil ol me can't afford to get those anymore. I like cafe pesto, but I don't love it. It used to be my favorite restaurant in Hilo, but over the years it has gotten a little stale. The wild greens salad got less wild, the cheesiness factor kept increasing (literally they overloaded everything with tons of cheese), and the flavors from one dish to another became more homogenous. In short, its good but predictable. I guess we just grew apart. Its ok though, Cafe Pesto has plenty of lovers to keep it satisfied. UPDATE: Ate there last night for dinner, got the salmon pizzette, wild greens salad, and a nene goose martini. The meal was a solid 2 star affair. YUCK! My martini just tasted like vodka, no flavors to be detected. From the description with poha berry and ohelo berry mixed with the martini, I expected it to have some fruity flavors. The ohelo berries were just grossly floating as chunks in the bottom of the drink like someone had hurled in the glass. But like I said, it only tasted of straight up vodka. The smoke salmon pizzette was super fishy and greasy. I split it with my sister, and she said she had a bite that tasted like perfume, at which point she stopped eating.
(3)Albert M.
After a long day exploring Volcano National Park, we wanted pizza. Wow! This place was amazing. My wife and a shared the BLT and our son created his own topping pizza. I loved the atmosphere inside an old general store and the service was great. I highly recommend it!
(5)Acasia H.
Ive never been disappointed by this place. They are always mixing it up with their daily specials and I love that they use local ingredients! Its the diamond in the rough for Hilo restaurants. Its refreshing to see such quality ingredients and fresh foods come together and be as tasty and filling as a plate lunch. My favorite meal is sharing a yummy salad and a pizza or open-faced sandwich with a friend. I love the Sandalwood sandwich the most! The prices are decent considering their quality and there is something for everyones tastes! This is always the first restaurants I go to when I come back home from college and will always be on my mind when Im away!
(5)Jonathan L.
This place was a treat! The wife and I didn't know there was more that one on the island. We found this out while exploring on our own. I got a Free range burger called the Pesto Burger, it was great (11.95)! The wife ordered a Milolii sandwich (14.95). Drinks: sunrise and iced tea. 2.95 each soup 4.50 crispy ala mode 9.90 The location was right across the street from the beach. We had a chance to look around the different shops. This was how we found this gem. This is another restaurant I hope to see in Vegas!
(5)Gloria B.
After 2 days of straight physical activity and munching on light snacks here and there, my boyfriend and I were beyond ready to fill our stomachs with some real substance. We shared the Lokelani pizza (pesto, tomatoes, gorgonzola, and spinach) and the seared ahi poke salad. The salad was surprisingly large and the fish was plentiful. We devoured the pizza: partly because we were starving and partly because it was hot and tasty. My biggest issue with Cafe Pesto was that everything on the menu was overpriced by my standards. From what I'm used to where I live, this restaurant would be considered casual, but I totally get that this kind of a place might considered fancy in Hilo, and if people are willing to pay (the place was packed on weekday), then I guess there isn't too much room to complain. Plus, the food was good!
(4)Ryan H.
When they mean Pesto, they mean Pesto. Delicious pesto butter for the bread and they have great sandwiches here too. Not only did I finish my own meal but I also finished my wife's.
(4)Lorna M.
A wonderful experienced here. Food, the service was excellent, I would definitely recomend this placen to anyone. It was so good the first time, and we had to come back for another before flying out of the Island.
(5)Michael R.
This is our favorite restaurant in Hilo. The food is always well prepared and delicious. The pizzas are unique, the Calzones tend to be a little dry. The best dishes at Café Pesto are their specialties. They are always innovative offerings of fresh market ingredients. Service is attentive but not overbearing. Live music on occasion, providing a pleasant ambience. we highly recommend Café Pesto for an excellent dinner anytime or for those special occasions.
(5)Jennifer B.
We ate here per a google review that listed the restaurant as Hawaiian. Turns out really, NO it is not, as the waiter I talked to said, "We have some Hawaiian specials, always have kalua( for pizza) and turkey kalua." The Pepperoni pizza was excellent. Salads were clean of old lettuce and dirt, one of my pet peeves. My son had the Salmon Alfredo fettucine, which was smaller t han he would like, yet it looked good to me. Lots of tables with a super high ceiling. They were doing a brisk business with the Hula festival.
(4)Tom S.
This place is kind of out of the way, however well worth the search. The food was outstanding and the service very good and friendly. We had the soup that was loaded with seafood and didn't have to work for it by shelling anything. The pizza was outstanding. wanted to go back a second time but did not find until the day before leaving. Just wonderful comfort food at a very reasonable price!
(4)Colin F.
Being from Dallas, we have a million places for burgers and many of them are great. But I can't tell you where to get a better cheeseburger and fries than Café Pesto, anywhere. I know, it seems nuts to be in Hilo and have this great menu at CP and still order a cheeseburger. But our server talked me into it and God bless her. Amazing, crispy garlic fries, great local beef, and a perfect combo of slightly unusual and not-so-slightly outstanding ingredients. Oh, how I miss you ...
(5)Jennifer L.
My husband found Cafe Pesto online for our second trip to Hilo, this time with the in-law's in tow for a visit. We wanted to take them to a nice place for dinner after we landed so I scored us a reservation, and despite arriving early there, we were seated in a short period of time. Our server was great, very knowledgable about the menu, and gave us great recommendations. The food was phenomenal, everyone loved their meals and desserts. My mother in law still raves about their mango chicken as the best meal she ate while on her vacation - and they stayed with us in Oahu for 2 weeks! I had the chili lime shrimp pizza and added pineapple to it, what an amazing combo! Can't go wrong with any meal you choose though ;)
(5)Mary E.
This is my favorite in Hilo! Everything is fresh, everyday. The menu has enough variety to satisfy most people, with an emphasis on local foods. Weekends are busy and usually feature some kind live music. The location is also charming, in a classic old building on the bay front. The calamari appetizer is incredible...I recommend anything on da menu!
(5)Chau L.
Decent pizza. However the wait was extremely long. It was probably my fault to pick a prime time: Friday at 6pm! I was promised about 30mins but ended up waiting for 1 hour and 15 minutes. I was not a happy camper because I was so hungry lol. Some others ended up leaving too because the wait was getting ridiculous! But still, opens later than most places here in Hilo, so that's a plus. May be should've ordered to go?
(3)Fernando G.
the best PESTO ever, no doubt. not to mention: the best mai tai's in all of hilo. yum been to cafe pesto several times, and every time -i find out- quality of food is supremely consistent as is its consistency of service. we are in hilo, anyways. hence, some may argue against my observation and, i may have to conjure to a quick smile on my face; admittedly, service can be slow at times. culinary options abound and are inarguably beyond compare. pizza and fried calamari aren't precisely immediate magnets to my palate. their catch of the day -on the other hand- makes me think otherwise. i have to have a little something prior to devouring a superbly presented opah, mahi mahi or even tuna. DELICIOUS !!! cheese cake with hints of likikoi... to several of us was a double yum.
(5)Ryder D.
I always get the same thing, but receive consistent quality and service for a reasonable price given the venue
(5)Sevren M.
Came here on a recommendation for drinks and an appetizer. Mai Tai's and coconut - crusted calamari were both very, very good. Lots of pizza and entrée options. We'd come back to try some. Not totally touristy. Locals do go there. A baby shower was happening on a Thursday night.
(4)Janet H.
Had the Corn chowder and the pepperoni Classico pizza! Awesome!! Good upfront location!
(5)L. T.
The Salmon Alfredo is THE BEST!! Its definitely on the pricey side, but worth it for that day or night you feel like spoiling yourself :) The smaller portion is a good sized serving. This dish includes wilted spinach, smoked salmon, hamakua mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this pasta!! My second favorite (of my many favorites here :P) is the Chicken Lolla Rosa salad with creamy pesto dressing! It's a huge mound of greens that includes cilantro and thin sliced onions. The chicken is a big juicy breast with a great grilled flavor! Sooo awesome and just right! Other things I've tried that are deeelish include the BLT pizza, crab cake appetizer, Oriental pizza, and the coconut crusted calamari, just to name a few. You basically can't go wrong on this menu, folks! They also continue to give a free bread basket with your meal. I'd suggest that you make reservations for dinner, especially Friday and Saturday nights. Parking is not usually a problem. Bathrooms are right around the corner of the restaurant. This place is a bit over-priced, but the food is really awesome!
(5)Nicole V.
Barely makes four stars because service was very slow and we were one of only two tables seated upon opening for lunch. Great ambiance in the downtown Hilo area, probably one of the fancier restaurants in the area, so a little pricier, too. Of five different meals in our party, all were good but not to die for. Most choices on the menu were tempting. Desserts were excellent. Bathrooms are down the hall outside of the restaurant and you have to get a code from the hostess, but they were clean. I would happily go again considering I'm not a big fan of the "Loco Moco" that seems to be the prevailing choice at many other restaurants in the area.
(4)Jenny F.
Our second time here for lunch in 3 days!! Not disappointed! I had the bay shrimp/crab and cheese on French bread, can you say delish!! My husband had the wild mushroom/ artichoke pizza, his was awesome also. I know we shouldn't but we will go back for dinner. Yes, it's that good. Staff are great, attentive without overdoing it. We sat at the bar where you can see all the action of the kitchen, food expediter, wait staff and how everyone works together to make it flawless! We love this place!!
(4)Bradley B.
Very good food--we had the pizza, but it was not your average pie. There were many delish menu items to choose from, but the custom pizza won. The red wine I had was only average, but the food and ambiance were great.
(4)D J.
Great food. The chef even let me modify a recipe based on my taste tonight. The wait staff was great except for our main server who seemed a bit annoyed with our questions about the menu. Have to agree with everyone else on the price. Looks like I can't afford to eat out the rest of the trip now!!!
(4)Steve V.
Very good food, but a little on the expensive side, though I am in Hawaii, so I am sure that is why. I would come back again to try other great dishes.
(4)Eric Robert R.
Cafe Pesto rocks... quality restaurant in the heart of Hilo Bay front. Staff very attentive and friendly. I never feel pressured or rushed. And I do agree w/ most reviews that suggest going for the "local" dishes over the pizzas. Pizzas are good, but really you can get good pizzas anywhere! In all honesty it probably rates a 3.5, but with the limited top restaurants in Hilo.. I feel generous and bump it up to a 4. My favorite drink is the Hilo Sunrise (ice tea/ lemonade combo) with complimentary refills. Top off your meal with a New York style cheesecake with mac nut cookie crust, and a liliko`i passion fruit topping. Comfortable atmosphere, good food, and pretty decent selection...
(4)Ralph T.
Drove around the island for the day and decided to stop in Hilo for lunch. There are a lot of strange SF, Berkley, Santa Cruz types hanging around. This is the only spot for benefits so they get all the different people. Anyway stopped at Café Pesto based on Yelp. Got seated quickly because it was packed. I had the Caesar salad. The dressing had great flavors but the lettuce was drenched. Way too much of a good thing. My wife had the Luau pizza (pork and pineapple). Good crust and guts but the bottom crust was soggy. Pizza was cooked correctly must have been all those juices. Service was ok. Not spectacular but this is a tourist stop. Some locals in there. Bathrooms are shared with the entire complex. Try using another places. Hey, I'm a guy and I thought it was terrible. Overall a decent lunch stop. The town itself, old and quaint, but those strange people. OH MY-Just kidding. I grew up in Santa Cruz in the 60's so I know.
(3)Rachel P.
Can a restaurant be emphatically underwhelming? It's not that the food is bad, it just costs more than twice what it should for what is offered. Only a couple of vegetarian options, not many local ingredients. If you want a nice atmosphere with good food, go to Le Magic Pan.
(2)Anja P.
Very easy to recommend! Delicious food, (the Kulana beef was divine!) friendly service and a great athmosphere. A winner, all around!
(5)John O.
Went here three nights in a row when I was in Hilo. Not quite sure what happened to the other Yelpers who gave less than 5 stars, but, this place was the BEST restaurant I visited on my two week trip to Hawaii. Service -- fantastic -- I sat at the little bar both three nights. The servers were VERY attentive and I was very impressed at how well things were managed. Super cute female servers here too............damn! Food -- VERY good for for the price. Dishes run $15 to $35 (average for a nice restaurant in Hawaii). I had the fresh fish of the day and a "stromboli" calzone , and of course, last, the PIZZA.....I was REALLY surprised the pizza was so good. The Hawaiian pizza was deeeeeelish. I had to pass on dessert but it looked fantastic! Ambience -- great place......they had music every night I was there, super mellow chill background music (Hawaiian themed or jazz themed). All in all, this was one of the BEST managed restaurants I've seen in a long time. Hands down recommend. Bravo Cafe Pesto! Well done.
(5)Melissa R.
°Made a reservation for 2 for 1530. Showed up a couple minutes early. Was not greeted for 7 minutes. °Decore is run down and nothing fancier then a mainland Denny's. °Waitstaff was not extremely friendly. Maybe, we just got a bad apple. She acted like she was doing a favor by taking our ordered. Never checked back during the meal. Handed us the check at the end and said 'I can take this when your ready'. She was not screaming aloha! ° The food itself was good and portions reasonable. We ordered an appetizers and split a pizza. Had enough for leftovers. Wide selection of local beer and wine.
(2)Slur P.
Everything tastes amazing here from the caezar Salad, to the soups and pizza's. I'll say it again...AMAZING!! They have several different combinations of fresh pizza's and pastas, pupu's, desserts. You name it. Cafe Pesto...where have you been all my life? Oh...on the Big Island in Hilo Town. Such a cute ocean front cafe with live music and several varieties of beer, wine, and margaritas. It has a more classy, upscale vibe to it. Kind of like Assagio's but with more of a local, laid back feel.
(5)Gopi V.
The volcano mist salad and the southwestern pizza were simply the best. One of the best places in Hilo.
