Great local open patio restaurant. Excellent live music. The food was wonderful....super fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The people that work they must love their jobs, as all were friendly and provided great service. We liked it so much we ate there 3 out of the 8 nites of our stay.
(5)
catherina w.
Service was good 3 stars. Fish was overcooked, steak was good. Appetizers were okay. Overall food is 3 stars. However management needs to deal with pest control/ventilation problems for outside seating. My son and I were bitten by so many mosquitoes while sitting outside where there was absolutely no air. We looked through the fence and realized there were parked cars right behind where we sat which probably contributed to the stifling heat. We left with 15+ mosquito bites on our feet and legs. It felt like we hiked through a forest dripping with sweat. With the heat and the mosquitoes, I just couldn't enjoy the meal and the music. Also, they had plenty of tables available inside where they had mist and fan but we were led to the stuffiest area with mosquitoes feasting on us... Disappointing experience.
(2)
Dru L.
Had a great meal with great atmosphere, live music and fantastic service. Highlights: burgers are delicious...meat is great, bun is fresh and really good toppings. The wedge Caesar was really good also. Chicken and waffles were really good with some nice island touches. I appreciated (being designated driver) that they served a really nice flavor of Kambucha and served it to me dressed up like a cocktail. Their ice cream is house made and delicious The service was wonderful. Live music is a nice treat and outdoor atmosphere was comfortable and fun. One of the only restaurants we want to return to on the Kohala Coast.
(4)
Sungjin S.
After a night of stargazing and watching the sunset on Maunakea went to Blue Dragon on a friend's recommendations. Sometimes its better not to have expectations. Friend had very good things to say about this place so I had to try it for myself. Atmosphere: Got to the restaurant around 8pm and there was plenty of live music and dancing going on a small dance floor. Indoor and outdoor seating available. My party had already grabbed a table outside. Very relaxed/casual atmosphere and felt very alive with the music and dancing going on. Service: Waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and almost had the menu memorized with great descriptions and recommendations. Food: I ordered the Fried oysters and Maple fried chicken and waffles. The oysters took a while and actually came after my maple chicken. The oysters were excellent very tasty and the tomato sauce that came with it was superb. The fried chicken was disappointing, no seasoning at all and too much batter. The waffles were very good just enough crispiness and moistness along with the local honey and ice cream. It's hard to give them a good review when the main course was so disappointing, but I would come here again. Intangibles: The ambience and liveliness of this restaurant/bar was great. Great place to grab drinks and bites. One word to describe this place would be ALIVE.
(3)
Lani L.
It started with the kindest woman making the reservation who generously increased our reservation from 12 to 17.. Thanks Francis! We were greeted with Aloha by a beautiful hapa hostess Miko L. (Who's related to me- it's an island..LOL) Who seated us and encouraged us to have a great time. Our waiter KAVA (Polish roots-not Polynesian) took our order and within minutes - delights flowed from the farm- through the kitchen to right in front of us. Yummy goodness- Hawaiians say "Ono". I recommend BD for anyone who fresh farm to table island bites, local musicians, and good service.
(4)
Peg P.
Our family came here to hear our friends, APOKOLANI, perform. And what a delightful evening we all had under the open sky with their fabulous music and delicious food. I enjoyed the Pipeline Pomodoro Pasta which had "fresh local tomatoes and herbs in a light garlic wine sauce served with Capellini pasta." Garlic bread came with it. This was a very happy place to be!
(5)
Chris A.
Awesome atmosphere: drinks, food, and live music/dancing. Definitely a great place to go and fully enjoy as a couple or group!
(4)
Michael D.
Lives up to expectations. Not good for very young, hyperactive kids but what place is. Not busy and staff extremely attentive. Good food for the money as this is the Gold Coast. It is exclusively outdoors so weather is a factor.
(4)
Adrienne R.
For food this gets 5 stars, hands down. One of the best meals I've ever had. The lamb chops were amazingly tender and flavorful. Cocktails were great. Only downside is that it's a loud place, difficult for conversation. We sat at one of the raised tables and I thought it was pretty uncomfortable. The meal is not to be missed, however!
(4)
Maria S.
Great outdoor place for live entertainment and dancing and I feel that's what you are paying for because the food is for the most part very good but a bit overpriced for what is actually presented. I was disappointed with the salad and fish tacos which were dry and lacking flavor. The pasta pomodoro was excellent. Burgers are excellent. 4 stars because when I complained about how dry my fish taco was my male server said to me and later to my friend who had the same dish "what do you expect when you ordered the cheapest item on the menu?" $18 for 2 tacos. Really? I enjoyed coming to see some of the performers while visiting but after 2 visits I don't think I'll be back
(4)
Polly G.
Blue Dragon does not advertise in the Kohala Coast resort mags but that does not mean its food is not appropriate for people looking for upscale, pacific rim style cuisine. Many local ingredients are featured. As others have said, this is open patio, which means it will be hot if you are an early diner. The pork chop in guava entree was bursting with flavor, and the two featured fish dishes were beautifully prepared and presented. Whether the music is to your taste may be luck of the draw; they book a very wide range of acts. We caught cover bands on both our visit this year and one in 2011. It is a pleasant atmosphere and fun to be in a place that is a mix of locals and visitors.
(4)
Jonalynn M.
If I could recommend one place to take "out of towners" while they are here it would be this place. My parents came to visit and we made sure to come to this spot. The atmosphere is great! Beautiful rooftop setting with trees and stars and perfect weather nearly every day of the year! In addition the drinks are great! They have a number of specialty drinks that I would say kill it! The ginger beer and blue dragon take on the Moscow mule is my favorite. Food is phenomenal. Rarely is there a meal that I could say I would eat every single day for the rest of my life and be happy---I found that here! The burger and fries. I got the fries with dragon dust which is a perfectly spicy seasoning they throw on and the burger is made from prime filet mignon and absolutely to die for. The chef specials that change nightly are always good as well. Usually one person at the table will go for one of the specials and we will have a taste. Never have I been disappointed. The staff knows the menu really well so make sure to ask their opinion on things! All in all 5 stars for everything. 5 star setting, 5 star drinks, 5 star food, and 5 star service!
(5)
William B.
We had heard about this place from several of our friends and we all were looking forward to giving it a try. I highly recommend getting reservations if your in a large group, we had 10, and this place gets booked up fast. The parking is more than ample and it is impossible to miss the location, it sticks out like a giant blue beacon. We were graciously greeted by the hostess and lead right to our table. The place is set up rather uniquely, with seating outside and most facing the stage/dance floor. Our corner booth/table had large windows behind it, with additional seating just outside the windows with their tables incorporated into the window sill. Very cool. Our server was incredible, she was beyond perfect from start to finish. Thanks Summer. We started with some blissful mixed drinks from the bar, all made with care and a heavy hand. The appetizers were great, dragon balls, and some spring rolls. More drinks came, the Mai Tai's, top notch. With ten people we covered the menu from end to end. I had a nibble of almost everything that came out. I went with the pork chop, and folks, it might have been the best pork chop I have ever had. And was giant, so of course I shared it, and we all agreed, on a level way above. One of us even did the chicken and waffle, yep, I had a bite, and watch out Roscoe's, this place does it right. Their fish specials are always a safe and yummy bet. Service was on it, constant, pleasant and very attentive. The music also helped make the evening. The band that evening was great, played the full spectrum, and wasn't to loud, (and we were right next to the stage) but the crowd loved it. People danced, sung along, wonderful vibe for all ages, we had 13 years old to 80 years young, and ten smiles throughout. I could write more, but don't need to, read the reviews, it is a wonderful place with terrific staff. Thank you Noah, for coming out and saying hello, nice touches like that make evenings even more memorable. If you are anywhere near here, and want a fun filled diner, with impeccable service and food that excites all the taste buds, come to the Blue Dragon.
(5)
Ashley C.
When ever we get the chance to have dinner we always try to go to the boys dragon. The food is amazing ams the live music is the icing on the cake. Try everything you can't go wrong! !! A+++
(5)
Kate W.
My family and I have passed the Blue Dragon for the last few years while vacationing. We were always intrigued but never made it inside until now. Wow were we missing out! Not only is the music and atmosphere great but the food is delicious. All produce is from the owners farm so you know it's clean and fresh. Our party of 6 ordered the following: Appetizers: - Dragon Ballz: moist with a touch of spice - Ahi Stuffed Avocado: very fresh plus the mango vinaigrette balanced the dish - Hamakua Mushroom Polenta: Waipio Fiddlehead Fern Shoots were my favorite part of the dish Main Courses: - Fish Special: very tasty added a bit of the Hawaiian spicy sauce - Island Fish Tacos: rave reviews we added a light dusting of the dragon dust. Proceed with caution!!! - Double Down: bring a big appetite! - Hawaiian Natural New York Steak: juicy and delicious You can't go wrong here!! A must hit for any visitor and definitely ask for Greg :)
(5)
Kaniela 4.
Best burgers on the island! Try the double down burger. It's huge. Soooono. Live music is always really good. Great staff and friendly vibe.
(5)
Shannon N.
Outdoor restaurant - which is a drawback when it starts to rain before your entree arrives - but luckily the rain blew through quickly. We had live music during our meal. Food was okay but not great - my shrimp were oddly soapy (perhaps not rinsed?). Husband's meal was meh too. We skipped dessert - and we rarely, rarely ever do that while on vacation. ;) Parking here is TERRIBLE.
(2)
Timber E.
Who would believe dinner could be so much FUN! Our waiter started it off, with great energy and advice on the farm-to-table menu. Enjoyed chatting with our local neighbors, who helped us take photos of our living (really!) salad. The variety of lettuces are grown in organic pots that come to the table for the diner to clip, along with very nice accompaniments. My local fish with polenta and vegetables was delightful, and E enjoyed his locally-raised pork chop. Topped it off with a lovely mango sorbet. But the most fun part - dancing!! Loved the band, which played a mix of older songs and very current ones. We waited until after dinner, and then stayed till closing. Sigh - we were on a plane less than 12 hours later...
(5)
Janice B.
This was our best meal yet in all of our visits to the island. We are trying to figure out if we can go back before we leave! Service was great. The staff all made it a point to wish us Happy Anniversary. The music was a wonderful touch. Family friendly. Dancing is encouraged. We had the special swordfish. No problem when I asked for mine to be cooked through. It melted in my mouth.
(5)
April B.
Loved the Sundae Brunch! Still thinking about the maple bacon ice cream! The atmosphere was fun, wait staff nice, food delicious.
(5)
T. Marie W.
Service was fantastic, food wasn't as amazing as I was expecting according to others that have reviewed. We were in Kona 10 days and ate there only once. I did enjoyed the star filled sky and the live music.
(3)
Chris C.
Awesome spot! Good local flavor and a funky/cool setting. Very fresh food, good menu with lots of the signature spice from their in-house peppers and a good balance of flavors with everything we tried. Good hula music and even a creative cocktail list. Their Sazerac with Bulliet Rye, local moonshine, ginger, pepper and pineapple was awesome- so rare to find a unique cocktail that isn't rum and sugar, and this one still felt like a Hawaiian drink. Hit it up.
(5)
D M.
We so enjoyed our evening at the Blue Dragon. The five piece band played a variety of classic easy rock to Hawaiian music which was just delightful. Very pleasant voices and good musicians. The food was delicious. We have a poke appetizer that came with a tempura avocado in a great sauce. Then. We shared a special hamburger made with 25 percent smoked mushrooms with island goat cheese. Just yummy! We finished with a chocolate decadence that was everything it promised. And my lemon drop island martini was yummy too. The atmosphere really says "vacation." Server could not have been nicer and more attentive. A very fun evening win good food. Wonderful place to go.
(5)
Maren H.
Open roof, cute setting and good music was a plus. We didn't have reservation so we sat at the bar. The bar was a bit high so we all felt like little kids with our chins close to the top. The servers were super nice and the menu had some great options. We liked our appetizers, the mushroom polenta and the fresh rolls.. really good. The steak was not so good, but the chicken and waffles I braved were great... seriously if you mess up chicken and waffles something is wrong but that is a story for another day. Give this place a gander if you like WITH RESERVATIONS. One other thing we noticed is we, in our 30's, were the youngest people by about 20-30 years...not sure if it was the night we were there or what but I didn't see a blue plate special? HMMMM...
(3)
Dee M.
Amazing setting and food! I came here Spring 2015 during my honeymoon while staying at the Mauna Kea Resort. Upon arrival, we were concerned that the crowd was too old (apparently this side of the Big Island has retirees and late middle aged couples and we are late 20s/early 30s). Upon entering, we saw a great age diversity and fit in perfectly. The food: Everything was good, seriously! We had the Living Salad (must try for the experience) and two immaculate fish entrees. They embrace the farm to table concept and their veggies in all dishes are VERY fresh. For dessert, we had the breakfast-something which included fresh-made waffles with kona coffee ice cream, bacon ice cream, and vanilla ice cream. I don't even eat desserts often but this knocked my socks off. The ambiance: there is no roof and and with the slight breeze your girl/wife/date will be swooning. It's just romantic enough to order that wine and the band is lively enough for you to dance or have a lively convo. If you are within driving range make the trip! The servers: Knowledgeable and friendly! A million stars for them. Cost: Not cheap but I feel like I got my money's worth. One fish dish was $32, the other was $36 and I would recommend that you go for it. If you just want a good time, go for the $15-17 burgers with fries or drinks (but they charge $5 if you don't get an entree to pay for the performers). My recommendation: Go for it. I may go back and get cheap burgers just to soak in the music and the night sky once more. 5 stars! One last note: Don't be like me. Yelp has a coupon, use it!
(5)
Rory-Lee M.
They should get zero stars. The two girls working the front were lost and overwhelmed. They left 6 tables open and ready for guests while we waited more than 30 minutes. Asked twice, told it would be 10 minutes. Was never seated. We were a party of two. Left after 45 minutes. Unacceptable.
(1)
Elise W.
Don't be fooled (or put off) by the location (not exactly attractive as you approach on the highway). This restaurant is superb, and I wish we had gone more than once during our stay on the big island. The atmosphere is open-air fun. The live music was great. The food was, by far, the best we had during our entire vacation. Everyone in my party of six ordered something different, and everyone enjoyed their meal tremendously. The flavors were fun and pleased everybody, and we all have different tastes. Their cocktails are unique and tasty. The service was expedient and very friendly. I can't recommend it enough!
(5)
Josh M.
FIRE THE CHEF, GIVE THE BARTENDER AND BAND A RAISE! I wanted nothing more than to leave this place and be able to give it a 5 star review. Sadly, that isn't possible. With great anticipation, myself and a few friends ate at the Blue Dragon this past weekend. I'll first share why this place gets 1 STAR, and then close on a positive note: It starts with the food. We ordered the cheese platter and the summer rolls. The cheese platter sounds great on the menu, but is below average at best for $17. The summer rolls were good, and sadly, probably the best thing we had all night. Our main courses is where this place really fell flat on its face. We ordered a variety of dishes, including the Southern Surf, Opa Special, Lamb Chops, Fish Tacos, & Big Island Teri Burger. The three of us who got the Souther Turf all had the same experience... - The Fish was overcooked with a charred taste on the outside and very dry on the inside - The prawns had very little flavor and did not taste as fresh as the menu made them sound. I've caught fresh prawns from our local rivers and made them taste miles better than these were with very little effort (and I am by no means a chef). So seriously, it would seem more difficult than not to screw up a prawn - The lilikoi, habenero glaze sauce was interesting, but not good. It had very little lasting flavor and did not seem to compliment the fish very well - The mash potatoes had nice flavor, but were also dry (again, we are talking mash potatoes on a $31 plate... not acceptable). The lamb chops were cooked nicely, but the marinade/sauce was bland and did not do a $35 plate of lamb chops justice. The fish tacos were average, but gave my friend a sore stomach within a couple hours (that was the only thing he had eaten since breakfast, as we were all saving our appetites for dinner). Two others of us had sore stomachs in the middle of the night as well. The Opa fish special was decent... but for $38 was still a disappointment. The fish specials at restaurants below this price point are far better in our experience. The Big Island Teri burger was good, but again, at this price point you expect something a little beyond just good. For perhaps the biggest black eye of all... the management. When we expressed our issues over the food that we were served and about to pay $100's for, the manager put on a nice face but did nothing more than try to recover the situation with a couple of deserts we explained we were not interested in. Having worked in the industry, I understand this strategy, but a manager needs to be able to identify when there is a real issue with your food and when icing a customer over with a free desert is appropriate... MAJOR FAIL HERE! Now the upsides: - The house cocktails (green dragon and red dragon) were fantastic. Some of the best we've had on island. So despite the resort price tags ($11-$12 per drink), the bartender met and exceeded the challenge. Well done! - The band was awesome. A blues band and they killed it. Definitely keep them coming back - The server was nice, genuine, and very knowledgeable on the menu Despite the positives, this is a restaurant, and it doesn't matter how much else you do good, if you can't deliver good food consistently, you don't deserve more than 1 star. The chef is trying to be too avant garde with the dishes. Rather than just trying to be different, focus on making food that tastes good... and for goodness sake, don't send out burnt fish, EVER!!!
(1)
Kathleen F.
Beautiful restaurant under the stars, with live music, delicious food and the best drinks on the island! The waitress was a 10 in service and personalty. Can't wait to go back when we return to the Big Island next year.
(5)
Beverly H.
