Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar
62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Dr, Kamuela, HI, 96743
Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar Menu
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Address :
62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Dr
Kamuela, HI, 96743 - Phone (808) 882-5810
- Website https://www.princeresortshawaii.com/mauna-kea-beach-hotel/big-island-restaurants.php
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Quiet
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Rachel H.
I am truly shocked by how good these reviews are. With all the great restaurants in the area, this place should not be on anyone's list, especially considering the prices. My family (7 people, all adults) went to this restaurant on the fourth night of our vacation and the food by the pool at our hotel is leaps and bounds better than this place. I will say I am giving this place 2 stars because the restaurant is pretty and the people were nice. That's the extent of the present experience. First, they do not store their wine properly. We ordered white and rose, neither were even chilled. Like, not at all. Room temperature at best. We had to put ice in our glasses while the rest of the bottle sat on ice to chill. The salads were decent, but $17 dollars for a Caesar salad not much bigger than my hand is a bit ridiculous. Then dinner came. My Mom got their surf and turf special with veal and ono (I think). The ono was really odd, pink in the middle like seared ahi. It was edible. The veal was an absolutely inedible hockey puck. I mean petrified it was so over cooked. She sent it back and they brought another peice out less than 3 minutes later that was just as bad. Turns out they are pre-cooked. WHAT?! Who pre-cooks veal?! It was awful. I had the bone-in steak. The meat itself was good, but not $60 good. The mashed potatoes tasted like they were straight out of a box. I'm not kidding. I'm positive they were from a box. They literally tasted like water. Now, I know the island is still being effected from the huricane and restaurants may not be able to get all the ingredients they need for their menu, but if that's the case, TAKE IT OFF THE MENU! Don't serve boxed potatoes! That's inexcusable. Several of us got dishes with the potatoes and we all said the same thing once we left Two people got the pork chop. The meat was cooked to perfection. The sweet potato "gnocchi" was nothing even remotely close to gnocchi. It was a strange sweet potato pancake that's then breaded and fried. It tasted like a mozerella stick with potato instead of cheese. And not in a good way. The filet mignon was alright. No real complaint, just not anything to write home about. For the price, this place is NOT worth it! Go to the Grill at the Four Seasons. Their prices are similar and their food is incredible! No idea why this place is getting such good reviews. I mean, are the employees writing them?
(2)Colby M.
We had the best meal of our trip tonight at manta. Blew away our meal at the four seasons. The wait staff was second to none. My children left nothing on their plates, and no one ordered from the kids menu. The soufflé was the best - and we have dined at Michelin chefs tables. I cannot recommend this restaurant more highly.
(5)Kelli H.
We had an amazing dinner here. We were seated outside with the most beautiful view. Our server was excellent, though a tad hard to understand. She was friendly and took pictures of us. She had great knowledge of the food that was being served and answered all of our questions. We were never waiting long for another item to be brought out. The wine menu was expansive and had good selections for by the glass, which was good for us, since we didn't want to buy a bottle. The wine was expensive, of course, but your on vacation at a beautiful resort, what do you expect? We were very happy with all four wines we tried. Especially the wines from France. Our food was AMAZING. Definitely the best out of the whole trip. We loved that we were offered a free little bite in the beginning, too. The breads were also delicious! I had moon fish and my husband had ahi. We were both sooo happy. Our appetizer was crab ravioli. We ordered the smaller portion size, but I'd even order the whole portion for an entree. Dessert was good, but probably the most lacking. All in in all, we had a great experience here. We desperately wanted to come back but they are closed on Sunday and Monday's. We'll cherish our dining experience here for the rest of our lives, since it was the best of our whole honeymoon.
(5)Jessica W.
Who can not love the location here? This was the first place I stopped off once I landed in Kona. As soon as I was dropped off at the court yard, the concierge pointed me in the direction of Manta for a drink (long flight). I wasn't expecting that much. However as soon as I took a seat on their out door lounge area by the fire pit with the waves crashing in the back ground I found my "own private idaho". This place is amazing. I seriously had a perma smile for at least a few minutes in amazement of where I was. I was no longer in busy Southern California. I suggest not only Manta for drinks but staying at the Mauna Kea in general. It literally felt like a great escape! Will return! Yummy place with exceptional service and one of the best wine selections that I stumbled across on the island.
(5)Janet O.
The food is fabulous, the staff are attentive, and the setting is spectacular. The Manta Restaurant serves fresh island fish, beef dishes, pork, and a chicken dish. Menu changes frequently, if not daily. Wonderful wine selection too. The view could not be better than at the Manta. We have dined there frequently with a group of friends. Everyone loved their dinners and it all arrived hot. The manager is excellent and is visible during the meal. Sunset views, with indoor and outdoor dining.
(5)Gabriel S.
The story here is the view, which alone is worth the price of admission. It was as beautiful an atmosphere that I have EVER eaten a meal in. Truly spectacular. On the food side we spent $32 per plate for the breakfast buffet and were not disappointed. I wasnt a guest at the hotel. In fact, I went there looking for a fish taco place that is also supposed to be pretty good, but it was closed and my girlfriend was growing more hungry and cranky. So instead we valeted the car and took a blind risk on Manta. We were not disappointed. They had a phenomenal selection, including a variety of fresh fish, fruit and cheeses and meats. The fresh salmon was my favorite, along with my made to order omelette served with a tasty asian hot sauce. It might have been siracha, but it was still awesome. Also on the menu were eggs benedict, crepes, miso soup and fresh rice and kim (roasted, salted seaweed). The service was also fantastic. Some guy complained they didnt let him in because he didnt have a collared shirt, but I dont buy it. We just came from a morning at the beach snorkeling and I was wearing surf shorts and a regular t-shirt and there was never a hiccup in service. One of my favorite things our server did was give me an entire pot of coffee enough for about 5 cups. I didnt have to track him down, the coffee was always hot and it was always fresh in my cup. A major bonus. TIP: If you are a passerby like me, valet the car and validate at Manta. As far as buffets go, this was one of my favorites which says a lot since DC is a big brunch town (almost annoyingly so).
(4)Raymond H.
Bad, but better than the other restaurants at Mauna Kea but still lacking service and hospitality, go for the buffet breakfast and serve yourself. Could never figure out why there is a wait at this and other restaurants on property, they always quote 15 min to 1 hour wait even when the restaurants are empty. Definitely not worth a return visit.
(2)Rob K.
If you are on the Big Island or headed there, make your reservation NOW! This is the most beautiful location on the island, and would have to be among the very best restaurants also. It was definitely the best we tried during our stay and we didn't hesitate to return once we tried it the first time. You can't beat the beautiful view of the best beach on the island, possibly the best beach in the Hawaiian Islands (definitely one of the best). The atmosphere, food, and service is absolutely first rate. We came for dinner and fell in love wth everything about it. We returned for breakfast a few days later, and followed that up with a swim and snorkel in this beautiful sandy crescent beach. The atmosphere at both night and in the morning was fantastic, so relaxing and wonderful. Excellent menu and wine offerings, with wines kept at the various temparatures and on display for tasting. Some reviews mention that Mauna Kea has a magic atmosphere that is almost a spiritual thing difficult to describe, and I wholeheartedly agree. As an added bonus, there is a spotlight on the point below the restaurant focused on the water. We headed down there with our kids whilst waiting for our orders to find Manta in the water putting on a display! A very casual and relaxed vibe that is still high end and first rate. To be treated like royalty in terms of service and food quality whilst also feeling completely relaxed and comfortable whilst taking in one of the world's best beachfront views? You can't beat that.