(5)Christine E.
If you do not mind being surrounded by a lot of tourists, then this place is A-OK. The decor reminds me of "Casablanca" and it can get loud because of the high ceilings. The pizza was good and the service very nice. We closed this place getting our Mai Tai's ON! But the staff was patient and let us dine leisurely. Single serving pizzas are big and plenty!
(3)Jake D.
Not terrible, but weak overall. We went in, hosted by my aunt and uncle, who live about a mile out of downtown Hilo, based on their assessment that this is "...about the best restaurant in Hilo." While it wasn't the worst experience we've had during our time in the islands, the combination of high price, mediocre food, and sorry service make it two-star worthy. We went on a busy Monday night, but we got right in without a reservation. The place looks really nice (clean and clearly a historic bldg with beautiful modern decor), so I started with a good impression. After that though, I found little to rave about. The service was slow and inattentive. We saw our server only three or four times during our whole experience. He was friendly enough but was not knowledgeable about the items we ordered (although he did eventually offer to go check on the answers to our questions). We waited with empty drinks and dirty plates at each stage of the meal. The food was lackluster. I had a luau pizza, which was burnt around the edges. The pork was dry and mostly flavorless (but I've found all the pork in Hawaii to be largely the same). The cheese was dry and stringy like imitation cheese. Overall unimpressive. My wife, aunt, and uncle had two calzones and the mango chicken. I tried all three and found nothing to save my opinion of this place. I will continue to find a place in Hilo that I can love.
(2)Joe W.
I'd give Cafe Pesto four stars for food: we had grilled mahi-mahi -- fresh, well prepared; really good. And afterwards we ordered cappuccino and espresso. No stars for these drinks: scalded milk, burnt coffee. How a place that makes such good food can make such bad espresso is beyond me. Anyway, if the barista was on the same level as the chef, they'd really be humming.
(3)Ashiyan R.
For a vegetarian option I had the pasta salad, which the server recommended and was very nice . My friend had the Milolii sandwich which she raved about. I also had the Tahitian limeade which was very nice. Good bread for starters and friendly, quick service.
(4)Jen R.
Was looking for a place for a vegetarian & carnivorous group to all be happy & lucked into Cafe Pesto !! Magnificent meal, fantastic service & Tropical Dream ice cream was a dream come true.
(5)Sarah B.
Cafe Pesto is a delightful lunch and dinner joint and great for the family! Pizzas take over the majority of the menu, as they should, because they are so delicious! The staff and service are friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is rustic Italian meets Hawaiian surf. I really enjoyed my experience, and would recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice dinner out in Hilo.
(4)Erynn T.
The bf & I had dinner on a whim here tonight. Good service even though it was getting busy. I had the Volcano Mist salad and it was wonderful!!! EXCEPT there was wayyy too much vinaigrette for my tastes, the salad was just swimming in it. And the onion rings were a biiit oily. But overall the flavors were delectable. Sweet tomatoes, frilly lettuce, curls of mozzarella, and crunchy shoestring onion ring topping. I really enjoyed it and I would order it again but hopefully with a lot less of the vinaigrette.
(4)Tim F.
The food was just all right the service was slow. The staff was on definitely on Hawaii time. I ordered the beef stir fry. Nothing spectacular but it hit the spot after a day of hiking around the water falls. I can't say I'd never come back but I would probably look elsewhere if I find myself in Hilo again.
(3)Alina K.
We went twice during our time in Hilo. First time we had pizza and it was so delicious! Second time we had pasta and it wasn't so great. Both times the service was awesome, nice and super quick. So if you go there: Take the pizza, not pasta.
(4)Dan A.
Eaten here a few times, always great service, always great food. Park in big lot down a block or so and it's easy stroll to get to. Greeted immediatly, got window seats. Drinks were prompt and perfect, lunch menu hard to choose from, so many good choices! Yesterday, pizza (omg delicious crust and plenty of fixins), and Alfredo fettucine with salmon. Smallish piece of salmon on a nicely portioned pasta dish with spinach and mushrooms.....good stuff. Two split this order and it was perfect. For hearty appetite each order a plate.
(5)Nate S.
One of the best places on the island for unique dishes and favors that are surprising and daringly delicious. I love the Wok fried scallop and shrimp. Especially when marinara and Alfredo sauce can sometimes be too much for me. This place was so good I had to visit several times before leaving the island. Easily a top spot for tourist and locals a like. Bring some friends and family and enjoy!
(5)Christian C.
I am definitely getting the southwestern pizza next time I come back to Hilo. The blend of flavors and texture give it a fresh taste. I got the cafe pesto burger which was excellent as well. The set up of the restaurant is spacious and matches the kind of food they specialize in. The service is also friendly and welcoming.
(5)R.E. A.
The only good and decent place in Hilo! We loved that it stays open between lunch and dinner. This restaurant looks like it's considered fine dining compared to what's available in Hilo. The crab cake salad was so delicious. I ate everything on my plate. My kid had a pizza and the dough was just as delicious. Service was great. They were so attentive and checked in on you regularly. This was a nice place to relax after a whole day in Hilo. Dress casual, you'll be fine.
(5)Clarence J.
I thought Cafe Pesto was outstanding. (It's probably closer to 4.5 stars to me.) I thought it would be overly touristy, but it was wonderfully comfortable with excellent food. The menu was a great size with a wide variety of offerings, especially with island (or Café Pesto chef) twists. Even their house-made lemonade (with a little lime and honey blended in) was amazing. The restaurant's bright, with high ceilings and large windows, and several volcano photos hang on the walls. The staff is warm, patient, helpful, efficient, and knowledgeable. I'd definitely return.
(4)A C.
Great lemonade and Hilo sunrise! Free refills too! I got the salmon Alfredo ($16.95). The Haumaka mushrooms and capers were really good. The smoked salmon was too salty and I couldn't eat it on its own. My husband got the beer battered cod salad. The fish was great- crispy and fresh. The salad was very fresh too, but he wasn't too keen on the dressing, which was some Thai chilli sweet sauce. A nice place for a meal but nothing spectacular.
(3)Nat W.
Cafe Pesto is one of the most popular restaurants in downtown Hilo. I ordered a salmon alfredo pasta. The salmon is bit salty as it was smoked, but it goes very well with pasta if yoi break it apart. The service is great also and it is one of a few places open till 9pm in the area.
(4)Mel J.
Cafe pesto is a roomy, pleasant cafe with uncomfortable chairs with no lumbar or lower back support! I ordered the seared ahi on a salad for $16.95, and it comes dressed with a citrus sesame dressing. There are 2 small pieces of fresh and tasty seared ahi, and a fresh salad with a citrus sesame dressing. The server helped me to custom order a drink with Hawaiian coconut vodka and guava over ice for $9. The drink ended up being too sweet for me, so I didn't drink much of it. I didn't realize that flavored vodkas are already sweet, then I had them add the guava juice. The server noticed I didn't drink much and offered to add soda water to the drink, but she didn't offer to substitute a different drink. I didn't ask because I don't need to be drunk for lunch anyways. (-; I had a pleasant lunch, and although it wasn't spectacular, it was enjoyable. I recommend Cafe Pesto, although it's pricey even for lunch. (-; Since my lunch was light, I have room for a ginger ice cream & coffee at Hilo Sharks Coffee, or a 2nd lunch at Puka Puka kitchen nearby! Haha! (-: In my former life I was a Hobbit!
(3)Tad N.
Found this place on Yelp and loved it! After cruising down the coast all day sightseeing and hiking around I was in the mood for Pizza and this place did not disappoint. First we shared the caprese salad which was amazing. Really flavorful tomatoes with a sweet basalmic and we paired it with rosemary Gorgonzola focaccia. Then shared the BLT pizza which I loved. Pesto instead of tomato sauce made it so decadent. Highly recommend this spot if in Hilo.
(5)Summer S.
The drinks are a solid 5 stars, the Lilikoi martini and Da Poi Poundah ... don't think, just drink! The food was very good, I'd give it four stars. My boyfriend had their fish special and I had the shrimp linguine. The food was great, but the real highlight was the cocktails mixed with local island liquors. Maui vodka and Braddah Kimo's rum, we will be adding you to our liquor collection! And a special thanks to our server (who's name I forget, I feel so bad! Five stars, Ten stars, twenty stars, you're awesome!) - He recommended a great hiking spot off the beaten path, and laughed at all our dumb jokes! Tall dark-haired guy, whoever you are, you made our night!
(5)Patrick S.
Delicious lunch time fare! Fish dishes were excellent! High prices keeps this off the 5 star category.
(4)Jacques S.
The menu is so inventive, and full of flavors, it was really hard for me to make up my mind: risottos, pizzas, fish, pastas, etc. :) You HAVE to try the coconut-crusted calamari appetizer, it is a bit pricy, but god it tastes incredible, with its mango-ginger chutney dipping! The desserts are also to die for, the cheesecake and its mango sauce were delicious, I could hardly finish my plate after this royal meal! Only 4 stars, as our waiter did not advertize the $8 for extra scallops on my girlfriend's salad, not really surprising for such tasty product, but just for the sake of principle. Would definitely eat/dine there again!
(4)Michael S.
Fine food. A little on the expensive side. Slooow service. It was an ok place to have lunch.
(3)Nitin R.
Vegetarian Review: This place may work for you if you are looking for Italian fare since there aren't too many in Hilo. But beware if you are coming from the mainland and expecting a high-quality product. On the mainland, this place could be compared to Olive Garden or any other average sit down Italian restaurant. The 'focaccia' is actually pita bread. The pasta is likely from a box and the pizza dough is relatively thick and not fully cooked. The saving grace for this place is that they use some gourmet ingredients. Plus the lemonade and passion fruit drinks are fresh and tasty.
(2)David T.
Dropped in to Cafe Pesto on a recommendation from a friend after seeing rainbow falls. We had to fight the farmers market parking madness but found a parking soot after a short wait. The bread is awesome. We each had their pizza. I had the pepperoni classico, my wife had a pepperoni and mushroom pizza and our daughter has the lokelani pizza. The crust is fantastic and the pizzas were delicious. My wife had the hand crafted Chardonnay while I had their lemonade. Both were outstanding. We were all stuffed and didn't have room for dessert.
(5)Jason B.
i loved this place. totally unexpected pizza was phenomenal. great quality ingredients as i had low expectations. the smoked salmon alfredo is legit. got it because everyone on yelp recommended it. the smoked salmon truly makes this dish great but overall so good and not drowning in sauce. i went to this place on a whim and based on the yelp reviews but this place is legit. i travel and eat a lot so this was a great unexpected find. ORDER: wait staff JEANS: Ok by far staff was SUPERB
(5)Monica Z.
We found this place on yelp after a day of hiking at the Volcanoes National Park. It was a great find -- delicious food, nice atmosphere, and air conditioning. (!) We'd recommend the beer tasting menu, the lemongrass lemonade, the pepperoni Classico pizza, and the classic pasta.
(5)Laura S.
Great lunch spot that's right by the water. The pizza was wonderful and fresh. I got a large pepperoni and it was enough for two. The prices were also very reasonable. Overall the atmosphere was great and one of my favorite places in Hawaii so far.
(5)Ray L.
I am basing this compared to other Italian places on the mainland and I have had way better. Light on spices and flavor, slow service too. I shoulda stuck with local food. Eating here was like going to a steak house and ordering fish. I noticed they also advertise on the tourist TV channel. in the hotels. IMHO a good place can survive on word of mouth advertising.
(2)Vi W. P.
My husband and I ate here twice while vacationing in Hawaii last year. We ordered a Four Cheese Pizza to go the first time. The pizza was pretty good. Coming from the east coast, I'm definitely a pizza snob and even I liked it. I also recall the bartender offered us some water while we waited all of ten minutes for a pizza. That's a testament to the kind of good service they had. We had a formal dine-in dinner the second night. The portions were really big but I'll be the last one to complain about that. I had a Caesar salad and my husband had a pasta dish, but we also shared a couple of appetizers, as well as their warm bread. We were both stuffed by the end of the night and really enjoyed everything they had to offer. Five stars because we'd gladly eat here again next time in Hilo. In fact, I left this review now, five months later, because I couldn't stop thinking about those Asian Nachos .....
(5)Joe M.
Food, atmosphere, and service. They ranked really high on all fronts. And most menu items were able to be altered for gluten free without changing the quality of the dish. The crab bisque was delicious and the ahi was perfect. I was too stuffed to try their crime brûlée but it was oh so tempting.
(5)Chelsea A.
This place is KILLAHS! In a completely, positively, good sense. Only problem is that their portions have gotten smaller while their prices remain the same.
(4)Esther G.
The calzones were delicious. The martini's are weak but were delicious (lemon drop martini and liquid martini that was like passion fruit & guava). I had the salmon Alfredo and the salmon was too salty for my taste. They also have a cute children's menu and children's smoothies available. The cafe is spacious and clean.
(5)Amanda M.
Really surprised. The burger and fries are really good. It's not overly priced and it's hard to miss if you're not looking. I would eat here again!
(4)Homer S.
Place is pretty good. Located on the strip of downtown Hilo, and is one of the nicer restaurants. Wasn't too hungry so we shared two appetizers. We had: Shrimp "half moon" nachos Crab cake salad Both very good. However, a little pricey.
(4)Ashley H.
Food was pretty good, service was good. Not too much to complain about. The amount of time between bread and food, food and check was a little longer than necessary. I got the sweet and sour stir fry with beef and my husband got their cheeseburger. The sweet and sour stir fry had TONS of veggies, and very little meat. There were so many veggies that i couldn't finish it all. It was good tasting though. My husband said the burger and fries were pretty tasty. Oh, for the drink, try the homemade lemonade/passion fruit tea mixture. Very refreshing!
(4)Annie H.
