Holualoa Garden and Kitchen — Restaurant in Hawaii

We have given this restaurant "multiple" tries and have literally been disappointed every time. All restaurants can have an off night so we tried to give this one the benefit of doubt especially since options in Kona are slim and we "wanted" it to be a great place to dine however if their service does not take a drastic turn we will never be back.

The first time I stopped in after work for an appetizer, the waitress was training a new waiter and told him it was pretty much always dead at that time of day then she pointed at me and said "except for that" seriously she called me a "that."

A second visit after work for an appetizer got even worse. The waitress was extremely rude because I was taking up a table by myself however there was literally only one other couple in the whole place. She actually told me I could go sit in the coffee shop/cafe. I was so stunned, I looked at her like what? and she actually said "your wondering why I just said that"? I said well yeah?? - The tone of her voice was as rude as it could be. The other couple sitting next to me were shocked and said "we are so sorry you just had that experience."

OK so maybe afternoons are not their thing right? My husband and I went for dinner and it took 20 minutes before our beverage order was taken, another 20 minutes before the beverages showed up and our order was taken then after an hour and a half we finally just left because our meal never showed up and no waitress to even complain to.

Gluttons for punishment? We must be. On the 2 occasions our food actually showed up the bacon wrapped meatloaf had been prepared 2 days prior to being served (we verified with the waitress) and was dry, their gnocchi was soggy and of very poor texture and their grass fed brisket was also served too many days after preparation with a very poor and unbalanced reduction.

They are very proud of their food and consider themselves an upscale restaurant. I will say the food is better than most Kona restaurants and would be considered outstanding from the type of people that frequent Apple Bees or Bubba Gumps - however - having traveled the world and experienced truly outstanding cuisine - I would give them 2.5 stars for creativity however only 1 star for execution. Soo as you can see - yes we have given this restaurant multiple tries and are consistently disappointed every time!

OK is there ANYTHING positive I can say you ask? Yes - their salads are prepared from outstanding greens - it would be nice if you got more than 1/2 cup for the...

Nothing nice to say about this restaurant. I'd be doing a 0 star rating if it was an option. Save your time and money and go somewhere else. Go to the Four Seasons where your guaranteed a nice time. If you decide to take a chance bring your own: headlamp (to read the menu and see your food), seat cushion and water. Try not to get seat in Leslie's section. Went on a Monday night - not busy at all, got sat on a tiny table in the dark. No refills on water when they were empty, finally after asking for water she brought out one (when there were two people at the table with two empty waters). Dirty/empty plates from previous entree still on table when Leslie brought out the next. This was a very special occasion for two that rarely get out that ended up being regreted making the choice going here to Holukoa. (They don't sing happy birthday to you either). Called to speak to the manager to see if they would want to make it right somehow. Manager (didn't get her name - background noise was extremely loud and I asked if I should call back at a better time and she said "no, that's just the music!". Her phone also died on me!) Told her what had happened that night. Manager said that Leslie is their best server, and that she'd reference with her and get back go me, not once apologized about our awful experience there. But she did say their dishwasher calls in often and the servers at times have to bus their own tables. (Note: this was on a slow Monday night with many other tables - she cpukdve put our dirty dishes in the tabble next to us to get them off our table, and or a pitcher of water). Manager never did call me...

From start to finish, Holualoa Garden and Kitchen was an absolute joy to work with throughout the entire process of planning our wedding reception. The team was accommodating, professional, and truly went above and beyond to bring our vision to life.

We want to give a special shoutout to Christian, Erin, Kries, and Daire—each of you played such an important role in making our day unforgettable. Your attention to detail, calm energy, and ability to adapt to our needs made everything feel seamless. You really helped turn our ideas into a reality, and we can’t thank you enough.

The food was incredible—our guests couldn’t stop talking about how delicious everything was. It was fresh, flavorful, beautifully presented, and clearly made with care. The kitchen absolutely nailed it.

The venue itself was perfect—charming, open, and inviting, with a warm atmosphere that matched the spirit of the day. It felt like a space that was truly made for a celebration like ours.

Whether you’re planning a large event or simply looking for a casual meal, we highly recommend Holualoa Garden and Kitchen. They’re not only amazing at what they do, but they’re also genuinely wonderful people to work with.

Mahalo to each and every one of you for making our reception and our special day so memorable. -Sean +...