(5)S. D.
Excellent food, excellent service, amazing location. We make a point of coming here for dinner every time we are in the area. Every time we have had top notch food and service. We have some very specific dietary needs and the staff and chef have always been extremely accomodating. Their focus on local, seasonal and organiz ingredients is also something we greatly appreciate. Finally, the sunset view can't be beat. Make sure to walk down after dinner and view the manta rays feeding on plankton at the point directly below the restaurant.
(5)J. Christopher E.
Watched the sun set at the Copper Terrace and then walked over to Manta for dinner. Was the best meal I had on the Big Island. The service was also exceptional; the person I was with was cold (it was a little windy) and the waitress thought a second and then brought us a just washed and warm tablecloth to use as a blanket. The waitress gave great suggestions for dinner. The pig and cabbage appetizer was perfect and the toast, bananas and vanilla ice cream dessert fantastic. Wish I remembered the waitresses name. Definitely a five star place, but I wonder why they don't take reservations until after sunset? It would have been nice to have dinner while watching the sunset, but it works out OK to have drinks at one of the on site bars and then come over for dinner.
(5)Galen Y.
While having a bite to eat, your get incredible scenery. You have a nice panoramic shoot of the beach and the cove. Food is not bad, had breakfast while staying there. had all my favorites, waffles, omelets, and if your looking for a big breakfast, the Loco moco over fried rice ono! Employees were friendly but when its slow, less staff =less service. All in all the friendly service and great food along with the amazing view, made up for the slower service.
(4)Areena M.
I have had the pleasure of enjoying the Mauna Kea and Hapuna Beach Prince resorts on a few occasions, and eaten at Manta twice (not counting the several times in years prior to the earthquake and subsequent remodel when this was the Pavilion restaurant). I won't rehash everything others have already said, but will confirm that our food experience has always been terrific while the service could use improvement. The view is amazing and enough to distract from the feral cats wandering around (I am allergic, but it's open-air, so never been a problem). I have never had issues with snootiness/dress code that others describe, but I've never shown up for dinner here in shorts and a t-shirt! I'll forego the discussion of dress code particulars and whether standards are right or wrong, but be advised that this is the formal, fine dining restaurant at an old-school luxury resort. Rest assured, though, that the environment is not stuffy. If you want casual dining at this resort for lunch or dinner, head over to Number 3 (the golf club) or Hau Tree (beachside). I do find the place overpriced, but that's par for the course when enjoying a resort's restaurant. We usually venture off the resort for most meals, stash snacks in the room, and save Manta for those nights when we really want the full fine dining experience, view, etc. or are too lazy to drive anywhere else. If service would improve, it would easily earn 5 stars.
(4)Jeremy S.
Manta is your only option for breakfast at the Mauna Kea Beach hotel. Their buffet is passable, but as a captive audience you're paying top dollar for not top quality. Dinner time seems more respectable and I was reasonably impressed with my entree, unfortunately we had a really bad run-in with the hostess on our first night. We arrived without a dinner reservation (Thurs), but the restaurant was half empty and still the hostess told us to come back in an hour since she couldn't seat any more tables (wtf?). We returned and again waited for a very long time (with many other folks similarly lined up and confused), after much pestering and complaining the hostess finally relented and gave us a table. It was a painful start to our vacation...
(3)Katalina O.
Unfortunately, our dinner experiences here were very disappointing. During our week long stay - the restaurant was closed for five days whilst they installed an awning. Not usually a problem, but only one other restaurant was open at this iconic resort. Also, Mauna Kea did not notify us of this planned closure when we booked our trip. No offer was forthcoming to shuttle us (anywhere) and we did not have a car so we were truly stuck - unless we were willing to pay $80.00 round trip for a cab to Mauna Lani!!! The real concern was the hit or miss quality of the service at Manta the two nights we did dine there. Each night, both waitresses actually seemed terrified of the chef. When asked if we could have a substitution, they balked. When pressed, our waitress reluctantly said she would ask chef. This was an easy substitution - could we have just the lobster tail, not the whole lobster? Her answer, after talking to the chef, was to scold us and say "he will do it, just this once, but chef says never again". To which we said: "you are closed for the next five days, and we will probably never bother you again." Lastly, and perhaps pettily, our waitresses hair hadn't been washed in quite a while... So - enjoy the setting - there is no better - but be prepared to have petulant service and marginal presentation for a very expensive dinner. PLEASE NOTE: The breakfast service at Manta and the Garden room is exceptional, unlike the dinner service
(2)Rich J.
This review is for the Sunday brunch. $48 per person for brunch is extremely steep. The selection was impressive, but it was lacking a little. I would have liked to see more of a sushi selection and more seafood items. The first waitress that took our drink orders looked miserable..honestly, she was the only person I encounterd in my whole five days in Hawaii who didnt seem genuinely happy. I don't even know if alcoholic drinks were included in the price..I was never told and I guess screw me for not inquiring. It would have made the price more tolerable. I asked for orange juice which never came. I guess I should consider myself lucky I got coffee.
(3)Kelli O.
How can I rate a place when my fiance and I were turned away based on the fact that he was wearing a Non collared shirt. The shirt was a solid colored v neck purchased at nordstrom for a hundred plus. On a slow thursday night and the beach is approximately 100 yards away. There is no posting of this supposed dress code. Honeymooners beware Dave the manager was the dismisser, but don't worry they'll offer to give you a shirt which is even more discriminating. Even the hostess mentioned they have had problems before with the dress code. Setting and ambiance is the only reason this place gets a star. Oh and I hope you're not allergic to cats given they have an assortment of ferals that sit outside on the steps of the restaurant. We were staying at this hotel and everyone was very hospitable it's a disgrace the one "nice" restaurant in the place is so judgmental and bougie.
(1)Kari S.
My husband and I went for a special dinner and got a real treat @ Manta. We had been there once before for brunch which was awesome. Dinner was awesome as well + we had a sunset view overlooking Kaunaoa beach. The restaurant is beautiful with outside as well as inside seating. There are huge windows inside the restaurant that were open which let in quite a breeze the evening we were there. We made reservations ahead of time and were seated right away. They seem to have a real "team" approach here, with several different people servicing you at once. It allowed for a seamless night in which we didn't have to wait for anything. We ordered the Salt roasted baby beets as an appetizer and it was incredible. The sweet/salty balance of flavors was so good. It had grilled strawberries on the side and some kind of sauce-very good. For my entree, I ordered the Pork Chop which was gigantic. I asked for it to be cooked medium well and it was a little over. Nonetheless, the sauces underneath it worked well with my dry pork. The server did mention when I ordered it that it is normally served medium and I told her I wanted it a little more cooked. It probably would've been fine then. My husband ordered the Seared Opakapaka with Spicy Pork dumpling (aka "Pork Hash". He loved everything about it. The saltiness of the dumpling complemented the delicate fish. It was served on a bed of steamed greens and everything was great. We got their Lilikoi souffle for dessert and it came piping hot to our table after 15 minutes which as fine. It gave us time to digest our entrees. The server had asked us halfway through dinner if we wanted the souffle, but we decided to wait until after we were done to order. It worked out well. The souffle was very good, but I didn't taste any lilikoi at all. It was essentially a vanilla souffle. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and can't wait to go back again.