We had the three cheese pizza and the catch of the day (ahi) salad. Both were tasty but not outstanding. The service however was excellent. We went at night around 9 and didn't quite feel safe in the area the restaurant is located. The neighbourhood is a bit sketchy.
(3)Britany E.
SO happy that we decided to come here. Pretty popular spot and the food was ono! Service and ambience was great. Will definitely come again. Complimentary bread and butter w/ garlic/chives. My boyfriend got the Crab Bisque and I got the Sweet Potato Bisque, soups of the day. Even though its the day after Valentine's Day, they drew a pink heart in my bisque, I thought that was cute. My boyfriend got the Onomea Calzone and I got the Smoked Salmon Alfredo. Sooo delicious - the salmon was amazing. Lunch for two w/ soups came out to $52 including the 20% tip.
(5)Cliff B.
Wife and I heard about this place last time we were here in December and weren't able to come until now. Definitely lives up to the hype. Atmosphere is lovely, food is delicious, wine is divine, and service is top-notch. Definitely recommended for a nice, classy yet casual night with a good friend and/or significant other.
(5)Sekueli ..
Decided to stop by for dinner around 730pm. The place was packed but we were able to get a table within 10 minutes. The staff was really friendly and made you feel welcome. We started with some cocktails and the coconut crusted calamari. It was REALLY good. And the dipping sauce that came with it was perfect. My cocktail was the Kona sunset. It was pretty harsh. Vodka, pineapple juice, orange juice and a splash of grenadine. Not enough juice and way too much vodka. It pretty much just burned. The bread that they brought out was really good too. The outside was nice and crispy and the inside was nice and soft. I had the Kulana beef with shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables. The beef was cooked exactly how I ordered it. And it was full of flavor. Because of the drink this place gets 4 stars. Other than that, everything else was spot on.
(4)Yuxi W.
Went there on Dec 22, their special for the night was seafood stew with prawns, scallops, lobsters and potatoes. It was ok good to my taste, nothing spectacular though. I do like their cocktail. Da Poi Pounda. Like it sweet and fruity! Went back for another~
(3)Abbey S.
A great Italian dinner with a casual atmosphere and a friendly staff that makes you forget all reservations you may have about carbohydrates! Indulge and enjoy some seaside dining. The pizza is so good and light and the desserts are worth it too. The smell alone will captivate you and Ahola!
(5)Nicole S.
Last night my boyfriend took me to cafe pesto for dinner. I had the linguine al pesto and he had a burger. I think it was called cafe pesto burger. I didn't get a pic of his burger though :( anyways, the linguine was amazing. I loved the way the marinara sauce complimented the dish. It came with two sausages and meh, the sausages were okay. It tasted kinda mushy to me. But I loved the smokey flavor it had. The bill for us was about $33 I believe. The environment was a bit noisy. There was live music too. I'm not about that live music while eating life though so it was a bit annoying for my boyfriend and I to have to talk loud just to be heard. The service was relatively fast though. So... With all that said. I can't wait to go back! Maybe next time for lunch ^_^ By the way I don't know if it's just my boyfriend and I that get confused by this but when the bill comes the waiter will pick it up from you at the table after you finish putting your payment method in. No need to bring it up to a register :) I don't even know if there is a register in the front haha.
(5)Dania-Maria K.
It was a chilly day in Hilo town when I came to Cafe Pesto for a lunch date. They had the AC going and it was a little too much for me, however the dish I ordered made up for my chilliness. I got the Santa Fe Chicken pasta dish. It was delicious. Quite warming as well, a little on the spicy side but I wanted to eat it all. It looked like a small portion at first, but it deceived me as I had to ask for a to-go box. The dollop of some kind of creme fraiche was creamy and refreshing with the fettucine tossed in cilantro (one of my favorite herbs/spices) and the chipotle marinara was bold in flavor. It was a feel good pasta dish, perfect for the rainy and grey weather yesterday. I love coming to Cafe Pesto, I enjoy the atmosphere there a lot. From the older light fixtures to the checkered tile floor. Appearance-wise I feel like there may not be another restaurant like this one.
(4)Tina G.
The best food period. Been in big island since a week and finally found a great place to have delicious food. But we are staying in Marriott about 2 hrs drive from here so won't be able to come back again. We had calamari - just out of this world !! I had seafood soup which I'm not a big fan of but here it was good. I will also recommend there pizzas - we tried south west pizza it was very very good ! Drinks are great too.. And desserts too.. nothing was wrong here every single item was really good and delicious. (Our server was very friendly, warm and service was quick) appreciated it all !
(5)Cal L.
Props to this restaurant for being open on a Sunday when the rest of Hilo is on lockdown. That being said, my friend and I went here for lunch and the meal was pretty underwhelming. The wait-staff were slow and not particularly attentive. I'd told them I was planning to order a drink, but they never came back to see what I wanted. I had the pasta special-of-the-day which was a shrimp and italian sausage penne in a heavy, heavy cream sauce. The richness of the italian sausage combined with the sauce was a little overwhelming and I couldn't justify finishing my plate. My friend had the seared ahi poke salad. It was a strange jumble of ingredients from tropical fruit chunks to piles of pickled ginger. The amount of fish was sad and most of it went uneaten. On the bright side, the bread and goat cheese appetizer was quite good.
(3)Ethan L.
Getting a hankering for some pizza this place will simply do the trick. Good fresh salad greens and you'll be ready to go. It's very family oriented even more so with lots of kids and families in tow than most places I visited. Service is very solid here and prompt as well. While much of the menu isn't very interesting, the pork and pineapple pizza stands out. Shredded pork... NOT ham on a pineapple pizza with local ingredients. That's the way to go folks, that's how you do it. Also prices here are pretty reasonable as well, so if you just want a simple decent pizza this will provide just what you need.
(3)Russ O.
First time using the reservation app through Yelp went well. We always have dinner here when in Hilo. The selection is great, but we really like their specialty pizzas. Started with an iced tea, then a green salad. The special house dressing is excellent! Finished with the pizza. Never had room for desserts, but I'm sure they are good. Will be back!
(4)Rain Greg J.
Nice place! Cool old building. I enjoyed my southwest pizza and green salad. The bathrooms are outside the restaurant shared with entire building, you have to ask for the combination to get in and they were not very clean. Our waiter got the job done, but he wasn't very friendly. Their pesto dressing is wonderful! Their homemade Portuguese bean soup was delicious! The pizzas were skimpy on topping but nice crust. The restaurant has potential just needs a few adjustments like cloth napkins, soup should be garnished or at least crackers, toast or croutons with it. The nice kalamata olives on my salad should be pitted. Great menu. We would go back.
(3)J H.
The food is good but the service is terrible!!!! The Kawaihae location is much better. I will never go back to the Hilo one. I've never had such rude service anywhere. Very unprofessional! They say nice things while rolling their eyes I couldn't believe it! Not worth it at all... The two stars are for the food alone.
(2)Leiah B.
What a delight. The space is pleasant and old-world, if such a description an be apt in Hilo. Waitress was pleasant and efficient. The singer/guitarist was terrific and the sound level was just right. And the food ..mmm. I had the coconut - encrusted calamari with pickled ginger and a sweet sauce. It was FANTASTIC. The plumpest, tendered calamari ever. I don't care what kind of critter it came from...I have read that what we are told is calamari is sometimes something else...this was delicious.
(4)John F.
Cafe Pesto has is all! Very friendly and attentive service, good food, and live entertainment at a volume where we can enjoy the music but also still talk to tablemates. I was more tired than hungry so I just shared the seafood soup & a vegetarian pizza. Both were good but not great. When I was growing up...so decades ago, I thought tipping was 10% to 15%. Maybe about 15 years ago it gradually became 15% to 20%. So I was a little surprised when the check came with suggested tips up to 22%. When did that happen? I guess I'm really out of touch with things. See my pictures.
(4)Kelvin C.
Tasty drinks here but the food is really overpriced. Coconut crusted calamari $15 - I really enjoyed this dish. The calamari was meaty, almost to the point of me calling them calamari strip steaks. Tasted great with the sweet and sour sauce. Small Southwestern Pizza $14 - This was alright. The pesto and bbq sauce was a nice combo but pizza was standard. Seafood Risotto (dun dun dun.... $40) - Wow, had I realized this was $40, I would have ordered the Surf and Turf instead. My fault for not asking I guess. Anyway, the cooks here don't like to use high heat for cooking their seafood so don't expect that caramelized crust on your food. What you get is slightly underdone shrimp, scallops, and a bland piece of fish that tastes like it was boiled. The lobster tail was okay but at least the creamy risotto was tasty. With drinks and tip, our dinner came to be a little over $100. Without the coconut crusted calamari stuck in my had, this place would've received 2 stars.
(3)Janny S.
Very spacious restaurant with lots of seating available. After a long day driving from Kailua-Kona to Hilo, checking out waterfalls and the nearby farmer's market, we were starving. We searched for some places on our Yelp app and came across Cafe Pesto, with great ratings and the exact kind of food we wanted to eat. It's Hawaiian Island cuisine but I felt like it had an Italian twist because of the pizzas, salads, pastas and delicious desserts on their menu. I start with an iced cold glass of lemonade to quench my thirst from the heat and my boyfriend ordered a local beer. We started off with the Asian Pacific Crab Cakes served with baby wild greens and pickled cucumber in a honey miso vinaigrette. The crab cakes were warm, light and crispy, a perfect starter. We also got the Focaccia ( I love Focaccia bread!) with the greek olive pesto. It was herby, soft and delicious! I didn't want to get too full because you know, I'm in Hawaii, wearing minimal clothes, I need to maintain my physique for the beach so I stuck with the Grilled Fresh Catch Salad. It's a combination of island fish over organic baby lettuces, veggies and fruit salsa in a light sesame citrus vinaigrette dressing. It was perfect because I wanted something light and cold since its so hot! My boyfriend ordered the Grilled Chicken & Hamakua Mushroom Risotto with wood-roasted chicken breast, mushrooms, and caramelized onions. I snuck a bite and it was so rich and creamy. I don't think this is a fancy restaurant because were were in shorts and tank tops dripping in sweat and no problem, they served us. We skipped dessert even though everything seemed so good on the dessert menu. But that's because we wanted shaved ice next door!
(4)Gary G.
We had a large party of 8 adults and 3 children. Our waitress was great. The food was all delicious. I had sauted Ono on tender cooked spinach and garlic mash potatoes. My son in law and I agreed that the dish tasted great but the fish portions were small.
(4)Mathias H.
Made this mistake of not reserving a table here on New Years day. Showed up and was told it was one hour wait. As it was basically the only place open in Hilo we decided to stick around, got a seat at the bar after around 45 mins so that was fine. It is located in one of the nice old buildings in the Hilo downtown area. The building has a lot of character and loos great from the outside, a bit disappointing when entering though as the furniture is the cheap kind so looks a bit like someone is trying to make it look fancy but can only afford to buy the cheapest crap available. Price-wise I think it is one of the more upscale places in Hilo (that is not saying it is expensive) but a lot of the food looked really nice. We opted for some pasta and pizza. The pasta was a fresh mix of some chicken sausage and nice creamy sauce. Flavorful and perfectly cooked. The pizza is best to ask to have well done (tip from our neighbors at the bar) as it may otherwise be a bit doughy. Our pizza came perfect when we asked for it well-done (would have wanted it less crispy) so very good. The wine selection was pretty decent as well as some good local beers. Service was pleasant and attentive, which was extra impressive considering they were totally full and always a long line of people waiting. One of the nicer places in Hilo so would go back.
(4)Kara V.
Very delicious food. Visiting the island for two weeks and first event was my fathers birthday! I looked up the best reviews and came up with Cafe Pesto - was not disappointed. We ordered the local grass-fed burger, Ono salad "Catch of the Day", and the stir fry. Everything was incredibly delicious and well prepared. We also had a fruit smoothie which was the best we had ever had. Fresh fruit from the island is hard to beat! The service was just as wonderful as the food. Our server was so sweet and knew just what we needed without us having to ask. Glasses were refilled at the perfect time and at the perfect amount. Their bread with garlic herb butter was simply decadent. We also went there last night ten minutes before closing, as we were running late in our day. They were gracious and very kind. Our server was very patient with us and helped us with all questions we had. All four of us ordered their wood platter baked pizzas which were excellent. Classier place to have a nice light lunch or sit down big dinner. Can accommodate for any size and are very welcoming. Prices are very fair for the fancier cuisine prepared.
(4)George B.
Great location right off Hilo Bayfront. Inside of resturant looks pretty neat too, has an old 1930s arcatecture. The food is great, it's not super cheap but the quality is good. This is a big stop for many tourists off the cruise ships so can get busy on the days they roll in. Service is still prompt even when it's busy. It's a nice spot to check out =)
(4)Richard D.
Very good seafood and fish. Innovative menu items. Dessert was rum soaked bananas, home made ice cream and Mac nut crumble. What else is there to say!
(4)Jonathan L.
I don't know what everyone is yakking about. We must have ordered wrong. I had a dish that presented very well, but didn't have much food in it for 15.95, got to say. Service was attentive, but portions small. Both kids had kids pasta, finished it, the both looked at me and said, "we're hungry." So good food, not the greatest value. Almost 60 bucks and we walk out hungry.
(3)Emilia S.
Fresh fish cooked to perfection. Only small downside was that this place is on the pricier end. Should have at least $$$. Spent $120 for 2 people and we got the seafood orzo, salad with fish of the day, calamari appetizer and one beer. Would highly recommend the calamari. It was super tender and the macadamia nut crust was very different.
(4)Frank N.
Nice Family Resturant, or Special occasion for Family or small group, several menu items, we had Pizza, and a Salad both were ok, prices high compared to some of the better family run resturants, reminds me of a Chain!
(3)Kuu K.