My BF and I were on the island of Hawaii for 4 days so we decided that we would each choose 2 things that we want to do while there. My first choice was the Blue Dragon because not only did my sister tell me that I shouldn't miss it, but even the Budget Rent a Car lady told us to go! I was so looking forward to it, but found out they were only open from Thursday to Sundays (or maybe those are the only days that has live music). We were only there from Tuesday until Friday, so Thursday night was the only night we could go to listen to live music. We arrived and heard a John Lennon song while we were in the parking lot. Being a huge Beatles fan, I thought that I was so lucky to get a group that sings Beatles songs! As we entered, we saw a huge open to the stars dining area. Very nice 5 star casual, atmosphere. We were lucky enough to get a table close to the stage. My BF ordered a glass of wine from the wine list and when the waiter brought it out, he didn't care for it. The waiter was great - he asked what type of wine he liked and made a suggestion that was perfect. Service - 5 stars The menu was varied. I ordered the lamp lollipops which were to die for! The lamb was prepared perfectly and I could have licked the plate because the sauce was so good. BF ordered a fish dish which was just as delicious. Food - 5 stars Now, the part that I was waiting for ... the entertainment. They started with each band member doing a short set individually. The member who sang a few Beatles songs was not a great singer, but I could overlook it since I love the Beatles. The next person was from Peru and had a great voice and was very talented. He sang a Peruvian song, which was enjoyable. Then he sang another Peruvian song, then another, then another, then another. It would have been nice if he sang a few songs that we recognized, but it was ok. Next was a woman who was not part of the band and she was horrible. She sang off key and it was almost painfully bad. The next one wasn't too great either and he had an annoying 6 or 7 year old daughter that kept dancing on the stage and around the band. It was very amateurish so I assumed that Thursdays was amateur tryout night for bands. But when I asked the waiter, he assured me that all of the bands auditioned before being accepted to play at the Blue Dragon. When the entire band played, they couldn't find their bass player so after announcing his name and asking him to come on stage 3 or 4 times, they gave up and started without him. Combined they were not much better. Luckily the meal was so good that we could just focus on the food and not the music, but when the 7 year old came onto the stage and sang a song with them, we had to leave without desert. It was so awful and not at all professional. We went back to our hotel where a local artist called RJ was playing. He was just finishing his set but he was fantastic! We told him about our experience at the Blue Dragon and he told us that it is hard to get into that place. We were shocked! RJ plays with Bruno Mars but had surgery so he couldn't tour right now. He tried out for the Blue Dragon and was turned down! The only thing we could assume was that the Stage Manager who books artists at the Blue Dragon owed the band that played on April 30th a favor and he was envious of RJ's career so he wouldn't book him. Or it is just one of life's mysteries! I would go back just because I heard so many good things about the place and because the food, atmosphere and service is 5 star. If on my next visit, the entertainment is good, I would give the place 5 stars.
(4)
Lauren L.
During my recent trip to Hawaii my family and I decided to try the famous Blue Dragon. While my mother and grandparents had been here before, I was a newcomer. I have to say, my judgmental side kicked in at first glance of this establishment, I had often passed by on my daily bicycle rides. From the outside, it appeared to be slightly less than friendly aside from it's ever so bright baby blue walls. There were no windows and I rarely if ever saw anyone go in, or come out. Needless to say, my mother had expressed fond memories of this place, with their live jazz and fresh seafood entrees and appetizers, she even included the fact that they had a very well stocked bar, thank you mother... We made reservations for that evening since to my surprise, it is a very popular spot for the locals and some of the neighboring tourists. My grandparents of course eat on the quite early side so when we arrived at approximately 4:45 pm, (7:45 pm in California) we basically had the entire restaurant to ourselves aside from the jazz musicians that were doing soundcheck. The dining area is spacious with a collection of tables varying in size, all of which sit beneath an open ceiling, draped with twinkle lights. I would suggest not dining here when it rains, for there is no indoor seating... The seating hostess and waitstaff were incredibly sweet and very accommodating, one sip of ice water and my glass would be filled immediately! I started my meal with their Vegetable Summer Rolls. Very simple yet delicious rice paper rolls containing fresh mango, local vegetables, cilantro, mint and served with their lilikoi sweet & sour sauce. I also ordered their Up-Beet Salad, containing roasted local beets marinated in tarragon vinaigrette, decorated with apples and Ahualoa goat cheese. Also very yummy however, I was disappointed with the very small portion size. In addition, I split their Big Island Panzanella Salad with my mother. A colorful and flavorful dish with Big Island Panzanella local watercress, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, tofu croutons and grilled shrimp, served with a kimchee vinaigrette. The meal was in no way a disappointment however I will say the live music was not my favorite... The jazz singer of the evening lacked a lot of vocal range and projection, it was hard to hear her voice above the crowds of people that wandered in later in the evening. The sound system was clearly not at it's best either, the bassist overpowered the singer, drummer, and the keyboardist. Not exactly the most enchanting mood music... As my grandfather stated, "This... Is NOT Jazz..." Oh well...
(3)
Christina H.
It doesn't look so great on the outside, but don't let that dissuade you. A great setting (outside dining) and an awesome menu. Chicken and waffles was great. Fresh catch of the day (mahi) tasty. The guava pork chop was "Flintstone" sized. Go with a big appetite and you won't be disappointed. Nice live music too!
(5)
Joe N.
Best dinner we have had. Great service from the staff food and drinks were great. Plus you get show for the price of your dinner. Prices are good for the value. Great atmosphere and fresh local ingredients assembled by a creative chef. Highly recommend! Not to miss if you are on the Big Island, you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Kathleen N.
I am so in love with this place! Hands down, my favorite restaurant on the Big Island, and quite possibly, ever. We came here on a Saturday night and we were so happy we made reservations because the place was pretty packed. We requested a table near the stage and the one we got was so perfect! That night, the Tomi Isobe Blues Band was playing and they were so great! There is a dance floor to get your groove on while waiting for your food and there is no ceiling so you get to dance under the stars! The decor is fabulous, this place is honestly a PERFECT date night spot! On to the food. My boyfriend and I decided we each would get an appetizer. He got the deep fried oysters, which were cooked to perfection and I got the Dragon Balls, which are polenta crusted crab cakes. they are served with a spicy mayo sauce and it was honestly my favorite dish of the night! You can't come here without ordering these! For the main course, I got the South American Surf that was served with a Mango Habanero Coulis that was TO DIE FOR. Made my entire dish! So delicious! I also has a couple of drinks and let me warm you now, their drinks are VERY strong, but VERY delicious! 10/10 Lastly, we had to get dessert because the S/O has a serious sweet tooth. I forgot what it was called but it was basically three ice cream flavors and belgian waffles with a blueberry jam of some sort. It was HUGE, but I highly recommend it because one of the ice cream flavors was maple bacon. So get it because bacon. Overall, our dining experience was top notch from ambiance to food to service. Our server's name was Summer and she did a fabulous job at keeping us happy. We will definitely be back!
(5)
California O.
This is a kind of trendy place with a sort of eclectic menu. The food was delicious. A bit pricy for the portion size. They make their own sodas. Very tasty ginger ale. The staff is really friendly.
(4)
Andree F.
Awesome good, great service...love the big band on Sunday!! Fresh island fish. The mushroom Polenta is so delicious. The family really extends the service beyond just serving you.we had fresh Mahi Mahi in the tropical style salsa and more creamy Polenta.
(5)
John E.
I came here one night to hear some blues music. The food was ok, I never got what i ordered. They brought me the wrong dish and our waiter never came around so i just ate it because i was hungry. The rest of my party loved their meals. The waiter was completely useless. Which is a shame because we are big tippers. We saw him when we ordered and when we got the check. It really wasn't busy either. The real treat was the music. and the place it self. It was really cool. I hop over the the big island quite a bit. I always wanted to hang out here. It was pretty cool. I'll give it another try. I haven't complete ruled it out for next time I'm over there. Maybe it will get better?
(3)
Marcus P.
We made reservations and were seated immediately. This is a higher end restaurant and the food and drinks are very well crafted. We sat out in the courtyard where we could hear the live music and still have a conversation. The pork chop was very moist and the fern tip salad with smoked mushrooms was a favorite of everyone's. All the food was good, including the fresh made daily ice cream! The only complaint I have is that I'm thinking a worker or workers were going outside to smoke and the cigs stunk up our dinner a couple times. I hope I'm wrong on that? I would say this place is on par with Merriman's, but more casual. Highly recommend.
(5)
Rae S.
The atmosphere and music in this place were great. For the prices we paid, I would have hoped the food and service was better. We sat in the lanai area, which is basically just out of sight of the stage, but the music as still clear as a bell. We got our ice water right away, but it took about ten minutes before a waiter greeted us and asked about drink orders. The drink list had enough to satisfy a beer/wine snob, but it isn't going to get them excited. No bread service, which is fine with me, but worth a mention. The ahi sashimi appetizer was tasty, but sashimi isn't really a great benchmark for a kitchen's ability. The teriyaki glazed tofu was very good, but the lamb chops were just ok. I ordered them medium-rare but they came out medium, and the prep was a little uninspired. The timing of our courses was correct, but it took another ten minutes or so before our server came back to ask about dessert. Also, while our server checked in about the appetizers, she did not check in about our entrees. We would have liked to have some, but we were running a bit late at that point and had to go.
(3)
Riverside G.
It was a beautiful night under the moon and stars with the palm trees in the background. The live entertainment was fantastic playing jazz and old school favorites that night. Nice dance floor too. The food was exceptional using the freshest locally grown ingredients. Our waitress was very personable and attentive and the drinks were one of the best on the island. Next time I'm in the big island I will make it point to return here. It was a magical night.
(5)
Leslie K.
Third trip to Big Island and thanks to all these great yelp reviews we enjoyed a marvelous night at the Blue Dragon. From start to finish we were so impressed. The hostess found us the most perfect table in the back row facing the band. Cocktails were SO fresh and absolutely delicious. Salad...appetizer...fresh fish fabulously sauced and prepared with the most yummy fresh vegetables. We have to return as we were way too stuffed for dessert! Our waiter was lovely and dedicated to ensuring we were always happy. The band was terrific! And all this under the stars. Not that expensive when you consider you have a full evening out with food and entertainment. We will return again and again and tell all our friends that this restaurant is a MUST! Plus, on the way out they all graciously thanked us for our business and asked us to return again soon. THANK YOU BLUE DRAGON for an unforgettable night!
(5)
basil p.
New Year's Eve was a disaster; service slow, food undercooked and even cold ; oysters not fresh; music was ok if you like funk. Other nights there have been better
(1)
Dilly M.
Great place in a remote part of the island. Our friend took us here for her birthday dinner and food wise, it did not disappoint. Good selection of items and truly tasty stuff. Had their fish tacos, which were delicious. This place also has a live band on certain nights, so come for the food and stay for the entertainment.
(4)
Alanna B.
One of my favorite restaurants on the west coast of the Big Island! We stayed in Kailua-Kona, and it took almost 1.5 hr to drive up the coast. It was definitely worth it. We made reservations for Saturday night. They have a band that plays on Fridays and Saturday nights starting around 7 or so. FOOD: It was recommended to me to try the appetizer plater: Pupu Sampler. This was a great appetizer to try their three most popular appetizer items, and it was shared with 4 people. They also had a special that day of crawfish for an appetizer that was very good too. Entrees were very good, and the fish was extremely fresh. I ordered the South American Surf. Others in my party ordered the fish tacos, one ordered a pasta special, and I forget the other. They were all pleased with their dishes, however, I felt I had the best dish. :-) The chocolate decadence was one of the BEST desserts I had on the island. If you are a chocolate lover, you will enjoy this. Note: Do not share. The size is enough for one person, and you may be mad if you share it. Take the hint. :-) The toasted coconut icecream was good too. SERVICE: The hostess & wait staff were exceptionally pleasant. They made you feel very comfortable, and if you needed anything, you weren't afraid to ask. ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant is primarily an open roof-top place, with a few tables that are covered, including the bar. Lots of seating. There is a live band which will play local favorites and cover tunes as well. Makes for an enjoyable evening. Nice for a date, celebration, not the best for kids, although there is no problem if you brought them along. I would bring the kids during the band nights because they would enjoy getting up and dancing. Enjoy!
(4)
Amy M.
This was such a great chill dinner spot. They had live jazz and r&b music last night for dinner. The band was great and the singer was amazing. Food was good and the drinks were strong. Two A + .
(5)
John G.
Nice place Took family there with kids and everyone found the selection amenable. Personally had fish tacos and were delish. Great live music with dance floor. A little high in price though. Great outdoor atmosphere with open view to sky.
(4)
Lisa R.
One of the best places on the island. The live music and atmosphere is amazing. Make sure to book a reservation before going. They are only open Thursday-Sunday. The staff is great. Thank you for such a great experience.
(5)
Alisa G.
We really enjoyed dining at this open air restaurant. A band was playing inside and the dance floor was full! Our alcoholic drinks were tasty and we even asked for the recipe on one of them. The meals were also good. We selected the ribs, mahi mahi, steak, and hamburger. Everyone enjoyed their meals, especially those who ordered the mahi mahi. Our waitress had a bit of an attitude and wasn't very friendly but I don't want to deduct a star from this great restaurant! The restaurant is a bit pricey but a coupon from one of the local booklets for buy 1, get 1 50% off helped! I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Paul B.
Fantastic place for great food, good drinks, great music, and wonderful service. They have different types of bands and music Thur-Sun. All of them have been great. The outdoor atmosphere is perfect. Best place on the island for dinner and entertainment.
(5)
Big D.
This place is outstanding. Very unique atmosphere. Open air dining and great musical entertainment. There was a jazz quartet playing the night we went. The vocalist was amazing and the jazz flute would make Ron Burgundy himself tip his hat. The service was also commendable. Prompt, friendly, and thorough. As good as the entertainment and ambiance are, the food surpasses it. Local products help make the menu fresh and delicious. We will be back.
(5)
Bala T.
The place is a must stop. Good vegetarian options, cool cocktails and great ambience with live music! Felt a little loud when we walked in. The food was awesome! We went again a couple of days later, but was disappointed this time - they ran out of the special crispy polenta and mushrooms. So the vegetarian dish was only marginal. Our waitress was also sort of tipsy the second time. I would recommend at least one trip for the great ambience and drinks!
(4)
Justin S.
Food was really good, we had fast service and our waiter was very friendly. I am picky when it comes to giving 5 stars. This place is about a 4 and a half.
(4)
Kelly L.
Best food and cocktails on the Big Island! Noah, the head chef does an amazing job - gourmet food without the price, and Brandon is a wizard with the cocktails. The live band of the evening is always on fire (music changes nightly). Absolutely worth the drive to Kawaihae!
(5)
Tori G.
Great customer service to match excellent food. An added plus is that all of their food is sustainable and locally grown, raised, and caught. The live music and warm partially outside setting makes for an extremely enjoyable atmosphere. An all-around very positive experience!
(5)
Sarah D.
Stumbled on this place through Lonely Planet, and it was awesome! The menu was a bit pricey but the atmosphere was awesome. The dance floor looked almost like a wedding, with older folks and little kids from all over the room chumming it up and celebrating the warm night air. ***Get a reservation for this place*** because I didn't have one and had to wait for 30-40 minutes. The staff was very accomodating, though, and the service was excellent once we were seated.
(4)
Mark A.
Food was good, though a bit overpriced. (Their menu is online. Entrees are $16 to $36.) We went on a Friday night, where the live music was well-played oldies. A small dance floor was big enough for those that wanted to dance. We had the Pipeline Pomodoro Pasta, which we were surprised came with tons of mushrooms that were not mentioned on the menu. They were happy to take it back and make another with no mushrooms. The pasta was passable, though the flavor was a little bland. The Hamakua Mushroom Polenta appetizer (where here the mushrooms were known and desired) was very good, as was the special fresh baked bread with brie and onions. The cold melon champagne soup was good, though a little bland. The Panna Cotta made with coconut cream was good, especially considering that there was no dairy or sugar, but it was not striking. The small streak of lilikoi syrup was excellent with a unique, very tangy flavor. I wish there were more of that on the dessert. All of their food is local, and indeed the ingredients were very good. In general I would like a little more spice though. The eating area is open to the sky. We had a nice almost full moon lighting up some scattered clouds, which is much better than a ceiling. (Assuming that it's not raining, of course, which it wasn't.) It's a nice place on the Big Island to have an upscale, unique dinner with live entertainment (Thu-Sun), if you're ok with the prices.
(3)
Some G.
Had a great time today at this venue. Great food, incredible music, and fun festive atmosphere. I normally avoid salad but they grow their own greens in their garden up in Hawi so I had to try. If I can assign prime grade to salad this would be it. Fresh, flavorful, crunchy, and amazing. Donald and Wendy (the singers) were incredible. Neno who made an impromptu appearance was just having so much fun (had a great voice too). This made our night just perfect!
(5)
Chris S.
Good spot for a big group looking for decent food, drinks, and entertainment. I really like live music, so I appreciated the band playing over dinner. Music selection was cool - covers of artists including Amy Winehouse, Ray Charles, and Santana. There is a dance floor for those folks who are interested in cutting some rug (and don't care that every table in the restaurant is watching you). Had a killer Mai Tai. Loved the pasta dish with fresh, local tomatoes and locally caught Ono. Post entrees, I really enjoyed the decadent chocolate cake and the 100% Kona coffee. Only minus was that service was pretty slow, particularly for drinks service.