(4)Greta Y.
We were guests at the Mauna Kea hotel and came here for dinner. First the setting...dinner on the patio was gorgeous though the view of the sunset was somewhat obstructed and if the winds are wipping up, it can get cold on the patio. There are cats in the area, but they didn't bother us, and my little one liked to watch them. Service was very attentive and we had no complaints. It was expensive (almost $300 for 4 adults, no desert, with wine). Despite the fact that this is a wine bar, we were disappointed with the wine list....the more interesting choices on the menu were not available for tasting...but then our group is very fussy when it comes to wine. As to the food, I had the seafood clay pot. The seafood clay pot was very delicious but it didn't pair very well with the rice that was served-- the clams were a little on the tough side but the sauce more than made up for it. Mom had the fish....it was good but nothing to write home about. My Dad had the steak which was cooked to perfection. Little ones loved the child's menu, and it was good that they could walk down and see the mantas when they got bored. Forget what the littlest had for desert...some form of cake...but he tore into it. So overall our experience was very good, but there were some misses so I can't give this a five.
(4)Jane M.
Excellent food and service. We had a lovely meal. The only thing is , went on a Friday night for dinner and there were very few people dining. No one was in the wine bar. Hope this place doesn't fold.
(5)Carrie B.
Only sorry I couldn't eat here more than once while in Hawai'i! We treated this as our special anniversary dinner on the island as the price is quite steep, but not more so than any restaurant we tend to go to for our anniversary while at home. The food was out of this world! We had the lobster ravioli and ahi, both of which were beyond amazing, but the ravioli was some of the best I've ever had. When the waitress inquired if we wanted the souffle because it would take 20 minutes it was impossible to turn down and had the lilikoi, which is similar to passion fruit. I can't explain how wonderful this was, but with the portion sizes had to take it back to eat later. The food alone would have netted 5-stars in my book, but then add to it the fact that you're sitting on a terrace overlooking one of the most amazing beaches in the entire world and you have a keeper! They have a large flood like stationed at the end of a small paved walk to the shore shining into the ocean to help attract manta rays. We didn't have a spotting while we were there, but Kona Honu Divers made sure we saw them the night before.
(5)Cheryl H.
Mauna Kea knows how to do a buffet! The clambake buffet was great and today's Sunday brunch at Manta hasnt let me down!!! Stations w servers/cooks/carvers: Omelette bar, Belgian waffle and crepe station, sushi nigiri station (tamago, kanpachi, ahi, unagi, salmon), awesome fresh and soft ahi sashimi, prime rib station w carver, Caesar salad station (they toss it for you). Had a dessert bar too, ice cream bar, and of course the salad and hot entree bars. Damnstraight everything was good. I esp loved the Belgian waffles (we halved it to save room in our stomachs lol), omelette station, smoked salmon w capers n cream cheese, and crab claws w butter. And I know you can't really do it wrong but the bacon was awesome too lol. Service was very good. Water cups were always filled and they did a good job clearing our buffet plates away as we went back for more lol. We got seated outside at around 12 noon and it wasn't hot at all w a cool breeze too (we stayed for about 1.5 hrs). The outside seating overlooks the shoreline down below and it was beaaaaaauuuutiful!!!! This area must be a sight to see at sunset, too. Come casual or in a simple sundress because the inside also is only lightly air-conditioned and not very cold. Would definitely come here again for Sunday brunch.
(5)Justin K.
Stopped by to enjoy the beach and Breakfast buffet Service excellent Omelette and waffle bar yummy Spectacular view worth every penny
(5)Caleb A.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience at this restaurant. They catered to our party of 14 and we received fantastic service. The manager and our waitresses took great care of us. All of the food was amazing, and of course the view was unbeatable. We were even lucky enough to see some Manta Rays swimming! The majority of the menu is Island raised or caught, and the wine list was extensive as well. Would definitely recommend the Manta to anyone staying on the Big Island!
(5)Emily D.
Had a great meal for both dinner and breakfast. We had a wonderful server who took great care of us. I recommend the breakfast buffet. The wine list is also wonderful.
(5)Ann K.
The Sunday brunch is a delightful tradition with a million dollar view. There is something for everyone and the service is friendly, and not stuffy. I always go with the macadamia nut waffles topped with coconut syrup and dried tropical fruit. The omelets are to order with fresh ingredients. You won't go wrong here for a splurge.
(4)Aimee I.
This restaurant is located within the Mauna Kea resort overlooking the breathtaking ocean. A few feet below, there is a cove where the water is so clear you can see manta rays swimming gracefully around. The layout of the restaurant is very open with lots of outdoor seating and lots of floor to ceiling windows. It exudes a warm feeling with all the candlelights and dim lighting. Since we couldn't decide on what type of wine we wanted, we opted to do the automated wine dispensers. I love this concept! I've tried this once before in Culver City at Ugo and had so much fun with it. They had many high end wines like Caymus and Opus One, which we tried, and other moderately priced wines. For our appetizers, I had ordered the goat cheese ravioli with lobster while the bf ordered the shaved fennel salad. Both were delish and point on. For our entrees, I ordered the wild Hawaiian niaragi with seared foie gras and the bf ordered the braised short ribs. Omg!! My fish was so amazing! The combination of flavors was absolutely perfect. The fatty richness of the foie gras mixed with the lean white fish was only heightened with the touch of orange marmalade. *drool* just thinking about it makes my mouth water. We rounded out the evening with a decadent chocolate souffle and a stroll on the beach. A perfect meal on a perfect night!
(5)Scott G.
I only eat here for breakfast when I am staying at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the food quality is very good. They have a few different items each day which I like since I do not want to eat the same thing every single day. Usually breakfast is included in our package so if I actually had to pay for the buffet my review might be closer to 3 stars just because the prices would be super high.
(4)Maylee H.
The view is breathtaking and the food is great. I had the clay pot and sashimi tuna as an app. Both did not disappoint. However, breakfast buffet was the bomb!! It's worth it bc u get to try everything the menu offers, just not under a heater device. ;) service was great and the layout of the place is beautiful
(4)Jenn S.
Dinner: Quality dining in an ethereal setting, without pretension. Our server was okay with the toddler dropping sizable portions of her entree on the ground since the cats would help clean up. Dining out with a two-year-old is always more stress and headache than it's worth. But for several reasons, I was able to enjoy our many-course dinner. Reason number one is Heidi who is simply the best server I've ever had. She was always one step ahead with the kids, fulfilled requests for dessert and food not on the menu, was creative with seating arrangements, and far exceeded expectations with my open order. She even chased us down after dinner (we were a distance away from the restaurant searching for manta rays in the cove) to return a small bag we left behind. Reason number two was the food. We began with lavash and pumpkin rye bread with eggplant/olive topping and a cool, summery amuse-bouche featuring mango and fabulous vinaigrette. Appetizer was a twist on the "pork and cabbage" - pork belly with brussel sprouts that was enjoyed by all. I requested pasta with mollusks and my open order of housemade herb pasta cooked with fresh tomatoes mixed in clams, mussels, shrimp, and prawns (which may have been part of their clay pot seafood dish) was blissfully on target. Number three (not to be confused with Number 3, their clubhouse restaurant) is a view of the finest beach on the Big Island, under a star-filled sky, with a gentle breeze. Breakfast: The classic Mauna Kea breakfast buffet is as good as it gets particularly for feeding large groups of adults and children. It offers a casual setting with enough variety for even the most meticulous pre-K eaters. Everyday we ate sizable portions of macadamia nut waffles topped with coconut syrup, bacon, eggs benedict with sausage, pineapples, papaya, bread pudding, salmon, miso soup w/ rice, perfectly crisp hashbrowns, omelets, and that's just the sampling.