With three kids, my husband and I don't go on dates much, so when we do, we want it to be great and look forward to it. Cafe Pesto pretty much ruined it - their staff was totally rude and made our night out not as fun. Add the fact that we saw a huge rat eating scraps in the bushes fronting the restaurant. Eew.
(1)Stef M.
There's one in Kawaihae, too, but I think this is the original location and it's got a lot of character. Tall ceilings, tropical ceiling fans lazily turning , potted palms. Really great. So-so bread basket arrived after we sat down, but the rest of our food was excellent. I liked that they had kombucha on tap! Fresh catch sandwich came with some purple sweet potato salad (amazing!) and a really good housemade aioli as well as crispy onion strings and fresh greens on the sandwich. I'm also a big fan of the crab cakes salad - the lilikoi dressing is perfect with the pickled veggies and crab cakes. We always stop here when we're in Hilo!
(4)Andrew T.
I finally had a good meal here with friendly service so I've gotta bump em up a star. The sandwich/salad/lemongrass lemonade was all tasty. For the prices, decor however is still tired and the entrance door is grimy.
(4)Orange S.
This is more or less the only option if you didn't want Japanese take out or Mexican on a Sunday in this strip mall area... Pizza was meh...
(2)Cara H.
I love that they have locally made hibiscus kombucha on draft, yum! Sweet onion and kalua pork pizza was a tasty spin on hawaiian pizza. I like their pesto butter on the table! Pretty good lunch spot!
(4)Nia C.
Friendly service but mediocre food. The place had no identity was it Italian, Hawaiian, a diner? Seems like they are going for a fusion of things but too eclectic in decor and flavors. On the other hand seems like one of the nicest places to eat in downtown Hilo.
(3)Hannah L.
One of my favorite restaurants in town, great selection of food! Hit or miss with our servers sometimes you get a great one and others well not so much.
(4)George P.
Our 4th time at Cafe Pesto. Always eat here when in Hilo. Menu is always a nice variety of regular items and seasonal items. Service is great and location can't be beat. Price is very reasonable. If you are looking for a nice casual lunch spot in Hilo with oustanding items, you have to try Cafe Pesto
(5)Alan B.
Lovely plantation location but really overpriced for what we got. Some great Thai / Viet restaurants in vicinity that are much better value for money
(3)Keala B.
Food here is really really good. They serve a lot of organic and locally grown vegetables. Staff is very friendly and helpful .Chef here is amazing
(5)Janan W.
We went to Cafe Pesto on one of our last nights in Hilo, and were glad we did! The waiter was very attentive, explained the dishes completely, and had great suggestions. The short-rib pasta special was outstanding. The mango glazed chicken was very tasty. We decided to share 2 desserts-the coconut tart and flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce-both were delicious!! This was the perfect place to celebrate the end of a great vacation.
(4)LR S.
Loved it! The hamburgers are amazing! Local sourced, too. I highly recommend giving it a go!
(5)Samantha O.
We ate tonight on St. Patrick's day and it was really busy. Unfortunately our waitress, Masha did not seem very interested in us. She hardly came up to talk to us or ask us how it was going, everytime she refilled our drinks, she wouldn't say a word and just walk away. We came here becuase we saw the good reviews but I was dissapointed in the service as well as the food. My fiance' liked his, he ordered the linguine el pesto but I had ordered the Chicken Rissotto and it was bland and over cooked. I had tried to put pepper on it but still, It was very dissapointing. The roasted chicken that came with it was cooked perfectly though. We waited a very long time for our food so we were patient but whenever I tried to flag her down to tell her about my food OR to even get my check she would walk right past us. I had to ask another waiter to bring me my check and gave up on my food because I was no longer hungry. We may come on another day when it won't be as busy, but I was very dissapointed in the service and the meal.
(2)Joe L.
The crab quesadilla is to die for! Quick service and yummy food. We went several times while staying on the Big Island!
(5)Trevor T.
Pretty good eats right on the waterfront. I tried the "Sandalwood" sandwich, which was an eggplant sandwich, served with okinawan sweet potato mac salad (weird seeing purple potato mac salad, but it was very good). The service was a bit slow, but isn't that just part of slowing things down in Hilo? Can't knock 'em for that. I'd recommend coming here for some eats anytime you're in the area. Like many have said, it's different from the typical Hilo style in terms of food and stuff, but a good place to grub nevertheless! They also have pizza options that look pretty awesome. Will try it next time I'm in the area :)
(4)Vivian X.
Got stone/rock(small but crashed in your mouth and tasted terrible ) in my dish and forgot add salt. The waitress explained that it is normally to get stone when you order seafood and there is salt and pepper on your table. what a horrible dinner experience and will not recommend the restaurant to my friends.
(1)Alana K.
One of my "go to" lunch or dinner places. I love cafe pesto. Best everything! I usually order the Chicken Risotto or the artichoke and wild mushroom pizza, but recently have been venturing off and ordering other things off the menu just to try it out. Haven't been disappointed at all. Great place! :)
(5)Lauren G.
For the service...the food was good but pricey. There are much better places to eat in Hilo...more touristy.
(3)Pepe S.
Was looking for another place and happened upon cafe pesto. So glad we did! Service was terrific! Waiter was attentive and had great recommendations.. Food was fabulous! My kids (12 and 6) loved the pizza AND the steamed veggies!!!! I had the catch of the day special. It was perfectly cooked and a very unique dish. We can be a hard sell because we worked in the restaurant industry for years. We are looking for a good excuse to get back to that side of the island before we leave town. Thanks cafe pesto for a delightful surprise!
(5)Bryan N.
This place is great. Visited it with my parents after a trip to the Volcano. Let me first say I do recommend the fresh fish catch of the day sandwich. However, I did not eat it. My mouth watered when I saw my dad and brother's.. I did however get a regular item on their menu. It was a shrimp and crab melt sandwich on french bread with mushrooms. I think it is called Mahilli or something. It was awesome, but it is loaded with cheese and a bit on the unhealthy side. If you are ok with that, go nuts cuz it was delicous.. See my pic. The menu was loaded with many great options. I do think some of the items were a bit overpriced which is why I gave 4 stars.. But it is worth the visit if you like fish sandwiches, real hawaiian style pizza's and more..
(4)Vicky S.
Good food, good service, good people watching, great background music.
(4)Emi H.
When I read "Cafe Pesto is the most un-Hilo restaurant in Hilo" I didn't know what quite to expect. But after eating there with my BF & yelper extraordinaire Jade T, I totally get it! Being "un-Hilo" is not necessarily a bad thing, but rather that the type of food Cafe Pesto serves just doesn't have the Hawaiian grown, plantation feel of plate lunch and bento which is synonymous with the local food scene. Hilo is all about simple comfort, and well, Cafe Pesto is a woman wearing heels at a house party full of slippas. And yes, I meant to spell it with an "a." I'd say the correct description of Cafe Pesto food is casual american/italian, but if that's what you enjoy, then you'll have a great time here. After a day of snacking and eating fried food I really wanted to have a salad, or in clearer terms, something which wouldn't make me feel like I was ready to give birth to a food baby. My friend Jade T suggested we visit Cafe Pesto, and as she is the local authority, we agreed. Walking into Cafe Pesto is akin to dining in a Tommy Bahama meets Hilo Hatties world. It is arguably mostly tourists but I won't hold that against it. Jade ordered the chicken salad with greens, my boyfriend got a dish called the smoked salmon pizzette (aka a smoked salmon pizza) and I got a green salad which was garnished with namasu (pickeled cucumbers and carrots), edible flowers and two lovely deep fried crab cakes. Did I say I didn't want a food baby? Well after seeing crab cakes on the menu I decided I was okay with the possibility of having twins. We all enjoyed our dishes and I have to say if I had the choice of going back again, I would do it ten times over! They utilize quality ingredients and I LOVED my crab cake salad! Often times when you order crab cakes, they're these horrid pre-made frozen hockey pucks, but these crab cakes had great texture and flavor. The namasu was so good my Grandmother (who is full Japanese) would have been proud. Prices are not cheap by Hilo standards but for the quality of what you're getting and the artful presentation of salad, I think it's well worth it. Photo: Salmon Pizette ( yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… ) Photo: Chicken Salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… ) Photo: Crab Cake Salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe… )
(4)Eric M.
We ordered 2 pizzas, the four cheese and and the pizza luau. They both were awesome!! The crust and the ingredients were really tasty. It was so good we went back the next day.
(5)Dennette N.
We just finished a great dinner! I love a place that goes to the trouble to make their own salad dressing. That's where they win me over. Great salad! Great bread with pesto butter. A really interesting Mediterranean seafood soup. My husband got the seared ono with truffle mashed potatoes. He said it was the best fish he ever had. Probably an exaggeration, but it was really good. We finished it off with the warm coconut tart. Very yummy (but I longed for some chocolate sauce on it). The live music was just starting when we left, but it was beautiful Hawaiian music. We hated to leave. Can't wait to eat there again. Maybe tomorrow:)
(5)Valaine V.
What a lovely afternoon treat to eat at Cafe Pesto in Hilo!!! I was dining with guests local to the area and they called ahead for reservations. Our table was ready, the dining room was clean with the pleasant sounds of a happy customers and our server, Mar, welcomed us with a warm reception and promptly shared with us the daily specials. I chose the crab quesadilla, shrimp nachos, lilikoi cheesecake, salmon pasta and a BLT pizza..... The presentation was sublime, the flavors ignited a party in my mouth with local flavors, and food quality was evident with each bite. Mar gave us time to enjoy our meal and tended to us as if we were her personal guests! Excellent Service and Five Stars from me!!! Thank you Cafe Pesto for a delightful experience. Keep-up the good work.
(5)B A.
This place has great pizza. It is more affordable than many options in downtown Hilo.
(5)Mirko P.
We founded the place in dining magazine on our way to Hilo. Didn't regret that we chose Cafe Pesto for dinner. Nice causal atmosphere, light music in the background and excellent service. Coconut crusted calamari as appetizer and island salad special with grilled catch was excellent choice. Well done and right portion size make you feel good. We would like to recommend Cafe Pesto.
(5)John E.
Short and sweet: This is a nice stop. Ive been in here about 5 or 6 times. It always is a pleasant experience. The food is great. One of the nicer restaurants in downtown Hilo. they have some great wine selections as well. Check it out.
(4)Abby S.
I had the crabcake salad. Crabcakes were very disappointing but the dressing was great. My husband had a pizza which was satisfactory but nothing special. Service was poor. I would give the restaurant a 3 1/2 star rating for the food and a two star for the service.
(3)Patty F.
Delicious custon made pizza, it needed just a little salt for my taste, but other than that it was amazing! We also had the chocolate ganache cake, it was delicious
(4)Cheryl Z.
Terrible service. Said it would be a 45 minutes wait to eat, waited 1 hour 30 minutes with people that had no reservation being seated before us when we were there well before them. After 45 minutes they said we were next in line to be seated then 15 minutes later waitress said there was a group of 18 ahead of us. We ended up leaving because we felt as though we would never get served and had no respect from hostesses
(1)Kristen P.
My family and I loved the BLT pizza, crab cake salad, and chicken risotto! We will definitely eat here again before we head home!
(4)Larry K.
Went back to Pesto and had fresh ono (fish) done up in a cream sauce and the chicken salad.. Both were done very well... Service was very attentive as before... Too full for dessert... The service and food is still up to par...
(5)Mary D.
Excellent! We were told by some locals that this was the place to eat. Great for the family too; they have a good kids menu. Service was great and great atmosphere. I had the Black Ahi Tuna with corn salsa and chimichurri which was very fresh and excellent. I also had the purple sweet potato soup which was so good but very rich. The soup tasted like sweet potato soufflé you might have at thanksgiving just really creamy. I suggest getting a bowl and having everyone at the table having a taste (if you don't mind sharing).
(5)Cassandra D.
I was skeptical about this place. Why am I getting pizza in Hawaii, again? But this place proved me wrong. Great food, great selection. Happy we gave it a try.
(4)Amanda T.
My family and I stopped here on our way through Hilo and we were not disappointed! Their smoothies are fantastic and I tried the Salmon Alfredo, which was unique and so tasty! Our waiter was friendly and the place had a great atmosphere! I would definitely eat here again!
(4)Maruko X.
Ambiance: spacious with many tables and seats packed though, come in early or find bar seats Service: fast but little impatient Food: delicious warm bread with butter and recommend their signature coconut crusted calamari, delicious with honey mustard and mango dipping sauce Price: decent portion slightly overpriced
(4)Ashley W.
Came here for lunch. We ordered the crab bisque and it was just ok. I expected some solid pieces of crab at least but it was all blended. We also ordered the BBQ chicken pizza with goat cheese and my husband made his own pizza with pepperoni, sun dried tomatoes, and garlic. My bbq chicken pizza was good and so was my husbands but since he made his own combo it was around 16 bucks and I just hate when you create your own and it adds up to a ridiculous amount just because you picked a few toppings. His was not worth $16. Worth eating here is your craving pizza but best to order one of their created choices.
(3)Ai D.
"Great atmosphere with live music" we were hungry so we asked a local while walking around where we should go to eat. he pointed us to Cafe Pesto & that was a great recommendation! food was not too pricey and not too affordable either. Between $15-45 per entree. drinks were very expensive. but the atmosphere was just perfect. you can see the bay right across the street, there's live music & the food tastes good too
(4)Anne T.
Great place for lunch - we loved the soup, pizze and pasta. The staff is very accomdating! I had a toddler who wouldn't eat to I had to take her food to-go. They packed up NEW bread and soup for me. Super sweet.
(5)Alex B.
This is the best Thai Food I've ever had, and being from NY, I know a bit about Thai Food. I had a Chicken Pad Thai, and Green Curry with chicken. I felt like I had NY symphony concert in my mouth. In the interest of full disclosure this is a true hole-in-the wall. It feels like you are in someone's kitchen. I wish i had a place like this in my neighborhood.