(4)
Chris O.
The best thing about this place was the open air framed ceiling, that I loved. But the fish tacos that cost 15 and were just so-so and the fact that the only Mahi Mahi on the menu came with mole sauce really turned me off, why do that to a tasty fish? The service wasn't that good either. The entertainment was ok, but I think this place is best if you are over 40 and wanting to old vacationing goober on the dance floor. Good for them but not my scene. Oh and yes they have entertainment which was nice but to me not worth the entertainment charge. If you do go look for a two meals for one deal in the local magazines.
(3)
Dinah M.
When we got to the Big Island, two different people recommended Blue Dragon to us. After spending the evening there, I now know why. 1. Decor, Ambiance: Someone built this place with a lot of love. You walk in woven wooden doors to find turquoise contrasting with silver and red on the walls, with modern and vintage artwork and wooden Komodo Dragon sculptures. Comfortable seating with excellent stage views abound, complete with a dance floor if you feel like joining the geckos out there. Even the palm trees are artistically lit. The bathrooms are appointed with lovely blue and red tile, the women's room includes a nice changing table. When it came to creating a space, these people thought of everything. 2. Service: Our server, Kristan, was delightful, prompt and helpful. The recommendations were spot-on, the food descriptions were perfect, and the overall attitude was welcoming and friendly. 3. Food: Oh, honey. The food. Was gorgeous, first of all. This is a chef who knows presentation! And once we dove in for a taste.... Sublime. We had an ahi tuna special featuring poke, seared and tempura ahi, followed by the Rock Star Surf & Turf with mashed potatoes, and an Ono and Lobster special served with green beens, fingerling potatoes and a buttery tarragon sauce. I practically licked my plate. Our cocktails were refreshing and delicious and the wine list was decent and fairly priced. For dessert we split the chocolate macadamia nut tart which they were kind enough to heat up for us before topping it with vanilla ice cream. A hot cup of Kona coffee to sip while we enjoyed every last bite finished off the meal perfectly. 4. Other: Blue Dragon is not just a restaurant. It's a restaurant, live music venue and spa. With a MISSION STATEMENT a page long printed right on the menu about how their goal is to basically be awesome at everything. I haven't checked out the spa yet, but the prices seem extremely fair and the massage descriptions are inviting for sure. (Next trip.) As for the live music, we enjoyed the slack key stylings of Keoki Kahumoku and the new age cosmic jazz violin performance of Tony Selvage, and felt transported to Bliss Towne, population Us. There's nothing left to say. We had a fabulous evening on every possible level. Oh! Their logo rocks. Now I have nothing left to say.
(5)
Derek G.
The Blue Dragon was a fun and delicious dining experience. The food is excellent--The Pupu Sampler was a real treat, and the Rock Star Surf & Turf was nicely prepared and served. I think the staff here is the best around. They made our visit extra special.
(5)
Jeff B.
The pluses: - Great food; stands up against the many great restaurants in the area. - Great setting -- comfortable and cozy, but open to the stars. - Great ambiance -- on the night we visited, there was a local music trio performing. The minus: Service. The service was very disorganized and amateurish. Entrees arrived over perhaps a 10-minute period, and items were forgotten. This really marred an otherwise great experience.
(3)
Scott B.
Best meal we had on the island. Opah cheeks special was amazing. Great drinks and live music. Absolutely worth the drive to the north end of the island.
(5)
Dan L.
Great ingredients, good cooking, nice sounding bands. Get the coupon from those tourist books and you're in business. The roofless dining area was pretty unique.
(3)
Taylor C.
Shrimp & shiitake egg rolls. Get like 50
(4)
Meg G.
Definitely one of the top restaurants on the Big Island. The food was outstanding and the service was great overall. The band the night we went was good, but a little loud -- but maybe I'm just getting old. There were a surprising number of kids there that night, but they were all well behaved so not an issue. I think it's probably better suited for a romantic night out or an evening with the girls. The only issue we had was that our entree order was delayed for almost an hour. The server kept updating us (apparently it was a computer error) and offered to comp our desserts. We tried several of the specialty cocktails and the green dragon was our favorite. The kona coffee crusted ribeye was excellent and not overcooked, the warm baguette with saffron garlic butter impressed my French husband so much he ordered a second one. Also the mushroom polenta appetizer was great. I think if you want a romantic dinner you probably want either Blue Dragon or Puhu I'a at the Four Seasons. Go Blue Dragon if you want the live music and Pahu I'a if you want to be right on the water. Both places have really outstanding food. It's a bit of a drive from the Kona area, but painless if you are coming from a Kohala resort. Make sure you designate a driver or get a taxi because you WILL want to try the unique cocktails!
(4)
Capitalist B.
This place is super charming and the service is an example of customer focused, detail oriented, kick butt work ethic. The food is well done as well.
(5)
Denise C.
Great food, music and atmosphere but very slow and kind of inept service.
(4)
Sweet S.
Waitress had an attitude. Service was slow. I had to go to the bar to get my own drinks because she took so long and after giving me an attitude I just said screw it. Bill was outrageous! Food was good though. Atmosphere, exceptional! But nothing ruins a good time like bad service.
(2)
Jasmyn M.
Phenomenal on so many levels. Food: Not only was the fish fresh, it was prepared in creative and savory ways. Great presentation, healthy portions, complimentary sides. Almost everything they serve is found locally, and they even have their own sustainable farm from which they harvest their veggies. I was licking my plate. Drink: Menu is a bit Hawaii-tourist with a wide selection of brightly colored frou-frou cocktails, but I guess that's just what you drink in Hawaii. I'm OK with that. Setting: The "indoor" space is actually open air with an open rooftop. Primarily white decor and a stage for live music. High quality jazz was playing the evening I went. From the outdoors, where I was sitting, the music provided a nice ambiance without overpowering dinner conversation. For those wanting to be closer to the entertainment, the indoors made for a perfect choice. Service: Absolutely accommodating to our 9-top table filled with picky eaters. Last minute changes were made without complaint. They accepted our 4 buy-one-get-one-free entree coupons found in one of the island travel guides also without complaint. Price: A little steep but it's Hawaii and it's worth it. If you're ever in Kona, this is a great place to dine under the stars, eat good food, listen to good music, and just escape from the crowded tourist-trap resorts restaurants.
(5)
Cassandra L.
We got a tip from our water aerobics instructor about this restaurant, and when we heard live music and dance floor, we immediately called and made a reservation for that evening. There isn't any place on the Kona Coast that we know of that has a dance floor, so we were very excited to found out about this place. The food was wonderful, but we really hadn't had any bad food on the island. We had a good sampling of their pasta, noodle and burger. All dishes were cooked perfectly. The place looked small, but I believe there are more seating than it looked, as we kept seeing people arriving, and there were still tables left to seat everyone. The open roof was clever, but the drawback is that it allows flies to join you at your table. The service was excellent, and you can tell all the servers were happy to be there. The music was great! We went on a Friday night and I believe it was soul night. The band opened with some music from local artists and then performed some familiar hits that we can all move to. I was sad that we had to leave before they started the dance music, which I was looking forward to. Not that they started the dance music late, it was just our last night in town, and we hadn't packed, yet. But next time, I know where to go back to for some great night time entertainment at this neighborhood gem!
(5)
Rosie B.
my pasta was delicious and my friend's fish was very good. Crazy music from a jazz band from yesterday ... but good. Interesting venue -- lots of locals -- we went Sunday nite -- I expect Friday night is hopping there....
(3)
Guy S.
This place is fabulous: The vibe of a 50s Hollywood supper club, except half the audience is wearing shorts or wet bathing suits, the dance floor is cement and the restaurant is outdoors. Tonight, they had a great blues and jazz band which played everything from Cole Porter to John Coltrane, with a lot of latin numbers mixed in. We danced all night. Normally the food in a good music club is second-rate, at best, but the food and cocktails at the Blue Dragon were first-class. I recommend the Lilikoi Lemon Drop and the Red Dragon cocktails. If you come to the Kona coast, but don't do the Blue Dragon for at least one night, you have missed an important---and fun---experience.
(5)
Mike S.
The first time we tried going to the Blue Dragon was in 2009 and it was a very windy day on the Kohala coast. We had reservations and when we go there, the Blue Dragon had a note on the door saying they were closed due to the high winds. Disappointing! We were staying in Kona (not a short drive) and it would have been nice to have gotten a phone call. Maybe they didn't have our number. Anyway,... We tried a year later, got in and had a terrific meal with great music. Our second and most recent visit was in Feb 2012 and it was also a terrific meal, great ambiance and a nice blues band. It was a Saturday night, they were very busy and of course parking is an issue - we parked on the street. The organic greens are amazing and everything is so fresh and they do live up to their stated purpose of using local organic food. The surf and turf was fantastic and we finished up with a nice dessert. However, and this is unforgivable, which is why they get 4 rather than 5 stars, they served 10% Kona coffee (the blend stuff), which is mediocre coffee on a good day. It makes absolutely no sense to promote your restaurant in the way they do about local island fare and then have the audacity to end our splendid meal with a bad cup of coffee. Why not serve some of best local coffee, which is among the best coffee on Earth? As I said, it made no sense and it's also the last thing you remember about the meal.
(4)
Amy w.
The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is not about the food. Our waitress got super slammed and seemed to forget about us. It happens..... But only 5 when 5 is due. Food is great and so is the atmosphere. Young and fun. Great food.
(4)
Jill E.
It's fun, funky and oh yea, fabulous food, not to mention some really great drinks. We've been on the Big Island several other times but apparently we missed this or it wasn't established at that point. anyway, several folks told us about this place so we ventured north and after driving right by it, went back and had a great dinner. It's open air so you may have to deal with a few flies but the servers are more than happy to produce a candle to scare them away which seemed to work. We started with a sampler of appetizers because I really wanted to try the ahi won tons which turned out to be wonderful ahi on a won ton wrapper with an amazing sauce that really has a kick. For the entree my hubby had a surf and turf and I had the catch of the day. So fresh and properly prepared, was great and then of course had to finish with chocolate decadence which was one of the best i've ever had. Then of course there were the drinks. Had one called a tequila dragon that had mango puree and some other stuff and their version of a lemon drop,. I did ask the bartender if he'd carry me to the car. I would have given this place 5 stars but our server was so chatty that we could hardly eat. Attention is great but with limits.
(4)
Marie C.
I am on the fence about the Blue Dragon. Yes, they have an open rooftop- great. My problem is with the cover charge that knocks you over if you are not there to dine. I went there with the intention to listen to the live music and to drink...a few, OK 6 drinks ;) What more do you want Blue Dragon? I think your marketing person needs to be fired. Your business is delving into too many things and it is a bit confusing. Are you a spa? pastry shop? internet cafe? bar? club?
(1)
Rich M.
Great food, great service, great music, great ambiance! Took out of town guests to hear the Olliephonics, a big band led by the legendary trumpet player, Ollie Mitchell. Dinner was excellent! I had a glass of Terrazas Malbec red wine that was very nice along with lamb chops done to perfection! Topped it off with coconut milk ice cream - very light and delicate. Wait staff were very attentive and friendly. Enjoyed the open air seating and great vibe. Special thank you to Jenny who is a wonderful, accommodating and highly professional restaurant manager!
(5)
Paul T.
went there twice during a week visit and it was great each time - very popular place to go and the food will not disappoint -
(5)
Dave L.
This place looked fun and the menu contained a lot of inventive drinks so we booked a table for Friday. Even better was the discovery of a 2 for 1 entree coupon in the Budget rental car magazine! We arrived and hostess seated us at a raised table with stools in the main area which we didn't like so much. We wanted a normal table with chairs. She said all the other regular tables were already requested by other reservations...despite the fact that we were one of the first customers in the restaurant that night. Evidently many of the locals called ahead and requested that particular table type, so she seated us in a little patio annex area with a regular table and chairs and then left. My wife and I exchanged a look of concern of being outside and getting eaten up by mosquitos. I wasn't feeling the place...it didn't feel right and I must have had a displeased look on my face, a look that our server picked up on right away as she came to introduce herself. She returned immediately with some mosquito repellent and some citronella candles which helped me feel better, so we stayed -- and I'm very glad we did. Blue Dragon had some of the most inventive drinks and food of our entire dining experience on the islands and I was very pleasantly surprised with how the evening turned out. For drinks, my wife had a ginger type of cocktail. I had their nightly special which had jalepeno, mint, and some other delicious fruit infusion. WE enjoyed their appetizer sampler, but their special entree that night was incredible. Surf & Surf -- a thick cut of seared ahi and a half lobster tail atop seasonal veggies and a purple coconut mashed potatoes. There was so much flavor on the plate they were almost competing with one another but it was so awesome at the same time. We also had the dessert sampler, but the main course really took the spotlight. Our server applied the coupon to the bill which helped a lot. Visa/Master card only. No Amex. If you go on a night when they have live music like we did, make sure you request the TYPE of table you'd like to sit at and whether you'd like to sit in the main stage area or the patio annex. We're happy that we were on the patio (despite getting a few mosquito bites) because it wasn't as loud.
(4)
Dan Z.
Great food, live music, and outdoor ambiance. Too bad the music can't go until later but that is not their fault. Perfect place for an evening out!
(5)
Kai T.
My friends dad recommended this place to us. i was worried at first since we are in our late 20's but it ended up being a blast! since there is absolutely nothing to do at night, this is the only place to really get out of the hotel scene and have a drink. The place is awesome! Its an open air restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating uplit in blue. They have live music and dancing. Very fun atmosphere, phenomenal drinks and though we went back twice I ordered the poke appetizer for dinner both times. Its HUGE and could sufice as a dinner. Its a bowl full of poke tuna, seaweed salad, ginger and all kinds of yummies. They dont skimp on the fish as there was actually way more of that than rice in the bowl.
(5)
David L.
Open air dinning with a band, dance floor and really good food. Check their website for the music for the night. You can not pass this place up for a night out if you are on this side of the island.
(4)
Erica M.
Came to the Blue Dragon while on vacation on the Big Island after it was suggested to us multiple times. Immediately we all loved the atmosphere, as the place is open-air and there was live music on the stage. We ordered many things and shared, and everything was absolutely delicious. We started out with the 21st Century Caprese, which was like nothing I had ever tasted before. It was tomato sorbet with fresh mozzarella and a balsamic drizzle. We also had some amazing focaccia bread as a starter. Soooo good. My cousin and I shared the Shrimp and Scallops with goat cheese mashed potatoes and the Soba noodles with beef and both were absolutely out of this world. I also tried some of the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection. Everyone loved their meals. The drinks were also very tasty, they have some really interesting combinations. The server also told us that many of the ingredients are grown at the owner's farm, and that they use as many local and sustainable items as possible, which is always a plus. Overall our experience was great and I'd love to return the next time I visit the Big Island!
(5)
Michelle C.
Great food, excellent music, fun atmosphere. Has to be the best place in town and worth a drive. Took off one star for some lukewarm and slightly undercooked food one night, but in general meals were delicious.
(4)
Sumi A.
This is one of our friends' favorite spots on the island and we can see why. We had a delicious meal and the best cocktail I've ever had in my life (can't remember the name--but something with pear in it). And the band was really good and kept us entertained. All around this is a great place to dine and hang out!
(4)
Gayle B.
amazing food best fish dinner I have ever had, and the lemon drops were amazing but watch out if you have two you may walk out of there a little sideways.
(5)
Carol S.
Don't miss this one. Campy and eclectic with great hawaiian music AND fine food. It's a keeper.
(4)
Michelle G.
This place is a winner both for the food and the entertainment! On the Big Island where the sidewalks seem to roll up around 9pm, the Blue Dragon offers some much-needed energy to the area. We were pleasantly surprised to find that there is actually a venue playing live music every Thursday through Sunday. The staff is incredibly friendly and made us feel very welcome when we stopped in for drinks to check out the music. The menu appeared to offer some great seafood selections and after having read the positive reviews, we decided to try it out for dinner. We really figured that it would be too good to be true to find a place both with entertainment and good food, but we lucked out and that's exactly what we got here. I had the South American surf, which consisted of grilled scallops and shrimp, both excellently flavored by the mango habanero coulis, served with mashed potatoes and grilled avocado and my husband had the grilled fresh catch of the day, which was a type of butterfish (Monchong) that was absolutely delicious. The meal was reasonably priced and the band playing was great. This is definitely a place that we'll be returning to on our next vacation!
(5)
Ryan H.
My girlfriend and I saw this place in our guidebook and thought it sounded like a cool idea to go to dinner at a place that also music going most nights. The place has no roof, which makes sense in an area that gets almost no rain each year and is 80 degrees or more a lot of the time. We were seated a bit away from where the band was playing, which was good because it would have been too loud otherwise. We got one of their fresh catch specials, which was delicious and we shared their sampler dessert, which was also quite good. Throw in a couple of interesting "dragon" cocktails each and we had a great time. The music was fun, although far from the best ever, but it was definitely entertaining to see a bunch of 50+ year olds dancing crazy to old music (mostly 60s and 70s music).
(4)
k k.