(5)Toby C.
Ho ho hum... I was staying with my family at Mauna Kea and was really excited to dine at Manta for our Christmas dinner. As we could only get a 9:00pm reservation, we were all very hungry by the time we sat down. Instead of having the pre-fixed menu, we instead chose to order from the limited menu, mostly because we wanted a fresh fish option versus the offered lamb chops. There were definitely a few gems, including the pork belly sliders and goat cheese ravioli. However, the menu items that you would have expected to be excellent sitting oceanside in Hawaii- such as the sashimi appetizer and ono entree- fell short. Really short. For an incredibly expensive dinner, the results were lackluster. I am sure that there are many other restaurants nearby with the same view and much superior fish...and you will save yourself hundreds of dollars. All in all, this was an expensive disappointment.
(2)Katie B.
The Tuna Tatake appetizer was one of the most unique things I have ever put in my mouth. Velvety tuna, lightly seared, with crisp Japanese cucumbers slices and mustard ice cream. Yup, mustard ice cream. Quite a memorable dish. Lilikoi souffles were also excellent. This restaurant is consistently MUCH better than the other fine-dining establishment at the Mauna Kea.
(5)Katherine C.
The food at manta is top notch. Excellent flavor, perfectly cooked prime rib and wonderful seared pink salmon. Accompaniments were equally savory. Strong Mai tais and beautiful view. We were able to see one manta ray in a continuous figure eight swimming pattern but you don't have to dine at the restaurant to see the rays. Our service was great and the waiter knew how to accommodate my gluten free requirements. Friends who dined here the night before us complained of slow service. Definitely come expecting resort pricing as most entrees are $40 or more.
(4)Amy M.
Great food!!! With great service, the brunch Is so good and with a variety of food that satisfies everyones taste. From sushi to breakfast and desserts of all kinds. Great view of the ocean and the beach. The grounds of the mauna kea is beautiful and green. The staff is wonderful. A must go to restaurant.
(4)Cat H.
This place was the best thing to happen to me on my trip to The Big Island (other than the spam sushi of course). My family and I went there for Sunday brunch which was incredible and consisted of fresly made sushi, crab claws, eggs benedict...anything you could dream of. Then we returned on our last day (a Saturday) and I had the BEST eggs benedict I've ever had. Their Oscar Benedict is worth moving mountains for and I live in a city who knows their brunch! Oh...right, and the views pretty amazing too ;)
(5)Kimo S.
We decided to celebrate the New Year's weekend on the Big Island and were lucky enough to discover Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar. The map is a little off because this restaurant is located on the Kohala Coast in the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. It was a prix fixe menu being New Year's Eve but we figured it would give us a chance to sample a little of everything. Let me say that this was one of the best restaurants we've eaten at not only on the Big Island but in Hawaii. First impression when walking in was just the WOW factor, great location with a fresh look and open design. The kitchen is glass enclosed so you can watch the chef's do their magic too. There is a wine bar with automatic wine dispensers (think Amuse here in Honolulu) where you can sample 1 oz. tastings of various wines. Not only was this a great feature but they have one of the most extensive wine lists in the area. Everything here was top notch, starting with the bread & lavosh. The lavosh was huge, I would estimate it to be a 1 1/2 feet tall with a slight chili flavor. The sundried tomato spread that accompanied this was equally amazing as well. Dinner was $120 per person and without writing a novel, every dish was fantastic. I would love to come back here to sample each entree they have to offer. Our entrees were the Pan Seared Kona Butterfish and the Milk Fed Veal Loin. I have never had veal as tender, flavorful and delicious as here. This was quite honestly one of the best dishes I've had in some time. Don't pass this one up, it was a 15-minute taxi ride from the Hilton Waikoloa which wasn't far at all. I can't say it enough but make sure to eat here if you're staying anywhere along the Kohala Coast.
(5)Ted B.
Great view, disappointing menu and food - perhaps chef is gone. Definitely not worth a return visit. BUT, cocktail lounge and predinner entertainment we great
(3)agnes l.
Absolutely disappointing. I visited this restaurant due to the amazing reviews but unfortunately I was very disappointed. Pro: The view is very nice. This is also true at other nearby resorts. Nice live pianist playing through the night. The resort has a manta ray light shining upon into the water at night. Con: Lobster ravioli ($36) came with ONE little cube lobster. The ravioli granted was from hand made pasta with great texture, it is only filled with goat cheese. The combination of edamame, corn, and bits of bacon provides interesting texture. When we mention about the lack of lobster in the dish, the waiter only responses with 'There should be 3 cubes but okay I will let the chef know next time.' It was not a satisfying response when a couple is leaving a bill worth of $300. Veal entree came with extremely thinly sliced veal with gamey taste. Lots of begging cats. A fine dining restaurant with lots of begging cats to the diners... those two should never be a combo together.
(1)CL F.
I don't often find five star places but this is one! At first I was put off by "wine bar" because I'm not a huge wine drinker but that's just a name, and describes a wide selection of wines. Dinner of Bibb salad and local chicken, braised was superb. Chocolate souffle was fresh warm and outstanding. . Gorgeous setting and fine service. Will return!
(5)Derek P.
This was our first restaurant we went to on the Big Island. We only stayed in the resort area for a couple nights, but I can say with confidence this is the best restaurant in this area. The food was pretty good. There were a couple of execution errors in the food I had, but the Opakapaka (pink snapper) was cooked perfectly. I was very satisfied with my meal. They did a good job incorporating Hawaiian flavors and local ingredients into their menu, and making it taste good. I usually just care about the actual food when I read reviews, but I must say this place is more than just food. They have a pretty big wine tap system, and an area where you can chill and pay per ounce to taste tons of different wines. It also has a pretty sick view of the ocean on the outdoor terrace with an ample amount of tables. I'd recommend calling ahead and reserving one of these tables if you happen to be there during busy season. There is nothing like eating fresh fish, while overlooking an amazing view of the ocean where it came from.
(4)Jess N.
I got food poisoning here after eating a vegetarian meal. My boyfriend was told his flat-front shorts were too casual upon entering. We were seated next to a table with a teenager wearing a cut-off t-shirt. Hilarious. To compensate me for my hours of puking after eating here, the meal was gratis and they threw in two tickets to their small luau dinner. I had to fight for some justice with the food and bev director...tried to claim it was the flu. No way. A good place to go, but beware of their kitchen.
(3)Lyn S.
Nice spot for our last dinner in Hawaii this year. The tempura shrimp appetizer and the shaved fennel salad were very good. The opakapaka was nicely prepared. The pasta dish was OK. The chocolate and passion fruit souffle was excellent. Wine was expensive, but the Mellville Syrah was reasonably priced and very tasty.