(5)Aileen N.
My husband, 7 year old son and I came to this restaurant after a long day of hiking. Everything on the menu seemed unique and appetizing. The server was very friendly and took the time to answer all questions regarding the menu. First, their lemonade was out of this works delicious. Then we ordered the coconut covered calamari. My son did not want to share. They were sooo fresh and tasty! You can make your own pizza. The pizza dough just melted in our mouths. And then, of course, dessert. Cheesecake with Mac nuts, heavenly. All along, servers came by with refills on water. Lemonade ad coffee quite often. If we lived here, we would come at least 1x per week. That's how much we loved it! I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)S K.
Overpriced food is what I would call Cafe Pesto.The calamari appetizer had a weird texture and was way overpriced at 14$. The pizzas were decent get the shrimp over the wild mushrooms and artichokes. Other than that nothing to write home about just meh.
(3)Michelle p.
Pretty good food, good service. Mara was an excellent server. Try the calamari, the burger is good as well. The blue Caesar had a bit too much dressing and too light on the anchovies for my taste but I enjoyed everything. Very fresh and done right.
(4)Jennifer M.
This place is AMAZING. Every aspect of the dinner was perfect, and when I thought it couldn't get any better, our waiter brought over a tray of desserts. Hands down, the best dessert I have ever eaten in my entire was at Cafe Pesto. The lilikoi cheesecake almost brought me to tears it was so good (seriously). The waiter saw me falling in love and decided to bring me more of the dessert and sauces to take home. The best/worst idea ever.
(5)Elina K.
Kombucha tea was very good. I got the sampler size but wanted more. It doesn't have a strong vinegar taste like most kombucha teas do Shrimp and scallop was amazing. Scallop was crispy on the outside but melts in your mouth. The sauce had a spicy kick to it Coconut calamari was like having coconut shrimp but with calamari. It was good but nothing mind blowing. If you like calamari, you will most likely like this We had the apple crisp dessert with ice cream on top. It was very sweet but still good.
(4)Ds A.
The food and service here were quite excellent. We got the sesame goat cheese appetizer and it was amazing. For our entrees we got the chicken and hamakua mushroom risotto and it was one of the best risottos I've ever had. We also got the southwestern pizza, it was good, but I wasn't crazy about it. They also have really tasty drinks and desert. I'd definitely go again.
(5)Christie Y.
I didn't feel like eating at any of the other nearby places, so we waited 30 min. for a table. The fact that they were so busy was a good sign. So glad we waited. Once we had a table service was super quick; menus & water within 3 mins. Food came less than 10 mins. after ordering. I had the Crab Cake Salad & hubby the Salmon Alfredo. The miso dressing on the salad was the perfect accompaniment. The salmon tasted fresh, the Alfredo was light and flavored with sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms & spinach. Since I ate from both plates I was too full for dessert! Oh I ate half the basket of white bread with pesto-butter too! It's a little on the pricey side for lunch, with most entrees at $15 and up, but you won't be disappointed. Can't wait to come back for their pizza & desserts - Lilikoi Cheesecake or Creme Brûlée?
(5)Ralph P.
Love the Kulana Beef. Came close to being the Filet Mignon that i love. Service is excellent. Prices are more on the high side, but that's what comes with a top notch restaurant. Recommend getting a reservation because it's busy almost all the time. Will come back again....
(5)Andrew B.
Good food. Great service. Nice ambiance. The garlic cheese bread was really good. Easy to find parking nearby. Priced just right.
(4)Paul K.
Seems like the best place in downtown Hilo, which is kind of run down- minus one star for homeless camping out in front of the door- but also one of the few places open on Sunday. I had the "fresh catch" sandwich, which was decent but not great- it came with purple sweet potato salad, which was tasty but looked weird. Wife had a fresh fish salad, which looked decent. Had the apple crisp for dessert, that was excellent. Service was good.
(3)Mellanie S.
On a recent trip to Hilo, my family and I decided to have dinner here. Walked into the restaurant and we were totally underdressed. I guess this place is suppose to be on the "fancier" side, though the decor could use some upgrading. It seemed as if everyone else was dressed up. Women in dresses and heels, and men in nice shirts, pants and shoes. And here we are in shirts jeans and slippers, lol. The complementary butter that came with the bread was delicious! It was some type of herbed butter. We started with the shrimp nachos and the coconut crusted calamari. The shrimp nachos were deliciously crispy and flavorful! The calamari was also very delicious. I love how they actually use filet like squid. You know how some places use just tenticles and you barely get any squid? Yeah that's not the case here. Juicy coconut flavored calamari. I ordered the seafood risotto, the risotto itself was on point! Not too mushy, and not too hard. The lobster tail, and scallop however tasted a little too dry or slightly overcooked. My cousin ordered some pesto pasta and that was pretty good. Not overly oily, and the pasta itself was cooked nicely, not overly mushy. Great place for Italian food in Hilo! A little on the pricier side, but everything in Hawaii is on the pricier side.
(4)Lauren M.
I always enjoy coming to cafe pesto. It has a nice ambiance and they even have live music on certain nights. We started off with the smoked salmon pizzette, which was very tasty. It was quite salty, but the combined flavors went well together. I had the crab cake salad, which was pretty good. The coating was light and crispy and the crab was fairly tender and juicy. Not the best ever, but very good! We also got the big island blt pizza. Love this one! Has prosciutto and a Caesar salad on top. Sure many places do this now, but what a good idea. One of the nicer places in Hilo, I'll be back soon!
(4)Rod S.
Very pleasant meal. Ordered the cold salmon pizza as an appetizer, split the volcano mist Salad, and the shrimp pizza. Food and mai tais were excellent. Staff very friendly and provided tips about the area. Great place in downtown Hilo.
(4)Bryan R.
Such great food and occasional live music and lovely ambiance
(5)Christine P.
4 stars for the crab bisque.. It was creamy and tasty... And the bread that I was served with it was delicious.. Loves the butter.. But as for the pizza I was very disappointed... From the pictures posted on yelp It looked as if the crust was thin and crispy... The four cheese piZza was neither thin crust or crispy.. I'm not sure if this is the norm or maybe they were too busy.. So if anyone is reading my review and plan on ordering their pizza ,if you like a crust that's on the crispy side, let them know so...
(3)Terry G.
We were doing the full drive around the Big Island and, thanks to Yelp, we decided on Cafe Pesto for a late lunch. No disappointments here. High ceilings. Kind of a mix of Old World and new. Ordered salad and Greek pizza. Tried the inventive Rosemary-Gorgonzola dressing. Yum! 2 strong flavors battling it out in my mouth and my taste buds were loving it. Greek pizza was full of goodies including raw spinach on top (you have the option of having it cooked). We munched as much as we could but opted for a box to enjoy the rest later. House bread is homemade and I showed no self control with it. Friendly staff. Couldn't have asked for more ...
(5)Brett S.
Originally came here for Valentine's Day stupidly without a reservation and weren't able to get in. Ended up eating Panda Express after walking around downtown Hilo for 2 hours since every restaurant was packed. Anyway if you're coming here for dinner I would def recommend making a reservation, especially on the weekend. Cafe Pesto seems to be "The Spot" in Hilo for travelers and even locals. If you're looking for a nice quiet dinner, this is not the place. Its very loud in here and the tables are close to each other offering little privacy. That being said everything else here is pretty good including the food and service. We started with the cocunut crusted calamari, seemed interesting and it was alright, nothing spectacular like what other yelpers are saying. What I really liked was my entree. I got the fire wok scallops and shrimp and it was awesome. I was full but I kept eating it because it was that good. My girlfriend got the smoked salmon alfredo and said she liked her meal too. My only gripe with this place is the price of the meal. It was good, but I thought it was quite pricy for what we ordered. It seemed like all the prices were marked up about 30% for similar things I have ordered in the past. I wouldn't mind coming back here again tho.
(4)Graeme B.
Amazing place, amazing food, amazing staff. What a refined restaurant in such a colourful town. The staff here really takes care of you, they constantly check on you but do not disturb you as you eat, this is a true art form and these are great artists.
(5)Manasa R.
Great food!
(5)Dean I.
We came here for dinner, after walking around downtown Hilo. Pineapples and Kampai were both packed, but cafe pesto had about 5 tables available. The ambiance is easy going and the service is always top notch. Wait staff always have great suggestions, and its personal recommendations, unique to each individual. I had the pepperoni clasico pizza and Gail had the ahi salad and new england clam chowder. Oh, also the salmon pizzete for appitizer. So filling!
(5)Gary K.
Cafe Pesto is a great place for locals and for the out of towner, food is always great and the service is friendly and fast too. One of the better places to have lunch or dinner at in the Hilo area.
(4)Connie F.
I was looking forward to having cafe pesto after the opening night at the HIFF at the Palace Theater. We ordered our meals and the waiter error'd with our order and was very upset with our group of three. We enjoyed our meals then we ordered dessert and our waiter again was agitated by the error. After I ordered the apple crisp which didn't look appealing I got a Luke warm coffee. I finally ask the waitress for a reheated coffee. It didn't come back for another 15 minutes!! When we left our waiter was very respectable But when I got home I had the runs bad from that last apple crisp. What the hell was in it?! Laxatives or what. So sad! I've been going their since they opened years ago. I think I'll stay away for a longtime. Aloha to my home in Hilo.
(1)Tracie C.
Second visit to Cafe Pesto on a weekend trip to Hawaii. The previous day we had dinner the cafe pesto on the other side of the island. This visit was average. The Rosemary gorganzola focaccia was good. Had the daily special pizza Kailua pork and a bunch of other things that were just to many flavor combination. In my opinion less is more on pizza but my DH got to pick today. Would definitely try a pasta for dinner. I really liked the atmosphere and food at the other Cafe Pesto better.
(4)Beth F.
If you want something more Hawaiian than a pizza shack, don't go here! The building is nice, located next to the ocean, that's just about all I can say. Ordinary. With a Hawaiian musician playing Janice Joplin?!
(1)Spry I.
Went to Cafe Pesto on our last night in Hilo. The place is bright and lively. We had a Kombucha sampler and the Hilo sunrise iced tea, both of which were great! Our waiter wasn't super friendly and our appetizers and main course were served at the same time, which was odd. For appetizers, we ordered the gorgonzola focaccia bread which was really, really good! For dinner, we had the salmon alfredo pasta and the simple classic pasta. Both had good portion sizes and were very flavorful. Only downside was that we did not have room for dessert!
(4)June S.
We were in Hilo for the day and walking down the street looking for a place to eat lunch. We saw Cafe Pesto and noticed all the people eating there,so thought it must be good. The food was very good. But after we were seated, we waited almost 10 minutes before a waiter appeared to take our order. Steve took the order and we never saw him at out table again until I flagged him down to ask for more water. He would just walk right by our table to other tables and completely ignore us. He did bring the water, but we didn't see him again until time for the bill. I tried to get his attention another time because my husband wanted soy sauce for his meal, but another waiter saw me and came over and helped us. The pizza was very good, but being ignored by our server made the dining experience very unpleasant. I would not eat there again.
(2)Annie A.
Very good. We had the crudo appetizer which was very good. The place is clean, servers are friendly and attentive. Food was brought out fast. It is a great find in Hilo.
(5)Gabriella G.
Cafe Pesto, IMO, is the best restaurant in Hilo. Now, I preface that with saying that I've only visited Hilo once and only went to a few of the restaurants. My husband and I ate there twice during a week stay and found the food and service incredible. The fish, the pizza and the salad were really yummy. The fish was fresh and was cooked perfectly. The ambiance was relaxed with a good mix of customers. Cafe Pesto will definitely be on the list if we ever return to Hilo.
(4)Bobby D.
For the last four times I've visited Hilo, Cafe Pesto has been a must. My parents and I stopped in today and had a great lunch. The cheeseburger was tasty (local grass-fed beef is the best!) the stir fried vegetables were not on the menu but were well done. The surprise was jicama strips, we think. They were cut like French fries! My caprese salad was good too--but this review only gets four stars because the best-tasting ingredient was missing. No fresh basil!!! Really? Wow. Anyway, I'd think a place named Pesto would not be out of basil! Oh well. Great atmosphere, and no attitude from the waiter (an occasional problem in the past). Great view of the monster banyan tree across the road. Try it. You'll like it.
(4)Surbhi S.
I was here last here on vacation. Simply loved this place! My favorite dish was coconut crusted calamari!
(5)Jacque G.
Nothing special, checked it out because of all the yelp review. Ordered the burger expecting something thick, juicy and flavorful but NOT. It was dry and flavorless. Not worth $12, it came with garlic fries and hardly tasted the garlic. All it needed was salt, salt goes a long way for flavor in the food. I actually enjoyed the comp. bread instead.
(2)Christopher K.
Good for lunch. Nice location. Mostly Italian food prepared American style.
(3)Gina W.
Awesome food!!! It is located in the middle of old Hilo town. It is right across from the ocean. It is in a "local" area, great people watching. The food was fantastic, everything is organic and super "clean" food. Tried the chicken lala rosa salad, a pizza, a burger and a chicken fajita wrap.....truly great food. They support local farmers. You won't regret this place. Free parking ...2 hour street parking.
(4)Mel G.
I wasn't too overly impressed with this choice, but they have a good selection of items and it wasn't too hard to be gluten free there despite it being Italian with pasta and pizza dishes. A bit pricey, but you are in Hilo. Server was kinda standoffish and seemed not as attentive as he should have been. It took awhile to get our food as well, but it was tasty and good portion sized when it did come. we had to catch a flight though so it was a bit stressful waiting when normally that would have been plenty of time to eat before a flight. The live music was pretty cool. Since its on the main strip in Hilo, I recommend reservations as its pretty busy.
(3)negar s.