Blue Dragon is a fun and tasty place to check out. They have great live music all the time with a lil dance floor to get funky on. Its a blast for going out to cut loose and for a large party who wants to celebrate. The food is great too. My fav app is the dragon balls. They also have some tasty stir fry veggie style stuff. They have a nice selection of beers and some cool mixed drinks as well. I recommend getting their lemon drop with lilikoi and li hing mui. You can't drink just one... The only warning is this is not the place to go for a quiet evening. Its loud and gets crowded. Sometimes to the point where the service goes down. Its mostly due to the great music and liveliness of the place that will pack em in. Another cool thing is it open air so you can see the moon, stars and palms while you are enjoying everything. A very cool, very fun place to check out if you visit Hawaii.
(4)
Bettina O.
This restaurant was a pleasant surprise for us upon arrival after our guide had not provided much detail about it. It is a very nice open air restaurant with live music! We loved their food (a wow to the polenta appetizer!), service was friendly and prices moderate considering the other places! Big recommendation!
(5)
Wilson C.
The food was pretty decent, with a decent appetizers, good entree of the daily fish, possibly the freshest salad I've ever had (locally grown in their own organic farm). The ambience was nice, with a live jazz band.
(4)
Leah C.
Kona Boys surf shop recommended this place to my friends and I. After endeavoring to find the place (be careful, you might drive right by it without knowing), we feasted our tired, sunburnt eyes on the pleasing, expansive and fantastic open air dining room all decked out in blue hues, replete with Madagascar golden geckos skittering all over the walls. We dined under the stars and towering, backlit palm trees to live music, a perfect ending to a wonderful stay in Kona. I loved that the menu gave us just enough information about its history, its sustainable/local/community building business practices and its food to leave you salivating for their wonderful fares and lifestyle. They harvest their fish sustainably and buy local and organic foods, all without hiking their prices as much as I expected them to be. The staff was genuine, happy (hard not to be on the Big Island, I noticed!) and helpful. Our server was sweet as could be and made recommendations about what to try. When a server geeks about food and drink as much as she did, I know I am in for dining in blissful hedonism. We ordered the shrimp and shiitake mushroom eggrolls that were utterly delicious and disappeared in seconds despite being too hot to hold. I ordered the "poached pear" drink, which seems like an awful lot of work and seriously underpriced, but perhaps I have become accustomed to the outrageous drink prices on the East Coast. My friend ordered the Island-style lemon drop: also pure delight. We gorged on freshly-caught Lehi and stir fry, enjoyed the island breezes, the great music, and waddled back to our rental car in happy, hazy food comas.
(5)
Suzanne G.
I found this restaurant via Yelp - thanks! Our whole family went while on vacation and we loved it! The waiter was great, the food was incredible and the outdoor atmosphere is unbelievable. I would highly recommend it!
(5)
Kalani C.
Awesome supper club with open air dinning, entertainment and amazing cuisine! Exotic flavors executed harmoniously. One word, fresh fish! Try it prepared several ways to suite your mood. Delicious desserts and crafted cocktails. Live music is a bonus that range from slack key soothing to big band brouhaha. Not to be missed if slightly near Kawaihae. Money well spent.
(5)
Kati R.
The best place on the island to spend your time and money~ really a fun spot! The food was fantastic- try the island spring rolls and the salad w/goat cheese/beets/toasted macademia nuts--GREAT combos! Surf & Turf was reasonable priced, ample portion, nicely chosen sides-- bar is fun with lots of creative cocktails- desserts are fresh and reasonable portioned. We had great entertainment and lots of people were dancing-- parking lot can get crowded! Totally suggest making a reservation-- FUN, FUN, FUN!!!
(5)
Steve S.
Looking forward to giving this restaurant a second chance in the coming days...
(3)
M E.
Great service, wonderful and consistent food. This place is worth the visit just to walk in and see it. We have eaten here at least 20 times and hope to go there again tonight.
(5)
Robert H.
The outdoor atmosphere at Blue Dragon rocks! Brandon the bartender has always been cool. The Lamb chops were spectacularly prepared and were from local grass fed sheep. I've also tried the bacon burger and loved it! Live music is great! If you are in the area, I am certain Blue Dragon will be worth your time.
(5)
Sarah V.
We have our "Hawaii staples" and had a hole in the lineup and decided to try this place on a whim--and we're glad we did! The open air atmosphere was lovely (it was NOT raining!) and the live music was entertaining, albeit a bit loud for my parents, but we all danced a little. The drinks were great and BF thought the Mai Tai was on par with Roy's! My ahi stuffed avocado was delicious and the banana pancake gelato was yummy! The Blue Dragon has now been added to the staple list. :)
(4)
Tom L.
My wife and I have lived in Kona for almost 40 years and have been to this restaurant many times. We have hosted tables of 10 or more people several times here, largely because our favorite band occasionally plays here, often to a packed house. The dance community often travel a fair distance and reserve tables asking to be near the dance floor, to eat, drink, dance and fully make a night of it. Our past personal experiences have been mixed, but generally positive. The open air setting is very nice. The food is good, even if imho a little overpriced. They offer many types of musical entertainment acts that are often very good, but on nights that this band plays the place is unusually packed. In our experience, service has ranged from mediocre to very good. The dance floor has always been one of the weakest elements that this establishment features. It is an uneven concrete floor that has what appears to be mixed finishes on it that seem to change in texture, level and smoothness. As most of the people that tend to come on nights that this band plays are dancers, we and others of our dance community have been willing to overlook the floor's shortcomings. Recently the management has decided to bring in more tables so as to make even this small and marginal dance floor, smaller than we have ever experienced. The last event we attended here had the tables and chairs so closely packed that it made it very difficult to get in and out of our seats, and even allow servers access to wait on us. The tables and chairs encroached on the dance floor such that many of our party complained of being stepped on, kicked, elbowed and the like. Dancers were packed so close together that it really took the enjoyment out of moving to the lively music. In desperation people were dancing in the aisles, making it difficult and challenging for waitstaff and customers alike to come and go. Members of our table went to management to communicate our disappointment and were fairly rudely dismissed. I don't know what the safe legal limitations of the number of patrons that are set for this establishment, but the number clearly exceeded our comfort level. We understand that paying for the performers, providing the food and the facility come at a price, but don't feel that the price should include such a degradation of experience and safety. If you are looking for a place to go to just listen and eat, maybe this is the place for you. We won't be returning for further dance events like this unless something changes to improve these factors. We hope that it may make the experience better for others who innocently don't know any better.
(2)
Tracy J.
We had a last minute reservation on V-day. Everything was fantastic! The ahi/avocado sashimi app was the best we have had in 2 wks on the island (although also the most $$). We both had the catch (Mahi Mahi) but I had the special and he had the standard. We both loved them, but mine was the best! Absolutely the best meal I have had on the Big Island. We skated before the rare rain set in, we loved it!
(5)
Catherine B.
Awesome ambience, good food at a reasonable price for island fine dining. Enjoyable live music. Over the top service with two servers and the entire wait- bus staff servicing your table.
(5)
Loic C.
****Blue Dragon's MOP (Meal in One Pic)**** yelp.com/biz_photos/lUcC… **************************************************Â* The blue Dragon is a great outdoor-centered restaurant. There is a large patio and the main dining room is 75% roofless. The Fresh and local produce from their farm up north nearby Hawi are perfectly cooked by the kitchen. The music can be loud if you want a quiet evening. Maybe seat outside then. The drinks are really good, using fresh local fruits from Hawaii. The portions tend to be small for the price but it is in the price range of any places in Hawaii. If the band is good, dancing is recommended. (by me...) Hamakua mushroom polenta yelp.com/biz_photos/lUcC… This dish came with mushroom, black truffle, Parmesan, polenta grilled asparagus. It was amazing. The polenta patty was perfect. The combination of truffle, cheese, mushroom is a classic umami arrangement. Adding the polenta made this dish memorable. South American surf grilled jumbo shrimp scallop mango veggie yelp.com/biz_photos/lUcC… After the mushroom polenta, all the other dishes tasted good but nothing could compete. The large grilled shrimps were cooked well. The char was good giving a nice flavor to the sweet shrimp, and mango salsa. A good dish. Ahi tuna trio tempura hand rolls poke yelp.com/biz_photos/lUcC… A good and simple dish. Three small tuna dishes on plate. The fish was fresh. the presentation was good. Blue Dragon provides a great musical, dinning, outdoor-seating experience not to far of a drive from all the Waikoloa resort.
(4)
Will B.
Nice venue and nice restaurant. On the pricey side, but you get good food and good music in a relaxing space. We saw the Olliephonics play here on a Sunday evening. This is worth planning a date for! They're a fun band with a lot of horns, and they play a variety of swing, blues and latin. There's a dance "floor" (painted concrete) which you'll see swing dancers and others on. So you can get up and join them, or sit back and enjoy the music. Food-wise, the maple fried chicken and savory waffles are really tasty. The chicken is nicely fried on its own, but with the waffles and the honey and the lavender ice cream, it's a happy party. The FBI salad is solid. The Hamakua mushroom polenta is a great appetizer. For dessert, they have a great coffee ice cream -- my favorite part of the meal! My wife and I didn't drink that night, but our friends raved about the cocktails. Probably the best part about Blue Dragon is the nice open-air arrangement, with most tables under shelter but still able to see the open sky. It's comfortable and peaceful. There are too many tables for this to be a quiet romantic spot, but if you don't mind going on dates in more social settings, it's great. And it's a particularly good place to go with groups!
(4)
Glenn F.
The Dragon Fries are hot and awesome. Order the Pineapple Fire Moon martini to go with it. For music and dancing go when the Rainbow Band is playing. The only negative is the horrible smell in the restrooms. They appeared clean but smelled BAD!
(4)
Jenelle E.
I gave this place another chance this year and was pleasantly surprised that their vegetarian option had drastically improved and my experience was much better this time. I will definitely go back next time in am in town.
(3)
T E.
We love this place. Yes its expensive but the food is awesome our server (Bo) was as sweet and helpful (even with 4 kids) drinks are yummy and music just makes it even better. We found this place on our way back from hawi, and now make sure we go when on the big island. Make reservations if you can . only down thing was lots of flies ( July) didn't have that problem in April .
(4)
Sheree M.
This place is great. Live music and great cocktails. We did not eat here although we will for sure on our next trip here. Great service from our bartender. The music of the evening was John Keiwe (sp?) very entertaining. The open air patio makes for a nice atmosphere!!
(4)
Carol P.
Fabulous atmosphere! We really liked the open roof with the sky and the air coming in, and colored lights lit up the palm trees. The band was terrific! We danced and so did everyone else! Great for across the ages as there were many families with all ages (even children dancing). Terrific servers. They really knew the menu and service was great. Food was great. I had a Hawaiian burger and the fries with that were out of this world. Prices were the prices of Hawaii. I could not have made the things on the menu for any less than the prices we have been paying in the grocery stores. Overall a terrific experience. We didn't have a reservation but were there early so got a great table. Big group? Make a reservation.
The cocktails are yummy. The live music is excellent. Cuisine is delicious, fresh from the farm to the table. Service is good. It's an open air restaurant/music venue so the ambiance is great. I highly recommend the dragon ballz, lump crab cakes with aioli.
(5)
Melissa G.
Food was good knowing everything was local, grass fed beef, fresh caught fish, etc. Waiter was very knowledgable, patient, and attentive!! Great service compared to local places where you have to get up an get it yourself if you want something. The burger was good but small. Fish tacos were great. Panna cotta was sugar and dairy free made with coconut milk, vanilla bean, agave, and honeycomb. It was so delicate and light- enjoyable. Loved the live music! Not your typical Hawaiian music, he played classic songs. Prices are high but not as high as restaurants at the resorts.
(4)
Gayle V.
Never have given a place this low of a rating! But read on and find out why......... Called early on in the day to place a reservation and NEVER GOT A RETURN CALL! That was STRIKE ONE. This place has the potential of being a really cool place to be but needs to do some fixes on customer relations. Its not scenic and is located in an industrial area. Went to the restaurant at 5:15pm and waited until they opened at 5:30pm. My hubby and I were greeted by a NOT so friendly hostess and her sidekick who told us we could eat dinner but had to give up the table immediately after we finished our meal. STRIKE TWO Yes, it was a Friday night and yes they were going to be busy but that RUDENESS right there set the tone. We were then taken to a SIDE ALLEY table that we declined. There were only two other tables that were occupied in the whole darn place.!!! THREE STRIKES! Miss RUDE hostess then places us in a prime table in the middle of the place? Huh?? We go from the worst table in the house to the best seat?!?!? Why didn't you put us there in the first place? Fortunately we got a GREAT waitress ( Anita). I ordered the fish special $34 (Mong Chong( sp?) which was good but half of this piece of fish was not cooked. It was RAW in the middle. STRIKE FOUR. Our waitress saw that I had placed the fish on a side dish and immediately whisked it back to the kitchen to get recooked. Hubby had shrimp and scallops ($28) which he said was good. Did I mention the FLIES that are all over the place? Very annoying to try and eat your dinner with so many flies around. At this point we have a nice little chat with our waitress and let her know what we had gone through with the hostess. She was very apologetic, brought us out a free dessert and her manager to talk with us. The manager was very professional and offered to let us stay as long as we wanted...hence the ONE STAR! Eaten in a lot of nice places all over the hemisphere but will never return to this place.
(1)
Carolyn G.
OMG! I have had many great meals and many a fun time here, tonite the food was Amazing! The house salad with lilikoi dressing, chicken, and the BAND!
(5)
Kenneth R.
By far the best restaurant that we encountered in the area. It has great vibes, great music and great happy people working in the restaurant. On my first visit, I had a half-pound of local crawfish and the fish tacos. Both dishes were total successes. On a return visit, I started with the ahi tuna sashimi, which was outstanding, and then did a second round of the tacos, which again were spot on. On our return visit, a band called Redd myspace.com/reddbandmusic was playing covers of music by Coldplay, KT Tunstall and others. They did a great job in getting diners to come up and dance; their music was great fun to listen to and interact with.
(5)
J P.
This place & the Hilo Bay Cafe were the two restaurants with the best food that we ate on the Big Island. Granted, we didn't hit everyplace, but they both deserve five stars in our book. Both times, it seemed to pay off getting away from the restaurants in the resort areas, which seemed to charge high prices for their real estate and put out inferior quality food. All prices in Hawaii are high, for good reason, but sometimes, they seemed way over the top for what one got. The Blue Dragon dining area is a courtyard with an open roof and the lightest of mists (so light, it's like a fog) is piped in to cool one down on a warm evening. Little white lights decorate the place with candles on the tables. There is a stage for the live music and a small dance floor. There can be a small cover charge added to the bill for the music; it's worth it. We started our meal with salads. If there is a Caesar salad on the menu, my husband will order it and he was pleased with this one. Not everyplace can make a decent one. I got the FBI (from Big Island) Salad and chose the lilikoi vinaigrette (vs the balsamic). Omigosh, that dressing MADE the salad; it was so good. I wish I knew how to make it. The salad itself was delish and tender on its own, though, because they use their own organic greens from their farm. DH had a margarita, which was prepared in a different way--not sure what all was in it, but it was good! I had a glass of chardonnay that was very nice. For the main course, DH had his other standby: burger and fries and he enjoyed it. I had the catch of the day, which no matter what it is can be prepared one of 3 or 4 different ways. The catch was opa, which I'd never had before nor heard of. It's a white fish and the filet was about 1" thick. I asked for it grilled and it came with a buerre blanc sauce; can't get better in my book. It also came with mashed potatoes, but I opted out of those and got extra grilled veggies instead. The veggies consisted of baby zucchini, onions, matchstick carrots, and either spinach or kale (I couldn't tell which), all cooked just right--not too soft, not too crisp. All of it...SO, so good! For dessert, DH had a trio of sorbets (they make their own sorbets and ice creams). That night the flavors were Brazilian grape, mango, and coconut. I had a taste of the first two, and they were so flavorful--tart & sweet all at once. I had a flourless chocolate torte with toasted coconut ice cream, and the plate was drizzled with I think it was a strawberry sauce. Very good also, and rich; I couldn't finish it, but a nice finish to the meal. There was a 13-piece band playing and they were just excellent. DH bought a cd. Great music to dine under the Hawaiian night sky.
(5)
Cali A.
Amazing! We ate at the Blue Dragon and it was by far the best meal I had during my two weeks in Hawaii. We enjoyed a chef's tasting menu and were BLOWN away by the unique flavors and preparation of the food. All of their ingredients are sourced locally from big island, which is why our meal tasted so damn good. Definitely worth checking out this place.
(5)
Zoey S.
Yikes. We entered with such high hopes! Live music, Mexican food, fun drinks - what's not to love!? Well, secondary to a recent run-in with a alcohol licensing inspector, the place was spontaneously not serving alcohol (regardless of the presence of ID). Sort of a bummer since, with the live music being a group of Kings of Leon playing high school boys, a Mojito would have been nice. Fish tacos were mediocre, service was TERRIBLE (don't even get me started), and the combination of rain and outdoor seating was discomforting. The place had potential, but without a change in management, it's unlikely I would ever go back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
cheryl a.
Great local open patio restaurant. Excellent live music. The food was wonderful....super fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The people that work they must love their jobs, as all were friendly and provided great service. We liked it so much we ate there 3 out of the 8 nites of our stay.
(5)catherina w.