(4)R H.
Dont go if you hate cats. They cruise the tables. Food was well prepared with attentive service. Setting was very nice and a great sunset. They however had no fresh catch.
(4)Blake G.
Amazing service, amazing view and amazing food. We spent 2 weeks on the big island and made the rounds staying in campgrounds, b &b's, hotels and resorts. About half way through the trip, we decided to find one of the five star resort restaurants and splurge for a nice dinner. The decision to go to the Manta was definitely the right one. From the moment we sat down the service was great. Our server was not overly pushy and made this one of the most pleasurable dining experiences I have ever had at any restaurant. I worked in fine dining for years and everything here was right on point.....timing, food, drinks....everything! And for the coffee drinkers, make sure to get the french press coffee to finish your night off. It was great, as should be expected.
(5)Scott T.
This review is for the Sunday Brunch. We made a special effort to make it for the Sunday Brunch this year. Last year on our annual Hawaii trip we heard from a couple how great it was so we thought we should try it this year. We were not dissappointed. On an overall basis this has to be one of the top brunches in the country. The only one my wife and I can think of that comes close, that we have been to, is at the Sun Valley Lodge. To summarize what has been said by many reviewers already. First, the view is as good as it gets -- outside overlooking the amazing Manua Kea beach, with a staff that makes sure you are in the shade of a patio umbrella. Second, the food is superb with a selection that makes it impossible to try it all in one setting. As my wife and I talked about the brunch we both lamented more on what we didn't try. Everything we did try was superb. Some reviewers have questioned the selection and the price. All I can say is they probably have not been to many luxury brunches. At $48 per person I would say it is one of the best bargains around if you take advantage of their great selection of food. Sure, if all you get is a waffle, bacon, and fruit it is expensive, but you didn't really take advantage of the whole setting. Fabulous fish, sushi, dim sim, shellfish, prime rib, and deserts really make this a first class buffet. Besides the typical omlet bar they have a sushi chef who will assemble whatever you like. Third, the service was what you would hope for -- attentive but not hovering. If you establish a relationship with your server it will work great. At one point my wife knocked over her drink on the table. Immediately two staff jumped out, cleaned up the table, replaced the placemats and napkins and in seconds it was like it never happened. So, if you get a chance, block off a afternoon,, make a reservation, and go to this brunch. If you have to save up and splurge a bit -- do so. It is worth it.
(5)Rocio G.
We tried to make a reservation for 7:30 but were told no tables were available before 8:30. No problem, except when we showed up at 8:15 only a fourth of the tables were occupied. Minor thing. The setting is gorgeous; we didn't catch the sunset but the view of the stars from the lanai was absolutely lovely. Service: Our main waitress, Heidi, was really great, knowledgeable, and helpful. But the busboys not so much. One refilled my half-empty glass of Pellegrino with ice water from the water jug before realizing what he had done, then brought me an empty wine glass (instead of a water glass) to continue my Pellegrino. No comp on that episode. The other one brought the breadbasket AFTER we'd finished our appetizers/salads. This kind of service is NOT ok for a restaurant that claims to have exceptional food in an exceptional setting etc etc. and is charging you more than a high end restaurant in the Bay Area. Food: My husband went for the mango tasting menu and had no complaints. I ordered the salty beets salad (asked them to hold the ricotta on it), and got the salad from a busboy WITH ricotta before they took it back and brought one without. Again, service level on that not ok. The salad tasted fine but wasn't anything close to wow. My main course was the mahi mahi, which was served in two small fillets with a broth on the side and a side of (bland) rice. One fillet was overcooked, the other one was cooked properly. The organic carrots were slightly undercooked (you had to bite down hard), and the spiciness of the red paste overpowered the whole dish even with the broth. It all tasted just OK. During the main course Heidi offered to order the chocolate souffle for out dessert with enough lead time and we went for it. The portion is too big for one person (so we're glad we were going to share it anyway), and the supposed vanilla sauce to pour inside was no longer available so we got chocolate sauce for the chocolate mousse and it was ok, but would have liked to know ahead of time. So, cut one star for the poor service, and another for the quality/price ratio being off (even knowing that all restaurants in the area are expensive). Leaves 3 stars. Creative but just OK food in a gorgeous setting.
(3)Michael Z.
We have eaten at Manta multiple times over the past three years. The food has always been excellent, and the service first rate. Tonight things were different. As our appetizers were served, the hostess sat a couple down directly next to us with two toddlers wearing their pajamas...we knew trouble was brewing...between yelling "we want a hamburger", and running between the tables, our dinner experience was going downhill fast. While waiting for our chocolate souffle dessert to arrive, I decided to have a chat with the manager. He apologized, but said.."Well this is a family resort.." As if that's an excuse for irresponsible parents and screaming kids. As expensive as Manta (160 including tip tonight) is, having a "Chuck E. Cheese" experience is not my idea of value. He said I hope I can convince you to continue to patronize us.. I told him I would think about it...But on the drive back to our condo we have decided to place Manta on the no fly list.
(2)Edwina K.
We stayed at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and decided to take the complimentary inter-resort shuttle service to the sister hotel - Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. It is a gorgeous resort!! It was Sunday so the popular thing to do is attend their lavish brunch buffet. I will have to warn you that it is $50 a person but well worth it. The restaurant was beautiful, the view is to die for, service was excellent, and the spread was extravagant! There was a chilled seafood bar, specialty cooking stations, sushi bar, dim sum, and more. I regret not being able to taste everything but I didn't want to explode. My favs: deshelled crab legs; shrimp/veg tempura, unsweetened ice tea with fresh pineapple; freshly baked breads with brie cheese; and sashimi. Definitely worth experiencing.
(5)Eric G.
Perfect. Best spot on the big island to dine. Gorgeous surroundings, excellent food, ridiculous service. Perfect. Just, perfect.
(5)Stephanie I.
My husband and I dined at Manta on the last night of our honeymoon. The location of this restaurant is fantastic, if you sit on the patio you have ocean views and cool breezes. Food was delicious and wine list extensive. The ability to buy some wines by the ounce (they have an enomatic machine in the wine bar) was nice, it gave us the flexibility to have a different wine with each course. My husband and I had the sashimi and goat chese ravioli to start (very good, but small portions), and mahi mahi and opakapaka for main courses, also good but smallish portions. Our server recommended the souffle for dessert saying it was their specialty. We were a little skeptical but went ahead with the order. She was right, the souffle was amazing. We ordered half passionfruit, half chocolate, and it came with this divine sauce which I ended up eating with a spoon when we had finished the souffle. After dinner we had a lovely moonlight stroll around the beach and hotel grounds. Only downsides to this restaurant were the cats (there must have been 10 begging for food, and they were very persistent), and there were a lot of termites flying around, they kept flying into the food. Not really things which the restaurant can control. Overall a great restaurant to visit for a special occasion dinner.
(4)Smiley S.