Visiting Hilo after a long day of waterfalls, botanical gardens and other touristy places we were tired an hungry. We stumbled upon this cafe and it looked ok so thought to stop. I have to say I was a little worried but my fellow yelpers all have good reviews so I felt better. Let me say YUM. I ordered the crab cakes- OMG. It was heaven. All crab. No fillers. No weird additions. Just a fried heavenly crab cake! It sat on a salad with a dressing that I seriously wanted to lick the plate. I know. But seriously. My husband got the crab "quesadilla" which was a pesto crab pizza. Also amazingly good. Oh- and the cheesecake! Wow! Macadamia nuts and chocolate in the crust. Yum! Service was good. They don't do cartwheels but they don't need to. They were nice, attentive, always filled our drinks and checked on us. I will definitely be back. I would make this drive simply for those crab cakes! Well done!
(5)Hawaii P.
Great food right downtown on Hilo Bayfront.
(5)Jayd K.
Great bread & pizzas
(4)Logan C.
Have dined there many times over the years and I have been very happy with the food service and consistency ! The only compliant I could have is on my last visit I was ver happy to get a window table but to my surprise the view was of panhandlers sitting on the sidewalk feet from my table . I have seen the homeless and panhandlers in Hilo before but never to the numbers I saw that day. I am thinking it was because it was a Hilo farmers market day and they were in numbers due to the tourist being there. Love the restaurant , food and staff . I highly recommend this place.
(4)Susan L.
We came here after hiking the Crater Rim Trail so we were starving! I was happy I found this place because all of the other restaurants in town were either closed or closing. Being from Vegas we were not used to this closing so early it was still light outside Lol. I ordered the Milolii Sandwich and it was heaven on golden toasted bread! I'm afraid I may never taste something like that again! It reminded me of french bread pizza. It had crab, shrimp, mushrooms, pesto with mozzarella melted on top of it. It tasted amazing ! The side of purple potato salad was also yummy and pretty! Here is a helpful side note they have a bathroom not in the restaurant but in the building . There is a code to get in though so before you go to the bathroom ask for the code.
(5)Kathleen H.
David P. , I did not order that calamari, my friend did. I suggest you read my last posting about listing ingredients that so many people are allergic to in "Red"! You should also have Benegryl on hand at all times! If you were not such a spineless, unprofessional, thoughtless jerk you may have given the owners name and number after I repeatedly asked you and you refused we went back to all the best restaurants in Hilo and were able to get all the information I need to bring the owner up to date and I don't believe that the owner will be very pleased when receiving copies of all the letters that I have written to all the locals, the City Commission, every B&B , several travel magazines , the Health Department and several other key places. If you had just once of humanity in you then you would have been more concerned about my wellbeing instead of covering your butt! I pray that you experience what I had to endure and I hope that you don't have Benegryl within fifty miles!!!
(1)Bill R.
Loved this place. We had the steak and seafood special with calamari. Our son had a pizza special. One had the chicken gumbo soup which was excellent for a rainy night m Our service was fantastic and there was no wait to get a table. Coffee is nice and strong how we like it and dessert was yummy. Definitely recommend this place to those visiting Hilo.
(5)Jenifer G.
Good selection of food for everyone, ranging from pizza to seafood. Great location in beautiful Hilo Bayfront, with ample metered parking in the front, and just next door to the Hilo farmers market (which is bustling on Wednesdays and Saturdays). Great spot for a group to gather in the daytime and into the night, with live music on varying nights. And last but not least, the service is stellar with a smile. Salmon Alfredo entree: very flavorful with just the right touch of cream to it, slightly spendy at $17 for the small portion. Glad we saw the recommendations on Yelp to order this, I think this was our favorite and I would order again. Original Pesto Pizza: (had to order something with pesto here!) delicious but the crust could have been thinner and crunchier, but overall still good. Shrimp Won Ton appetizer: the shrimp was plump and not overcooked, and the won ton was crispy, it could have been a thinner and airier won ton but I enjoyed it. The drink selection was also great, with varying wines and spirits, and lovely beers on tap even for happy hour. It was nice to see a rich dark ale, the Mehana Hawaiian Crow Porter, it was delicious and I highly recommend it. This is not a place I would probably frequent, but as a visitor I'm always happy to come here to join others, it has the right ambiance, food and spirits for a good time.
(4)Alma S.
The food is ok. After I paid by the credit card, there was a fraud on the credit card. So, be careful and it was the only purchase I have made in Hilo. Very disappointed.
(1)Nancy S.
Our first visit was outstanding! Nick served us and explained the menu thoroughly. We had the catch of the day sandwich which was mahi mahi. It was prepared perfectly. We also had the shrimp crabmeat sandwich, which was delicious. We will be back next time we visit Hilo!
(4)Karla V.
Cafe Pesto definitely hit the spot for me when I was craving pasta. I ordered the Santa Fe Chicken Pasta & it was mouth watering (literally too cause it was pretty spicy for me, but still delicious). The bread & butter-garlic spread is to die for & its complimentary. My husband ordered a hamburger with french fries. It was pretty good & the portion was decent for the price. I've been told the pizza is good here as well, but I still have yet to try it. I'll definitely be coming back here to try other dishes on the menu. They also offer Military discount. & our server was very friendly & informative about the menu.
(5)Scott C.
This is $$$ makes you cool. I witnessed a glove wearing, text messaging, head rubbing line cook. The fact that they serve you food is not right. Want to watch a scary food service Have the server cough all over your dessert before she hits it with a torch. At your own risk.
(1)Mark J.
With so many good restaurants in Hilo, don't waste your money here. I had the "soup of the day." I'm pretty sure it was from a can. My premium margherita was nothing to write home about. My wife had one of the pasta dishes with red sauce pesto and sausage. She said the sauce was really sweet, like ketchup. One person in our party had the shrimp pasta dish and said that it was very good. The service was fine and the atmosphere was nice. To be fair, we didn't order their signature dish: pizza. Maybe their execution is better there.....but I probably won't be back to find out.
(3)Martin T.
I suspect that there are actually two restaurants to review here. The first, a mid-priced pizza restaurant, is so good, I'd have to say that this is some of the best pizza I have had, comparable to Manhattan slices, Chicago pies, and even Napoli margarita. Creative too. The barbeque chicken had goat's cheese on a basil pesto base, with fresh tomato for great balance; the local wild mushroom and artichokes sat on a Gorgonzola sauce that had a hint of lemon (myrtle, perhaps). Despite not feeling 100% on arrival, I ate it all. Next time, I'm going for the other restaurant and I'm ordering the venison.
(5)Mik G.
I had a great experience here. The restaurant is quite large with some nice live music. Not loud at all and actually quite soothing. I actually asked for something not on the menu. I wanted the Mahi, which was the catch of the day, over pasta. The server suggested we do Mahi with linguine and scampi sauce. I agreed with it and ordered it. After a normal wait, I was delighted to see they brought a big plate of pasta with three Mahi filets on top. It was fantastic. For a dish that isn't on the menu, it was so good it should be. They easily could have told me that they can't do that, but they were nice enough to make it for me. The pizza also looks great and you get some really good pre-dinner bread. They also have a good beer list. Kona beer with coconut is highly recommended. All in all it was a very satisfying experience with the food and especially the service. I recommend Pesto's to anyone and would come back again without a doubt.
(5)Alan C.
This place is located in downtown Hilo, and isn't much to look at from the outside. After trying to figure out how to get inside the restaurant (entrance from the lobby of shared stores), we were met with a really cool ambiance set by a couple of jazz musicians playing relaxing tunes. Off the menu, we decided to go for the Pacific Island Seafood Special & the Wok Fired Prawn and Scallop and it was simply delectable. We were surprised at the quality of cooking, and in our opinion it was 5 star quality. From there we continued to indulge with the most amazing apple crumble & ice cream, topped with macadamia nut & cinnamon washed down with a unique Lilikhoi martini. The waiter was extremely friendly, taking the time to answer any questions we had about the Big Island. This is definitely one of the more pricy restaurants, but we certainly left with a smile on our faces.
(5)Sloopy H.
They get a 4 out of 5. No one gets a 5 on the Big Island. Their service is fast and friendly. The food comes to the table very hot. Their menu is a bit limited, lots more pizza choices than Id like, I don't see it as a pizza place. Its too upscale. However, their non-pizza entrees are very good. Great rizzos.
(4)Brendan N.
Yelped a few places to go before we head to Hilo from Kona. Pesto seemed like a good place to go. I like d the fact that it had unique character, quite unlike the cookie cutter restaurant chains on the mainland. Restaurant was not busy, and we got a good table by the window. We ordered two items from the daily special sheet. A pork belly appetizer. It was presented beautifully, but needed a bit more seasoning as the taste didi not match up to the presentation. The second was a prawn salad ($17) which was also nicely presented. However it had only three prawns which I thought could have been more for the price. The final dish was the Sante Fe pasta with chicken. It tasted great, but the presentation did not match up to the other dishes, and one of the reasons was, it came in a soup plate. The dishes we ordered may not have been mainstream dishes as we saw lots of pizza being served. I would not mind giving this place another go, when we are in Hilo next.
(3)Louis R.
Ok...so I'm Italian...sometimes. This place is like an amalgam of Hawaiian and Italian...like me and my girlfriends (seewhatididthere). The pizzas are delish but the sliders are redic yummy...and a must-try. Mahalo.
(5)Traci H.
I clearly ate the wrong food since this is the "best Big Island restaurant" or something like that...but it was pleasant enough. It definitely has more of a touristy feel than a local feel. It's also on the main "touristy" drag in Hilo so it may attract more tourists than those restaurants that are tucked away. HAKALAU Sandwich ($10.95): Kalua turkey, spinach, onions on garlic french bread. Pretty good flavor and saltiness of the turkey. Served with a purple potato salad thing, which looked really odd but tasted pretty good. TOFU STIR FRY: I don't remember how much it cost, but it was definitely something I would not opt to order again. It had white rice, tofu, and some veggies, sticky, sweet, spicy reddish sauce that made the whole dish seem like an afterthought for those vegetarian types...If you're vegetarian, my suggestion is to opt for something else--there's not much else, but there were a few other dishes. Or start eating meat. Most people were eating PIZZA, so if you go, try the pizza or something like that. It looked pretty good. The ESPRESSO is local and man does it have a bite. I asked for "an espresso" but it looks like they just automatically charged me for a double espresso. I didn't feel like arguing but just something to note if you do order it. They take reservations online I think, but if you go at lunch or maybe early or late, it looked like you could get a table. Some servers were really nice and the others seemed to not want to deal with tourists... Bathrooms are down the hall as shared public bathrooms of the building. Parking is in any of the lots nearby that I think are 8 hour free parking...I'm not sure what that means if you stay there beyond 8 hours though.
(3)Kristin V.
I almost always order the focaccia with Greek olive pesto, and then the Thai curry shrimp salad (which is not very curried, but amazing!). As a lot of people say, it is rather un-Hilo, but that's a good thing sometimes.
(5)Sarah N.
Great atmosphere. Local grindz. Big Island Booch!! Fiancé had the pizza....looked amazing! Sad that I could have eaten 3 of the "Classic" Pasta dinners. It's pasta...load it up!!! I left hungry. Never a good thing.
(4)Kiera S.
Delicious poke salad with fresh ginger. Yummy sandwiches. Decent place overall, with very attentive staff. Worth a stop for lunch!
(4)Chris P.
Agree with everyone and the waiter who highly recommended the coconut calamari. I don't really like coconut shrimp but the calamari seemed to not have the cloying sweet coconut taste and it was phenomenal with the sauce they serve with it! The pizza was good too. The prices are a little high for a pizza joint, but it's a nice restaurant and it was Hawaii in kind of a tourist area so that is to be expected.
(4)Thomas C.
Everyone is right, the coconut crusted calamari is great at around $15, order one, my recommendation. The new blackened chicken sandwich has a salad with superb dressing, and the sandwich is too big to bite, chicken perfect, dressings are amazing. $15, this should be in the main menu, kudos to the chief.
(4)Kayla L.
I took my hubby hear for his birthday and told him to get whatever he wanted. We ordered two appetizers (Cheese Bread, Calamari) I loved the bread it was very soft and the seasoning was perfection. I absolutely HATE squid, but the calamari looked so appealing I actually tried it and nearly ate half the plate myself. I was very surprised squid could taste that good. For our main dishes we ordered a special pizza and shrimp Alfredo noodles. The pizza was amazing and the sauce was so well seasoned that I found myself disappointed when it was gone. Definitely could tell that the sauce was freshly made with fresh ingredients and it wasn't smothering the plate. YUM! We complimented the dinner with two drinks from the bar. Finally we topped the evening off with a birthday desert. The coconut pie slice. OMG!!!!!! It should be a crime to eat food this good. But that wasn't it, our server Rodney was amazing. I have worked in the service industry myself and have a habit of critiquing service. Rodney approached our table within 5 minutes of us sitting down. Asked us if we wanted some water to get the evening started. We ordered our appetizers right away but told him we needed more time with the meal. The appetizers came out perfectly. Within another 5 minutes which gave us adequate time to figure out what on the menu we wanted. Which is hard with everything that sounds so amazing. We ordered our main dishes and a few drinks as he brought the appetizers. The main dishes obviously took longer about 25 minutes. That gave us enough time to lick off the appetizer plates. I noticed that Rodney would walk by the table and although he wouldn't stop to interrupt us, each time he walked by he glanced at our table. He came and took the plates away as well as refilled my water twice without having to wave him down. When he brought our main dishes he asked if we needed any sauces or spices before walking away. This was amazing because then we didn't have to wave him down to order more drinks from the bar. We didn't see him much for the next 30 minutes as we ate, aside from the occasional water full up. The bar tender brought our 2 round of drinks and he was very pleasurable as well. Finally Rodney came to check on us and we informed him it was my hubbys birthday. He came and presented a beautiful coconut cream pie slice which we shared and when the bill came over $100. I was not at all shocked. The price was generous for the food we ate. I always tell people I am ok with paying more for great food, paying less for bad food but not ok with paying more for less. I tipped Rodney $20 bucks for his great service. If you ever go there an get a change to have Rodney as your service. Tell him he was the bees knees on Yelp!!!!!!! The restaurant was very clean as well and I actually liked the dim lighting which gave me the feeling that it was just me and my hubby and helped tune out other people walking by.