Service was good 3 stars. Fish was overcooked, steak was good. Appetizers were okay. Overall food is 3 stars. However management needs to deal with pest control/ventilation problems for outside seating. My son and I were bitten by so many mosquitoes while sitting outside where there was absolutely no air. We looked through the fence and realized there were parked cars right behind where we sat which probably contributed to the stifling heat. We left with 15+ mosquito bites on our feet and legs. It felt like we hiked through a forest dripping with sweat. With the heat and the mosquitoes, I just couldn't enjoy the meal and the music. Also, they had plenty of tables available inside where they had mist and fan but we were led to the stuffiest area with mosquitoes feasting on us... Disappointing experience.
(2)Dru L.
Had a great meal with great atmosphere, live music and fantastic service. Highlights: burgers are delicious...meat is great, bun is fresh and really good toppings. The wedge Caesar was really good also. Chicken and waffles were really good with some nice island touches. I appreciated (being designated driver) that they served a really nice flavor of Kambucha and served it to me dressed up like a cocktail. Their ice cream is house made and delicious The service was wonderful. Live music is a nice treat and outdoor atmosphere was comfortable and fun. One of the only restaurants we want to return to on the Kohala Coast.
(4)Sungjin S.
After a night of stargazing and watching the sunset on Maunakea went to Blue Dragon on a friend's recommendations. Sometimes its better not to have expectations. Friend had very good things to say about this place so I had to try it for myself. Atmosphere: Got to the restaurant around 8pm and there was plenty of live music and dancing going on a small dance floor. Indoor and outdoor seating available. My party had already grabbed a table outside. Very relaxed/casual atmosphere and felt very alive with the music and dancing going on. Service: Waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and almost had the menu memorized with great descriptions and recommendations. Food: I ordered the Fried oysters and Maple fried chicken and waffles. The oysters took a while and actually came after my maple chicken. The oysters were excellent very tasty and the tomato sauce that came with it was superb. The fried chicken was disappointing, no seasoning at all and too much batter. The waffles were very good just enough crispiness and moistness along with the local honey and ice cream. It's hard to give them a good review when the main course was so disappointing, but I would come here again. Intangibles: The ambience and liveliness of this restaurant/bar was great. Great place to grab drinks and bites. One word to describe this place would be ALIVE.
(3)Lani L.
It started with the kindest woman making the reservation who generously increased our reservation from 12 to 17.. Thanks Francis! We were greeted with Aloha by a beautiful hapa hostess Miko L. (Who's related to me- it's an island..LOL) Who seated us and encouraged us to have a great time. Our waiter KAVA (Polish roots-not Polynesian) took our order and within minutes - delights flowed from the farm- through the kitchen to right in front of us. Yummy goodness- Hawaiians say "Ono". I recommend BD for anyone who fresh farm to table island bites, local musicians, and good service.
(4)Peg P.
Our family came here to hear our friends, APOKOLANI, perform. And what a delightful evening we all had under the open sky with their fabulous music and delicious food. I enjoyed the Pipeline Pomodoro Pasta which had "fresh local tomatoes and herbs in a light garlic wine sauce served with Capellini pasta." Garlic bread came with it. This was a very happy place to be!
(5)Chris A.
Awesome atmosphere: drinks, food, and live music/dancing. Definitely a great place to go and fully enjoy as a couple or group!
(4)Michael D.
Lives up to expectations. Not good for very young, hyperactive kids but what place is. Not busy and staff extremely attentive. Good food for the money as this is the Gold Coast. It is exclusively outdoors so weather is a factor.
(4)Adrienne R.
For food this gets 5 stars, hands down. One of the best meals I've ever had. The lamb chops were amazingly tender and flavorful. Cocktails were great. Only downside is that it's a loud place, difficult for conversation. We sat at one of the raised tables and I thought it was pretty uncomfortable. The meal is not to be missed, however!
(4)Maria S.
Great outdoor place for live entertainment and dancing and I feel that's what you are paying for because the food is for the most part very good but a bit overpriced for what is actually presented. I was disappointed with the salad and fish tacos which were dry and lacking flavor. The pasta pomodoro was excellent. Burgers are excellent. 4 stars because when I complained about how dry my fish taco was my male server said to me and later to my friend who had the same dish "what do you expect when you ordered the cheapest item on the menu?" $18 for 2 tacos. Really? I enjoyed coming to see some of the performers while visiting but after 2 visits I don't think I'll be back
(4)Polly G.
Blue Dragon does not advertise in the Kohala Coast resort mags but that does not mean its food is not appropriate for people looking for upscale, pacific rim style cuisine. Many local ingredients are featured. As others have said, this is open patio, which means it will be hot if you are an early diner. The pork chop in guava entree was bursting with flavor, and the two featured fish dishes were beautifully prepared and presented. Whether the music is to your taste may be luck of the draw; they book a very wide range of acts. We caught cover bands on both our visit this year and one in 2011. It is a pleasant atmosphere and fun to be in a place that is a mix of locals and visitors.
(4)Jonalynn M.
If I could recommend one place to take "out of towners" while they are here it would be this place. My parents came to visit and we made sure to come to this spot. The atmosphere is great! Beautiful rooftop setting with trees and stars and perfect weather nearly every day of the year! In addition the drinks are great! They have a number of specialty drinks that I would say kill it! The ginger beer and blue dragon take on the Moscow mule is my favorite. Food is phenomenal. Rarely is there a meal that I could say I would eat every single day for the rest of my life and be happy---I found that here! The burger and fries. I got the fries with dragon dust which is a perfectly spicy seasoning they throw on and the burger is made from prime filet mignon and absolutely to die for. The chef specials that change nightly are always good as well. Usually one person at the table will go for one of the specials and we will have a taste. Never have I been disappointed. The staff knows the menu really well so make sure to ask their opinion on things! All in all 5 stars for everything. 5 star setting, 5 star drinks, 5 star food, and 5 star service!
(5)William B.
We had heard about this place from several of our friends and we all were looking forward to giving it a try. I highly recommend getting reservations if your in a large group, we had 10, and this place gets booked up fast. The parking is more than ample and it is impossible to miss the location, it sticks out like a giant blue beacon. We were graciously greeted by the hostess and lead right to our table. The place is set up rather uniquely, with seating outside and most facing the stage/dance floor. Our corner booth/table had large windows behind it, with additional seating just outside the windows with their tables incorporated into the window sill. Very cool. Our server was incredible, she was beyond perfect from start to finish. Thanks Summer. We started with some blissful mixed drinks from the bar, all made with care and a heavy hand. The appetizers were great, dragon balls, and some spring rolls. More drinks came, the Mai Tai's, top notch. With ten people we covered the menu from end to end. I had a nibble of almost everything that came out. I went with the pork chop, and folks, it might have been the best pork chop I have ever had. And was giant, so of course I shared it, and we all agreed, on a level way above. One of us even did the chicken and waffle, yep, I had a bite, and watch out Roscoe's, this place does it right. Their fish specials are always a safe and yummy bet. Service was on it, constant, pleasant and very attentive. The music also helped make the evening. The band that evening was great, played the full spectrum, and wasn't to loud, (and we were right next to the stage) but the crowd loved it. People danced, sung along, wonderful vibe for all ages, we had 13 years old to 80 years young, and ten smiles throughout. I could write more, but don't need to, read the reviews, it is a wonderful place with terrific staff. Thank you Noah, for coming out and saying hello, nice touches like that make evenings even more memorable. If you are anywhere near here, and want a fun filled diner, with impeccable service and food that excites all the taste buds, come to the Blue Dragon.
(5)Ashley C.
When ever we get the chance to have dinner we always try to go to the boys dragon. The food is amazing ams the live music is the icing on the cake. Try everything you can't go wrong! !! A+++
(5)Kate W.
My family and I have passed the Blue Dragon for the last few years while vacationing. We were always intrigued but never made it inside until now. Wow were we missing out! Not only is the music and atmosphere great but the food is delicious. All produce is from the owners farm so you know it's clean and fresh. Our party of 6 ordered the following: Appetizers: - Dragon Ballz: moist with a touch of spice - Ahi Stuffed Avocado: very fresh plus the mango vinaigrette balanced the dish - Hamakua Mushroom Polenta: Waipio Fiddlehead Fern Shoots were my favorite part of the dish Main Courses: - Fish Special: very tasty added a bit of the Hawaiian spicy sauce - Island Fish Tacos: rave reviews we added a light dusting of the dragon dust. Proceed with caution!!! - Double Down: bring a big appetite! - Hawaiian Natural New York Steak: juicy and delicious You can't go wrong here!! A must hit for any visitor and definitely ask for Greg :)
(5)Kaniela 4.
Best burgers on the island! Try the double down burger. It's huge. Soooono. Live music is always really good. Great staff and friendly vibe.
(5)Shannon N.
Outdoor restaurant - which is a drawback when it starts to rain before your entree arrives - but luckily the rain blew through quickly. We had live music during our meal. Food was okay but not great - my shrimp were oddly soapy (perhaps not rinsed?). Husband's meal was meh too. We skipped dessert - and we rarely, rarely ever do that while on vacation. ;) Parking here is TERRIBLE.
(2)Timber E.
Who would believe dinner could be so much FUN! Our waiter started it off, with great energy and advice on the farm-to-table menu. Enjoyed chatting with our local neighbors, who helped us take photos of our living (really!) salad. The variety of lettuces are grown in organic pots that come to the table for the diner to clip, along with very nice accompaniments. My local fish with polenta and vegetables was delightful, and E enjoyed his locally-raised pork chop. Topped it off with a lovely mango sorbet. But the most fun part - dancing!! Loved the band, which played a mix of older songs and very current ones. We waited until after dinner, and then stayed till closing. Sigh - we were on a plane less than 12 hours later...
(5)Janice B.
This was our best meal yet in all of our visits to the island. We are trying to figure out if we can go back before we leave! Service was great. The staff all made it a point to wish us Happy Anniversary. The music was a wonderful touch. Family friendly. Dancing is encouraged. We had the special swordfish. No problem when I asked for mine to be cooked through. It melted in my mouth.
(5)April B.
Loved the Sundae Brunch! Still thinking about the maple bacon ice cream! The atmosphere was fun, wait staff nice, food delicious.
(5)T. Marie W.
Service was fantastic, food wasn't as amazing as I was expecting according to others that have reviewed. We were in Kona 10 days and ate there only once. I did enjoyed the star filled sky and the live music.
(3)Chris C.
Awesome spot! Good local flavor and a funky/cool setting. Very fresh food, good menu with lots of the signature spice from their in-house peppers and a good balance of flavors with everything we tried. Good hula music and even a creative cocktail list. Their Sazerac with Bulliet Rye, local moonshine, ginger, pepper and pineapple was awesome- so rare to find a unique cocktail that isn't rum and sugar, and this one still felt like a Hawaiian drink. Hit it up.
(5)D M.
We so enjoyed our evening at the Blue Dragon. The five piece band played a variety of classic easy rock to Hawaiian music which was just delightful. Very pleasant voices and good musicians. The food was delicious. We have a poke appetizer that came with a tempura avocado in a great sauce. Then. We shared a special hamburger made with 25 percent smoked mushrooms with island goat cheese. Just yummy! We finished with a chocolate decadence that was everything it promised. And my lemon drop island martini was yummy too. The atmosphere really says "vacation." Server could not have been nicer and more attentive. A very fun evening win good food. Wonderful place to go.
(5)Maren H.
Open roof, cute setting and good music was a plus. We didn't have reservation so we sat at the bar. The bar was a bit high so we all felt like little kids with our chins close to the top. The servers were super nice and the menu had some great options. We liked our appetizers, the mushroom polenta and the fresh rolls.. really good. The steak was not so good, but the chicken and waffles I braved were great... seriously if you mess up chicken and waffles something is wrong but that is a story for another day. Give this place a gander if you like WITH RESERVATIONS. One other thing we noticed is we, in our 30's, were the youngest people by about 20-30 years...not sure if it was the night we were there or what but I didn't see a blue plate special? HMMMM...
(3)Dee M.
Amazing setting and food! I came here Spring 2015 during my honeymoon while staying at the Mauna Kea Resort. Upon arrival, we were concerned that the crowd was too old (apparently this side of the Big Island has retirees and late middle aged couples and we are late 20s/early 30s). Upon entering, we saw a great age diversity and fit in perfectly. The food: Everything was good, seriously! We had the Living Salad (must try for the experience) and two immaculate fish entrees. They embrace the farm to table concept and their veggies in all dishes are VERY fresh. For dessert, we had the breakfast-something which included fresh-made waffles with kona coffee ice cream, bacon ice cream, and vanilla ice cream. I don't even eat desserts often but this knocked my socks off. The ambiance: there is no roof and and with the slight breeze your girl/wife/date will be swooning. It's just romantic enough to order that wine and the band is lively enough for you to dance or have a lively convo. If you are within driving range make the trip! The servers: Knowledgeable and friendly! A million stars for them. Cost: Not cheap but I feel like I got my money's worth. One fish dish was $32, the other was $36 and I would recommend that you go for it. If you just want a good time, go for the $15-17 burgers with fries or drinks (but they charge $5 if you don't get an entree to pay for the performers). My recommendation: Go for it. I may go back and get cheap burgers just to soak in the music and the night sky once more. 5 stars! One last note: Don't be like me. Yelp has a coupon, use it!
(5)Rory-Lee M.
They should get zero stars. The two girls working the front were lost and overwhelmed. They left 6 tables open and ready for guests while we waited more than 30 minutes. Asked twice, told it would be 10 minutes. Was never seated. We were a party of two. Left after 45 minutes. Unacceptable.
(1)Elise W.
Don't be fooled (or put off) by the location (not exactly attractive as you approach on the highway). This restaurant is superb, and I wish we had gone more than once during our stay on the big island. The atmosphere is open-air fun. The live music was great. The food was, by far, the best we had during our entire vacation. Everyone in my party of six ordered something different, and everyone enjoyed their meal tremendously. The flavors were fun and pleased everybody, and we all have different tastes. Their cocktails are unique and tasty. The service was expedient and very friendly. I can't recommend it enough!
(5)Josh M.
FIRE THE CHEF, GIVE THE BARTENDER AND BAND A RAISE! I wanted nothing more than to leave this place and be able to give it a 5 star review. Sadly, that isn't possible. With great anticipation, myself and a few friends ate at the Blue Dragon this past weekend. I'll first share why this place gets 1 STAR, and then close on a positive note: It starts with the food. We ordered the cheese platter and the summer rolls. The cheese platter sounds great on the menu, but is below average at best for $17. The summer rolls were good, and sadly, probably the best thing we had all night. Our main courses is where this place really fell flat on its face. We ordered a variety of dishes, including the Southern Surf, Opa Special, Lamb Chops, Fish Tacos, & Big Island Teri Burger. The three of us who got the Souther Turf all had the same experience... - The Fish was overcooked with a charred taste on the outside and very dry on the inside - The prawns had very little flavor and did not taste as fresh as the menu made them sound. I've caught fresh prawns from our local rivers and made them taste miles better than these were with very little effort (and I am by no means a chef). So seriously, it would seem more difficult than not to screw up a prawn - The lilikoi, habenero glaze sauce was interesting, but not good. It had very little lasting flavor and did not seem to compliment the fish very well - The mash potatoes had nice flavor, but were also dry (again, we are talking mash potatoes on a $31 plate... not acceptable). The lamb chops were cooked nicely, but the marinade/sauce was bland and did not do a $35 plate of lamb chops justice. The fish tacos were average, but gave my friend a sore stomach within a couple hours (that was the only thing he had eaten since breakfast, as we were all saving our appetites for dinner). Two others of us had sore stomachs in the middle of the night as well. The Opa fish special was decent... but for $38 was still a disappointment. The fish specials at restaurants below this price point are far better in our experience. The Big Island Teri burger was good, but again, at this price point you expect something a little beyond just good. For perhaps the biggest black eye of all... the management. When we expressed our issues over the food that we were served and about to pay $100's for, the manager put on a nice face but did nothing more than try to recover the situation with a couple of deserts we explained we were not interested in. Having worked in the industry, I understand this strategy, but a manager needs to be able to identify when there is a real issue with your food and when icing a customer over with a free desert is appropriate... MAJOR FAIL HERE! Now the upsides: - The house cocktails (green dragon and red dragon) were fantastic. Some of the best we've had on island. So despite the resort price tags ($11-$12 per drink), the bartender met and exceeded the challenge. Well done! - The band was awesome. A blues band and they killed it. Definitely keep them coming back - The server was nice, genuine, and very knowledgeable on the menu Despite the positives, this is a restaurant, and it doesn't matter how much else you do good, if you can't deliver good food consistently, you don't deserve more than 1 star. The chef is trying to be too avant garde with the dishes. Rather than just trying to be different, focus on making food that tastes good... and for goodness sake, don't send out burnt fish, EVER!!!
(1)Kathleen F.
Beautiful restaurant under the stars, with live music, delicious food and the best drinks on the island! The waitress was a 10 in service and personalty. Can't wait to go back when we return to the Big Island next year.
(5)Beverly H.