After telling our name to the surly matre de, she walks away, not one moment please sir, or excuse me, but just leaves. My date and I looked at each other not knowing what to do. She came back a few minutes later, surely as ever and says, this way, so we get seated at a table, which has a wobbly chair and wait, and wait, and wait finally the waitress approaches our table, but no, the bread guy gets there first, and she shrugs and leaves as we're frantically trying to get her attention, so we didn't hear annoying about the bread. Fail. Is this their first day? We finally get someone to take our drink order which had all of 3 ingredients, didn't get that right, fail. Dinner was pretty good after a very long wait for service, but the live music was close to intolerably bad. There were a few other missteps, but not worth bickering over because I recommend you stay away. Front of house 2, back of house 8. Also, why do you have koi statues in front of a restaurant called manta? I suspect because you had to rebrand. I also suspect you kept the same management. Poor choice. Completely unacceptable service for this price point.
(2)H H.
The passion fruit soufflé is to die for.. Wonderful location and typical first class cuisine.
(5)LuLu M.
What a perfect way to spend my birthday on the island! Gorgeous view of the ocean, delicious menu choices, and excellent customer service by our server Sharon and the manager Barry. The restaurant decor is very sleek and modern. I'm not a wine drinker but they had those cool wine refrigerator/dispenser/taps around the bar. We sat outside for dinner and although you cannot see the sunset (the trees block the actually sun), it does not take away from the breathtaking view of the ocean. I ordered the Loco Moco Foie Gras with kimchee rice ($39), which was a good size portion and the foie gras was excellent. My fiancé had the chicken curry, which he said was good but not great, did not really have any spice to it. For dessert we had the Kona mud pie which was huge and out of this world! Thanks for a great birthday experience, Manta!
(4)T L.
My wife and I are guests here at the hotel and due to renovations, the Manta was the only restaurant for dinner. The wife ordered the Ahi Tataki and I had the blackened Ahi. The Tataki was cooked beautifully yet had almost no flavor. The Blackened Ahi was terrible. All you could taste was charboiled and smoked pepper. It completely overwhelmed the dinner. It gets two stars for the excellent service though our wine choice was not available. We returned for brunch the next day and the buffet was sub par. How can you make eggs cooked to order taste like dish soap? Suggest to anyone to find another restaurant for either meal.
(2)Steve K.
We had friends who were staying at the MKB, and we met them for dinner here. Beautiful outside dining was our choice, and we enjoyed the sunset as we ordered. My wife had the Kalbi veal, I had the fresh fish special, which was a local snapper variation similar to opakapaka. My friend had the same, and his wife the filet. All the meals were delicious, artful, and the service was excellent; our waiter, Ka'imi? (sp) was attentive, friendly, and everyone was efficient and invisible as far as filling glasses and that sort of thing. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was a good reminder of why this hotel, the first built on the coast, remains an icon. My friends are Marriot miles fanatics, and they were ensconced in an ocean front room, and absolutely love the resort. I'm going to have to get out of my Mauna Lani rut and drive a little further up from Kailua town. We will definitely return. Mahalo.
(5)Zoe C.
I celebrated my birthday at Manta and Pavilion Wine Bar at the Mauna Kea Beach Resort. This is my first time dining at Manta's and I could kick myself for waiting so long to experience this gem. This restaurant is absolutely Remarkable! Very romantic, with gorgeous settings, torch lights and even a pianist who didn't skip a note. All I can say without writing a novel is Manta deserves a MILLION stars! The service is phenomenal, perfectly paced and not rushed. I started off with a glass of Pinot Noir The server brings a bread basket along with some Hawaiian salt butter and a tapenade. Also brought to our table was the chef's tasting of poke. Then I split a Signature Manta Salad with hubby. Local Greens, Papaya, Shaved Sweet Onion, Avocado, Toasted Macadamia Nuts, Balsamic For my entree, I ordered the Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi-Mahi. Fresh Local Lilikoi Nage, Long Rice Noodle, seasonal Vegetables. Desert, I chose the Maunta Kea Mud Pie Kona Coffee Ice cream Chocolate Lahlua Gamache White Chocolate Drizzle. Gawd. Best. Meal. Ever. But wait!!! They even brought French press coffee with small plates of sweets, macadamia chocolate clusters, macaroons, and fruit square. I give Manta's two thumbs up! I still remember each bite bite so vividly. The food is delicious, the cuisine is beyond words, the chef had hit his stride! I simply can't wait to come back.
(5)chida t.
i thought i would add a few pictures to record my week of paradise in kona Looking forawrd to some new item on the menu.
(5)Denise M.
Manta deserves these five stars for the amazing food, staff and fantastic atmosphere including beautiful views of the ocean. Very romantic. We came here for our last night on the Big Island after having visited some other pretty amazing places and loved it from the front door. First, you can a do metered wine tastings. Yes, a little Napa and Sonoma wine tasting done Hawaiian island right. They had gluten free bread for me and were able to make gluten free dishes. The chicken curry was one of my favorite dinners on the island. The lamb they served was a very close second. We loved being here and simply living in the moment. The staff were friendly, talkative but not overly invasive and did I mention the views...beautiful. If you have a chance, make this one of your evening stops on the island!
(5)Jackie M.
I stayed at the sister hotel Hapuna Beach Resort and there's a 1mile walkway to Mauna Kea Resort. I came here for early morning brunch and it was very quiet. I was seated outside and the view of the ocean /pristine beach was breathtaking. It was very pictureque. SInce the breakfast entree was on the pricer end, we chose the all you can eat brunch. The food was the usual local Hawaiian food and it was okay. The ambiance, the view, and the attentive service is already 5 stars.
(5)Ruthie B.
Beautiful tiki torch ambiance with stunning ocean views. Excellent service. The shrimp dumpling appetizer was delicious as was my Mahi Mahi dinner. And If you are not on a diet, try the Mud pie.
(5)Sean F.
Cats, cats, cats!! And more cats. Avoid this place to eat! Anticipated a nice upscale relaxing oceanside dinner, but instead the dining table area was overrun with roaming cats looking for food. Shockingly ignorant customers even fed them, which of course brought more unwanted feline find diners. Restaurant staff did nothing to chase off the cats dining at the feet of guests tables, even when I brought this to their attention. If you are not fond of dining with felines do not spend your money here. Food was average, assuming I wasn't eating Fancy Feast! Otherwise great spot on the ocean over looking one of best beaches on Hawaii, good list of wine offerings.
(2)Denise O.
I recently dined at Manta at the Mauna Kea Beach Resort. The people were great. However, the tables got so dark you could not see what you were eating. That only compounded the fact that there was very little seasoning to the food. My boyfriend had the farm to table dish featuring what was supposed to be fresh opakapaka but was mushy in texture, lacking seasonings, and paired with odd vegetables for the dish. Sadly unsatisfactory for the price, not to mention that it made him sick to his stomach.
(1)Desiree S.
Buffet was delicious. There was tons of food. They had a variety of items to choose from. The made to order sushi bar was to die for. An amazing buffet experience. The staff was nice but did not come around to check on you. The food made up for the wait staff though.
(4)Wendy K.
Gorgeous setting overlooking beach. Fresh fish seared excellently. Crab and corn chowder was delicious and full of flavor. Highly recommend for their food and ambiance.
(5)Theo S.