(5)Jennifer F.
The combination of great food, romantic atmosphere, and wonderful service makes this restaurant a definite yes. Make sure to make reservation!
(5)Laraine A.
I cannot understand why so many people like this place. Maybe because it is on the bay front, or maybe the is one of the best crappy restaurants in Hilo. Food is overpriced and extremely mediocre. Pizza is bland. Dough had no salt. It was kind of like pizza on a cracker. We could not eat it.
(1)A L.
I ordered the Shrimp Scampi, described in the menu as "Pan-Seared Jumbo Asian Tiger Shrimp." They were certainly not jumbo. They were small-to-medium sized and a tad overcooked. The sauce was sweet, as if sugar had been added to it. This dinner entree was not filling, however. To finish the meal, I ordered the seafood chowder, which was a red-based chowder (like Manhattan clam chowder), with fresh fish and shrimp that had been added to it but which then become overcooked. My dining partner ordered the Wok Fired Shrimp & Scallops. I wished I had ordered it. He said it was excellent. The ambiance was chaotic. The bar was running blenders which were noisy, all on top of the muzak. At the table next to ours, there was a child who would not sit in his chair and kept running around from adult to adult at his table. His mother tried to quiet him down and to get him to sit in one place, but what could she do? I think she was embarrassed and I felt bad for her. Our server was attentive.
(2)Tom C.
Great service. Was up in a small town and the recommended. Great soup and the Chicken Risotto was damn good. Friendly staff. My wife dropped a 20 on the floor and the bus girls notified us . Would recommend!!!!
(5)Aaron F.
Cafe pesto is a must stop on each and every visit to Hilo. If you are lucky enough to get Rodney as your server you are in for a great treat, If you are even luckier to get him as your bartender you are in for more of a treat! I recommend anything on the menu, but typically go for the chefs special! Can't go wrong with anything you order!
(5)Angela N.
I never thought the words Stromboli and mahi mahi would come together but Cafe Pesto made it happen! The result was absolutely delicious. The salad was fresh with homemade dressing and cappuccino was wonderful. Great service and the Art Deco building was a delight to take in. Next time I'm in Hilo, I am going back for more:)
(4)Mapuana D.
Been to Cafe Pesto a few times and the food has been very good. Went there for Valentine's and the service was awesome from the hostess.waitress, food servers and bus boys. The food was very good and cocktails. I recommend Cafe Pesto in Hilo.
(4)Ashlea L.
Favorite place to eat lunch! I always get their pesto burger even when I was a vegetarian. There pesto garlic sauce is truly a one of a kind. All local meat! Their turkey and spinach sandwich with mango chutney, makes for a creative and delicious dish. They have the best desserts and the best mai tais on this island. They are a little expensive so the best time to go is lunch time. But it's totally worth it.
(5)Will B.
Ah, now this is what I'm looking for in a Friday night date restaurant. Comfortable atmosphere in an attractive space, delicious food, and good service. My wife and I shared a sure-fire tasty dish, the grilled chicken risotto, and took a chance on a special calzone with fish. It's not easy to mix cheese and fish, but they pulled it off somehow. If only we lived in Hilo...
(5)Jessica H.
Good service, good food, very creative drinks which are also soooo good. Glad we stopped there for lunch.
(5)Becky R.
We ordered two pizzas and both were very good. They were able to make a very nice kids pasta dish for my daughter and the volcano mist salad was truly amazing.
(4)Dave T.
I am half Sicilian and had Cuban, and love to eat more than Luciano Pavarotti likes to belt out opera notes. Went here for dinner. It is ok, not great. The shrimp pizza had only one piece on each slice, and I felt myself yearning for more shrimp, like Forest Gump out at sea. The crab cakes were ok, nothing to write home about, but not bad. The dessert was some kind of flour-less chocolate concoction, and it was good. It's an ok place, just not outta this world type of place that I would be telling family members to go to.
(2)Paula R.
Had lunch there after yoga (worked up an appetite). They bring out freshly baked bread with pesto butter to start. Really good. I had the rosemary chicken risotto. Rice cooked perfectly, nice and creamy with good saffron flavor. The chicken was moist and delicious. My daughter had the shrimp chili pizza and really liked it. We ordered Big Island Booch, they were out of the kind on the menu, something with lavendar, so they substituted coconut chai. So glad they did, it was soooo good. Service was great, super friendly and accomodating. Will try the Kawaihae location next week, definitely worth another visit.
(4)Judy S.
Food was fresh and delicious and service was great. Pizza was one of best I've ever had. Blue Caesar salad was lightly dressed as requested. Our waitress was friendly gave us a great tip on a local place for breakfast, too.
(5)Sanjana S.
The food took too long and the appetizer (crab QUESADILLA) was cold and sad and unappetizing . The wait was much too long for the mediocre food. The shrimp pizza was very well made and was delicious. The San Jose chicken was ok. If you order it, add salt and pepper which makes it good!! The desserts looked delicious but it took an hour for our food. Cafe pesto was definitely not used to the crowd. We figured that if they weren't so full, it would have been much better! The service was just okay, the waiter was nice, but they were way too short on servers.
(2)Sandy S.
Convenient location on the main drag in Hilo. Spacious, casual atmosphere. Friendly, prompt service. We shared the pizza special of the day and a salad, with a local beer on draft. A pleasant experience all around, and not too noisy either.
(4)Roxie R.
this is my GO TO restaurant for a nice time. good food. great desserts. nice drink menu. beautiful live music in the evenings some days. Attentive and pleasant service :)
(5)Lori S.
This is one my regular spots when I'm in Hilo for work. The staff is always amazingly attentive and gracious. The food is a bit carb heavy so if you're looking for a lighter option probably not where you want to go but I enjoy a nice salad and pasta every time I'm here.
(3)Karen L.
Pretty hard to find an open restaurant not alone a good one on a Sunday evening in July here. We strolled the street in the car and saw this place packed with people. We decided to eat here and it turns out to be a great choice. Both the seafood pasta special and the pizza was great. I guess it is always safe to follow the crowd when it comes to eating...
(5)Allison H.
We stopped for lunch at this place because we couldnt find the lunch spot we wanted, but im glad we did. I had the thai shrimp salad and it was very good, though i think it needed more shrimp. My husband got the pesto burger, and though it was small, it was really good, and the fries were awesome!
(4)Richard L.
Tasty pizza joint. Has cheeseless options, and advertises this ("ask your server!"), but when I asked the server, he didn't know what to recommend. So that wasn't ideal. After thinking about it for a bit, he had a few recommendations ("we can replace the cheese with the red sauce, which has only a LITTLE cheese in it"). I ended up with the oriental pizza, sans cheese, which was quite tasty and quick. Also had the non-ice-cream portion of a bananas foster (probably the only place on Earth you can get one with candy apple bananas!) which was delicious. Live music too - recommended!
(4)Kym M.
My review was removed so I am re posting it. My husband and I went to Cafe Pesto today for lunch. We live in Kona and needed to take care of some business in Hilo so decided to treat ourselves as Cafe Pesto has been a favorite in the past. We have always liked both the Hilo restaurant and the Kawaihai location. Unfortunately our experience today was very poor. We were there at about 11:30 and the restaurant was already starting to fill up. We ordered the caprese salad and a vegetarian pizza to share. The salad arrived so chilled that it was nearly frozen. The tomatoes looked like they had sat in the sub zero since last night and the mozzarella cheese was like tasteless rubber. There were 3 thai basil leaves on top that were discolored and tasted way too strong, almost like licorice. The pizza arrived about 2 minutes later and looked tasty but as soon as I cut into it I could tell that the crust was a soggy mess. It seemed undercooked so we asked our waiter if he could do anything about it and he very nicely brought us another one. It was only marginally better. The pesto was bland and the gorgonzola was not like any gorgonzola I have tasted before. All very blah and soggy. We ordered 2 glasses of wine and thankfully those were good and a decent value at $7 each. I don't know if the kitchen was just "off" today because of the Holidays but it was really not at all up to par.
(1)Krys L.
Went here on a recent trip to Hilo. Our server was amazing we told him about my moms milk allergy and he found a dish she could have. While the service was great the food didn't live up to the hype. I ordered the Chicken Risotto and while it was the best chicken I have ever had the risotto managed to be both bland and over seasoned with a saffron taste that lingered way to long. Over all I loved the service just not the food.
(3)Jacob N.
This was the most un-Hilo restaurant in Hilo. Does that make any sense to you? You would know what I mean if you ever visited. Cafe Pesto is located just across the street from Hilo bay, and is a nice sit-down Italian style restaurant. I wouldn't say that it's the best Italian food that I've had, but it sure hit the spot. There is a pretty decent variety of pastas, pizzas, and other entrees that you'd expect to find at an Italian restaurant in Honolulu. One of the big notable things is that they use a lot of local ingredients, so it's Italian with a local farm fresh twist. Just something to remember: The entrance to the restaurant is inside the entrance of the building that it's in. You can't get in from the sidewalk without entering the building first. Or else you'll be wandering around looking into windows at people enjoying their meals. We ordered an appetizer of focaccia, and three of their pizzas. Focaccia: Freshly baked pizza bread with your choice of: Herbed Big Island goat cheese, fresh rosemary gorgonzola, or Greek olive pesto. We decided to go with the Greek olive pesto since the word "Pesto" is in the name of the joint. To me it was more like a light tapenade than a pesto, and it was more like a mini pizza than focaccia. The Pizza Luau: Kalua pork, local sweet onions and fresh Hawaiian pineapple. This was like your standard "Hawaiian Pizza", but with an awesome twist. Kalua pork instead of ham!! Brilliant!! The Southwestern: Fresh cilantro pesto, chipotle barbeque chicken, red onions, Big Island goat cheese. This was like a BBQ chicken pizza to me. Nothing too spectacular about it, but still not just something to shake a stick at. The Oriental al Pesto: Fresh basil pesto, roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and Japanese eggplant. This here was my favorite pizza out of the three. The combination of the eggplant and the sun-dried tomatoes contributed a variety of texture as well as taste, and the fresh pesto serving as the sauce was great. Overall I'm definitely a fan of Cafe Pesto. It's an ideal spot to check out when you need a break from the plate lunches, okazuya, and saimin that's so prevalent in the Hilo dining world. We came for lunch, but noticed that as they were setting up for dinner and placing cloth napkins on the tables, so dinner here is one of the two cloth napkin dining experiences that I know of in Hilo.
(4)Hai T.
I would it 31/2 if I could. This place is crowded no matter what time you go there since it's right on the main strip of the touristy area of Hilo. We tried to get in twice w/o reservation and it was no luck until the third time with reservation. All tourists, including us. The food was good, but nothing really special though. Good alcoholic drinks however. Don't know if I would fight the crowds again to get a table there.
(3)Nancy H.
Each time we go to the Big Island, we eat at one or the other Cafe Pesto. This time it was in Hilo for dinner. The food is consistently good, and the prices are not too outrageous. This time, we ordered the coconut calamari and southwestern soup for starters. The soup was quite good and had a nice spicy bite, without being over-the-top hot. The calamari was crunchy and very tasty. Hubby ordered the classico pizza with anchovy and was in pizza heaven. The crab cakes I ordered for my main were yummy, containing enough crab meat to satisfy my taste buds. Hubby also ordered the 3-beer sampler, which was quite reasonable at $7.50, and I ordered the fabulous lemonade. Josh, our waiter, could have been a little more attentive and friendly, but otherwise a great dining experience. Also, reservations are a good idea.
(4)K C.
The service sitting at the bar was amazing!! The food was good too, next time I'll try a different pizza and ask for it well done maybe. Just my taste. I can't wait to go to Hilo and return. Just two of us, sitting at the bar was so much fun I would highly recommend. I think Jen helped us out and everyone there was friendly.
(4)Sarah B.
We got takeout pizza from Cafe Pesto to take up to Mauna Kea for stargazing. I highly recommend this tactic! We got a mushroom & artichoke pizza. It was very tasty, with good fresh ingredients. I could have done with a little less saltiness and a little more other seasoning, but overall it was very good. Service on takeout was efficient and friendly, and our pizza was ready on time.
(4)Ashley G.
Good food for Hilo! Dined here a few times service was always good. Food was decent for sure but nothing to write home raving about but like I said... good food for Hilo. Many different pizza options including make your own any way you'd like it. Lots of pasta & fish dishes to choose from also. Great deserts. Okay wine list.
(3)Caitlyn S.
Service was great, food was great. Fresh catch salad was yummy!
(5)Amber C.
This is my fave place to eat. My go to spot if I wanna just have some time with my boyfriend. Food, a beer, with some music. So romantic haha. We are always happy when we come here. Service is always a thumbs up and food is yummy:)
(5)Ej F.
Came here after having such a great experience at the Kawaihae location (see separate review). The Hilo version has pretty much the same menu. I tried the Hilo Sunrise this time (basically an arnold palmer) which was very refreshing. Service here was not as amazing but still good. The food was just as tasty too and I had the best fish sandwich I've ever ate. The "fresh catch" was Ono and it came with onion crisps, lettuce, vine ripened tomatoes, and the most amazing parsley dressing that I poured all over and literally licked off my fingers! They also have free wi-fi but it's a bit slow.
(5)C L.
Everything was fantastic! The cocktails, coconut encrusted calamari, catch of the day (ahi), local beef and beers... I could not have been more impressed. The server was knowledgable and attentive (but not overly so) and we really enjoyed eating here.