My BF and I were on the island of Hawaii for 4 days so we decided that we would each choose 2 things that we want to do while there. My first choice was the Blue Dragon because not only did my sister tell me that I shouldn't miss it, but even the Budget Rent a Car lady told us to go! I was so looking forward to it, but found out they were only open from Thursday to Sundays (or maybe those are the only days that has live music). We were only there from Tuesday until Friday, so Thursday night was the only night we could go to listen to live music. We arrived and heard a John Lennon song while we were in the parking lot. Being a huge Beatles fan, I thought that I was so lucky to get a group that sings Beatles songs! As we entered, we saw a huge open to the stars dining area. Very nice 5 star casual, atmosphere. We were lucky enough to get a table close to the stage. My BF ordered a glass of wine from the wine list and when the waiter brought it out, he didn't care for it. The waiter was great - he asked what type of wine he liked and made a suggestion that was perfect. Service - 5 stars The menu was varied. I ordered the lamp lollipops which were to die for! The lamb was prepared perfectly and I could have licked the plate because the sauce was so good. BF ordered a fish dish which was just as delicious. Food - 5 stars Now, the part that I was waiting for ... the entertainment. They started with each band member doing a short set individually. The member who sang a few Beatles songs was not a great singer, but I could overlook it since I love the Beatles. The next person was from Peru and had a great voice and was very talented. He sang a Peruvian song, which was enjoyable. Then he sang another Peruvian song, then another, then another, then another. It would have been nice if he sang a few songs that we recognized, but it was ok. Next was a woman who was not part of the band and she was horrible. She sang off key and it was almost painfully bad. The next one wasn't too great either and he had an annoying 6 or 7 year old daughter that kept dancing on the stage and around the band. It was very amateurish so I assumed that Thursdays was amateur tryout night for bands. But when I asked the waiter, he assured me that all of the bands auditioned before being accepted to play at the Blue Dragon. When the entire band played, they couldn't find their bass player so after announcing his name and asking him to come on stage 3 or 4 times, they gave up and started without him. Combined they were not much better. Luckily the meal was so good that we could just focus on the food and not the music, but when the 7 year old came onto the stage and sang a song with them, we had to leave without desert. It was so awful and not at all professional. We went back to our hotel where a local artist called RJ was playing. He was just finishing his set but he was fantastic! We told him about our experience at the Blue Dragon and he told us that it is hard to get into that place. We were shocked! RJ plays with Bruno Mars but had surgery so he couldn't tour right now. He tried out for the Blue Dragon and was turned down! The only thing we could assume was that the Stage Manager who books artists at the Blue Dragon owed the band that played on April 30th a favor and he was envious of RJ's career so he wouldn't book him. Or it is just one of life's mysteries! I would go back just because I heard so many good things about the place and because the food, atmosphere and service is 5 star. If on my next visit, the entertainment is good, I would give the place 5 stars.
(4)Lauren L.
During my recent trip to Hawaii my family and I decided to try the famous Blue Dragon. While my mother and grandparents had been here before, I was a newcomer. I have to say, my judgmental side kicked in at first glance of this establishment, I had often passed by on my daily bicycle rides. From the outside, it appeared to be slightly less than friendly aside from it's ever so bright baby blue walls. There were no windows and I rarely if ever saw anyone go in, or come out. Needless to say, my mother had expressed fond memories of this place, with their live jazz and fresh seafood entrees and appetizers, she even included the fact that they had a very well stocked bar, thank you mother... We made reservations for that evening since to my surprise, it is a very popular spot for the locals and some of the neighboring tourists. My grandparents of course eat on the quite early side so when we arrived at approximately 4:45 pm, (7:45 pm in California) we basically had the entire restaurant to ourselves aside from the jazz musicians that were doing soundcheck. The dining area is spacious with a collection of tables varying in size, all of which sit beneath an open ceiling, draped with twinkle lights. I would suggest not dining here when it rains, for there is no indoor seating... The seating hostess and waitstaff were incredibly sweet and very accommodating, one sip of ice water and my glass would be filled immediately! I started my meal with their Vegetable Summer Rolls. Very simple yet delicious rice paper rolls containing fresh mango, local vegetables, cilantro, mint and served with their lilikoi sweet & sour sauce. I also ordered their Up-Beet Salad, containing roasted local beets marinated in tarragon vinaigrette, decorated with apples and Ahualoa goat cheese. Also very yummy however, I was disappointed with the very small portion size. In addition, I split their Big Island Panzanella Salad with my mother. A colorful and flavorful dish with Big Island Panzanella local watercress, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, tofu croutons and grilled shrimp, served with a kimchee vinaigrette. The meal was in no way a disappointment however I will say the live music was not my favorite... The jazz singer of the evening lacked a lot of vocal range and projection, it was hard to hear her voice above the crowds of people that wandered in later in the evening. The sound system was clearly not at it's best either, the bassist overpowered the singer, drummer, and the keyboardist. Not exactly the most enchanting mood music... As my grandfather stated, "This... Is NOT Jazz..." Oh well...
(3)Christina H.
It doesn't look so great on the outside, but don't let that dissuade you. A great setting (outside dining) and an awesome menu. Chicken and waffles was great. Fresh catch of the day (mahi) tasty. The guava pork chop was "Flintstone" sized. Go with a big appetite and you won't be disappointed. Nice live music too!
(5)Joe N.
Best dinner we have had. Great service from the staff food and drinks were great. Plus you get show for the price of your dinner. Prices are good for the value. Great atmosphere and fresh local ingredients assembled by a creative chef. Highly recommend! Not to miss if you are on the Big Island, you will not be disappointed!
(5)Kathleen N.
I am so in love with this place! Hands down, my favorite restaurant on the Big Island, and quite possibly, ever. We came here on a Saturday night and we were so happy we made reservations because the place was pretty packed. We requested a table near the stage and the one we got was so perfect! That night, the Tomi Isobe Blues Band was playing and they were so great! There is a dance floor to get your groove on while waiting for your food and there is no ceiling so you get to dance under the stars! The decor is fabulous, this place is honestly a PERFECT date night spot! On to the food. My boyfriend and I decided we each would get an appetizer. He got the deep fried oysters, which were cooked to perfection and I got the Dragon Balls, which are polenta crusted crab cakes. they are served with a spicy mayo sauce and it was honestly my favorite dish of the night! You can't come here without ordering these! For the main course, I got the South American Surf that was served with a Mango Habanero Coulis that was TO DIE FOR. Made my entire dish! So delicious! I also has a couple of drinks and let me warm you now, their drinks are VERY strong, but VERY delicious! 10/10 Lastly, we had to get dessert because the S/O has a serious sweet tooth. I forgot what it was called but it was basically three ice cream flavors and belgian waffles with a blueberry jam of some sort. It was HUGE, but I highly recommend it because one of the ice cream flavors was maple bacon. So get it because bacon. Overall, our dining experience was top notch from ambiance to food to service. Our server's name was Summer and she did a fabulous job at keeping us happy. We will definitely be back!
(5)California O.
This is a kind of trendy place with a sort of eclectic menu. The food was delicious. A bit pricy for the portion size. They make their own sodas. Very tasty ginger ale. The staff is really friendly.
(4)Andree F.
Awesome good, great service...love the big band on Sunday!! Fresh island fish. The mushroom Polenta is so delicious. The family really extends the service beyond just serving you.we had fresh Mahi Mahi in the tropical style salsa and more creamy Polenta.
(5)John E.
I came here one night to hear some blues music. The food was ok, I never got what i ordered. They brought me the wrong dish and our waiter never came around so i just ate it because i was hungry. The rest of my party loved their meals. The waiter was completely useless. Which is a shame because we are big tippers. We saw him when we ordered and when we got the check. It really wasn't busy either. The real treat was the music. and the place it self. It was really cool. I hop over the the big island quite a bit. I always wanted to hang out here. It was pretty cool. I'll give it another try. I haven't complete ruled it out for next time I'm over there. Maybe it will get better?
(3)Marcus P.
We made reservations and were seated immediately. This is a higher end restaurant and the food and drinks are very well crafted. We sat out in the courtyard where we could hear the live music and still have a conversation. The pork chop was very moist and the fern tip salad with smoked mushrooms was a favorite of everyone's. All the food was good, including the fresh made daily ice cream! The only complaint I have is that I'm thinking a worker or workers were going outside to smoke and the cigs stunk up our dinner a couple times. I hope I'm wrong on that? I would say this place is on par with Merriman's, but more casual. Highly recommend.
(5)Rae S.
The atmosphere and music in this place were great. For the prices we paid, I would have hoped the food and service was better. We sat in the lanai area, which is basically just out of sight of the stage, but the music as still clear as a bell. We got our ice water right away, but it took about ten minutes before a waiter greeted us and asked about drink orders. The drink list had enough to satisfy a beer/wine snob, but it isn't going to get them excited. No bread service, which is fine with me, but worth a mention. The ahi sashimi appetizer was tasty, but sashimi isn't really a great benchmark for a kitchen's ability. The teriyaki glazed tofu was very good, but the lamb chops were just ok. I ordered them medium-rare but they came out medium, and the prep was a little uninspired. The timing of our courses was correct, but it took another ten minutes or so before our server came back to ask about dessert. Also, while our server checked in about the appetizers, she did not check in about our entrees. We would have liked to have some, but we were running a bit late at that point and had to go.
(3)Riverside G.
It was a beautiful night under the moon and stars with the palm trees in the background. The live entertainment was fantastic playing jazz and old school favorites that night. Nice dance floor too. The food was exceptional using the freshest locally grown ingredients. Our waitress was very personable and attentive and the drinks were one of the best on the island. Next time I'm in the big island I will make it point to return here. It was a magical night.
(5)Leslie K.
Third trip to Big Island and thanks to all these great yelp reviews we enjoyed a marvelous night at the Blue Dragon. From start to finish we were so impressed. The hostess found us the most perfect table in the back row facing the band. Cocktails were SO fresh and absolutely delicious. Salad...appetizer...fresh fish fabulously sauced and prepared with the most yummy fresh vegetables. We have to return as we were way too stuffed for dessert! Our waiter was lovely and dedicated to ensuring we were always happy. The band was terrific! And all this under the stars. Not that expensive when you consider you have a full evening out with food and entertainment. We will return again and again and tell all our friends that this restaurant is a MUST! Plus, on the way out they all graciously thanked us for our business and asked us to return again soon. THANK YOU BLUE DRAGON for an unforgettable night!
(5)basil p.
New Year's Eve was a disaster; service slow, food undercooked and even cold ; oysters not fresh; music was ok if you like funk. Other nights there have been better
(1)Dilly M.
Great place in a remote part of the island. Our friend took us here for her birthday dinner and food wise, it did not disappoint. Good selection of items and truly tasty stuff. Had their fish tacos, which were delicious. This place also has a live band on certain nights, so come for the food and stay for the entertainment.
(4)Alanna B.
One of my favorite restaurants on the west coast of the Big Island! We stayed in Kailua-Kona, and it took almost 1.5 hr to drive up the coast. It was definitely worth it. We made reservations for Saturday night. They have a band that plays on Fridays and Saturday nights starting around 7 or so. FOOD: It was recommended to me to try the appetizer plater: Pupu Sampler. This was a great appetizer to try their three most popular appetizer items, and it was shared with 4 people. They also had a special that day of crawfish for an appetizer that was very good too. Entrees were very good, and the fish was extremely fresh. I ordered the South American Surf. Others in my party ordered the fish tacos, one ordered a pasta special, and I forget the other. They were all pleased with their dishes, however, I felt I had the best dish. :-) The chocolate decadence was one of the BEST desserts I had on the island. If you are a chocolate lover, you will enjoy this. Note: Do not share. The size is enough for one person, and you may be mad if you share it. Take the hint. :-) The toasted coconut icecream was good too. SERVICE: The hostess & wait staff were exceptionally pleasant. They made you feel very comfortable, and if you needed anything, you weren't afraid to ask. ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant is primarily an open roof-top place, with a few tables that are covered, including the bar. Lots of seating. There is a live band which will play local favorites and cover tunes as well. Makes for an enjoyable evening. Nice for a date, celebration, not the best for kids, although there is no problem if you brought them along. I would bring the kids during the band nights because they would enjoy getting up and dancing. Enjoy!
(4)Amy M.
This was such a great chill dinner spot. They had live jazz and r&b music last night for dinner. The band was great and the singer was amazing. Food was good and the drinks were strong. Two A + .
(5)John G.
Nice place Took family there with kids and everyone found the selection amenable. Personally had fish tacos and were delish. Great live music with dance floor. A little high in price though. Great outdoor atmosphere with open view to sky.
(4)Lisa R.
One of the best places on the island. The live music and atmosphere is amazing. Make sure to book a reservation before going. They are only open Thursday-Sunday. The staff is great. Thank you for such a great experience.
(5)Alisa G.
We really enjoyed dining at this open air restaurant. A band was playing inside and the dance floor was full! Our alcoholic drinks were tasty and we even asked for the recipe on one of them. The meals were also good. We selected the ribs, mahi mahi, steak, and hamburger. Everyone enjoyed their meals, especially those who ordered the mahi mahi. Our waitress had a bit of an attitude and wasn't very friendly but I don't want to deduct a star from this great restaurant! The restaurant is a bit pricey but a coupon from one of the local booklets for buy 1, get 1 50% off helped! I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Paul B.
Fantastic place for great food, good drinks, great music, and wonderful service. They have different types of bands and music Thur-Sun. All of them have been great. The outdoor atmosphere is perfect. Best place on the island for dinner and entertainment.
(5)Big D.
This place is outstanding. Very unique atmosphere. Open air dining and great musical entertainment. There was a jazz quartet playing the night we went. The vocalist was amazing and the jazz flute would make Ron Burgundy himself tip his hat. The service was also commendable. Prompt, friendly, and thorough. As good as the entertainment and ambiance are, the food surpasses it. Local products help make the menu fresh and delicious. We will be back.
(5)Bala T.
The place is a must stop. Good vegetarian options, cool cocktails and great ambience with live music! Felt a little loud when we walked in. The food was awesome! We went again a couple of days later, but was disappointed this time - they ran out of the special crispy polenta and mushrooms. So the vegetarian dish was only marginal. Our waitress was also sort of tipsy the second time. I would recommend at least one trip for the great ambience and drinks!
(4)Justin S.
Food was really good, we had fast service and our waiter was very friendly. I am picky when it comes to giving 5 stars. This place is about a 4 and a half.
(4)Kelly L.
Best food and cocktails on the Big Island! Noah, the head chef does an amazing job - gourmet food without the price, and Brandon is a wizard with the cocktails. The live band of the evening is always on fire (music changes nightly). Absolutely worth the drive to Kawaihae!
(5)Tori G.
Great customer service to match excellent food. An added plus is that all of their food is sustainable and locally grown, raised, and caught. The live music and warm partially outside setting makes for an extremely enjoyable atmosphere. An all-around very positive experience!
(5)Sarah D.
Stumbled on this place through Lonely Planet, and it was awesome! The menu was a bit pricey but the atmosphere was awesome. The dance floor looked almost like a wedding, with older folks and little kids from all over the room chumming it up and celebrating the warm night air. ***Get a reservation for this place*** because I didn't have one and had to wait for 30-40 minutes. The staff was very accomodating, though, and the service was excellent once we were seated.
(4)Mark A.
Food was good, though a bit overpriced. (Their menu is online. Entrees are $16 to $36.) We went on a Friday night, where the live music was well-played oldies. A small dance floor was big enough for those that wanted to dance. We had the Pipeline Pomodoro Pasta, which we were surprised came with tons of mushrooms that were not mentioned on the menu. They were happy to take it back and make another with no mushrooms. The pasta was passable, though the flavor was a little bland. The Hamakua Mushroom Polenta appetizer (where here the mushrooms were known and desired) was very good, as was the special fresh baked bread with brie and onions. The cold melon champagne soup was good, though a little bland. The Panna Cotta made with coconut cream was good, especially considering that there was no dairy or sugar, but it was not striking. The small streak of lilikoi syrup was excellent with a unique, very tangy flavor. I wish there were more of that on the dessert. All of their food is local, and indeed the ingredients were very good. In general I would like a little more spice though. The eating area is open to the sky. We had a nice almost full moon lighting up some scattered clouds, which is much better than a ceiling. (Assuming that it's not raining, of course, which it wasn't.) It's a nice place on the Big Island to have an upscale, unique dinner with live entertainment (Thu-Sun), if you're ok with the prices.
(3)Some G.
Had a great time today at this venue. Great food, incredible music, and fun festive atmosphere. I normally avoid salad but they grow their own greens in their garden up in Hawi so I had to try. If I can assign prime grade to salad this would be it. Fresh, flavorful, crunchy, and amazing. Donald and Wendy (the singers) were incredible. Neno who made an impromptu appearance was just having so much fun (had a great voice too). This made our night just perfect!
(5)Chris S.
Good spot for a big group looking for decent food, drinks, and entertainment. I really like live music, so I appreciated the band playing over dinner. Music selection was cool - covers of artists including Amy Winehouse, Ray Charles, and Santana. There is a dance floor for those folks who are interested in cutting some rug (and don't care that every table in the restaurant is watching you). Had a killer Mai Tai. Loved the pasta dish with fresh, local tomatoes and locally caught Ono. Post entrees, I really enjoyed the decadent chocolate cake and the 100% Kona coffee. Only minus was that service was pretty slow, particularly for drinks service.
(4)Chris O.
The best thing about this place was the open air framed ceiling, that I loved. But the fish tacos that cost 15 and were just so-so and the fact that the only Mahi Mahi on the menu came with mole sauce really turned me off, why do that to a tasty fish? The service wasn't that good either. The entertainment was ok, but I think this place is best if you are over 40 and wanting to old vacationing goober on the dance floor. Good for them but not my scene. Oh and yes they have entertainment which was nice but to me not worth the entertainment charge. If you do go look for a two meals for one deal in the local magazines.
(3)Dinah M.