Terrible. Farm to fork is always a fish dish. Perhaps a dictionary is in order. We dined here twice. Both times food was good. Not the problem. Service should be better at $30-$50 a plate. Staff was non responsive. Charles should not be allowed to serve at an upscale restaurant. Pretentious with no backup. Manager Barry chu was accommodating but not really. After the horrible first night experience tried to come back on the second night as we were staying at hotel and wanted to do the wine enomatic experience. There were 14 empty tables outside and 15 empty tables inside and we were told by GM that we eWorld have to wait for over 1.5 hours. This level of service should not go undocumented. The chef does not deserve this level of slack in his amazing food creations. Very disappointing. Would not recommend to my worst enemy.
(1)Carissa L.
When visiting the Big Island and experiencing Kauna'oa Beach (aka Mauna Kea Beach), breakfast at the Manta is a nice way to indulge! If you are going to go to the beach, you will have to get there early... this restaurant offers you a chance to eat breakfast with a 10 STAR view!! Keep in mind though prices are not cheap, but you will get a quality meal with a view that is priceless. The breakfast buffet appears to be the best monetary value but if you are not too hungry or don't want to be overfull, there are many a la carte options to pick from. A great spot for a romantic breakfast! Or a nice way to enjoy breakfast if you got to the beach early and after a couple hours are ready to eat.
(4)Heidi J.
Breakfast is amazing! Best full breakfast buffet. Must try: banana bread, waffles with coconut syrup and powdered sugar, miso soup (yes it's surprisingly tasty even in the morning), and omlets. The dinner used to be really good and we would always make it our first reservation when we arrived but it got to fancy and it's hard to just get something simple and delicious. For all you Gordon Ramsay fans out there... What's always the most important thing when cooking? Utilize your fresh ingredients and let them be the stars of your dish, DONT OVER COMPLICATE! Some of the best ingredients around and still looking at the menu I can't see one thing that I could feel good about ordering. Throw some of the old simple dishes back on and spruce them up a little if you need to but simple is good (:
(3)Tom F.
We ate at Manta in 2011 and loved it because they were able to cater to our dietary needs. We are both lactose intolerant and we're still able to eat here. This time was different for many reasons. I called ahead to clarify our dietary needs and in spite of that there were essentially two dishes we could eat. Lots of pre-prepared foods containing dairy. One viable sea food dish. The pork chop was over cooked and even though we called ahead to request a non-dairy dessert the offering was sorbet, which every restaurant in the world has. Very disappointing!
(1)Janet P.
Very lovely restaurant with beautiful views of the ocean. Had quite an interesting meal and were very perplexed by the end of the evening. The waitress was not efficient nor friendly. Not sure she could hear correctly. We ordered the Manta salad but she thought I ordered a tomato salad. Luckily we caught it and corrected the error. We ordered the pork chop to share. The meal came and it was delicious but didn't realize it wasn't the pork chop. When we got the bill we were charged for lamb chops $8 more than the pork should have been. We asked why we were billed for lamb chop as it had looked and tasted like a pork chop. While the meal was very good there was no apology or attempt to correct the error. Creative presentation but small portions so overpriced.
(3)Howard M.
Our favorite guilty pleasure. We live nearby and belong to the Mauna Kea club, so for transparency, we do get a good discount. Having said that, we would pay full price and still feel pampered and satisfied. Particular breakfast fave is the Bircher Muesli, smothered in fresh berries and fruit. And, I'm not kidding, they have actual, live, (wait for it) Real Maple Syrup For Pancakes & French Toast! It can be done. Even Ihop doesn't offer RMS! Cracker Barrel used to "let" you pay extra for 100% MS but even they sneaked in 100% NATURAL syrup. Note the lack of the word MAPLE. So lame. So applause for Manta for attention to details, great coffee, killer cream-of-wheat, banging banana (& carrot & mango) bread, generous portions and the absolute best view for any meal.
(5)J A.
Amazing ambiance. View of sunset and enjoying the sound of the ocean while you dine. I had the scallops (amazing) and my dad the mahimahi and also loved his dish. My mom had the foie gras and quite content. Waitress had great dry sense of humor. Excellent service all around. Browns used to be the family favorite but this place has it beat. Highly recommend.
(5)Gerard E.
We are staying at the resort so we expected a typical hotel outlet - we were blown away by what we got. The view was second to none. The food was good bordering on great. I was just as impressed with the quality of the food items as I was disappointed by the finesse of the kitchen (poached eggs are supposed to be runny !!)
(4)John C.
When it comes to Sunday Brunch Buffets on the Kona side this is the place to go. Definitely worth the cost. The service is quick and friendly, and the food is always fresh, stocked and a very good selection. From Waffles and omelets to order, to sushi and prime rib. You can go wrong and will definitely leave full and satisfied.
(5)Geoff H.
Went back again two years later, and I wanted to reiterate the same 2 star review. The night we went I guess they were slammed, because the service was really bad. For example, we had empty glasses on the table basically the whole meal and the staff didn't clear them off. The food was OK. I didn't like my dinner much, but my wife liked hers. Some good flavor in the sides, but enh. Final problem was this: the bill was 300 bucks for the two of us. I think this place would be four stars at about an eight dollar price point, but they simply aren't executing at the fine dining experience. The view is nice, though. You can eat here and not have a terrible time, but make sure you have money to blow.
(2)Cassandra G.
Dined at Manta's last night. Superb service, awesome view and the food was excellent. They bring you a bread basket along with some Hawaiian salted butter and a tapenade. Also brought to our table was the chef's tasting of poke. The day boat scallops were tasty, my son loved the seared ahi and foie gras, and my husband had the excellent mahi mahi. My in laws had steak and being from the Midwest, they are picky about their beef and loved it. We shared lilikoi soufflé which was the perfect finishing touch. But wait!!!! They brought small plates of sweets-macadamia chocolate cluster,a light cookie and fruit square. We already have reservations for their Sunday brunch!
(5)Cathie F.
We dined here Aug 6th at 8pm. Our waitress was pleasant, maybe a little on the new side, was not very engaging but still service was ok. She was friendly but WE had to engage her. Was disappointed that there were no signature cocktails. The food was EXCELLENT and the view terrific.
(3)Mark M.
We thoroughly enjoyed our shrimp empanadas, macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi, seared Ahi with Foie Gras and a bottle of Cakebread Chardonnay. The view to the Pacific is priceless and our server Evelyn was lovely. I would return for sure.
(5)Dan R.
Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar provides their guests with only the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous setting you may ever hope to find from a restaurant. Simply nothing can beat the ambiance of dining atop a Big Island bluff overlooking the Kohala Coast as the sky shifts from blue to orange to purple to black. Scoring a reservation at 6p when the restaurant opens up for dinner service is key, for this is spot-on sunset dining time. Sure, there are plenty of restaurants along the Hawaiian Islands' shorelines to post up outdoors and watch the day turn into night over cresting ocean tides, but Manta does it with the utmost class. Trust me when I tell you - romantic dinners don't get much better than this. And what's a romantic dinner without a sexy cocktail, am I right? We decided to forgo their "Enomatic wine experience", which offered a chance to sample from a selection of 48 wines, simply because we were in the mood for something a bit more tropical. And the Frederico was quite the cocktail in question - a Jack Daniels-based frozen concoction, comprised of orange, guava, and passion fruit concentrates, unsweetened pineapple juice over crushed ice, and a touch of light rum to top it all off. It's enough to make you feel like some debonair, globe-trotting super-spy. Or just a guy who really needed that vacation. One or the other. Anyway, I ordered up the Crispy Kalua "Pig and Caggage" dish to kick things off - three succulent cuts of pork belly in a delicious pineapple-curry broth, accented by mustard seed, Asian pear, and Brussels sprouts. Hawaii proved itself to pull off pork exceptionally well, and with this appetizer, Manta scored the prize for top swine in my book. I'm salivating at its mere mention. The special the night we dined at Manta was Hawaiian Red Snapper, a bone-in pound and a quarter fresh catch for two, at the very reasonable price tag of $42. Subtle in its sweet and mild flavor, appropriately seasoned without overriding the natural juices of the whole fish, we forged on with two feverish forks into this dish, a generous-sized sharing plate that couldn't have been more conducive to the whole romantic scenario. Then came dessert - Kona Coffee ice cream and Passion Fruit sorbet, each scoop proudly representing signatures tastes of the Aloha State. Not to mention, even the delicious raisin biscotti served with my medium roast coffee felt like an upgrade. And in the end, as outstanding as the food was, all remained trumped by ambiance. Manta sits attached to the Rockefeller-founded Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, the restaurant's design lookin' like some off-the-grid Japanese dojo. A well-manicured landscaping job frames the exceptional beach view below and carves out tiki torch-lined stone pathways around the property, ultimately leading to a giant spotlight on a school of wild manta rays themselves out for a little nighttime swim. Go here for the breath-taking locale. Surprise yourself with exceptional cuisine. And make sure the love of your life is by your side. Manta's that worth it.
(5)Cydney M.
Great place to go for breakfast at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Just look at this gorgeous view: yelp.com/biz_photos/mant… yelp.com/user_local_phot… If you are staying at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel then you have privileges at it's sister property which is the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. You can drive over and valet park your car and you only have to tip the parking attendant. The daily parking fee at the Hapuna Beach Prince covers parking here. Please note it is a little too far and treacherous to walk or snorkle from one property to the next. I tried to do both a gave up both times. One day I started snorkeling around the lava rocks on the north side of Hapuna Beach and it just kept going and going. I finally decided I better turn around because I was all by myself and the thought of sharks started entering my mind. The second time I tried to walk over in flip flops. That was another huge mistake because of the Kiawe trees that drop their thorns all over the place. I stepped on one and it went right through my flip flop and it felt like I stepped on a nail. It is a protected area. See my photo with the sign and example of the lava rock laiden coastline. yelp.com/biz_photos/mant… yelp.com/user_local_phot… The minute you drive on to this property you can tell the level of service gets kicked up a couple notches. I guess you can't expect anything less at a 5 Star Hotel. The front gate guard was so pleasant when he greeted us and he gave us directions to get to the valet area even though it really wasn't necessary. Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar is downstairs from the main lobby. Just take two flights of stairs down and it is on the edge of the bluff overlooking the beautiful beach. Food 5/5: Full Breakfast Buffet includes: yelp.com/biz_photos/mant… Selection of fresh juices, fruit, cereals, breakfast meats, omelet's, waffles, pastries. I particularly loved the bread pudding and fresh guava juice. Here is a photo of one plate: yelp.com/biz_photos/mant… Service 5/5: We were seated immediately without a reservation and our server was fabulous. My son ended up dropping a full plate of food by the buffet area and they did not bat an eye. Decor 5/5: Manta is a beautiful open air restaurant with a lovely patio area. We enjoyed our breakfast on the patio overlooking the trees and beach. They have the best and most high tech chafing dishes/pans I've ever seen. There are no separate lids to deal with because the lids are attached with a hinge. Verdict: We will definitely come back to the Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar for their breakfast buffet the next time we are in Kona.
(5)More B.
Great ambiance from the open air dinning area that overlooks the beach and manta rays in the water. Service was formal - yet friendly. Food was fantastic. Beat salad, pork belly, steak, and marlin topped with foie gras. Great wine list and over 30 wines by the glass in 1, 2 or 5 oz portions. Dessert menu was not super compelling so we went for mango sorbet and ice cream. Delicious, romantic, and fairly priced.
(5)Daniel L.
Absolutely fantastic food and ambiance. We can't wait to go back. I especially liked the lobster ravioli.
(5)Lani L.
Manta's atmosphere is the best anywhere in the State. The wine list is great. Lavosh =OMG-loved the sea salt butter. Be sure to come early and catch the sunset. I recommend-Kabocha Pumpkin Soup, Lobester Ravioli, Moi, and Butterfish entrees. The hot out of the oven chocolate souffle is marvelous. Ask for Lea for service with Aloha! P.S. Only Wine BAR in Kona.
(5)T R.
Typically, hotel restaurants are mediocre. Not the Manta. We had breakfast there three times (though pricey), everything was fresh and delicious. Half papaya with lime, Hawaiian sweet bread French toast with poha jam or fresh banana bread. And the view was unbeatable. Dinner was even better. The ravioli with lobster, edamame, corn and house smoked bacon was divine. The shrimp tempura with chili water on a bed of Thai seasoned salad was the way Asian fusion should be done. Simple flavors that marry well. Good balance of sweet, hot and sour. My husband had a pork shank that was fall off the bone and had a crispy crust. Spoiled him forever. Brian, the wine manager, made perfect suggestions for our meal. The whole evening was capped off by watching a manta swoop in and out of the light shining on the water. The only slight flaw with Manta was that some of the servers didn't know food or the menu very well. Didn't matter, everything was fantastic. Resort casual, wonderful ocean views, delicious food. Nice surprise.
(5)Russ C.
Formerly Pavilion at Manta Ray Point, now just Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar to focus on their incredible wine list. Other than a new Wine Manager, all new employees (since the former employees were all let go after the hotel shut down for two years), and new paint and furniture, it is the same restaurant as before, which is not a bad thing. They have the single most beautiful location to eat dinner at sunset that I have ever experienced, certainly the best in all of Hawaii. The Mauna Kea has the most stunning property, partly due to being the first resort on the Big Island. Dinner is served on a point with 180 degree view of the ocean and Mauna Kea beach, overlooking gardens and palm trees. Away from the other busy resort areas, it is just peaceful and serene. Now, honestly I would give them 5 stars just for this one of a kind location, but their food and service are great as well. A little pricey, I long the pre-reopening days when they had sunset specials, however prices are the same as any other Kohala resort. Kids menu is a fixed $16 (ouch). We've always had great service in the past. This time around we had one issue with ordering dessert - a chocolate cake that you order with your meal since it takes 25 minutes to cook. However, it took more than 20 minutes after finishing our meal to arrive. They even came by at least 15 minutes after our meal to say it would be another 10 minutes. Other than that, no explanation or apology, despite the fact we ended up spending 2 hours at dinner. It would have been nice to comp us the dessert. I think they just forgot to put in the order, or the kitchen just messed up the timing. Either way, sort of defeats the purpose of ordering it with your meal. We will skip dessert next time. Free parking at Mauna Kea parking lot. After dinner, walk down to Manta Ray Point to see the Manta Ray running in circles to eat the bugs attracted to the light (conditions need to be perfect for him to be there - we have been here at least 4 different years and only saw the Manta Ray this last time).
(5)Monica G.
The food was excellent. The ambiance that of beauty and Hawai'i with the sun setting over the ocean. Service is outstanding. A fabulous experience and the best food I have had on the island.
(5)