(5)Josh N.
This place is excellent. The service is excellent. We stopped in for lunch and I was feeling burger. Ordered the Café Pesto Cheeseburger which has "Free Range" Island Beef crowned with melted smoked mozzarella & Madame Pele's Onion Crisp. Served with creamy pesto, vine ripe tomatoes, organic greens and herb garlic steak fries. The creamy pesto was homemade and really worked well on the burger.
(5)Elle K.
My spouse and I each ordered a pasta dish. For him, some spicy chicken, and for me, the pesto. His was nice and spicy, just the way he likes it. Mine was ok. It was linguini with some pesto sauce topped with marinara and two big, whole pieces of chicken apple sausage. The flavors were ok. Not as sophisticated as I was expecting for the price. Kind of homey. Never had marinara sauce on too of pesto sauce before. And also, the whole sausages were kind of off putting I felt they could have been integrated into the dish better, instead of just sitting on the noodles like an afterthought. I might come back, but I think there are better places to eat in Hilo so probably not anytime soon. Service was good though
(3)Melody W.
Cafe Pesto never disappoints. We come here every time we visit Hilo. Love the bay front location and the tropical ambiance. The menu is innovative and the high quality always consistent. The service is always friendly and prompt, the servers charming and knowledgeable. Wish I was there now.
(5)john w.
BEST steak I've ever had with the Surf n Turf! Filet was charred to perfection! Superb! At 45 I've eaten a lot of meat, but this was truly the tastiest ever. Even though ONE medium sized scallop served as a garnish is not "surf", the melt in your mouth, busting with flavor local grass fed red meat made it less of an issue. Also served up by the beautiful and attentive Marsha. Her fantastic service was the perfect foil to the over the top flavors I enjoyed! PS Patron margaritas were a great way to start and finish the meal! Can't wait to go back! You really should try Cafe Pesto! Thanks Marsha!! We'll come back to see you soon!
(5)Shannon B.
Delicious food, excellent service, good location. We had read in a guidebook that this place was great, and my friend recommended it as well. The restaurant was fairly crowded when we arrived, but there were plenty of tables during lunch. The service was efficient and friendly, and the wait staff were attentive with getting us fresh water and refills on iced tea. We had a party of four and ordered a garden salad, a 9-inch pizza, the Fresh Catch Salad, and a calzone. Everything was wonderful. The garden salad came with a variety of lettuce that was free of bruising. The dressing was tasty and light. The 9-inch pizza (artichoke and mushroom) was a perfect size to share among the four of us. The Fresh Catch salad had a couple of options of which fish to choose (I chose ahi), and was cooked nicely. The lettuce was also a variety with a couple slices of cucumbers. I didn't try the calzone, but the person who ordered it said it was delicious. Prior to the meal, we got a basket of white bread that came with some herbed butter - a nice addition to the meal. The area in which the cafe is located has a variety of eateries and shops. Also, there's a farmer's market nearby. The only gripe I would have is that one has to obtain a code to get into the restrooms that are down the hall, and they are a bit grungy.
(5)Jessica W.
I was a tourist looking for a place that more locals were at. I think this cafe had a balance of the two dining in the restaurant during the time I was there. Loved the offerings on the menu. The food and drinks were great, and the service here was phenomenal! Would recommend and would return.
(5)Christopher B.
I would give Café Pesto five stars, but our service here was pretty terrible. I felt bad for the waiter because he was working a ton of tables and you could tell other tables were getting frustrated as well. If more servers were working, easily would have earned 5 stars. Probably the best Italian food available in Hilo.
(4)Colleen O.
Took a friend to dinner to catch up....was disappointed at the way the waitress greeted is. She was not very cheery and the dinner shift just started!! Dessert was fabulous!!! Crab cake salad was a little different than previously - crab cake portions are smaller even the greens! We also tried the fish tacos tasty but very messy! Wish they were able to retain former wait help with up beat personalities! That's what made the place!
(3)Pua T.
After my last visit to Cafe Pesto, I received a call from the head chef apologizing for the experience and he invited me back to the restaurant to try out some new menu items. Wow! I was totally impressed at not only the great service, but with the food. It was outstanding! I was touched by the chef's willingness to invite me back (on the house) to try some of his other fabulous dishes. Mahalo (thank you) Chef Casey! I'll be back ...
(5)Lydia K.
After our fail attempt at going to Akaka fall (the park closed by the time we got there...boo...it closed at 6pm), we decided to have dinner in Hilo since we are on the east side of the Island. The area where the restaurant is located has a local feel to it, and it reminds me of Paia in Maui, but just bigger. The restaurant was pretty full when we got there and the hostess said we need to wait 20min. We didn't mind the wait and we got the table in probably less than that. Feeling seafood, we ordered * Coconut Crusted Calamari -yum! The battered was tasty and they give you a decent amount of calamari each piece so it doesn't feel like you're just eating the battered. It's one of the better calamari dishes I've had. * Asian Pacific Crab Cakes - really really yummy and lots of crab in the crab cake. Just thinking about it makes me wish I can order one. * Sear Seafood Risotto - all the seafood were cook perfectly and delicious. The restaurant isn't a fancy one, but the food has that quality to it. I would totally eat here again the next time I'm in Hilo.
(4)Hillary B.
Omg! Great food! Air conditioning, large comfortable place, what a find after a hot sweaty walk!
(5)Robin A.
WOW. What a great restaurant to visit for a luxurious dinner with your significant other! I highly recommend getting the seafood risotto, as well as the coconut torte for dessert. The prices are high, and the ambiance is a bit weird (the music doesn't match the food or setting), but the waiter was VERY chill, and the drinks were yummy (including the lemonade!).
(5)Alison H.
I was surprised to see the reviews that made mention of the large crowds and long waits. We didn't find that to be the case at all, and we were there at about 12.30pm on a Saturday. Maybe this only applies to the dinner service? Some of the best pizza I've had in awhile. We ordered a few appetizers to start: the crab quesadilla (amazing and plenty of fresh crab), smoked salmon pizzette (also amazing), and finally the focaccia with a greek olive pesto (just okay). I had a build your own pizza for my main adding fresh grilled chicken, vine ripened tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms. The pizza was stacked! They certainly didn't skimp on any of the ingredients, and everything was really fresh. We tried a few of the cocktails and they were pretty good. I would probably stay away from the old-fashioned though, it was far too sweet, and my friend actually sent his back and ordered a different drink. Overall, I was really impressed with Café Pesto and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good place to eat in Hilo.
(4)Doug T.
Great food.. it's undersold as a pizza place. The food is amazing... don't let the plastic cups and generic seating fool you. Great for picky adults and kids..
(5)Srav K.
Long wait until someone took the order . Billed more than what was in the menu . But all that forgiven for the food .we are vegetarian and the appetizer and the entree were very very tasty .i have had a lot if Italian food and form chains to locals and I would grade this place on my top 7. A good place to eat when returning back from volcano park . Parking in the side streets is free and they are open ill 9.30whe. The test of the town is so dead by 7!!!
(4)Tamra P.
Was in Hilo for work again and decided to try out a new place. Good reviews on Yelp brought me here, and I wasn't disappointed. We got a table right away. Service was quick and friendly. All the food looked and sounded good, it was hard to decide. I chose the crab cake salad which was delicious but not too heavy. My coworker got the Santa Fe chicken pasta which had a nice kick to it. Table bread here was awesome- crusty on the outside, warm and soft inside, with a delicious pesto butter. Looking forward to coming back and trying new things.
(4)Kristina B.
Stopped by for a late lunch. Seated immediately even though the restaurant was busy. The waitstaff was friendly and always had my lemonade filled. I ordered the Greek small pizza. It was pretty good. I must have been starved because I finished the entire thing. I would go back again and try something else on the menu. Easy location, plenty of parking in downtown Hilo. Entrance is on the inside of the strip mall building.
(5)Kimi N.
One of my favorite restaurants!!! I pretty much like EVERY SINGLE MENU on there but here's some of my favs smoked salmon pizzette (appetizer), Crab cake salad, Hamakua Mushroom risotto, wok fried shrimp & scallop.. (this comes with angel hair pasta) and fresh catch stromboli & seafood combo ( THE BEST OF THE BEST :) )
(4)J R.
This was my good karma coming back to me... On a recent cruise stop in Hilo, we shared a cab with another couple who became fast friends. She had researched Cafe Pesto and made reservations for 2, once we decided to join them, the Cafe made room for us, despite a busy Sunday lunch crowd. Sated and jaded from cruise cuisine, we were reawakened to the joys of good food. Perhaps we indulged in Coconut Fried Calamari, but it was light and flavorful. Most of the party succumbed to the allure of the fresh fish recommendations (and justly so), I had what appeared to be an old favorite (from La Jolla's Crab Catcher) reinvented: The MILOLI'I, a hot open faced sandwich of garlic basted shrimp, pacific crab, sliced mushrooms, and blended cheeses on fragrant french bread. Simply amazing. Granted we were vacationing, and mellow to begin with, but Cafe Pesto was a truly enjoyable meal.
(4)Judi M.
We enjoyed the open air feel and atmosphere. I appreciated the knowledgeable wait staff & prompt service. Nice blending of flavors in my salad & entree. Can be super busy when cruise ships are in port but worth the wait.
(5)Kim D.
The service was great. We also were there when they had live music, which was very nice. It was enjoyable. We shared a pizza and pasta dish. They accommodated our request by adding chicken to the Greek pizza. It was very good. The pasta was a shrimp scampi. We thought it was just "ok"- nothing special and actually lacked flavor. We would definitely go again to try a few more menu items.
(4)Gary F.
Cool place. Big airy dining room; nice tropical setting. Had the turkey and vegetable soup. Very unique; hadn't had a soup that tasted like it before. I think the broth had pineapple juice in it or something. It was very good. Had pizza; all the ingredients seemed very fresh and the pizza crust was very good. Staff was very friendly; service was super-fast.
(5)Caleb J.
Very busy but made reservations. Got seated about 5 minutes late but no biggie. Server Josh was a pro's pro. Calzone was slightly burnt but overall meal was good. Better be when you're paying these prices.
(4)Patrick M.
My girlfriend and I decided to take a trip to Hilo just to check it out. We only wanted to get some coffee, but we ended up here! lol Cafe Pesto is a nice local joint. We only ordered a pizza with some coffee, so I can't really comment on the other food here. The pizza was good and the service was great! Our coffee was always quickly refilled. If you're in Hilo and want to eat some good food, stop on by Cafe Pesto!
(4)Jen K.
Husband and I ate here twice. There are some tasty dishes and some ok ones. What I would recommend: -beef tenderloin with mashed kabocha -apple crisp with macadamia crust -coconut limeade -passionfruit juice Decent: -Fresh fish salad (fish pieces were good but small, rest of salad looked like something from a salad pack) -Kalua pig pizza (I liked the crust but there was too much cheese and the meat and pineapple was sparse) One of the few places in Hilo that is open on New Year's Day, and later at night.
(4)Keira M.
While on the Big Island in November, 2012, my fiancé spent most of our time on the west side of the island but made sure to venture to the east side and check out Hilo. By the time we arrived, we were both very hungry for lunch and remembered reading positive reviews about Cafe Pesto in our guidebook. The restaurant was easy to find and we were seated right away, despite being busy during the lunch hour on a weekday. I'm gluten intolerant and so my fiancé avoids gluten by default. We were both disappointed to find that the menu was extremely limited for both of us. Though tempted by the signature pizzas that Cafe Pesto is known for, a gluten-free crust option was not available. We both ended up ordering a crisp salad with local, fresh-caught tuna and a Hilo Sunrise beverage on the side. Our meals were undoubtedly delicious and the service was friendly and full of smiles. Had the menu been a bit more varied or adjustable, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to return to Cafe Pesto next time I'm in Hilo. However, I think on our next visit we'll search for something else to try instead. Cafe Pesto was good, not great.
(3)Allan H.
Gave it 1 star because the food was good. The worst service in any Restraunt. The idiot waiter waited literally over an hour to take our order. The guy was brain dead. He actually had the nerve to ask us if we needed more time to look at the menu when he finally came over. The 7 yr. old boy that was with my party of 5 was starving so badly that he went up front to ask if there was anyone going to ever serve us or are we going to die of starvation because nobody likes us. I refuse to ever go back to that dump again and overpay for food when it's the worst service on the big island. Cafe Pesto is a dump. Not 1 employee ever came up to us to see that we had nothing. No water, bread or even a server. No excuse and never again. I never felt soo proud when we left the waiter nothing for a tip. He deserved the tip of my shoe in his dumb ass.
(1)Autumn S.
It was okay. The place I went zip lining recommended it. Would I recommend it, Sure. I probably wouldn't go back there tho.
(3)Jeff A.
Not everything on the menu is 5 star in taste and value. However on my most recent visit our waiter was EXCELLENT. He recommended specific dishes and they delivered. We got the seafood Stromboli and it was huge and awesome. It came with an incredible crab salad and calamari. At $25 it was an incredible deal. We also got the seared poke ($17) which was also good. With a bottle of wine our tab was only about $65.
(5)Erin M.
I've lived in Hilo for 8 months and I've been reading all the rave reviews about Cafe Pesto for just as long, so we were really looking forward to eating here. What a disappointment! We had the chicken risotto, Thai shrimp salad, and vegetarian stir fry. Not one person in our group commented that the food was good and I think we were all trying to be polite by not saying anything at all. My chicken risotto was absolutely BLAND and the portion was tiny. The service was good enough but very slow as others have mentioned. Let's just say I am glad I wasn't the one shelling out $17 for this plate. The food is much too expensive for the mediocre taste it had today. Based on this experience I would not recommend this place to anyone. I might give it another chance since this could have been a rare bad night (based on all the other good reviews), but I'm not in a hurry to go back and try it for the price it costs.
(2)