When we got to the Big Island, two different people recommended Blue Dragon to us. After spending the evening there, I now know why. 1. Decor, Ambiance: Someone built this place with a lot of love. You walk in woven wooden doors to find turquoise contrasting with silver and red on the walls, with modern and vintage artwork and wooden Komodo Dragon sculptures. Comfortable seating with excellent stage views abound, complete with a dance floor if you feel like joining the geckos out there. Even the palm trees are artistically lit. The bathrooms are appointed with lovely blue and red tile, the women's room includes a nice changing table. When it came to creating a space, these people thought of everything. 2. Service: Our server, Kristan, was delightful, prompt and helpful. The recommendations were spot-on, the food descriptions were perfect, and the overall attitude was welcoming and friendly. 3. Food: Oh, honey. The food. Was gorgeous, first of all. This is a chef who knows presentation! And once we dove in for a taste.... Sublime. We had an ahi tuna special featuring poke, seared and tempura ahi, followed by the Rock Star Surf & Turf with mashed potatoes, and an Ono and Lobster special served with green beens, fingerling potatoes and a buttery tarragon sauce. I practically licked my plate. Our cocktails were refreshing and delicious and the wine list was decent and fairly priced. For dessert we split the chocolate macadamia nut tart which they were kind enough to heat up for us before topping it with vanilla ice cream. A hot cup of Kona coffee to sip while we enjoyed every last bite finished off the meal perfectly. 4. Other: Blue Dragon is not just a restaurant. It's a restaurant, live music venue and spa. With a MISSION STATEMENT a page long printed right on the menu about how their goal is to basically be awesome at everything. I haven't checked out the spa yet, but the prices seem extremely fair and the massage descriptions are inviting for sure. (Next trip.) As for the live music, we enjoyed the slack key stylings of Keoki Kahumoku and the new age cosmic jazz violin performance of Tony Selvage, and felt transported to Bliss Towne, population Us. There's nothing left to say. We had a fabulous evening on every possible level. Oh! Their logo rocks. Now I have nothing left to say.
(5)Derek G.
The Blue Dragon was a fun and delicious dining experience. The food is excellent--The Pupu Sampler was a real treat, and the Rock Star Surf & Turf was nicely prepared and served. I think the staff here is the best around. They made our visit extra special.
(5)Jeff B.
The pluses: - Great food; stands up against the many great restaurants in the area. - Great setting -- comfortable and cozy, but open to the stars. - Great ambiance -- on the night we visited, there was a local music trio performing. The minus: Service. The service was very disorganized and amateurish. Entrees arrived over perhaps a 10-minute period, and items were forgotten. This really marred an otherwise great experience.
(3)Scott B.
Best meal we had on the island. Opah cheeks special was amazing. Great drinks and live music. Absolutely worth the drive to the north end of the island.
(5)Dan L.
Great ingredients, good cooking, nice sounding bands. Get the coupon from those tourist books and you're in business. The roofless dining area was pretty unique.
(3)Taylor C.
Shrimp & shiitake egg rolls. Get like 50
(4)Meg G.
Definitely one of the top restaurants on the Big Island. The food was outstanding and the service was great overall. The band the night we went was good, but a little loud -- but maybe I'm just getting old. There were a surprising number of kids there that night, but they were all well behaved so not an issue. I think it's probably better suited for a romantic night out or an evening with the girls. The only issue we had was that our entree order was delayed for almost an hour. The server kept updating us (apparently it was a computer error) and offered to comp our desserts. We tried several of the specialty cocktails and the green dragon was our favorite. The kona coffee crusted ribeye was excellent and not overcooked, the warm baguette with saffron garlic butter impressed my French husband so much he ordered a second one. Also the mushroom polenta appetizer was great. I think if you want a romantic dinner you probably want either Blue Dragon or Puhu I'a at the Four Seasons. Go Blue Dragon if you want the live music and Pahu I'a if you want to be right on the water. Both places have really outstanding food. It's a bit of a drive from the Kona area, but painless if you are coming from a Kohala resort. Make sure you designate a driver or get a taxi because you WILL want to try the unique cocktails!
(4)Capitalist B.
This place is super charming and the service is an example of customer focused, detail oriented, kick butt work ethic. The food is well done as well.
(5)Denise C.
Great food, music and atmosphere but very slow and kind of inept service.
(4)Sweet S.
Waitress had an attitude. Service was slow. I had to go to the bar to get my own drinks because she took so long and after giving me an attitude I just said screw it. Bill was outrageous! Food was good though. Atmosphere, exceptional! But nothing ruins a good time like bad service.
(2)Jasmyn M.
Phenomenal on so many levels. Food: Not only was the fish fresh, it was prepared in creative and savory ways. Great presentation, healthy portions, complimentary sides. Almost everything they serve is found locally, and they even have their own sustainable farm from which they harvest their veggies. I was licking my plate. Drink: Menu is a bit Hawaii-tourist with a wide selection of brightly colored frou-frou cocktails, but I guess that's just what you drink in Hawaii. I'm OK with that. Setting: The "indoor" space is actually open air with an open rooftop. Primarily white decor and a stage for live music. High quality jazz was playing the evening I went. From the outdoors, where I was sitting, the music provided a nice ambiance without overpowering dinner conversation. For those wanting to be closer to the entertainment, the indoors made for a perfect choice. Service: Absolutely accommodating to our 9-top table filled with picky eaters. Last minute changes were made without complaint. They accepted our 4 buy-one-get-one-free entree coupons found in one of the island travel guides also without complaint. Price: A little steep but it's Hawaii and it's worth it. If you're ever in Kona, this is a great place to dine under the stars, eat good food, listen to good music, and just escape from the crowded tourist-trap resorts restaurants.
(5)Cassandra L.
We got a tip from our water aerobics instructor about this restaurant, and when we heard live music and dance floor, we immediately called and made a reservation for that evening. There isn't any place on the Kona Coast that we know of that has a dance floor, so we were very excited to found out about this place. The food was wonderful, but we really hadn't had any bad food on the island. We had a good sampling of their pasta, noodle and burger. All dishes were cooked perfectly. The place looked small, but I believe there are more seating than it looked, as we kept seeing people arriving, and there were still tables left to seat everyone. The open roof was clever, but the drawback is that it allows flies to join you at your table. The service was excellent, and you can tell all the servers were happy to be there. The music was great! We went on a Friday night and I believe it was soul night. The band opened with some music from local artists and then performed some familiar hits that we can all move to. I was sad that we had to leave before they started the dance music, which I was looking forward to. Not that they started the dance music late, it was just our last night in town, and we hadn't packed, yet. But next time, I know where to go back to for some great night time entertainment at this neighborhood gem!
(5)Rosie B.
my pasta was delicious and my friend's fish was very good. Crazy music from a jazz band from yesterday ... but good. Interesting venue -- lots of locals -- we went Sunday nite -- I expect Friday night is hopping there....
(3)Guy S.
This place is fabulous: The vibe of a 50s Hollywood supper club, except half the audience is wearing shorts or wet bathing suits, the dance floor is cement and the restaurant is outdoors. Tonight, they had a great blues and jazz band which played everything from Cole Porter to John Coltrane, with a lot of latin numbers mixed in. We danced all night. Normally the food in a good music club is second-rate, at best, but the food and cocktails at the Blue Dragon were first-class. I recommend the Lilikoi Lemon Drop and the Red Dragon cocktails. If you come to the Kona coast, but don't do the Blue Dragon for at least one night, you have missed an important---and fun---experience.
(5)Mike S.
The first time we tried going to the Blue Dragon was in 2009 and it was a very windy day on the Kohala coast. We had reservations and when we go there, the Blue Dragon had a note on the door saying they were closed due to the high winds. Disappointing! We were staying in Kona (not a short drive) and it would have been nice to have gotten a phone call. Maybe they didn't have our number. Anyway,... We tried a year later, got in and had a terrific meal with great music. Our second and most recent visit was in Feb 2012 and it was also a terrific meal, great ambiance and a nice blues band. It was a Saturday night, they were very busy and of course parking is an issue - we parked on the street. The organic greens are amazing and everything is so fresh and they do live up to their stated purpose of using local organic food. The surf and turf was fantastic and we finished up with a nice dessert. However, and this is unforgivable, which is why they get 4 rather than 5 stars, they served 10% Kona coffee (the blend stuff), which is mediocre coffee on a good day. It makes absolutely no sense to promote your restaurant in the way they do about local island fare and then have the audacity to end our splendid meal with a bad cup of coffee. Why not serve some of best local coffee, which is among the best coffee on Earth? As I said, it made no sense and it's also the last thing you remember about the meal.
(4)Amy w.
The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is not about the food. Our waitress got super slammed and seemed to forget about us. It happens..... But only 5 when 5 is due. Food is great and so is the atmosphere. Young and fun. Great food.
(4)Jill E.
It's fun, funky and oh yea, fabulous food, not to mention some really great drinks. We've been on the Big Island several other times but apparently we missed this or it wasn't established at that point. anyway, several folks told us about this place so we ventured north and after driving right by it, went back and had a great dinner. It's open air so you may have to deal with a few flies but the servers are more than happy to produce a candle to scare them away which seemed to work. We started with a sampler of appetizers because I really wanted to try the ahi won tons which turned out to be wonderful ahi on a won ton wrapper with an amazing sauce that really has a kick. For the entree my hubby had a surf and turf and I had the catch of the day. So fresh and properly prepared, was great and then of course had to finish with chocolate decadence which was one of the best i've ever had. Then of course there were the drinks. Had one called a tequila dragon that had mango puree and some other stuff and their version of a lemon drop,. I did ask the bartender if he'd carry me to the car. I would have given this place 5 stars but our server was so chatty that we could hardly eat. Attention is great but with limits.
(4)Marie C.
I am on the fence about the Blue Dragon. Yes, they have an open rooftop- great. My problem is with the cover charge that knocks you over if you are not there to dine. I went there with the intention to listen to the live music and to drink...a few, OK 6 drinks ;) What more do you want Blue Dragon? I think your marketing person needs to be fired. Your business is delving into too many things and it is a bit confusing. Are you a spa? pastry shop? internet cafe? bar? club?
(1)Rich M.
Great food, great service, great music, great ambiance! Took out of town guests to hear the Olliephonics, a big band led by the legendary trumpet player, Ollie Mitchell. Dinner was excellent! I had a glass of Terrazas Malbec red wine that was very nice along with lamb chops done to perfection! Topped it off with coconut milk ice cream - very light and delicate. Wait staff were very attentive and friendly. Enjoyed the open air seating and great vibe. Special thank you to Jenny who is a wonderful, accommodating and highly professional restaurant manager!
(5)Paul T.
went there twice during a week visit and it was great each time - very popular place to go and the food will not disappoint -
(5)Dave L.
This place looked fun and the menu contained a lot of inventive drinks so we booked a table for Friday. Even better was the discovery of a 2 for 1 entree coupon in the Budget rental car magazine! We arrived and hostess seated us at a raised table with stools in the main area which we didn't like so much. We wanted a normal table with chairs. She said all the other regular tables were already requested by other reservations...despite the fact that we were one of the first customers in the restaurant that night. Evidently many of the locals called ahead and requested that particular table type, so she seated us in a little patio annex area with a regular table and chairs and then left. My wife and I exchanged a look of concern of being outside and getting eaten up by mosquitos. I wasn't feeling the place...it didn't feel right and I must have had a displeased look on my face, a look that our server picked up on right away as she came to introduce herself. She returned immediately with some mosquito repellent and some citronella candles which helped me feel better, so we stayed -- and I'm very glad we did. Blue Dragon had some of the most inventive drinks and food of our entire dining experience on the islands and I was very pleasantly surprised with how the evening turned out. For drinks, my wife had a ginger type of cocktail. I had their nightly special which had jalepeno, mint, and some other delicious fruit infusion. WE enjoyed their appetizer sampler, but their special entree that night was incredible. Surf & Surf -- a thick cut of seared ahi and a half lobster tail atop seasonal veggies and a purple coconut mashed potatoes. There was so much flavor on the plate they were almost competing with one another but it was so awesome at the same time. We also had the dessert sampler, but the main course really took the spotlight. Our server applied the coupon to the bill which helped a lot. Visa/Master card only. No Amex. If you go on a night when they have live music like we did, make sure you request the TYPE of table you'd like to sit at and whether you'd like to sit in the main stage area or the patio annex. We're happy that we were on the patio (despite getting a few mosquito bites) because it wasn't as loud.
(4)Dan Z.
Great food, live music, and outdoor ambiance. Too bad the music can't go until later but that is not their fault. Perfect place for an evening out!
(5)Kai T.
My friends dad recommended this place to us. i was worried at first since we are in our late 20's but it ended up being a blast! since there is absolutely nothing to do at night, this is the only place to really get out of the hotel scene and have a drink. The place is awesome! Its an open air restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating uplit in blue. They have live music and dancing. Very fun atmosphere, phenomenal drinks and though we went back twice I ordered the poke appetizer for dinner both times. Its HUGE and could sufice as a dinner. Its a bowl full of poke tuna, seaweed salad, ginger and all kinds of yummies. They dont skimp on the fish as there was actually way more of that than rice in the bowl.
(5)David L.
Open air dinning with a band, dance floor and really good food. Check their website for the music for the night. You can not pass this place up for a night out if you are on this side of the island.
(4)Erica M.
Came to the Blue Dragon while on vacation on the Big Island after it was suggested to us multiple times. Immediately we all loved the atmosphere, as the place is open-air and there was live music on the stage. We ordered many things and shared, and everything was absolutely delicious. We started out with the 21st Century Caprese, which was like nothing I had ever tasted before. It was tomato sorbet with fresh mozzarella and a balsamic drizzle. We also had some amazing focaccia bread as a starter. Soooo good. My cousin and I shared the Shrimp and Scallops with goat cheese mashed potatoes and the Soba noodles with beef and both were absolutely out of this world. I also tried some of the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection. Everyone loved their meals. The drinks were also very tasty, they have some really interesting combinations. The server also told us that many of the ingredients are grown at the owner's farm, and that they use as many local and sustainable items as possible, which is always a plus. Overall our experience was great and I'd love to return the next time I visit the Big Island!
(5)Michelle C.
Great food, excellent music, fun atmosphere. Has to be the best place in town and worth a drive. Took off one star for some lukewarm and slightly undercooked food one night, but in general meals were delicious.
(4)Sumi A.
This is one of our friends' favorite spots on the island and we can see why. We had a delicious meal and the best cocktail I've ever had in my life (can't remember the name--but something with pear in it). And the band was really good and kept us entertained. All around this is a great place to dine and hang out!
(4)Gayle B.
amazing food best fish dinner I have ever had, and the lemon drops were amazing but watch out if you have two you may walk out of there a little sideways.
(5)Carol S.
Don't miss this one. Campy and eclectic with great hawaiian music AND fine food. It's a keeper.
(4)Michelle G.
This place is a winner both for the food and the entertainment! On the Big Island where the sidewalks seem to roll up around 9pm, the Blue Dragon offers some much-needed energy to the area. We were pleasantly surprised to find that there is actually a venue playing live music every Thursday through Sunday. The staff is incredibly friendly and made us feel very welcome when we stopped in for drinks to check out the music. The menu appeared to offer some great seafood selections and after having read the positive reviews, we decided to try it out for dinner. We really figured that it would be too good to be true to find a place both with entertainment and good food, but we lucked out and that's exactly what we got here. I had the South American surf, which consisted of grilled scallops and shrimp, both excellently flavored by the mango habanero coulis, served with mashed potatoes and grilled avocado and my husband had the grilled fresh catch of the day, which was a type of butterfish (Monchong) that was absolutely delicious. The meal was reasonably priced and the band playing was great. This is definitely a place that we'll be returning to on our next vacation!
(5)Ryan H.
My girlfriend and I saw this place in our guidebook and thought it sounded like a cool idea to go to dinner at a place that also music going most nights. The place has no roof, which makes sense in an area that gets almost no rain each year and is 80 degrees or more a lot of the time. We were seated a bit away from where the band was playing, which was good because it would have been too loud otherwise. We got one of their fresh catch specials, which was delicious and we shared their sampler dessert, which was also quite good. Throw in a couple of interesting "dragon" cocktails each and we had a great time. The music was fun, although far from the best ever, but it was definitely entertaining to see a bunch of 50+ year olds dancing crazy to old music (mostly 60s and 70s music).
(4)k k.
Blue Dragon is a fun and tasty place to check out. They have great live music all the time with a lil dance floor to get funky on. Its a blast for going out to cut loose and for a large party who wants to celebrate. The food is great too. My fav app is the dragon balls. They also have some tasty stir fry veggie style stuff. They have a nice selection of beers and some cool mixed drinks as well. I recommend getting their lemon drop with lilikoi and li hing mui. You can't drink just one... The only warning is this is not the place to go for a quiet evening. Its loud and gets crowded. Sometimes to the point where the service goes down. Its mostly due to the great music and liveliness of the place that will pack em in. Another cool thing is it open air so you can see the moon, stars and palms while you are enjoying everything. A very cool, very fun place to check out if you visit Hawaii.
(4)Bettina O.
This restaurant was a pleasant surprise for us upon arrival after our guide had not provided much detail about it. It is a very nice open air restaurant with live music! We loved their food (a wow to the polenta appetizer!), service was friendly and prices moderate considering the other places! Big recommendation!
(5)Wilson C.
The food was pretty decent, with a decent appetizers, good entree of the daily fish, possibly the freshest salad I've ever had (locally grown in their own organic farm). The ambience was nice, with a live jazz band.
(4)Leah C.
Kona Boys surf shop recommended this place to my friends and I. After endeavoring to find the place (be careful, you might drive right by it without knowing), we feasted our tired, sunburnt eyes on the pleasing, expansive and fantastic open air dining room all decked out in blue hues, replete with Madagascar golden geckos skittering all over the walls. We dined under the stars and towering, backlit palm trees to live music, a perfect ending to a wonderful stay in Kona. I loved that the menu gave us just enough information about its history, its sustainable/local/community building business practices and its food to leave you salivating for their wonderful fares and lifestyle. They harvest their fish sustainably and buy local and organic foods, all without hiking their prices as much as I expected them to be. The staff was genuine, happy (hard not to be on the Big Island, I noticed!) and helpful. Our server was sweet as could be and made recommendations about what to try. When a server geeks about food and drink as much as she did, I know I am in for dining in blissful hedonism. We ordered the shrimp and shiitake mushroom eggrolls that were utterly delicious and disappeared in seconds despite being too hot to hold. I ordered the "poached pear" drink, which seems like an awful lot of work and seriously underpriced, but perhaps I have become accustomed to the outrageous drink prices on the East Coast. My friend ordered the Island-style lemon drop: also pure delight. We gorged on freshly-caught Lehi and stir fry, enjoyed the island breezes, the great music, and waddled back to our rental car in happy, hazy food comas.
(5)Suzanne G.
I found this restaurant via Yelp - thanks! Our whole family went while on vacation and we loved it! The waiter was great, the food was incredible and the outdoor atmosphere is unbelievable. I would highly recommend it!
(5)Kalani C.
Awesome supper club with open air dinning, entertainment and amazing cuisine! Exotic flavors executed harmoniously. One word, fresh fish! Try it prepared several ways to suite your mood. Delicious desserts and crafted cocktails. Live music is a bonus that range from slack key soothing to big band brouhaha. Not to be missed if slightly near Kawaihae. Money well spent.
(5)Kati R.
The best place on the island to spend your time and money~ really a fun spot! The food was fantastic- try the island spring rolls and the salad w/goat cheese/beets/toasted macademia nuts--GREAT combos! Surf & Turf was reasonable priced, ample portion, nicely chosen sides-- bar is fun with lots of creative cocktails- desserts are fresh and reasonable portioned. We had great entertainment and lots of people were dancing-- parking lot can get crowded! Totally suggest making a reservation-- FUN, FUN, FUN!!!
(5)Steve S.
Looking forward to giving this restaurant a second chance in the coming days...
(3)M E.
Great service, wonderful and consistent food. This place is worth the visit just to walk in and see it. We have eaten here at least 20 times and hope to go there again tonight.
(5)Robert H.
The outdoor atmosphere at Blue Dragon rocks! Brandon the bartender has always been cool. The Lamb chops were spectacularly prepared and were from local grass fed sheep. I've also tried the bacon burger and loved it! Live music is great! If you are in the area, I am certain Blue Dragon will be worth your time.
(5)Sarah V.
We have our "Hawaii staples" and had a hole in the lineup and decided to try this place on a whim--and we're glad we did! The open air atmosphere was lovely (it was NOT raining!) and the live music was entertaining, albeit a bit loud for my parents, but we all danced a little. The drinks were great and BF thought the Mai Tai was on par with Roy's! My ahi stuffed avocado was delicious and the banana pancake gelato was yummy! The Blue Dragon has now been added to the staple list. :)
(4)Tom L.
My wife and I have lived in Kona for almost 40 years and have been to this restaurant many times. We have hosted tables of 10 or more people several times here, largely because our favorite band occasionally plays here, often to a packed house. The dance community often travel a fair distance and reserve tables asking to be near the dance floor, to eat, drink, dance and fully make a night of it. Our past personal experiences have been mixed, but generally positive. The open air setting is very nice. The food is good, even if imho a little overpriced. They offer many types of musical entertainment acts that are often very good, but on nights that this band plays the place is unusually packed. In our experience, service has ranged from mediocre to very good. The dance floor has always been one of the weakest elements that this establishment features. It is an uneven concrete floor that has what appears to be mixed finishes on it that seem to change in texture, level and smoothness. As most of the people that tend to come on nights that this band plays are dancers, we and others of our dance community have been willing to overlook the floor's shortcomings. Recently the management has decided to bring in more tables so as to make even this small and marginal dance floor, smaller than we have ever experienced. The last event we attended here had the tables and chairs so closely packed that it made it very difficult to get in and out of our seats, and even allow servers access to wait on us. The tables and chairs encroached on the dance floor such that many of our party complained of being stepped on, kicked, elbowed and the like. Dancers were packed so close together that it really took the enjoyment out of moving to the lively music. In desperation people were dancing in the aisles, making it difficult and challenging for waitstaff and customers alike to come and go. Members of our table went to management to communicate our disappointment and were fairly rudely dismissed. I don't know what the safe legal limitations of the number of patrons that are set for this establishment, but the number clearly exceeded our comfort level. We understand that paying for the performers, providing the food and the facility come at a price, but don't feel that the price should include such a degradation of experience and safety. If you are looking for a place to go to just listen and eat, maybe this is the place for you. We won't be returning for further dance events like this unless something changes to improve these factors. We hope that it may make the experience better for others who innocently don't know any better.
(2)Tracy J.
We had a last minute reservation on V-day. Everything was fantastic! The ahi/avocado sashimi app was the best we have had in 2 wks on the island (although also the most $$). We both had the catch (Mahi Mahi) but I had the special and he had the standard. We both loved them, but mine was the best! Absolutely the best meal I have had on the Big Island. We skated before the rare rain set in, we loved it!
(5)Catherine B.
Awesome ambience, good food at a reasonable price for island fine dining. Enjoyable live music. Over the top service with two servers and the entire wait- bus staff servicing your table.
(5)Loic C.
****Blue Dragon's MOP (Meal in One Pic)**** yelp.com/biz_photos/lUcC… **************************************************Â* The blue Dragon is a great outdoor-centered restaurant. There is a large patio and the main dining room is 75% roofless. The Fresh and local produce from their farm up north nearby Hawi are perfectly cooked by the kitchen. The music can be loud if you want a quiet evening. Maybe seat outside then. The drinks are really good, using fresh local fruits from Hawaii. The portions tend to be small for the price but it is in the price range of any places in Hawaii. If the band is good, dancing is recommended. (by me...) Hamakua mushroom polenta yelp.com/biz_photos/lUcC… This dish came with mushroom, black truffle, Parmesan, polenta grilled asparagus. It was amazing. The polenta patty was perfect. The combination of truffle, cheese, mushroom is a classic umami arrangement. Adding the polenta made this dish memorable. South American surf grilled jumbo shrimp scallop mango veggie yelp.com/biz_photos/lUcC… After the mushroom polenta, all the other dishes tasted good but nothing could compete. The large grilled shrimps were cooked well. The char was good giving a nice flavor to the sweet shrimp, and mango salsa. A good dish. Ahi tuna trio tempura hand rolls poke yelp.com/biz_photos/lUcC… A good and simple dish. Three small tuna dishes on plate. The fish was fresh. the presentation was good. Blue Dragon provides a great musical, dinning, outdoor-seating experience not to far of a drive from all the Waikoloa resort.
(4)Will B.
Nice venue and nice restaurant. On the pricey side, but you get good food and good music in a relaxing space. We saw the Olliephonics play here on a Sunday evening. This is worth planning a date for! They're a fun band with a lot of horns, and they play a variety of swing, blues and latin. There's a dance "floor" (painted concrete) which you'll see swing dancers and others on. So you can get up and join them, or sit back and enjoy the music. Food-wise, the maple fried chicken and savory waffles are really tasty. The chicken is nicely fried on its own, but with the waffles and the honey and the lavender ice cream, it's a happy party. The FBI salad is solid. The Hamakua mushroom polenta is a great appetizer. For dessert, they have a great coffee ice cream -- my favorite part of the meal! My wife and I didn't drink that night, but our friends raved about the cocktails. Probably the best part about Blue Dragon is the nice open-air arrangement, with most tables under shelter but still able to see the open sky. It's comfortable and peaceful. There are too many tables for this to be a quiet romantic spot, but if you don't mind going on dates in more social settings, it's great. And it's a particularly good place to go with groups!
(4)Glenn F.
The Dragon Fries are hot and awesome. Order the Pineapple Fire Moon martini to go with it. For music and dancing go when the Rainbow Band is playing. The only negative is the horrible smell in the restrooms. They appeared clean but smelled BAD!
(4)Jenelle E.
I gave this place another chance this year and was pleasantly surprised that their vegetarian option had drastically improved and my experience was much better this time. I will definitely go back next time in am in town.
(3)T E.
We love this place. Yes its expensive but the food is awesome our server (Bo) was as sweet and helpful (even with 4 kids) drinks are yummy and music just makes it even better. We found this place on our way back from hawi, and now make sure we go when on the big island. Make reservations if you can . only down thing was lots of flies ( July) didn't have that problem in April .
(4)Sheree M.
This place is great. Live music and great cocktails. We did not eat here although we will for sure on our next trip here. Great service from our bartender. The music of the evening was John Keiwe (sp?) very entertaining. The open air patio makes for a nice atmosphere!!
(4)Carol P.
Fabulous atmosphere! We really liked the open roof with the sky and the air coming in, and colored lights lit up the palm trees. The band was terrific! We danced and so did everyone else! Great for across the ages as there were many families with all ages (even children dancing). Terrific servers. They really knew the menu and service was great. Food was great. I had a Hawaiian burger and the fries with that were out of this world. Prices were the prices of Hawaii. I could not have made the things on the menu for any less than the prices we have been paying in the grocery stores. Overall a terrific experience. We didn't have a reservation but were there early so got a great table. Big group? Make a reservation.
(5)Shannon G.
A destination evening not to be missed! 5 star all the way! Make your dinner reservations so that you are seated during the lead act, then you will be there for plenty of the main act. Sit in the main room. We will NEVER miss having dinner here on any future trip to the Big Island. Too many tempting dishes to try, too much variety in the musical acts to enjoy. Cinnamon smoked bacon on sweet potato hash, crowned with a battered poached egg. Beautiful presentation and absolutely luscious. Fried oysters - wonderful. Fresh-caught swordfish? Are you kidding??? One order of pan-seared, one order of grilled. Mango butter sauce was delicious. Side veggies so fresh and delicately sautéed. Dessert - if dinner is that good, can't miss the finale! Their version of panne cotta is light and so perfectly smooth. The lilliikoi pudding cake was just lovely - the fruit was not too sweet but had a flavor punch that was balanced with the starch. Jus perfect. We just sat in amazement at the entire package: knockout food, incredibly good music, sorta nightclub/sorta dinner house with an intimate, community feeling. Lots of patrons visiting with each other and sharing the dance floor with each other. We didn't want to leave, and ran out of courses to order! Our server Nathan (excellent server, by the way - very professional and casual in a way that fit the surroundings!) assured us that we could stay as long as we wanted to. Sound too good to be true? It is true.
(5)Paula B.
The cocktails are yummy. The live music is excellent. Cuisine is delicious, fresh from the farm to the table. Service is good. It's an open air restaurant/music venue so the ambiance is great. I highly recommend the dragon ballz, lump crab cakes with aioli.
(5)Melissa G.
Food was good knowing everything was local, grass fed beef, fresh caught fish, etc. Waiter was very knowledgable, patient, and attentive!! Great service compared to local places where you have to get up an get it yourself if you want something. The burger was good but small. Fish tacos were great. Panna cotta was sugar and dairy free made with coconut milk, vanilla bean, agave, and honeycomb. It was so delicate and light- enjoyable. Loved the live music! Not your typical Hawaiian music, he played classic songs. Prices are high but not as high as restaurants at the resorts.
(4)Gayle V.
Never have given a place this low of a rating! But read on and find out why......... Called early on in the day to place a reservation and NEVER GOT A RETURN CALL! That was STRIKE ONE. This place has the potential of being a really cool place to be but needs to do some fixes on customer relations. Its not scenic and is located in an industrial area. Went to the restaurant at 5:15pm and waited until they opened at 5:30pm. My hubby and I were greeted by a NOT so friendly hostess and her sidekick who told us we could eat dinner but had to give up the table immediately after we finished our meal. STRIKE TWO Yes, it was a Friday night and yes they were going to be busy but that RUDENESS right there set the tone. We were then taken to a SIDE ALLEY table that we declined. There were only two other tables that were occupied in the whole darn place.!!! THREE STRIKES! Miss RUDE hostess then places us in a prime table in the middle of the place? Huh?? We go from the worst table in the house to the best seat?!?!? Why didn't you put us there in the first place? Fortunately we got a GREAT waitress ( Anita). I ordered the fish special $34 (Mong Chong( sp?) which was good but half of this piece of fish was not cooked. It was RAW in the middle. STRIKE FOUR. Our waitress saw that I had placed the fish on a side dish and immediately whisked it back to the kitchen to get recooked. Hubby had shrimp and scallops ($28) which he said was good. Did I mention the FLIES that are all over the place? Very annoying to try and eat your dinner with so many flies around. At this point we have a nice little chat with our waitress and let her know what we had gone through with the hostess. She was very apologetic, brought us out a free dessert and her manager to talk with us. The manager was very professional and offered to let us stay as long as we wanted...hence the ONE STAR! Eaten in a lot of nice places all over the hemisphere but will never return to this place.
(1)Carolyn G.
OMG! I have had many great meals and many a fun time here, tonite the food was Amazing! The house salad with lilikoi dressing, chicken, and the BAND!
(5)Kenneth R.
By far the best restaurant that we encountered in the area. It has great vibes, great music and great happy people working in the restaurant. On my first visit, I had a half-pound of local crawfish and the fish tacos. Both dishes were total successes. On a return visit, I started with the ahi tuna sashimi, which was outstanding, and then did a second round of the tacos, which again were spot on. On our return visit, a band called Redd myspace.com/reddbandmusic was playing covers of music by Coldplay, KT Tunstall and others. They did a great job in getting diners to come up and dance; their music was great fun to listen to and interact with.
(5)J P.
This place & the Hilo Bay Cafe were the two restaurants with the best food that we ate on the Big Island. Granted, we didn't hit everyplace, but they both deserve five stars in our book. Both times, it seemed to pay off getting away from the restaurants in the resort areas, which seemed to charge high prices for their real estate and put out inferior quality food. All prices in Hawaii are high, for good reason, but sometimes, they seemed way over the top for what one got. The Blue Dragon dining area is a courtyard with an open roof and the lightest of mists (so light, it's like a fog) is piped in to cool one down on a warm evening. Little white lights decorate the place with candles on the tables. There is a stage for the live music and a small dance floor. There can be a small cover charge added to the bill for the music; it's worth it. We started our meal with salads. If there is a Caesar salad on the menu, my husband will order it and he was pleased with this one. Not everyplace can make a decent one. I got the FBI (from Big Island) Salad and chose the lilikoi vinaigrette (vs the balsamic). Omigosh, that dressing MADE the salad; it was so good. I wish I knew how to make it. The salad itself was delish and tender on its own, though, because they use their own organic greens from their farm. DH had a margarita, which was prepared in a different way--not sure what all was in it, but it was good! I had a glass of chardonnay that was very nice. For the main course, DH had his other standby: burger and fries and he enjoyed it. I had the catch of the day, which no matter what it is can be prepared one of 3 or 4 different ways. The catch was opa, which I'd never had before nor heard of. It's a white fish and the filet was about 1" thick. I asked for it grilled and it came with a buerre blanc sauce; can't get better in my book. It also came with mashed potatoes, but I opted out of those and got extra grilled veggies instead. The veggies consisted of baby zucchini, onions, matchstick carrots, and either spinach or kale (I couldn't tell which), all cooked just right--not too soft, not too crisp. All of it...SO, so good! For dessert, DH had a trio of sorbets (they make their own sorbets and ice creams). That night the flavors were Brazilian grape, mango, and coconut. I had a taste of the first two, and they were so flavorful--tart & sweet all at once. I had a flourless chocolate torte with toasted coconut ice cream, and the plate was drizzled with I think it was a strawberry sauce. Very good also, and rich; I couldn't finish it, but a nice finish to the meal. There was a 13-piece band playing and they were just excellent. DH bought a cd. Great music to dine under the Hawaiian night sky.
(5)Cali A.
Amazing! We ate at the Blue Dragon and it was by far the best meal I had during my two weeks in Hawaii. We enjoyed a chef's tasting menu and were BLOWN away by the unique flavors and preparation of the food. All of their ingredients are sourced locally from big island, which is why our meal tasted so damn good. Definitely worth checking out this place.
(5)Zoey S.
Yikes. We entered with such high hopes! Live music, Mexican food, fun drinks - what's not to love!? Well, secondary to a recent run-in with a alcohol licensing inspector, the place was spontaneously not serving alcohol (regardless of the presence of ID). Sort of a bummer since, with the live music being a group of Kings of Leon playing high school boys, a Mojito would have been nice. Fish tacos were mediocre, service was TERRIBLE (don't even get me started), and the combination of rain and outdoor seating was discomforting. The place had potential, but without a change in management, it's unlikely I would ever go back.
(2)